Andrés Chaparro

Beat line.

Andres Chaparro launches two home runs in the finale.

Josiah Gray records a save.

But the real story isn't what happened on the field.

So we're looking at a platoon situation maybe? Or Vivas starts, House moves around? What about the other infielders? CJ Abrams at shortstop is locked in.

Nassim Nunez at second.

Andres Chaparro at first.

So this third base battle dictates how much flexibility they have.

Beat line.

Andres Chaparro launched two home runs.

Josiah Gray earned a save in his first home appearance in over two years.

And the front office just handed out suspensions that shake up the entire farm system.

Okay, so it's not a direct hit to the big club right now, but it thins the pipeline.

Let's pivot to the field.

Marcus in Denver asks, Andres Chaparro homered twice in the finale.

Was that a fluke, or do we need to see more power from him at first base?

Beat line.

Andres Chaparro with a two-homer explosion in the finale.

Josiah Gray clutching up for a save in front of his own crowd.

And the fallout from those suspensions hanging over the farm system.

Who's asking the first question?

Let's start with Marcus in Denver.

He asks, did Andres Chaparro's two-homer game against the Mets signal that he's the everyday first baseman for 2027? Or was that just a season finale flare-up? Great question, Marcus.

I think it's more than a flare-up.

And is that the smart thing to do? I think it would be smart depending on the return, depending on what you get back, but you also have to be sure of yourself that this is going to be the correct move.

There are also a couple other things like at first base, maybe you shop Yohandy Morales, maybe you shop Andrés Chaparro, maybe it's Abby Ortiz.

I doubt it's gonna be Abby Ortiz, but Yohandy Morales is certainly someone that I could see the Nationals maybe just saying, "You know what? We're not 100% sure about him, and we like Ethan Petry, who's gonna be up at some point in 2027.

We'll trade Yohandy and figure out the rest for the Nats." But they're in such an intriguing spot where it's like they could go in a couple of different ways, but I look at this outfield and I've continued to say they already moved off of Christian Franklin.

Right, and we have to talk about that finale.

Andrés Chaparro homered twice in a season closer against the Mets, a six to four victory.

It felt like a statement game.

Does that single performance change how you view their offensive potential for next year?

And while I think that the Nationals will live and die by analytics moving forward, you also have to have a feel for the moment.

And when you look at guys like let's say Andres Chaparro, if he is on a hot streak where he's hit four home runs in a week and you're going up against a right-handed pitcher that he's not really typically good with, you should probably ride out Andres Chaparro for a bit and just kind of figure out, "Okay, well let's see if what happens here." Give him a couple of at bats and get later on in the games and see what happens.

Like kinda things like that.

Now, I don't really expect the Nationals to do that because the culture is they're gonna go with the analytics and see what they give them, but also just being a big league manager to just kinda give yourself a chance to have a feel for just everything out there.

Beat line.

Andres Chaparro with two home runs in the season finale.

Josiah Gray earning his first career save.

And the New York Mets securing their first last place finish since 2003.

Let's get right into segment one.

First question comes from Sarah from Arlington.

She asks, why did Andres Chaparro suddenly explode for two homers against the Mets? Is he the everyday first baseman? Great question, Sarah.

Let's talk about that surge.

The Mets are in last place for the first time since 2003.

Josiah Gray just recorded his first career save, and Andrés Chaparro ended the season with two home runs.

This is not the script we expected for Washington.

It's a strange feeling to watch your team finish 77 to 85 and fourth in the NL East but somehow end the year with more momentum than you started it with.

A.J. Ewing hit a go-ahead three-run homer, but overall the team couldn't string together consistent offensive production.

[cheering] Right, and then you have the Nationals coming in and sweeping them? That's the irony.

We talked yesterday about how Andrés Chaparro ended the season with two homers against the Mets.

It felt like a statement win.

Second and third, no one out, Pintaro would bounce one under Francisco Alvarez's glove into the backstop.

Andres Chaparro would come in to score, tying the game at three.

And on the very next pitch, Pintaro would sail another one to the backstop.

Missing glove side, Brady House would come in to score, giving Washington a four to three lead.

But in the bottom of the second, the Nats would respond.

Runner at second, two out, Nazim Nunez would send an RBI double to the bottom of the wall in right field, scoring Harry Ford.

Next inning, Andres Chaparro would launch a solo home run to left field, the second time he's taken Manaea deep this season, making it a one-run game.

Later on, runner at second, two out, Jacob Young would tie the game on a sharp grounder that would deflect off of Bo Bichette at first base and into shallow right field.