Washington Nationals’ outfielder Juan Soto sat out each of the last three games with back spasms, but the team had hoped their 20-year-old slugger would return to the lineup for the series opener last night in Citizens Bank Park.
Soto had a .321/.419/.774 line, three doubles, and seven home runs in 13 games and 62 PAs in the Philadelphia Phillies’ home in his first year-plus in the majors, and the Nationals, who have struggled to produce much offensively in recent games could surely have used his bat.
When the lineup for the first of three in Philly was released he was out again, however, with skipper Davey Martinez explaining that the team was taking a cautious approach with their young star.