Washington Nationals made several transactions prior to their series opener against the Dodgers. Nick Senzel returned from a fractured thumb, leading to Trey Lipscomb being sent back to Triple-A Rochester. Additionally, Keibert Ruiz was placed on the 10-day injured list with influenza, and Drew Millas was recalled from Rochester.

Manager Davey Martinez expressed the difficulty of demoting Lipscomb, who had been performing well. However, with Senzel’s return and Luis García Jr.’s strong start, there was no opportunity for Lipscomb to get everyday at-bats. Martinez emphasized that Lipscomb’s demotion was due to a roster crunch, not a reflection of his performance.

Lipscomb, who had a strong start in the major league, struggled in his last 11 games. Despite this, Martinez remains optimistic about his potential and aims for him to return stronger. Senzel, who signed with the Nationals in December, made a quick recovery from his thumb injury and is now back in the lineup.