Call went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Tigers.
The 30-year-old outfielder is thriving in a short-side platoon role, banging out three hits in each of his last two starts. Call is slashing .294/.389/.405 on the season in 59 games with two homers, one steal, 20 RBI and 27 runs, but his workload seems unlikely to increase any time soon -- Daylen Lile has a 10-game hitting streak going on the strong side of the platoon with Call, and Dylan Crews (oblique) is expected back from the IL before the end of July.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Losing work to Lile
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Call is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Despite providing an .853 OPS over a stretch of 12 consecutive starts from June 4 through Monday, Call looks like he'll have to settle for a fourth outfielder role after the Nationals recalled Daylen Lile from Triple-A Rochester earlier this week. Lile will draw a second straight start in right field against a right-handed starting pitcher (German Marquez), while the right-handed-hitting Call has been on the bench for both of those contests. Lile and Call could end up operating in a platoon at the position until Dylan Crews (oblique) is cleared to return from the injured list.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Ceding starts to Hassell, Lile
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Call is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
When Dylan Crews (oblique) and Jacob Young (shoulder) were placed on the injured list May 21 and 23, respectively, Call appeared to be in good position to move into an everyday role. Instead, Call has continued to serve as the Nationals' fourth outfielder, with prospects Robert Hassell and Daylen Lile getting regular playing time after being called up to replace the injured outfielders. Call will remain on the bench for the sixth time in as many games while the Nationals face off against another right-hander (Corbin Burnes), but he should spell either Hassell or Lile when Washington goes up against lefties.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Playing time trending up
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Call will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Giants, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Call will pick up his fourth start in five games, with his outlook for playing time having improved with both Dylan Crews (oblique) and Jacob Young (shoulder) on the injured list. The Nationals called up two of their top outfield prospects in Robert Hassell and Daylen Lile to replace them, but Call should occupy a regular spot in the lineup versus left-handed pitching while still being in the mix against righties, too. The 30-year-old has held his own in matchups with same-handed pitching this season, slashing .254/.393/.373 (122 wRC+) in his 86 plate appearances versus righties.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Filling in for Crews on Thursday
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Call will start in right field and bat seventh in Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Though Call still looks to be the Nationals' fourth outfielder, he's seen fairly steady playing time while manager Dave Martinez continues to dish out occasional days off for Dylan Crews, Jacob Young and Josh Bell. Crews will be the odd man out of the lineup Thursday, allowing Call to pick up his eighth start in 12 games.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Starting Friday after all
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Call is starting in left field and batting sixth against the Marlins on Friday.
Call was initially slated for a day off Friday, but he's been inserted into the Nationals' starting lineup due to Nathaniel Lowe (illness) being scratched. Across seven games, Call has gone 8-for-20 with five walks, one stolen base and five RBI.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Sitting out Friday
Rotowire
Call is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Miami.
Call had started the last five games and seven of the last eight contests, but he will begin Friday's series opener on the bench. Dylan Crews will play right field and Jacob Young will patrol center field for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Swipes first bag in win
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Call went 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
Call delivered RBI singles in the first and fourth innings and also swiped his first bag of the season. The 30-year-old has gone 4-for-8 in three starts to open the year and is seeing inconsistent playing time as Washington's No. 4 outfielder.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Set for bench role
Rotowire
Call is expected to begin the season as the Nationals' fourth outfielder, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old may not see much work however, with Dylan Crews, Jacob Young and James Wood entrenched in the starting lineup and all 25 years of age or younger. Call solidified his spot on the Opening Day roster by batting .333 (13-for-39) this spring with 12 walks against only five strikeouts, but his .231/.332/.364 career slash line in the majors better reflects his lack of fantasy upside should he find himself getting consistent playing time.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Carted off field
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Call fell to the ground pursuing a fly ball during Friday's game against Atlanta and was carted off the field, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
While the specifics of the injury are unknown at this point, it's certainly not a good sign that Call required a cart to exit the field. The right fielder attempted to walk off under his own power but was unable to do so. With Dylan Crews already set to join the big-league roster Monday, Call's injury may have created an immediate opening in the starting nine for the top prospect to fill.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Goes yard again Sunday
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Call went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Phillies.
