Nationals three-game winning streak ends with loss to Diamondbacks -

It is a bit hasty to mention the 2024 Washington Nationals in the same breath as the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks, though the arrival of the National League’s reigning champions at Nationals Park on Tuesday night — coupled with Washington’s occupation of an NL wild-card spot entering the day — certainly warranted a little contemplation.

The Nationals’ ensuing 5-0 loss, which included an uncharacteristically erratic performance from right-hander Jake Irvin and just four Washington hits, threw a little cold water on the idea and ended a three-game winning streak. Even so, 72 games into the season, Washington (35-37) is right where Arizona (36-37) found itself last year, when it sneaked into the postseason with an 84-78 record and made it all the way to the World Series: young, ahead of schedule, aggressive on the base paths, pitching well and right in the thick of the NL’s crowded middle class.

Opening a three-game set against another wild-card hopeful — a series that could be meaningful come September, should the Nationals’ pitching staff continue to roll — with their seventh shutout loss of the season wasn’t enough to discourage that fact.

“We’re a good offense,” outfielder Jesse Winker said. “So it’s really going to be keep doing what we’ve been doing. … We hit some balls well; they just didn’t fall. I think tomorrow is going to be a better day.”

Entering Tuesday, nine teams were within three games of one another in the NL wild-card race. Whether that tempts Washington to buy at the trade deadline and make an unexpected push (perhaps sacrificing some farm system depth for an off chance at a playoff spot) or sell in a market that will have no shortage of buyers (perhaps sacrificing a chance to capitalize on a season that arrived ahead of schedule) remains to be seen.

“Nobody’s really gotten super hot,” Manager Dave Martinez said before the game. “I think that’s why you’re seeing all these teams at .500. The Washington Nationals want to be the team that breaks out.”

Tuesday poked some holes in their approach as they bank on a starting rotation that has had a 3.37 ERA since the start of May to sustain its significant leap. Against the Diamondbacks, the trouble began in the first inning, when Irvin issued a leadoff walk to Corbin Carroll and conceded a homer to Ketel Marte for a 2-0 deficit.

Those problems persisted as Irvin issued a season-high four walks, fighting the friction of long Arizona at-bats and exiting after five innings, with Geraldo Perdomo’s double, Carroll’s triple and Marte’s sacrifice fly in the fifth pushing two more runs across. Washington’s rotation had allowed two or fewer runs in each of the previous 10 games.

“Can’t really pinpoint it,” Irvin said. “Just didn’t have great command of my fastball tonight, and that’s not a recipe for success. Put myself in some really bad counts.”

Double plays that ended the second, third, fourth and fifth innings prevented a true knockout blow, but Arizona threatened with its leadoff batter reaching in each of the first six innings while tacking on one more run with a Gabriel Moreno sacrifice fly in the sixth. But the offense couldn’t touch Diamondbacks righty Slade Cecconi, who entered with a 6.70 ERA but challenged Washington with movement and command on his fastball.

He was perfect for three innings and allowed just three hits in six. Each of those hits was neutralized before a run came across — CJ Abrams’s fourth-inning single was offset when he was caught stealing, Winker’s double two at-bats later failed to push anyone across, and Abrams’s sixth-inning, two-out single was made obsolete by a subsequent strikeout.

“It seems like every time we have a day off, we come out a little bit flat,” Martinez said. “I went back and watched some of [Cecconi’s] pitches that we were taking; his ball really did have some good movement. … For me, I’m going to go back and try to flush this one.”

Crews to Rochester

Dylan Crews and James Wood, the Nationals’ top two prospects, shared the outfield at Class AAA Rochester for the first time Tuesday. Crews was promoted from Class AA Harrisburg after hitting .303 with an .805 OPS over his last 30 games. Wood had been out since May 23 with right hamstring tightness; he was hitting .355 with a 1.061 OPS at Rochester before his injury. Martinez said he expects they will stick with one position in Class AAA.

Crews played center field and went 0 for 5. Wood was in left and went 0 for 3 with a walk.

“The fact that they’re up at the highest level in the minor leagues only tells me that they’re getting close,” Martinez said. “We’re not trying to rush these guys. The big thing is to get them up here and have them stay up here.”

Injury updates

Righty Josiah Gray (strained right flexor muscle) will make his third rehab start Wednesday; he is expected to throw six innings and around 75 to 80 pitches for Harrisburg. When asked whether this would be his final rehab start, Martinez did not commit to an answer.

On Friday with high Class A Wilmington, righty Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery) will make his first rehab start since May 30. The expectation is that he’ll throw three innings. Before he joins Washington for the first time this year — his timetable remains uncertain — the Nationals are looking to make sure he is repeating his mechanics and not sore.

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