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 24, 2023 · 30 min
Game 75: Smashed in San Diego
The Nats were clobbered 13-3 in San Diego and have now lost 15 of their past 18 games. Mark (Live from Petco Park) & Al take a temperature check on Davey Martinez's job status as this month is shaping up to be one of the worst in club history. Davey's currently is signed through the end of the season. (08:00) Patrick Corbin had a 2021 type start he as he allowed 7 runs in 5 IP. Corbin's ERA is up to 5.32, the highest it has been since early May. The Mets are reportedly interested in acquiring Co
Jun 23, 2023 · 36 min
Game 74: Memorable Davey Ejection in Forgettable Loss
The Nationals lost 5-3 in their makeup game vs. Arizona to conclude a not so happy home stand. The afternoon crowd was a sleepy one given the scheduling circumstances, but Davey Martinez electrified the vibe by getting ejected in very dramatic fashion in the 5th inning. Mark & Al break down the ejection while musing about the team's subpar performance. (15:30) The defense did not perform well on Thursday and the tone was immediately set when a Derek Hill error resulted in Corbin Carroll scoring
Jun 22, 2023 · 41 min
Game 73: Abrams Homers in Rainy Shutout Win
The Nats blanked the Cardinals 3-0 in a wet Wednesday afternoon in Navy Yard to avoid the sweep and end the five game skid. Al & Tim start with Trevor Williams' victorious effort as he lasted 6 IP before handing it off to the "A Bullpen". Will there be interest for Williams at the Trade Deadline? (7:30) Carl Edwards Jr. is now on the IL due to shoulder inflammation and Mason Thompson seemingly is taking his spot in the Bullpen hierarchy. Kyle Finnegan escaped a jam in the 7th and Hunter Harvey w
Jun 21, 2023 · 43 min
Game 72: Brief Dugout Spat Amid 5th Straight Loss
The Nats have dropped five in a row this home stand as they fell 9-3 on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. Mark & Al have an extended discussion on the argument between MacKenzie Gore and Victor Robles following a misplayed fly ball in the top of the 2nd. Hear what Davey Martinez had to say about it in his postgame press conference. (15:30) Gore did not have a good outing as he ceded 9 hits and 5 runs in 6 IP. He was able to survive back to back walks and did strikeout 8 Cardinals in the process. His ERA in
Jun 20, 2023 · 47 min
Game 71: Gray Gives Away 5 Run Lead
The Nats lost their 4th straight as they blew an early five run lead in a 8-6 defeat against visiting St. Louis. Josiah Gray was staked the early edge, but allowed six runs; the final four of which came in the bottom of the 5th. It was Gray's worst outing of the year and his ERA is a full run higher than it was a month ago (3.64). (15:00) The offense did very little from the 3rd inning on and had more instances of making outs on the bases. Luis Garcia had an unusual box score as he gathered 4 RB
Jun 19, 2023 · 38 min
Game 70: Marlins Remain the Nats Daddies
The Nats were swept on Father's Day by visiting Miami 4-2 and they are now 0-6 against the Marlins this season. Al & Mark have a "Roblesian" blunder to begin with as Victor Robles, fresh off the IL, was picked off at a crucial moment with Lane Thomas up to bat in the bottom of the 5th. (10:10) Lane Thomas slugged his team high 11th HR of the season and is flirting with a .500 slugging %. Davey Martinez has stumped for Thomas to serve as the Nationals representative in the All Star Game. (22:40)
Jun 18, 2023 · 37 min
Game 69: Short Handed 'Pen Can't Reel in the Fish
The Nats remain winless this season against Miami as they fell 5-2 on Saturday afternoon in D.C. The bullpen inherited a tied game, but Chad Kuhl and Thad Ward combined to allow four runs in three frames. Davey Martinez afterwards said his "A" Bullpen was not available, and the short handed crew did not come through. (18:30) Jake Irvin had a good outing after having his spot in the rotation was recently skipped. Irvin lasted 5 IP and only ceded one run, his best start in over a month. (25:40) CJ
Jun 17, 2023 · 22 min
Game 68: Miami's Hex Over the Nats Continues
The Nats are now 0-4 this year against Miami after narrowly falling 6-5 in D.C. Al hosts solo and runs through Trevor Williams' rough start as he has now given up 11 runs in his three June outings. Meanwhile, last year's NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara has pitched poorly this year and that was the case on Friday night despite his dominance last year vs. Washington. (08:50) The Marlins' go head run came in the top of the 8th on an infield single that scored Garrett Cooper all the way from 2B.