The 29-year-old outfielder has three homers in 99 big-league plate appearances this year, and two of them came in back-to-back games this weekend. Call has cooled down a bit since he reeled off six straight multi-hit performances earlier this month, going just 5-for-25 (.200) since with a 1:6 BB:K, but four of those knocks have gone for extra bases.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Drawing third straight start
Rotowire
Call will start in center field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Call will pick up his third consecutive start, this time occupying center field after his previous two starts came in right field. He's gone 3-for-5 with a home run, three walks and three RBI in the first two games in Arizona, and Call should have a clear runway to handle a regular role in the outfield so long as he keeps producing at the dish.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Clubs homer in win
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Call went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and two walks in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Call got the start in right field following the trades of Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas over the last few days. The outfielder previously went 5-for-16 (.313) over his first seven games of the season, but he was sent down to Triple-A Rochester in early May. He'll have a chance to carve out a starting role, though it's expected Call will have to compete with Travis Blankenhorn -- who is expected to be recalled from Rochester on Tuesday -- for playing time in right field. Top prospect Dylan Crews will also likely be called up at some point in the second half, further crowding the Nationals' outfield.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Gets first shot in right field
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Call will start in right field and bat sixth Monday versus the Diamondbacks, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Call will get the first opportunity to replace Lane Thomas in right field after Thomas was traded to the Guardians on Monday. The Nationals had just recalled Call from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday after Jesse Winker was traded to the Mets. Call has produced a .313 average with a double, an RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base over 21 plate appearances with the Nationals this season.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Nationals optioned Call to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Call was with the Nats for the bulk of last season, but with some veteran outfield additions over the winter, there's no room for him on the Opening Day roster. He should bounce around to all three outfield spots at Rochester.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Comfortable at plate in spring
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Call went 1-for-1 with two RBI and a walk in Monday's 11-4 Grapefruit League win over the Cardinals.
There is no way to sugarcoat Call's 2023 numbers, which included a .200/.307/.307 slash line through 439 plate appearances. However, the versatile outfielder has shown some sparks at the plate this spring, slashing .353/.500/1.088 with seven RBI in 17 at-bats. Call will have to continue performing in similar fashion during what remains of spring to ensure a reserve outfield spot on the Opening Day roster.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Hits homer in rare start
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Call went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss against Atlanta.
Call accounted for the first Washington run with his 364-foot solo shot off Max Fried in the third inning. The 28-year-old outfielder has only started five games for the Nationals in September as he splits time in left field with Jake Alu and Blake Rutherford. Call is slashing .199/.306/.307 with eight homers and nine stolen bases over 126 games.
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Nationals' Alex Call: On bench Sunday
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Call is not in the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.
Jacob Young, who was promoted Saturday from Triple-A Rochester, will start in center field and bat ninth. Call has slashed just .204/.306/.307 across 405 plate appearances this season and might be in danger of losing his grip on a regular role in the Nationals' outfield.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Swipes eighth bag
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Call went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Rangers.
It was another productive performance for Call from the ninth spot in the batting order. The 28-year-old has hit safely in five straight games since rejoining the big-league roster, going 6-for-16 (.375) over that stretch with two of his five homers and two of his eight steals on the season. Victor Robles (back) doesn't yet have a clear timeline for his return, so Call should continue filling in as the Nationals center fielder coming out of the All-Star break.
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Nationals' Alex Call: Homers, scores three times in loss
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Call went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, three runs scored and a stolen base in Thursday's loss to Cincinnati.
Call walked in each of his first two trips to the plate and came around to score on a Lane Thomas single in the fifth inning after stealing second. He then launched a solo homer in the seventh to put the Nationals on top 3-2 and later came around to score a third time in the 10th. It was the center fielder's first home run since May 4, and he's now registered a hit in each of his first two games since being recalled.
