Nick Senzel's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel (finger) was a late scratch on Opening Day on Thursday against his former team, the Cincinnati Reds, on the road after he injured a finger while taking grounders during batting practice. With Senzel out, Ildemaro Vargas will now make the start at the hot corner while batting eighth against Reds right-hander Frankie Montas. It's not the start that Senzel was hoping for in his first year in D.C., and there's no word on the severity of his finger injury or if he'll have to miss more time beyond Thursday's game. The 28-year-old former second overall pick of the Reds in 2016 out of Tennessee was a first-round bust in his five years in Cincy, mostly due to injuries. He's hoping to bounce back with the Nats after hitting .239/.302/.369 in his first 377 big-league games.

Washington Nationals third baseman/outfielder Nick Senzel (illness) is back at third base and is hitting fifth in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Senzel was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday and has missed the last several days while being under the weather, but he's feeling much better now. The 28-year-old former first-rounder will get every opportunity to earn regular playing time at third base in his first year in D.C. in 2023, and his power/speed combination make him worth a gamble in NL-only leagues if he can stay healthy. The former second overall pick in 2016 out of Tennessee played in a career-high 110 games in 2022 and hit an underwhelming .239/.302/.369 with 33 homers, 125 RBI and 32 stolen bases in his five years with the Reds.

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel (illness) and catcher Keibert Ruiz (illness) were both scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup due to illnesses. Senzel has been sick now for a few days, and Ruiz may have caught the same bug. Both players should be able to return to the lineup in a few days at spring training and will be fine for Opening Day in late March. Senzel, a former first-rounder, flamed out in Cincinnati, mostly due to injuries. The 28-year-old is expected to try and stick as Washington's primary third baseman in 2024, and his power/speed combination makes him worth a bench spot in deep-mixed leagues if he wins the job. Ruiz, 25, has gone 1-for-4 in his two Grapefruit League games so far. He's not an elite fantasy catcher, but he has a strong floor due to his status as the Nats' starting catcher.

Washington Nationals third baseman/outfielder Nick Senzel (illness) was not in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the New York Mets because he was feeling under the weather. With Senzel sitting out, prospect Brady House got the start at third base for the Nats. The 28-year-old Senzel is expected to see regular playing time at the hot corner in D.C. for the rebuilding Nationals in 2024. Perhaps the former first-round pick can pick things up with a change of scenery, but fantasy managers in most leagues should be content to wait and see what happens. Injuries have been the story of his career to this point. Senzel missed time in 2023 with the Reds due to toe and knee injuries and finished with a .236 average, a career-high 13 home runs, 42 RBI and six steals in 104 games.