Nationals Hoping Alex Call Can Play Again This Year
The plan is for Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call (foot) to go on a quick minor-league rehab assignment soon so that he can play in the majors before the end of the regular season at the end of the month. The Nationals put Call on the 10-day injured list at the end of August with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. The fact that the 29-year-old even has a chance to return before the end of the 2024 season is a bit of a surprise. Call hit .200 (75-for-375) with eight home runs in his first full big-league season in 2023 in D.C. In only 30 games this year, he's been much better with a .343/.425/.525 slash line, a career-best .950 OPS, three homers, 14 RBI and five steals. Even before outfield prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews reached the big leagues, Call was mainly considered a fourth-outfielder type with a better glove than bat.
Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call (leg) was carted off during Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves. Call was charging in on a shallow fly ball and fell onto the ground after a non-contact injury during the bottom of the second inning. The 29-year-old wasn't able to stand on his foot and was hopping to get to the cart. Call was replaced by Joey Gallo in right field after the injury. The team hasn't stated the severity of his injury and until then he should be considered day-to-day, however it should be anticipated he will miss more time given this was a non-contact injury. The righty had been having a fantastic 2024 season, hitting for a 175 OPS+ in 98 AB with most of his playing time coming in August after spending most of the year in the minors. Jacob Young should be a likely replacement for Call in the outfield, though Young is not a viable fantasy option in any format at this time.
Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call is out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest against Tony Gonsolin and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Call has been cold all season with the bat, hitting .209 with three home runs and three steals across 52 games. Instead, Ildemaro Vargas will see time in left and bat ninth. Through 16 games, the 31-year-old has been on a tear, slashing .317/.333/.488 while going deep once. However, Vargas is a career .249 hitter with a .659 OPS, so fantasy managers might want to look elsewhere on the waiver wire.
Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call sparked a walk-off homer in the ninth inning to take down the Chicago Cubs by a 4-3 margin on Thursday. Cubs' reliever Brad Boxberger threw just one pitch that resulted in a 364-foot bomb off Call's bat. The 28-year-old fared 1-for-4 on Thursday and launched his third homer of the season. Call is slashing .230/.331/.350 with a .681 OPS this season. He has shown improvements at the plate over the past 15 games as demonstrated by his .250 AVG in that span. The Minnesota native also owns displays impressive discipline numbers, with an 18.6% strikeout rate, and 12.7% walk rate. The Nats travel to Arizona for a weekend series as Call looks to build on his electrifying moment.
Alex Call Hitting Out Of Leadoff Spot Again Monday
Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call is hitting out of the leadoff spot for the fourth consecutive game on Monday as he takes on the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Jose Suarez. Twenty-one of his 36 plate appearances on the season have come against southpaws as the righty-swinging Call has hit .286 with a double and five walks against them so far on the young season. However, Call's career splits show far greater success against same-handed pitching, albeit in a small 55-game sample. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old is off to a strong start to his season, hitting .269 with one homer and a massive 22.2% BB% across eight games.
Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call is hitting second for his second straight start Thursday versus the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Nats are stacking up right-hander hitters in a matchup against left-hander Kyle Freeland as the first four hitters against him will be swinging from the right side of the plate. The 28-year-old Call enjoyed a solid MLB debut between the Guardians and Nationals last season, hitting .237 with five homers, three steals, an 11.5% BB%, and .748 OPS across 47 games. He actually hit right-handed pitching better than he did lefties last season but Thursday is another indication he will move up the lineup when facing a southpaw starter.
