Nats Chat

Mark Zuckerman & Al Galdi, Blue Wire

A Washington Nationals podcast offering recap and analysis after every game, plus all the breaking news throughout the year. Hosted by Mark Zuckerman of natsjournal.com & Al Galdi, host of "The Al Galdi Podcast". For sponsorship opportunities, contact Tim Shovers at natschatpodcast@gmail.com.

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980 episodes
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Episodes980

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Jun 21, 2025 · 26 min
Gore Struggles in Dodger Stadium Defeat
The Nats lost on Friday night 6-5 at Dodger Stadium to open their nine game West Coast Road Trip. Mark (From LA) & Al discuss MacKenzie's Gore subpar's outing where he gave up five earned runs in over five innings of work. Gore issued four walks and only recorded four strikeouts, keeping him behind Boston Garrett Crochet for the MLB lead in strikeouts. (09:45) The offense slugged a trio of homers but was only 1 for 8 w/ RISP. Riley Adams ended an 0 for 32 slump in emphatic fashion with a solo H
Jun 20, 2025 · 35 min
Wood Walks-off the Losing Streak
The Nats finally snapped their long skid and it all came on the back of James Wood in the 4-3 win over Colorado in 11 innings. Al & Tim discuss the burgeoning superstar as the 22-year old went deep twice and knocked in all four runs. Wood is up to 20 homers and he is tied for 5th in the NL. (14:30) Trevor Williams had a decent outing as he only allowed two runs in just over five innings of work. The bullpen stepped up by only giving up one Rockies run and Cole Henry came through with two clut
Jun 19, 2025 · 36 min
11th Straight Loss
The Nats dropped their 11th in a row on Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to the visiting last place Rockies. Al & Mark make immediate note that they are just one game away from the tying 2008 franchise mark of 12 consecutive defeats. (06:00) James Wood's RBI double in the bottom of the 7th was the only extra base hit of the evening for Washington. (09:45) Mitchell Parker allowed a leadoff double, but did not give up a run in the 1st inning. Parker only gave up one run off of a solo homer in six
Jun 18, 2025 · 33 min
Rockies Club 7 Homers Amid A Chorus of Boos
The nightmarish home stand continued on Tuesday night in the Nats 10th consecutive defeat. Mark & Al are dumbfounded after the 10-6 loss where Colorado hit five homers in a span of eight hitters in the late innings. Will a major change happen soon in the clubhouse? (16:00) Cole Henry was the main culprit for the Rockies avalanche in the top of the 7th as he allowed four runs without a recording a single out. Jackson Rutledge also struggled in that frame as he ceded back to back homers. (20:05
Jun 17, 2025 · 40 min
Finnegan Blown Save Means 9th Straight Loss in House's Debut
The Nats losing streak extended to nine games on Monday night as victory slipped through their fingertips in the 6-4 defeat. Mark & Al begin with Kyle Finnegan, who inherited a one run lead in the top of the 9th, but allowed a pair of Rockies homers, the only home runs he has given up this season. (09:00) Brady House went 0 for 3 with a walk in his MLB debut. House was the #11 overall pick in the 2021 Draft and had a OPS of .872 this season thus far in AAA-Rochester. House looked comfortable d
Jun 16, 2025 · 41 min
Swept by Miami
Sunday was a low point as the Nats lost their 8th consecutive game after getting swept by the last place Marlins. Mark & Al chime in after the 3-1 defeat that drops the team to 30-41 on the season and now only one game ahead of Miami in the NL East, (07:30) Davey Martinez was asked about his Saturday comments about the coaches & players in his pregame session with reporters prior to Sunday's game. Mark was on-hand and relays his analysis of what Martinez had to say. (18:45) The offense only
Jun 15, 2025 · 41 min
Martinez Passionately Defends Coaches After 7th Straight Loss
The Nats had another 9th inning rally that came up short in Saturday afternoon's 4-3 loss to the Marlins. Mark & Al have a lot to react to after the 7th consecutive defeat and give blunt assessments on the State of the Rebuild. (11:45) Davey Martinez made an empassioned plea about his coaching staff in his postgame press conference. Martinez made news by saying "It's never on the coaches" in response to a question by the Washington Post. Did Davey throw his players "under the bus" within his
Jun 14, 2025 · 23 min
Parker Hit Hard in 6th Straight Loss
Friday night was a long one in Navy Yard as the Nats lost their 6th consecutive game. Mark & Al discuss the 11-9 defeat to visiting Miami, on an evening that saw a 2+ hour rain delay and the final out made at about 12:30AM. (04:30) Mitchell Parker's rough stretch continued as he gave up six runs in just over three innings of work. Davey Martinez was critical of Parker's fastball approach afterwards as the lefty's ERA is now up to 4.84. (09:00) Jose A. Ferrer had a poor showing in the top of t
Jun 13, 2025 · 31 min
Rabid 9th Inning Rally Falls Short in New York Sweep
The Nats lost their 5th straight on Thursday afternoon to get swept by the first place Mets. Al & Tim gather after the Nationals scored all their runs in the top of the 9th in the 4-3 defeat, but stranded two runners after Keibert Ruiz grounded into the final out. (13:00) New York starter Kodai Senga exited early after getting injured while fielding a play at 1B. After the game he was placed on the 15-day IL due to a hamstring issue. Senga is having an excellent season and is sporting a 1.47
Jun 12, 2025 · 36 min
David Peterson Throws a Complete Game Shutout for the Mets
