Washington Nationals

COLUMN | There is low-level buzz about shortstop CJ Abrams’ trade value. The Nationals should quash the rumors by extending their 25-year-old star’s contract to give fans a healthy dose of hope.

The club isn’t oblivious to what’s at stake over the next two weeks. The Nationals know losing means the locker room could look different after Aug. 3.

“They know they have a chance in front of them to make a run at this thing, or if we slip back, it could mean something differently,” manager Blake Butera said. “But these guys want to win, and they’re frustrated right now.”

Time is ticking for the Nationals to create some real separation ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

A night after scoring 23 runs, the Nationals go hitless until the seventh inning against J.T. Ginn.

The 23 runs tied for the second most in franchise history. Washington also scored 23 against the New York Mets on April 30, 2017 — two fewer than the club record set against the Mets on July 31, 2018.

After struggling in April and May, the 23-year-old posted an .841 OPS in June.

“I just wanted to more than anything go out there, throw strikes, let them swing the bat,” Griffin said of his All-Star experience.

CJ Abrams and James Wood have been the driving forces behind the Nationals’ high-powered offense.

Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single and Ben Rice followed with an RBI single in the first against Cristopher Sánchez of the host Philadelphia Phillies.

For Griffin, each stellar start this season was followed by doubts. Is his production sustainable? The left-hander has quieted the chatter as he takes his place among the game’s best.

Harper crushed nine home runs in a span of 10 swings in the final minute, then went on to win the Home Run Derby at Nationals Park.

The Nationals stars are staying later than ever to get treatment on their bodies.

As slot values declined with each successive pick, making it increasingly difficult to ensure a high school prospect will agree to a contract rather than going to college, the Nationals opted to mostly draft from the collegiate talent pool.

The Nationals end the first half on a sour note after being swept in a series in which they should have won at least one game.

The rookie will replace Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft for Tuesday night’s game in Philadelphia.

There are not many levers left for manager Blake Butera to pull with the bullpen. He just needs the guys he puts on the mound to record outs.

The 2026 draft marks the first under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and general manager Anirudh Kilambi. The Nationals have four Day One picks.