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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979 episodes
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Episodes979

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June 17 · 33 min
Mead Goes Deep in 4th Straight Victory
The Nats won their 4th game in a row on Tuesday night. Mark & Al recap the 6-4 win over Kansas City as the team is currently in sole possession of the NL's 3rd wildcard spot. The success is starting to become more believable as they have won nine of their past eleven series. (08:30) Curtis Mead broke the tie with a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 7th. Mead is up to eleven homers so far this season which is far by his career high. (14:00) Nasim Nuñez had an incredible all-around game. He tri
June 16 · 39 min
Crews Homers in Win Over KC
The Nats won their 3rd straight on Monday night to move to 3 games over .500 for the first time since.... 2019. Mark & Al discuss the 7-3 victory that has Washington in a tie for the final wildcard spot through 73 games. (08:15) Dylan Crews blasted a 3-run shot in the bottom of the 5th to put his team ahead by four runs. Crews has a had great homestand with both the bat and glove. (16:30) An early look at the NL voting results thus far for CJ Abrams & James Wood. Abrams leads for shortstops
June 15 · 31 min
Wood & Ruiz Homer in Rout of Seattle
The Nats trounced the Mariners 10-1 on Sunday afternoon to take yet another series. Mark & Al wonder out loud if this 37-35 team is actually good as we are now in the middle of June. Washington is currently just one game behind San Diego for the final NL wildcard spot. (08:45) Seattle starter Emerson Hancock was tagged with six runs off of nine against this potent Nationals offense. The big inning came in the bottom of the 4th when the Nats plated five in the frame to go up 6-1. (10:30) James
June 14 · 24 min
Garcia Jr.'s Homer Turns the Tide
The Nats are back above .500 after Saturday's 8-3 victory over the Mariners. Al recaps the win that saw Luis Garcia Jr break the tie with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th. (04:00) Blake Butera credited the "Tarp's Off" crowd in RF for their energy. The official attendance was just over 30,000 on Saturday. (06:30) Daylen Lile had a RBI triple on his Bobblehead Day. His hometown Louisville defeated the DC Defenders on the other side of South Capitol Street in UFL action on Saturday. (
June 13 · 34 min
Mariners Clobber Littell
The Nats were routed 10-2 on Friday night by visiting Seattle for their 2nd straight loss. Mark & Al note how the M's were able to hold onto their 9-1 entering the bottom of the 8th; unlike the Nationals on Wednesday in San Francisco. (07:00) Zack Littell was very ineffective as he was pulled in the top of the 5th. Littell allowed five Mariner runs and his ERA is up to 5.32. (11:15) Riley Cornelio came in for long relief and lasted over for over four innings. Cornelio was optioned back to A
June 11 · 32 min
Late Game Meltdown Spoils the Sweep
The Nats were on their way to a sweep of the Giants on Wednesday afternoon before it began to unravel in the 8th. Mark (From San Francisco) & Al react to the gut punch 11-10 loss that concluded on a walk-off Grand Slam. Washington led 9-1 entering the bottom of the 8th before allowing five runs in each of the final two frames. (07:00) Mitchell Parker was given the ball in the bottom of the 9th and did not retire either batter that he faced. Parker gave up the Grand Slam to Bryce Eldridge, a
June 10 · 27 min
Amid Wildcard Contenders After Win
The Nats are now two games above .500 after Tuesday night's 6-3 win over the Giants. Mark (From San Francisco) & Al begin with a rarity on this podcast; a wildcard standings update. Washington is now in a 3-way tie for the final wildcard spot; something that was unfathomable a few months ago. (7:15) Luis Garcia Jr. hit a 2-run HR to continue the team's recent pattern of scoring in the 1st inning. It was the 3rd time on this road trip that the Nationals went up 2-0 right away. (12:00) Wood b
June 9 · 31 min
Abrams Leads the 9th Inning Comeback
The Nats rallied with a 3-run 9th inning on their way to a 4-3 victory on Monday evening over the Giants. Mark (From San Francisco) recap the win that returns Washington to being above .500 through 67 games played. (04:30) CJ Abrams' finger prints were all over the top of the 9th as he came up to bat down two runs. Abrams then came through with a 2-run single, stole second base, and then scored the go-ahead run on Daylen Lile's single. It was a surprise that the Giants did not intentional w
June 8 · 29 min
Soroka Stifles the Sweep
The Nats lost 5-1 on Sunday afternoon to return to .500 through 66 games played. Mark (From Arizona) & Al recap the defeat at the hands of Michael Soroka, who pitched for the Nationals last season before being dealt at the Trade Deadline. Soroka lasted seven innings; something he never accomplished last year. (06:00) CJ Abrams homered for the 14th time this season in the top of the 2nd. His OPS currently sits at .914 and that is the 7th best in the NL. (10:00) James Wood was moved from the
June 7 · 34 min
Back Above .500
The Nats beat the Diamondbacks 6-1 on Saturday afternoon to move back above .500 through 65 games played. Mark (From Arizona ) & Al start with the offense; that jumped out 2-0 right away for the second straight day. Curtis Mead hit a 2-run HR in the top of the 1st with James Wood on base. (08:45) Dylan Crews homered in the 7th to put Washington ahead 3-1. Crews was 1 for his last 17 entering that at bat. (14:45) Nasim Nuñez knocked in a pair of runs and stole his 23rd base of the season. Nu
