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

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel will start Sunday's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays on the bench. In his absence, Ildemaro Vargas will get the start at third base and will bat seventh in the order versus Rays right-hander Taj Bradley. Senzel will get a day to rest after starting in each of the team's last nine games. The 29-year-old former top prospect of the Cincinnati Reds has struggled of late as well, batting just .140 (6-for-43) with a homer, double, two RBI, three walks and 10 strikeouts in 46 plate appearances in his last 13 games since June 13. Senzel does have seven home runs in 190 at-bats, but otherwise he hasn't done much for fantasy managers with a .216 average (41-for-190) with 18 RBI and 23 runs scored in his first year with the Nat. Vargas is a low-upside DFS sleeper who has never faced Bradley in his career.

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel (knee) is back at the hot corner and is batting sixth for the Nationals on Thursday in the series finale against the Atlanta Braves and left-hander Ryan Kerr. Senzel fouled a ball off his right knee in Wednesday's contest and had to be removed, but the 28-year-old former first-rounder of the Cincinnati Reds will return the very next day. He has not cleared the fences in the last 22 games while hitting .231 (15-for-65) with three doubles, four RBI, 14 walks and 18 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances in 22 games in the month of May. Senzel has yet to steal a base but has decent enough power to be worth rostering as corner-infield depth in deeper fantasy leagues as the Nationals' regular third baseman when he's healthy.

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel (knee) exited Wednesday's game against the division-rival Atlanta Braves in the second inning with an apparent knee injury. Senzel fouled a ball off his right knee before drawing a walk in his first at-bat of the game, and he appeared to be in pain before he was removed from the contest. Utility man Ildemaro Vargas pinch-ran for Senzel and took over at third base for the Nats. The 28-year-old lefty-mashing Senzel hasn't been a consistent member of Washington's lineup this year, slashing a middling .224/.336/.402 with five home runs, 13 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 126 plate appearances (34 games) as a part-time player at the hot corner. Vargas would be worth a look in NL-only leagues if Senzel needs to miss time, slashing .301/.387/.409 with 10 doubles, 11 RBI, and four stolen bases over 93 at-bats.