Jun 16, 2023 · 37 min
Game 67: Nats Prevail in Extras
For the 1st time since October 30th, 2019 the Nats won in Houston and this one came in extra innings by the final score of 4-1. Al & Mark (Live from Texas) start with Keibert Ruiz who broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 9th and added the final insurance run with a 10th inning RBI single. Ruiz has struggled at the plate this season, but did have six hits on the two city road trip. (10:38) The bullpen pitched well, other than Hunter Harvey who blew the save in the 9th. The best news of the n
Jun 15, 2023 · 35 min
Game 66: Walk-Off Loss on Familiar Controversial Call
The "Trea Turner Play" somehow resurfaced in a game between the Nats and Astros in Minute Maid Park and this time it was the final sequence of a 5-4 Nationals loss. A bewildered duo of Mark (Live from Texas) & Al recap all angles of the controversial no call; including Davey Martinez's postgame rant that won't be forgotten any time soon. Why can't runner interference be reviewed? (17:00) The bottom of the 9th only came to be after Washington rallied with three runs in the top of the 9th to force
Jun 14, 2023 · 29 min
Game 65: A Muted Return to Houston
The Nats lost 6-1 in their first return to Houston since Game 7 of the 2019 World Series. Mark (Live from Texas) and Al scratch their heads over an Alex Call bunt attempt during the early stages of a potential 3rd inning rally. Call is really struggling at the plate as he is hitting .215 on the season (06:25) Chad Kuhl got the nod to pitch the 7th while trailing 2-0 and Al wonders if one of the "A" Bullpen members should maybe have taken the mound instead. Important to note the next off-day for
Jun 12, 2023 · 35 min
Game 64: Losing Streak Takes the Afternoon Train Out of Georgia
The Nats snapped their six game skid with a 6-2 victory on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta to avoid the sweep. Al & Tim start with the five run top of the 6th; which included a rare home run from 1B Dom Smith. It was his first HR since late April; this coming after he was given the bulk of Saturday off. (12:00) The "A" bullpen was well rested and came through with four scoreless frames. Hunter Harvey notched the save and it was his oddly first appearance in over a week. (19:20) Trevor Williams bounc
Jun 11, 2023 · 22 min
Game 63: Gore Struggles in Atlanta
The Nats losing streak is up to six games after falling 6-4 in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon. Al summarizes MacKenzie Gore's start where the lefty gave up five runs in as many innings. Gore's ERA is now above 4.00 (4.04) and he has not earned a victory since April. (08:20) Lane Thomas doubled and tripled on Saturday in Georgia. Hear Al point out a staggering 1st inning Lane Thomas statistic. (14:30) Michael Chavis started at 1B as Dom Smith was given a rare day off. Smith has been at 1B for the
Jun 10, 2023 · 38 min
Game 62: Doomed by Poor Defense in the 8th
The Nats lost their 5th straight as they allowed Atlanta to rally for a 3-2 final. Mark & Al recap the fateful bottom of the 8th where Washington had terrible defense on three different occasions in the frame. Dom Smith, who is in the lineup mainky due to his glove, made a crucial bobble on a routine grounder, which immediately led to the Braves tying run. Should he remain the everyday 1B? (13:05) CJ Abrams made an excellent defensive play in the 7th, but did not come up with the play when Atlan
Jun 8, 2023 · 30 min
Game 61: Arizona Hands D.C. Their 4th Straight Loss
The Nationals skid hit four games after 6-2 loss to Arizona on Wednesday evening. Al & Mark have no choice but to update the latest on the sorry state of affairs with the pitching staff. The day began with Erasmo Ramirez getting DFA'd and ended with Jordan Weems allowing a pair of runs in the 9th inning. (10:10) Patrick Corbin technically tossed a quality start despite allowing 3 runs right off the bat and 11 hits in total. Through an odd quirk in the schedule, it was his first outing at night i
Jun 7, 2023 · 30 min
Game 60: Another Bad Day for the 'Pen
The Nationals held an early lead but behind poor pitching they ended up losing 10-5 to visiting Arizona. Mark & Al start with a familiar refrain the struggling bullpen. Erasmo Ramirez inherited a 4-3 lead when he took the mound in the 5th inning, but it quickly became a 6-4 Diamondbacks edge. Ramirez last year was the Nationals Pitcher of the Year, but so far this season his ERA is at 6.33. (12:00) It was another Jake Irvin outing that did not inspire confidence and it included him committing an
Jun 5, 2023 · 39 min
Game 59: Bullpen Turns Close Game Into a Laugher
The Nats were routed 11-3 in Sunday's rubber match as the bullpen was unable to keep it close against Philadelphia's powerful lineup. Mark & Al lay out how poorly the 'pen pitched, evidenced by the fact that Philly led 2-1 until Andres Machado allowed a 3 run HR vs. Kyle Schwarber in the top of the 6th. Will there be some roster maneuvering by Tuesday? (10:20) Trevor Williams' start ended on a sour note as the runners that came across on the "SchwarBomb" were charged to his stat line. Williams'
Jun 4, 2023 · 26 min
Game 58: Back to Last Place + Strasburg Report
The Nats lost 4-2 on Saturday to Philadelphia to move behind the Phillies by a game in the standings. Al starts with MacKenzie Gore's OK outing where he allowed nine hits in six frames on the mound. Gore lasted 101 pitches in the afternoon and his ERA is currently at 3.66. (06:15) Only two relievers were used as the "A Bullpen" got the day off following Friday night's workload. Chad Kuhl threw two scoreless frames and his numbers out of the 'pen are far better than as a starter. (14:10) The Wash
Jun 3, 2023 · 41 min
Game 57: Win Over the Phils Ties Them in the Standings
The Nats are now tied for 4th place in the NL East with Philadelphia after holding on for dear life in an 8-7 victory over the visiting Phillies. Mark & Al look at how the current formula for Washington victories is not pitching/defense, but instead through offense. The bats jumped all over Zack Wheeler for an early 7-1 lead; including 3 RBIs from Jeimer Candelario. Lane Thomas came through with the game winning single in the bottom of the 8th that scored Alex Call; just after Call had stolen 2n
Jun 1, 2023 · 48 min
Game 56: Nats Crush 5 HRs in Dodger Stadium Triumph
A jam packed edition of Nats Chat after a 10-6 victory over the Dodgers to avoid the sweep. Mark (Live from LA) & Al marvel at the five home runs hit by the Nationals in the victory; two of which came from Keibert Ruiz. He homered three times in less than 24 hours against his old team to already match last season's HR output for the young catcher (7 HRs). Luis Garcia went deep at the perfect time as his 3-run blast broke the 5-5 tie in the top of the 8th. (15:40) Jeimer Candelario had a go- ahea