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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April 12 · 27 min
Wood & Good Pitching in Wisco Win
The Nats won their second straight game in Milwaukee on Saturday night.. Al solo hosts after the 3-1 victory and begins with Foster Griffin's shutout effort that lasted into the bottom of the 6th. Griffin issued three walks but only allowed one hit on 80 pitches. (06:00) Brad Lord relieved Griffin and struck out the side in the 7th. The Brewers didn't score until the 9th, but Clayton Better did just enough to record the final outs. (10:40) The offense collected eight hits, and the biggest wa
April 11 · 29 min
Wood Stays Red-Hot in Milwaukee Win
The Nats began their road trip with a 7-3 victory in Milwaukee on Friday night. Al & Mark have more praise for James Wood, who came through with four hits in the win. Wood had a pair of singles and a couple of doubles to lift his OPS to .930. (04:00) Washington used plenty of small ball including two RBI sacrifice bunts in the top of the 9th. The game was tied at 3 entering the final frame, but the Nationals scored four runs in the 9th. (11:20) Brady House is showing more plate discipline so
April 9 · 31 min
Short Outing for Mikolas in Defeat
The Nats ended a disappointing 1-5 home stand on Wednesday afternoon. Mark & Al analyze the 6-1 loss against the visiting Cardinals that meant the team has dropped seven of their past eight games. (05:00) Miles Mikolas was pulled after the 3rd inning in favor of Brad Lord. Blake Butera afterwards said he wanted Lord to get more work on the mound and that the plan was for Mikolas to face the St. Louis lineup just twice. Will the tandem type start become more normal for the franchise in the nea
April 8 · 34 min
Bullpen Coughs Up Late 3-Run Lead
The bullpen's shaky start to the season continued in Tuesday night's 7-6 extra inning loss vs. the visiting Cardinals. Mark & Al discuss this continuing theme where the 'pen can hang onto the multi run lead it inherits in the middle of the game. (06:00) Are there any answers for Blake Butera on how to handle this bullpen? (12:40) Cade Cavalli had an inefficient start as he was lifted in the top of the 5th. Cavalli issued four walks and allowed a pair of Cardinals runs in his 3rd outing of t
April 7 · 30 min
Wood, House, & Abrams Lead the Late Charge
The Nats snapped their five game losing streak in exciting fashion on Monday evening in Navy Yard. Mark & Al recap the 9-6 come from behind victory over the Cardinals that was propelled by a trio of homers in the bottom of the 8th. (04:00) James Wood did it both with the glove and that bat in the victory. Wood robbed a homer at the fence in the 4th and then his 3-run HR tied the affair in the 8th. (12:30) Brady House continued his hot start with a huge performance at the plate on Monday ni
April 6 · 36 min
Bullpen Can't Hold a 5-Run Lead
The Nats were swept on Sunday afternoon as they could not protect their 6-1 lead in what ultimately ended being an 8-6 loss at the hands of the visiting Dodgers. Al & Mark look at the bullpen faltering over the course of the final four innings after taking over for Foster Griffin. Things went sideways in the top of the 8th as Cionel Perez allowed four runs that gave the Dodgers the lead for good. (07:00) Blake Butera mentioned that L.A. was all over Perez and that he they noticed that he was
April 5 · 29 min
Defending Champs Jump All Over Irvin in 4th Straight Loss
The Nats dropped their 4th straight on Saturday afternoon to the two-time defending champion Dodgers in a 10-5 loss. Al & Tim discuss Jake Irvin's rough outing where he allowed six runs in just four innings of work. Irvin is coming off a poor 2025 season where his ERA finished at 5.70. (07:30) Brad Lord gave up a 3-run homer to the red hot Andy Pages after entering the game for Irvin in the 5th. (12:15) CJ Abrams homered for the 3rd time this season and already has 12 RBIs. (15:00) James Wo
April 4 · 34 min
Dodgers Drub Mikolas in Home Opener
The Nats were crushed 13-6 on Friday afternoon for Opening Day at Nationals Park. Mark & Al focus on starter Miles Mikolas, who gave up a staggering 11 runs in just over four innings of work. Mikolas has allowed 17 runs in just two starts this season and there are already questions about how long he will remain in Washington. (20:30) Recap of the bullpen's so-so game. (23:20) CJ Abrams launched a 3-run HR in the 1st inning to briefly put the Nats up 3-0 on LA. (28:25) Blake Butera was very
April 2 · 38 min
Late Blown Lead in Philly
The Nats had a gut punch extra-inning loss on Wednesday afternoon. Mark (From Philadelphia) & Al react to the 6-5 defeat where the Nationals blew a 5-1 late inning lead. (05:00) The bullpen did not get it done as four relievers gave up a run. Cole Henry took the loss after giving up a RBI leadoff single in the bottom of the 10th. (09:45) Could Brad Lord have taken the mound late in the game? (12:40) CJ Abrams launched a 3-run HR to put Washington up 5-1 for his first of the season. (13:
April 1 · 32 min
Wood Doubles, but Strikes Out Twice in Defeat
The Nats lost 3-2 in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, but still are a game above .500. Mark (From Philly) & Al look react to James Wood's up and down start thus far, where he has contributed offensively, but also is tied for the MLB strikeout lead. Wood came through with a RBI double in the loss, but also had a pair of K's. (13:40) Daylen Lile has carried over his impressive September into the beginning of this season. Lile has been mostly been hitting cleanup and came through with a RBI single
