Washington Nationals
to keep him, but it also gives him great value in a trade market that doesn’t include many top starting pitchers.
Syndergaard is under control through 2021, but he has been on the disabled list since late May because of a strained ligament in his right index finger. The Mets hope he can return to face the Nationals on July 13.
❚ had 333 career home runs before he signed with the Mets in May, but he had never hit a walk-off homer until his grand slam off Chaz Roe beat the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6. According to STATS, Inc., the only player with more career home runs before his first walkoff was Mark Teixeira (408).
Jose Bautista
general manager said their strategy leading up to the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline still will blend shortterm success with long-term development.
“We’re at a point where the player development is intersecting with contention, and we have to understand how we got here and why we got here,” Klentak said. “... It’s because of our young players developing not only in the minor leagues, but at the major league level.”
The Phillies could be in the market for a third baseman, given that has underperformed and
is on the disabled list. They also could use bullpen help.
“There’s some areas of need,” right-hander said. “But having said that, the team that we have right now is capable of winning the division, there’s no doubt in my mind.”
Matt Klentak Maikel Franco J.P. Crawford Jake Arrieta
After the Nationals were swept at home by the Boston Red Sox to fall below .500 for the first time in July since 2013, the team’s veterans called a players-only meeting. The next three days went much better.
First, the Nationals overcame a nine-run deficit to beat the Marlins 14-12 for the largest comeback win in franchise history. Shortstop drove in eight runs.
Then came a walk-off 3-2 win over the Marlins on a
home run. Reynolds followed that with a 10-RBI game the next night in an 18-4 Nationals win. The 10 RBI tied a team record.
“That’s like a good weeks,” Reynolds said.
❚ Outfielder who hyperextended his left elbow in April while playing for Class AAA Syracuse (N.Y.), began a rehab assignment July 7 in the rookie Gulf Coast League. Robles is one of the team’s top prospects and likely would have been in the major leagues already if he hadn’t gotten hurt. Reliever out since June 2017 because of a shoulder injury, also was on a rehab assignment in the GCL.
Reynolds Trea Victor Koda Glover,
Contributing: Wire reports
Turner Mark
two
Robles,