Washington Nationals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (thigh) is still out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. Paul DeJong will once again make the start at shortstop and bat seventh, with Amed Rosario starting at third and hitting fifth against Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski. This will be Abrams' second straight missed game due to a tight thigh, but he's considered day-to-day and could return for Wednesday's series finale against L.A. The Nats have an off day on Thursday, though, so they could also keep him out for the entire series against the Dodgers and have him ready to go for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Miami Marlins. DeJong has gone 7-for-29 in the early going in his first year with Washington and is still searching for his first homer. Rosario has looked good in four games, going 6-for-14 with a solo homer and a stolen base.

Washington Nationals right-hander Kyle Finnegan pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to preserve a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Finnegan struck out two while allowing one walk and two hits to earn his fourth save in as many chances this season. The veteran has been a consistent force at the back of the Washington bullpen in the early going, allowing just one run through 5 2/3 innings of work while striking out five. He appears to have a firm grip on the closer role in Washington, although it remains to be seen just how many save chances the Nationals afford him this season.

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk, and a stolen base in a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Wood took Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda deep for a two-run shot in the seventh inning, giving the Nationals a 5-2 lead over LA. The young outfielder is off to a slow start this season, with just eight hits over 36 at-bats. The homer on Monday was just his second of the season, although Wood does now have two stolen bases. Wood has plenty of fantasy potential as a power/speed asset but will have to start hitting the ball more consistently.

Updating a previous report, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (thigh) is out of the starting lineup on Monday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park, but manager Dave Martinez said there's no concern with Abrams' right-thigh tightness at the moment. The 24-year-old felt some tightness in his thigh on the final play of the team's game on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, so he'll sit out Monday's game as a precaution. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Abrams to see if he's back in there for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. With Abrams out to begin the week, Paul DeJong will slide over to shortstop and will hit seventh, with Jose Tena getting the start at third and batting eighth against Dodgers right-hander Dustin May. Abrams is off to a decent start in 2025, going 9-for-35 with three home runs, two doubles, six RBI and two steals in nine games.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams will retreat to the bench for Monday's series opener versus the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers at National s Park. Paul DeJong will slide over to the 6 and bat seventh, while Jose Tena will get the nod at third base and hit eighth against Dodgers right-hander Dustin May. This will be Abrams' first day off of the 2025 regular season. The 24-year-old former first-rounder of the San Diego Padres in 2019 has started his third full season in D.C. by hitting .257/.289/.571 with an .861 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, two steals and five runs scored in nine games played. Expect him to return to action on Tuesday against L.A. Neither DeJong nor Tena will be great DFS options on Monday. DeJong has been the team's regular at third in the early going, and he's going 6-for-25. He's still searching for his first homer and has hit .200 in just five career at-bats versus May.