March 31 · 31 min
Nats Bring the Bats to Philly
The Nats extended their strong start with a 13-2 victory in Philadelphia on Monday night. Mark (From Citizens Bank Park) & Al note how this is the first time that the franchise has been two games over .500 since.... the summer of 2021! (06:00) Joey Wiemer's streak of reaching base made it to ten consecutive plate appearances. Wiemer had two hits in the victory, part of the 17 hits that the offense collected. (08:40) The Nationals properly pulled off the steal attempt in order to bring the ru
March 30 · 33 min
Wiemer Goes Deep Again in Opening Series Win
The Nats beat the Cubs 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to take the series in Chicago. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al have a lot of praise for Joey Wiemer, who is having a dream start to the season. Wiemer has homered in both games he has played so far and has reached base in all eight plate appearances. Wiemer bounced around a bit th roster transactions this offseason, but ultimately Washington claimed him off of waivers in early January. (07:00) CJ Abrams was back in the lineup on Sunday after miss
March 29 · 34 min
Routed in Chicago but Wood Homers
The Nats were trounced 10-2 on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field for their first loss of the season. Mark (From Chicago) & Al discuss a sloppy affair for the visitors. One of the runs came courtesy of James Wood, after connecting on his first homer of the season, while hitting in the leadoff spot. (10:15) Drew Millas was a very surprising choice to bat 2nd in the lineup. It is expected that Millas and Ruiz will split catching duties to begin the year. (14:00) Nasim Nunez made an incredibl
March 27 · 38 min
Opening Day Win at Wrigley
The Nats began their season in style with a 10-4 road victory over the Cubs on a chilly Thursday afternoon. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al discuss the strong start for the offense, as a trio of Nationals went deep. Joey Wiemer got things going with a solo shot in the 2nd while getting the nod in RF. The other homers came courtesy of Jacob Young and Brady House in the 9th for some welcomed insurance. (12:00) The first lineup card under Blake Butera had a few surprises, including Andres Chpparo
March 25 · 49 min
Nationals 2026 Season Preview
Al & Mark convene just a few days before the Nationals open the season at Wrigley Field on Thursday afternoon. There has been a flurry of roster activity in the past few days as Spring Training is finished and the Paul Toboni Era is underway. (04:45) Josiah Gray was surprisingly placed on the 60- Day IL on Monday evening (Right flexor strain). Gray has not pitched for the Nats since April 2024 due to injury. (14:35) Why was Dylan Crews demoted to AAA? Crews was sent down on Friday afternoon t
March 21 · 4 min
DYLAN CREWS OPTIONED TO AAA
Quick update by Tim Shovers regarding Friday afternoon's news that Dylan Crews will not be on the Nationals Opening Day roster. **Audio Courtesy of natsjournal.com**
March 18 · 41 min
Concerns About Dylan Crews Ahead of Opening Day
Opening Day is just one week away and the roster is starting to come into focus. Mark (From West Palm) & Al dive into what players are expected to head north with the Big League team as Spring Training is wrapping up soon. Many positions still have question marks and catcher is atop the list. (05:45) Zack Littell is on track to start the Nats 2nd game of the season in Chicago despite not having signed with the team until March. (08:00) Where does Jake Irvin fit into the starting rotation as
March 13 · 48 min
Cavalli Named Opening Day Starter
It is a busy time in Baseball as Spring Training continues alongside the popularity of the World Baseball Classic. Team USA is onto the quarterfinals amid very strong TV ratings. (04:30) The Nats just signed veteran starter Zack Littell, who surprisingly was available into March. The 30-year-old has a 3.88 career ERA and will immediately fit into the starting rotation, which has more experience than previously expected. Washington also inked starters Foster Griffin and Miles Mikolas after cam
March 6 · 41 min
Discussing Jacob Young & Harry Ford as Opening Day is Later This Month
The Nats will be in Wrigley Field in under three weeks, but before then the sport is focused on Spring Training & the World Baseball Classic. Al & Mark begin with looking at how the new Front Office has made its impact on the club while down in Florida thus far. (09:00) Jacob Young is dealing with a wrist contusion and has been out of the lineup for an extended time. (22:20) Harry Ford, the catcher who the Nationals acquired from Seattle in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer, is playing for Great Br
February 27 · 40 min
James Wood Playing RF in Grapefruit League
The Nats have had a strong start to exhibition play in Florida; for whatever that is worth. Mark & Al begin with James Wood seeing a lot of action in RF so far this Spring Training. Wood has a lot of CF experience in the minors and LF duty in the majors, but has not found a permanent spot in the outfield. There is also conjecture that Wood could switch to 1B within the next few seasons. (14:30) Brady House homered twice in the Spring Training opener vs. Miami. House struggled mightily in his