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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Sep 21, 2025 · 39 min
Lile's 11th Inning Inside-the-Park-Homer Stuns Citi Field
The Nats handed the Mets a crucial defeat on Saturday afternoon in Queens. Mark (From NYC) & Al meet after the Nationals blew an early 3-0 lead, but Daylen Lile's exciting 2-run Inside-the-Park-Home run put them ahead for good 5-3. (05:00) It looked initially that Lile's big hit would be a triple as he is one away from setting a franchise record. Lile's OPS is now ahead of James Wood (.814 vs. .807). (08:45) CJ Abrams made a brutal TOOTBLAN in the top of the 11th just before Lile's homer. A
Sep 20, 2025 · 36 min
Lile Triples Again in New York Loss
The Nats dropped their 5th straight on Friday night as they were beaten by the Mets 12-6. Mark (From NYC) & Al gather after Washington guaranteed itself of having more losses this season than the previous two years. (04:30) The pattern of sloppy defense continued on Friday as the outfield combined for three errors; two of which were on Dylan Crews. (07:15) James Wood struck out two more times and committed a fielding error himself. Wood is now up to 212 Ks on the year; 21 more than AL leader
Sep 18, 2025 · 33 min
Swept by the Braves
The Nats lost 9-4 on Wednesday and dropped all four games this week against the Braves. Mark & Al evaluate the team's tired legs as they have shown recent signs of fatigue. It has been a busy stretch for the team as they have played 14 games in the past 13 days. (07:30) James Wood had a RBI double and a single on his 23rd birthday. Wood did strikeout for the 210th time this season, extending his own franchise record. (13:10) Brad Lord had a shutout through five innings, but it all came apar
Sep 17, 2025 · 25 min
Braves Take Both Games in the Doubleheader
Tuesday was a long one on South Capitol Street and neither game went the home team's way. Al & Tim convene following a day/night doubleheader where the Braves won 6-3 in the afternoon and then took the evening session 5-0 in extras. (05:45) James Wood struck out four times in the Game 1 loss. Wood sat out Game 2 and is now up to 209 strikeouts this season, 23 more than Riley Greene who leads the American League. (10:30) Daylen Lile tripled for the 10th time while only having played in 82 gam
Sep 16, 2025 · 26 min
Lile Homers but Routed by Atlanta
The Nats were pounded 11-3 by the Braves on Monday night in Navy Yard. Mark & Al begin with Daylen Lile yet again impressing as he homered and lifted his OPS to .816, just six points behind James Wood. Lile has the highest OPS of any NL Rookie with 300+ at-bats. (05:45) Dylan Crews went 0 for 3 and his batting average is now down to .202. (08:00) Mitchell Parker was pushed into the the top of the 6th and ended with a grisly line of allowing six runs off of ten hits. (15:45) Jarlin Susana r
Sep 15, 2025 · 31 min
Nats Rally to Take the Series Over Pittsburgh
The Nats took the series rubber match in Sunday afternoon's 4-3 win over the Pirates. Mark & Al note that the Nationals are 9-4 to start September and need only one more victory to avoid a 100 loss season. (04:35) Daylen Lile was the offensive hero as his 8th inning RBI double put Washington ahead for good. Lile reached base four times and his OPS is now up to .796 on the season. (09:00) CJ Abrams made his 20th error of the season, the 2nd most of any short stop in Baseball. (17:45) Cade Cav
Sep 14, 2025 · 34 min
Bullpen Falters After Alvarez's Gem
The Nats lost 5-1 on Saturday afternoon to the visiting Pirates. Al & Mark convene after the offense was only able to muster one run in the defeat. (06:00) Dylan Crews had multiple instances of aggressive and heads up base running in the bottom of the 6th. His play that inning is emblematic of the kind of player Crews wants to be. (13:10) Andrew Alvarez was superb on Saturday as he tossed six shutout innings in his third Big League start. (22:40) Washington's 1-0 lead evaporated in the top
Sep 13, 2025 · 28 min
Wood's Throw Home Preserves Comeback Win
The Nats opened the homestand with a 6-5 victory over Pittsburgh despite an early three run deficit. Mark & Al begin with the defensive exploits by James Wood in the top of the 9th as his perfect throw nailed the tying run at the plate. It was an up and down evening for Wood as he doubled twice, but also struck out twice, thus setting a single season franchise record with 200Ks. (10:15) Brady House & Dylan Crews each went deep in the victory. Crews is now at nine homers on the season. (15:0
Sep 12, 2025 · 31 min
Gore Takes the Mound but the Offense Gets Shutout
The Nats had to settle for a series split in Miami after dropping Thursday night's finale 5-0. Al & Tim gather after Washington was shutout for the 12th time this season to conclude their otherwise winning road trip. (04:00) MacKenzie Gore returned from the 15-Day IL to toss five innings in the loss. Gore allowed two runs in the first inning and struck out four Marlins in the outing. (08:05) CJ Abrams had a throwing error and it was his 18th of the season. Abrams has the 3rd most errors in
Sep 11, 2025 · 36 min
Gore Returning but Win Streak Snapped
The Nats led 3-0 entering the bottom of the 6th, but an ensuing comedy of errors tilted the evening in the Marlins direction for an 8-3 loss on Wednesday. Mark (From Miami) & Al though begin with the very encouraging news that MacKenzie Gore not only is coming off the IL, but will take the mound on Thursday night in South Florida. (08:00) Jake Irvin tossed five scoreless innings, but it all came apart in the four run bottom of the 6th. The defense made a pair of errors, Miguel Cairo was ejecte
