HOWIE KENDRICK NEWS

Returns to lineup Kendrick (back) will bat third and play first base Tuesday against the Mets.

Impact Kendrick missed a pair of games last week due to back issues, but the Nationals' lack of games over the weekend gave him the time he needed to get healthy. He's gone just 2-for-16 at the plate so far this season, though that sample size is of course quite small.

AUGUST 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Corbin expected to start for Washington against New York

The New York Mets play the Washington Nationals

AUGUST 4, 2020 • Associated Press

Should return this week Kendrick (back) felt good when taking at-bats Sunday and should be ready when the Nationals return to game action this week, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The 37-year-old sat out the final two games against the Blue Jays due to upper-back stiffness, but it appears he'll be ready to return coming out of the weekend. The Nationals had the weekend off since the Marlins have been on hiatus after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff. Kendrick was off to a slow start this season (2-for-16) before bowing out of the lineup with the back issue.

AUGUST 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Could swing Sunday Kendrick (back) could take some swings in practice Sunday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Kendrick was scratched from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against Toronto due to upper-back stiffness and didn't play Thursday, either. The Nationals have the weekend off after their series against Miami was cancelled due to the Marlins' coronavirus pandemic, so Kendrick has been able to rest for a few more days. Whether or not he'll be back in action Tuesday against the Mets remains unclear.

AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor, Suzuki lift Nats past Jays 6-4 before 4-day break

Michael A

JULY 30, 2020 • Associated Press

Riding pine vs. lefty Thames is out of the lineup Thursday against the Nationals.

Impact The lefty-hitting Thames will head to the bench for the second time this season with a southpaw (Hyun-Jin Ryu) on the mound for the opposition. Asdrubal Cabrera will cover first base in place of Thames, while Josh Harrison takes over as designated hitter for Howie Kendrick (back).

JULY 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gets series finale off Kendrick (back) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Impact After experiencing upper-back stiffness Wednesday, Kendrick was scratched from the Washington lineup and ultimately went unused in the team's 4-0 win in 10 innings. Though skipper Dave Martinez downplayed Kendrick's injury after the contest, the manager won't take any chances with the 37-year-old as the Nationals head into a stretch of four off days in a row following the cancellation of this weekend's series in Miami. Josh Harrison will step in as the Nats' designated hitter in place of Kendrick, who is reportedly available off the bench if needed, according to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic.

JULY 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Ryu scheduled to start as Toronto hosts Washington

The Toronto Blue Jays face the Washington Nationals

JULY 30, 2020 • Associated Press

Nats OF Soto awaits DC clearance to return after COVID test

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is still waiting to be cleared to play by the city government after getting the OK from Major League Baseball to return from the COVID-19...

JULY 29, 2020 • Associated Press

Sluggish start to year Kendrick went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact The 37-year-old has started every game to begin the season, swapping between first base and designated hitter with Eric Thames, but Kendrick has only a .125 batting average and one RBI to show for it. The Nats offense as a whole is in something of a funk early on, but the impending return of Juan Soto (illness) could jump-start the entire lineup, Kendrick included.

JULY 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Robles' 4-RBI night leads Nats past Yanks The Nationals are no strangers to home runs clanging off the foul pole. Following up Howie Kendrick’s historic shot to right field in the Wo...

JULY 26, 2020 • MLB.COM

Fit for a swing: Meet the new DHs of the National League

The minute word leaked that the designated hitter was coming to the National League this season, fans and front offices alike began pinpointing the perfect candidates

JULY 22, 2020 • Associated Press

Appears set as No. 3 hitter Castro appears to be manager Dave Martinez's first choice to fill the third spot in the Nationals' batting order, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Impact Martinez could shuffle things around against tough right-handers, but otherwise Castro seems like he will be hitting behind Trea Turner and Adam Eaton, and ahead of Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick -- potentially a very lucrative spot in the order when it comes to amassing RBI and runs. He won't fully replace Anthony Rendon's production, but Castro did post career highs in homers (22) and RBI (86) last season with the Marlins and now has a much better lineup around him.

JULY 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard Monday Kendrick launched a two-run home run off Alex Cobb in the fourth inning and added an RBI double in the seventh during Monday's exhibition game against the Orioles.

Impact The veteran didn't seem to need much time to shake off any rust that had accumulated during the break, despite his late start to summer camp. Kendrick figures to be the Nats' primary designated hitter in 2020 after posting a career-high .967 OPS last year and delivering plenty of postseason heroics.

JULY 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Strasburg gets feel for pitching on the road in a pandemic

With all the protocols in place, Stephen Strasburg got a good feel for what pitching on the road will entail this season during the coronavirus pandemic

JULY 20, 2020 • Associated Press

Washington Nationals’ Howie Kendrick will be ready for Opening Day even if he’s not ready... Howie Kendrick returned from two weeks in quarantine to single in his first at bat of Spring Training 2.0. He’ll be there on Opening Day...

JULY 18, 2020 • FEDERALBASEBALL.COM

Soto, Kendrick return to Nationals' lineup Nationals manager Dave Martinez wanted to do something special. Two weeks had passed since the Nats opened Summer Camp, and Juan Soto, Howie...

JULY 17, 2020 • MLB.COM

'Welcome back': Nats get Soto, Kendrick in camp after delay

Middle-of-the-order batters Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick finally joined the Washington Nationals for “summer camp” and played in an intrasquad scrimmage after missing nearly two we...

JULY 16, 2020 • Associated Press

'4 Horses' still key for World Series champion Nationals

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez figures his team’s bid for a rare repeat World Series championship during this pandemic-affected season might very well come down to what...

JULY 14, 2020 • Associated Press

More positive tests, canceled workouts add to MLB unease

As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep more players off the field

JULY 7, 2020 • Associated Press

This Date in Baseball

This Date in Baseball for July 8

JULY 7, 2020 • Associated Press

The Latest: Houston athletics cutting operating budget

The University of Houston athletics department announced several budget cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic

JULY 7, 2020 • Associated Press

This Date in Baseball

This Date in Baseball for July 4-10, Take 2

JULY 2, 2020 • Associated Press

What Would Have Been: World Series rematch at MLB midpoint

There would have been a World Series rematch July 4 in the national's capital if not for the coronavirus pandemic

JUNE 29, 2020 • Associated Press

AP source: Yankees vs champ Nationals in DC on opening day

Gerrit Cole could make his New York Yankees debut in a tasty opening-day treat for fans, facing Juan Soto and World Series champion Washington at Nationals Park

JUNE 28, 2020 • Associated Press