Paul

DeJong

The rookie has hit just .224 in 48 games since the All-Star Break with two home runs, 19 runs scored, 17 RBI, and three steals. He is presumably the favorite to start at third base for Washington in 2026, given his draft pedigree, but the team will need to see some improvement from him in the off-season. Paul DeJong will get the start at third base on Wednesday.

After giving several guys off Sunday, the Nationals are back with more of their core lineup today, with the exception being that Paul DeJong is again starting over House. Prior to yesterday, House had started five straight games at third and nine out of 10. DeJong, though, doubled twice yesterday, which apparently earned him the nod. House is batting .239/.253/.339 in 241 plate appearances as a 22-year-old rookie. Statcast thinks he’s been pretty unlucky, what with his 47% hard-hit rate, but he wouldn’t seem to have locked up a spot for 2026.

The 22-year-old budding superstar will get a rare night off with left-hander Ryan Weathers toeing the slab for the Marlins. Paul DeJong will function as the team’s designated hitter and will bat seventh on Thursday evening in Miami.

DeJong is now 12-for-39 in 10 games in August with five home runs, eight runs scored, 11 RBI, and one steal. He had been splitting time at third base with Brady House, but got the start at first base on Sunday and could see more work there now that Nathaniel Lowe is no longer with the team. We saw DeJong get hot for a stretch last week, and he has enough power to remain fantasy-relevant in deeper formats while he’s swinging it well.

DeJong has seven hits, including two homers, the last three days, raising his OPS from .617 to .723. We wouldn’t say that’s a good thing for the Nationals if it causes him to get a bunch of playing time over younger guys, but maybe it won’t come to that.

DeJong smacked an RBI single off of Justin Verlander in the fourth inning that extended the Nationals’ lead to 5-0. He also added a run-scoring knock off of Spencer Bivens in the sixth that made it 6-0. On the season, the 32-year-old infielder is now hitting .243/.287/.393 with three homers, 12 RBI and four swipes in 115 plate appearances.

García will sit out his third straight game after his back tightened up on his prior to Friday’s series opener in San Francisco. The 25-year-old figures to avoid a trip to the injured list, but back issues can be tricky. It’ll be Paul DeJong continuing to cover at the keystone in his absence. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day leading into Monday’s series opener against the Royals.

Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo told reporters late Friday that García is going to get a couple days off after his back tightened up on his during Friday’s pregame batting practice. It’ll be veteran Paul DeJong taking over at the keystone in his absence.

García Jr. sat against a left-handed pitcher yesterday, but will be in the lineup against lefty Jacob Lopez today. Brady House will take a seat with Paul DeJong starting at third base, and Josh Bell will also be on the bench with James Wood at DH and Robert Hassell III in right field.

The 32-year-old slugger has been swinging a hot bat, but they’ve opted to give him a breather in this one with left-hander Jose Quintana toeing the slab for the Brewers. Paul DeJong will function as the team’s designated hitter in his absence on Friday and will bat third for the Nationals.