Sep 10, 2025 · 34 min
Bell Homers Again in 4th Straight Win
The Nats scorching start to September continued on Tuesday night as they held off the Marlins 7-5 for a 4th straight victory. Mark (From South Florida) & Al take note that Washington is now within striking distance of both Atlanta & Miami in the NL East. The Nationals are six wins behind the Marlins with 18 games remaining. (06:30) Josh Bell crushed a 3-run HR in the top of the 1st for his 4th homer in the past three games. Bell is now up to 20 HRs on the season and it is now plausible that
Sep 9, 2025 · 34 min
Crews Among the 4 Homers Hit in Rout of the Marlins
The Nats hot start to September continued on Monday night in their 15-7 pasting of the Marlins. Mark (From Miami) & Al have four Nationals homers (two by Josh Bell) to sort through as the team has won six of their past seven games. (05:00) Dylan Crews hit his first homer since May 20th, which came just before he landed on the IL all summer. Crews had a big game on Monday night as he had three hits and knocked in four runs. (10:15) Luis Garcia Jr. began the scoring barrage with a solo homer i
Sep 8, 2025 · 30 min
Bell's Pinch-Hit Homer Stuns Wrigley in Comeback Win
The Nats trailed the Cubs 3-1 entering the 9th inning, but a couple of homers later, they emerged victorious by a score of 6-3 Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Tim recap the Nationals 5th win in the past six games to take their second straight series. (03:00) Josh Bell's gave Washington the lead for good with a pinch-hit 3-run home run in the 9th. Bell was given was the day off, but hit for Riley Adams in the 3rd spot in the order. Robert Hassell III began the rally w
Sep 7, 2025 · 38 min
Davey Johnson, 1st Division Winning Skipper, Passes Away at 82
We learned on Saturday morning that Davey Johnson, the Manager of the Nationals when they won their first NL East title in 2012, peacefully passed away the previous day at age 82. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al note that some of Johnson's managerial traits were utilized by Miguel Cairo in the Nationals 2-1 afternoon victory over the Cubs. (05:00) Jose A Ferrer continued his brilliant stretch in tossing a perfect bottom of the 8th. Ferrer has struck out 16 batters in his last 15.1 IP. Cole Henr
Sep 6, 2025 · 30 min
Irvin Gets Crushed at Wrigley
The Nats three game win streak came to an abrupt halt during Friday afternoon's 11-5 loss to the Cubs. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al convene after the Chicago warm wind was flying out towards the lake; leading to four Cubs home runs. (04:45) Jake Irvin gave up two of those homers and allowed seven runs in his brief outing. Irvin's ceded five runs in the bottom of the 1st and his first inning ERA this season is at a woeful 11.17; the worst in Baseball. Why does the team never experiment using
Sep 4, 2025 · 37 min
Nasim Nunez Stuns w/ 2 Homers in Sweep of Miami
The Nats turned an eight game skid into a three game sweep of the visiting Marlins. Al & Mark convene after the Nationals pulled off their 2nd sweep of the season and just like the one in Baltimore back in May, there were major contributions by Nasim Nuñez. (04:00) Nuñez entered the day with zero career MLB homers and shocked everyone by going deep twice on Wednesday afternoon. Nunez got the start at SS and also added a RBI single to round out his career day. Nuñez was a September roster addit
Sep 3, 2025 · 33 min
Cavalli Bounces Back to Beat Miami
Make it two straight victories for the Nats over Miami after Tuesday's 5-2 triumph. Mark & Al discuss Cade Cavalli's successful outing on the heels of getting hit hard at Yankee Stadium last week. Cavalli struck out six Marlins and this was his sixth start since getting called up from AAA last month. (12:00) The bullpen continued their strong run as of late as five arms combined for four scoreless frames. Jackson Rutledge was used to escape an 8th inning jam and Jose A. Ferrer notched his 6th
Sep 2, 2025 · 31 min
Andrew Alvarez Impresses in Winning Debut
The Nats 8 game losing streak ended on Labor Day as Andrew Alvarez tossed five shutout innings in his MLB debut in Navy Yard. Mark & Al throw plenty of flowers to the lefty who earned the 2-0 victory over Miami. Alvarez was called up from AAA-Rochester and was drafted out of Cal Poly in the 12th Round of the 2021 Draft. (08:45) Alvarez's battery mate was also making his MLB Debut in catcher C.J Stubbs, who was teammates with him as recently as last week in Rochester. Stubbs was promoted after
Sep 1, 2025 · 38 min
Rays Extend Nats Losing Streak to 8
August concluded at Nationals Park with a Rays sweep and an 8th consecutive loss for the home team. Mark & Al spend plenty of time sorting through another awful month and what this means big picture for the organization. If you've taken some time off from the podcast due to the rough state of affairs, this is a good one chance to check back in. (08:00) Jarlin Susana was removed from his AA-Harrisburg outing on Saturday due to right triceps soreness. What does that mean for the righty? (12:10
Aug 31, 2025 · 33 min
Gore to the IL Before a 7th Straight Loss
It was a not so fun Saturday in Navy Yard as the Nats dropped their 7th consecutive game. Mark & Al react to the 4-1 loss to the visiting Rays that bizarrely saw multiple instances of fans running onto the field during play. (05:30) MacKenzie Gore was placed on the 15-Day IL prior to the game due to left shoulder inflammation. Gore told reporters that he is aiming to return to the mound in mid or late September. (13:40) Another putrid performance by the offense as they only scored one run f