The Nats lost their fourth in a row after bring shutout by Mets starter David Peterson on Wednesday night. Mark & Al focus on the scuffling offense, which has completely lost its groove since their hot trip out West. (05:45) James Wood had two of the six hits, but has only one homer in the month of June. (09:30) Riley Adams got the start behind the plate against the lefty Peterson. It seems like his playing time has ticked up this month as Keibert Ruiz's continues to struggle. (17:40) Darn
Jun 11, 2025 · 27 min
Bullpen Coughs Up Gore's Lead
The Nats suffered maybe their worst loss of the season on Tuesday night in the series opener at the Mets. Al & Tim recap the 5-4 loss in extra innings, where the Nationals could not hold onto a two-run 8th inning lead. Jose A. Ferrar allowed a pair of runs to tie the game and ultimately Jeff McNeil ended the affair with a RBI single to leadoff the bottom of the 10th. (08:50) MacKenzie Gore struck out six Mets in as many innings of work on 89 pitches. Gore regained the lead for the most strik
Jun 9, 2025 · 36 min
Nuñez Sent to AAA After Loss to Texas
The Nats dropped Sunday's rubber match to the visiting Rangers by a score of 4-2. Mark & Al begin with the scuffling offense, which only scored 10 runs in the six game homestand. (02:00) Help might be on the way as Nasim Nuñez was sent to AAA shortly after the defeat. As of our taping time, the corresponding move is expected to be either Brady House or Andres Chaparro from Rochester. House was the franchise 1st round draft choice from 2021 and did not play for the Red Wings on Sunday aftern
Jun 8, 2025 · 31 min
Rangers Return deShutout Favor
The Nats got a taste of their own recent medicine as Texas blanked them 5-0 on Saturday afternoon on South Capitol Street. Al & Mark run through some of the recent offensive slumps as the team has only scored nine runs in their past six games. (05:00) Nathaniel Lowe went 1 for 3 in facing his former team. Lowe's OPS is a troubling .650, much lower than when it was .785 at the end of April. His last homer came on May 16th in Baltimore. (09:45) Jacob deGrom was dominant on Saturday in seven
Jun 7, 2025 · 39 min
Call Homers off of Corbin in Speedy Shutout Victory
The Nats blanked the visiting Rangers 2-0 on Friday night in the quickest game in stadium history. Mark & Al begin with a familiar name as Patrick Corbin returned to D.C. and only allowed a pair of runs in eight innings of work. Corbin needed just 89 pitches and the last time he tossed eight innings was May 4th, 2022 in Colorado. (4:15) The official scorer determined the game length as 1 hour, 50 minutes and Mark feels that it should be one minute shorter. The official start time was 6:45PM
Jun 6, 2025 · 32 min
Happ & the Cubs Take the Series Finale
The Nats dropped Thursday's rubber match 7-1 to the visiting Cubs as Ian Happ knocked in four runs. Al & Mark sort through the sloppy affair, another example of poor defense & base running in defeat. (04:30) James Wood has a hard luck 0 for 4 evening despite every ball he hit having an exit velocity over 97 MPH. (09:20) Why is Davey Martinez not bothered by base running miscues? (12:45) Jake Irvin allowed three runs in five innings of work. Irvin immediately gave up a 2-run homer to Pete Cr
Jun 5, 2025 · 32 min
Gore Strikes Out 7 in Shutout Win
The Nats blanked the Cubs 2-0 on Wednesday night at Navy Yard. Mark & Al recap MacKenzie Gore's sterling outing where he struck out seven in as many innings worked. Gore regained sole possession for the most strikeouts in MLB this season with 108. (07:25) What are the chances that Gore starts the All Star Game next month in Atlanta for the NL? Paul Skenes is currently the likely leader in the clubhouse on that front. (14:00) Brad Lord stepped up in nursing the 1-0 lead in the top of the 8t
Jun 4, 2025 · 32 min
Cubs Pull Away in the 5th
The Nats lost 8-3 to the visiting Cubs on Tuesday evening to open their six game home stand. Al & Tim start with Trevor Williams; who was taken out in the pivotal top of the 5th and was charged with five runs allowed. Williams threw a shutout last week, but this outing was in line with his season that sports a 6.03 ERA in a dozen starts. (07:30) Five bullpen arms were needed and the first one used struggled the most. Andrew Chafin relieved Williams in the 5th and walked two of the three hitt
Jun 2, 2025 · 29 min
Parker's 1st Inning Woes Continue in Loss
The Nats four game win streak was snapped in Sunday afternoon's 3-1 loss in Arizona. Mark (From Phoenix) & Al open with DBacks Ace Corbin Burnes leaving the game in the top of the 5th due to a potential elbow injury. Burnes will have a MRI on Monday just a few minths after signing a 6-year/ $210M deal. (07:30) James Wood was hitless, but both team doubles came from the new guys in Robert Hassell III & Daylen Lile. Nathaniel Lowe's RBI single in the 5th was the only source of offense. (09:3
Jun 1, 2025 · 38 min
10-Run 1st Inning Leads to 4th Straight Win
The Nats won their fourth straight on Saturday night by defeating Arizona 11-7. Mark (From Phoenix) & Al marvel over the team's 10-run opening inning that set a tone for the entire evening. No homers were hit and the first 11 batters safely reached base. (9:40) James Wood's biggest impact came defensively as he nailed a runner out at the plate to stymie a Dbacks rally in the bottom of the 8th. (11:30) Are the Nationals a good offensive team? (15:45) Jackson Rutledge really struggled as the
May 31, 2025 · 31 min
Wood & Bell Each Go Deep in Arizona Win
The Nats beat the Diamondbacks 9-7 on Friday for their 3rd straight victory. Mark (From Phoenix) & Al gather early in the morning after Washington moves past Atlanta for 3rd place in the NL East. (05:30) James Wood slugged his 16th homer of the season and it is the 3rd time he has left the yard on this road trip. The last time someone in the franchise hit 30+ homers was Juan Soto in 2019. (08:30) Josh Bell crushed a homer for the 3rd straight evening and is beginning to turn his season aro