Jacob

Young

Jacob Young is also day-to-day with right wrist soreness after being hit by a pitch earlier this week. It doesn’t sound like a serious concern for either at this early stage of spring training but they’re both out of the Nationals lineups for Saturday’s split-squad contests.

Young’s elite defense makes him a useful player right now, and he’s just 26 with four years to go before free agency. Still, defense declines with age, and once Young goes from great to merely good in center field, his lack of offensive ability will render him a reserve. If the Nationals can get something significant for him, they’d probably make the move. That’s especially the case if they project Robert Hassell III to be of much use as at least a part-time starter in center.

The 24-year-old has hit .247 in 33 games since being called back up after the All-Star break. That has come with two home runs, 14 runs scored, and three steals, so he’s certainly not a player you need to roster in most fantasy formats. Jacob Young will start in center field and bat ninth in Game 1.

Young returns to Washington’s lineup for the first time since exiting Tuesday’s game with back spasms. The 26-year-old is back in center field and batting ninth against Chicago left-hander Matthew Boyd.

Young left the game a couple frames after an awkward slide while stealing his 14th base of the year. He’ll head for further evaluation to determine the severity of the issue. He finished 2-for-2 with a steal before leaving the contest in the sixth inning.

It was Young’s first homer in 314 plate appearances this season. He had three in 521 plate appearances last year. The four-RBI game was another first for him. A part-timer of late, he was hitting .153/.231/.169 with two RBI in his last 23 games.

The 26-year-old outfielder has been a major disappointment this season, slashing just .224/.292/.263 with zero home runs, 19 RBI and 12 stolen bases across 292 plate appearances. Robert Hassell III will start in his place in center field and will bat ninth for the Nats against Royals’ right-hander Michael Wacha.

Young is back in center field and batting ninth following a one-game absence after suffering a bruised right index finger during Saturday’s game against the Twins. The 26-year-old outfielder can be safely ignored in the majority of fantasy formats, but he’s a decent steals source in NL-only formats with 10 thefts in just 79 games.

X-rays came back negative for any fractures after Young suffered a right index finger contusion attempting to bunt during Saturday’s game against the Twins. The 26-year-old outfielder will get a break during Sunday’s series finale, which coincidentally falls on his birthday.

Young was plunked directly in the finger while he was attempting to bunt for a hit against the Twins on Saturday. The 26-year-old should be considered day-to-day, but it does appear that he’s avoided a significant long-term injury.