June 6 · 31 min
Nats Slug 5 Homers in Easy Arizona Win
The Nats pounded the Diamondbacks 14-1 after hitting five homers on Friday night. Mark (From Arizona) & Al open with Luis Garcia Jr. who went deep twice; including a Grand Slam to make the game a rout. Garcia's OPS is .745 with seven homers on the season. (10:00) James Wood homered for the 17th time this year which is tied for 2nd most in the NL. (12:00) Jorbit Vivas ended his RISP woes w/ a pair of hits. Vivas got the nod at 3B and made a nice defensive play in the win. (17:00) TGIF - Fos
June 4 · 34 min
Swept by Miami
The Nats lost 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon and it completed a three game sweep for the Marlins. Mark & Al convene after the Nationals dropped to 1-5 on the season vs. Miami and are now back to one game below .500 overall. (07:00) The offense was little match for Miami starter Max Meyer as he only allowed one run in seven innings of work. The Nationals only scored seven total runs during this series in Navy Yard. (08:30) Dylan Crews drove in the only run with a RBI fielder's choice in the bottom
June 3 · 34 min
Nats Give up 4 Homers in Defeat
The Nats lost 7-3 for the second straight night against visiting Miami. Mark & Al discuss the defeat that included the Marlins hitting three straight homers in the top of the 5th and some questionable decisions by Manager Blake Butera along the way. (04:30) Richard Lovelady had an adventurous scoreless outing. Lovelady issued three walks, but worked around the trouble in two frames on the mound. (06:00) Miles Mikolas then took over and allowed three straight homers in the top of the 5th. Mik
June 2 · 32 min
'Pen Can't Reel in the Fish
The Nats lost 7-3 to Miami on Monday night in Navy Yard. Mark & Al note that the Nationals are now just 1-3 so far this season against the underwhelming Marlins. (04:30) Cade Cavalli threw another good outing as he struck out six Marlins in five plus innings on the mound. Cavalli is tied for the 8th most strikeouts in the National League. (12:20) The bullpen did not fare well on Monday evening. Richard Lovelady allowed a game tying 2-run HR to the first batter he saw in the top of the 6th.
June 1 · 28 min
Garcia & Wood Homer in Win
The Nats topped the Padres 4-2 to take the weekend series and return to two games above .500. Al solo hosts and begins with Blake Butera's early case for NL Manager of the Year as the team went 16-12 in the month of May. (07:00) James Wood slugged his 16th homer of the season which is tied for the 2nd most in the NL. Luis Garcia Jr. also went deep for his 5th homer of the season. (09:00) Keibert Ruiz had a great month of May; both at the plate and behind it. Is Ruiz a legit All - Star candida
May 31 · 28 min
6-Run 7th Propels the Nats
The Nats offense exploded for six runs in the 7th inning in their 9-4 victory over the Padres. Mark & Al run through the hectic frame, that began with a 3-1 San Diego lead. Washington scored in many unconventional ways and Craig Stammen was ejected for the first time as Padres skipper in the process. (07:00) San Diego starter Michael King was cruising through six innings, but the 7th inning avalanche caused him to be charged with five runs. (09:00) Curtis Mead didn't start, yet drove in three
May 30 · 36 min
Nats Can't Keep Early Lead in Home Loss
The Nats lost their homestand opener 7-5 on Friday night. Mark & Al examine the 7-5 loss to the Padres that put the team back at .500 after two consecutive defeats. (04:45) Paxton Schultz surprisingly was used as the Opener and his 26 pitch 1st inning set a tone for a pitch inefficient evening on the mound for Washington. (06:00) Andrew Alvarez only lasted three innings as the Bulk starter. Alvarez gave up a trio of runs off of five hits and two walks were issued. (09:30) Could Clayton Bett
May 27 · 30 min
No Sweep in Cleveland
The Nats lost to the Guardians 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon to snap their four game win streak. Mark & Al take stock in the 4-2 road trip where the Nationals only played 1st place teams. The team went 10-6 during a sixteen day stretch without a day off. (05:30) The offense was only 1 for 8 w/ RISP, but the big stars each doubled. CJ Abrams doubled Wood into score in the 3rd and his 47 RBIs are the second most in all of Baseball. (12:00) PJ Poulin tossed a scoreless 1st and then handed it of
May 27 · 26 min
Wood Homers in 4th Straight Win
The Nats doubled up the Guardians 6-3 on Wednesday night to go two games above .500. Al & Tim discuss the longest win streak thus far for the Nationals as all four victories have come on the road. (04:30) This is the highest point for the franchise since the Trade Deadline in 2021. (06:30) Cade Cavalli struck out out seven Guardians in six innings of work. Cavalli escaped a jam in the 5th to maintain a comfortable lead. (11:20) Mitchell Parker took the baton from Cavalli and pitched the f
May 26 · 35 min
6 Homers Give the Nats a Winning Record
The Nats slugged their way to a 10-2 romp on Memorial Day in Cleveland. Al & Mark begin with the fact that the Nationals are above .500; the latest point in the season that they have a winning record since July 1st, 2021. (10:00) Washington crushed six homers in Monday night's win. They began the hit parade immediately as James Wood led off the game with a solo shot and two batters later Carlos Mead made it 3-0. (11:35) Mead and his .844 OPS went deep twice in the win as he is making a cas