Escobar "is going to play every day" this season according to Nationals manager Dave Martinez, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's a bit of a head-scratcher why Martinez would commit to a 35-year-old starting shortstop in Escobar instead of handing the reins to 21-year-old Luis Garcia, who was thought to be the heir apparent to Trea Turner, but the manager wants the youngster to prove he's ready for a starting role in the majors. "I want to make sure that Luis, when he's in the big leagues, that he's going to stay," Martinez said Friday. "I really don't want him to platoon; I want him to play every day. And he did a lot better last year against left-handed pitching, which was good, so I want to see him consistently do the little things every day." This could just be a motivational tool directed at Garcia, but he has minor-league options left and if he does wind beginning the season at Triple-A, Escobar would have the shortstop job to himself. The former Royal batted .288/.340/.404 in 75 games for the Nats last season, his first in MLB since 2018, but even in a starting role his lack of power or speed would make him a marginal fantasy option.

Escobar agreed to a one-year deal to remain a National on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar performed capably in 75 games for the Nationals this season, hitting .288/.340/.404. He comes with minimal upside, as he's heading into his age-35 season and owns a career 72 wRC+, but he should remain a serviceable backup at the very least heading into next season.

Escobar went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to Boston.

EDGE Analysis

The shortstop got Washington on the board in the seventh inning with his fourth homer of the year. There hasn't been much power in his game, but Escobar batted .288 (36-for-125) in September and shouldn't slow down over the final weekend of the season. He owns a .288/.337/.404 slash line with three stolen bases, 28 RBI and 52 runs scored across 340 plate appearances this year.

Escobar went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk Tuesday in the Nationals' 3-1 loss to the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Since Washington added him to its big-league roster in early July, Escobar hasn't been a premium source of counting-stats production (three home runs, three stolen bases, 50 runs and 27 RBI), but he's racked up hits at a prolific rate. Dating back to the beginning of July, Escobar ranks 15th in the majors in hits (87), propelling him to a .287 average during that time.

Escobar went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs and two RBI in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

He extended his hitting streak to seven games in the victory and is now slashing an impressive .394/.400/.485 with six RBI, three runs and a stolen base during that stretch. Escobar will remain in the Washington lineup for Wednesday's series finale, starting at shortstop and batting second.

Escobar went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 3-0 win over Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

The light-hitting shortstop made his impact in the first inning with a single and a stolen base before scoring on a Yadiel Hernandez single. Escobar has been solid in September, batting .266 (21-for-79) in his last 18 games. He's slashing .280/.326/.379 with a pair of home runs, three steals, 22 RBI and 42 runs scored through 284 plate appearances overall.

Escobar went 4-for-6 with an RBI in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to Miami.

EDGE Analysis

The shortstop collected four singles in his fourth multi-hit effort of the month. Escobar has been a solid contributor for Washington with a .278/.327/.379 slash line across 271 plate appearances. He's added two home runs, two stolen bases, 15 doubles, 21 RBI and 41 runs scored in 59 games while serving as the team's primary shortstop since the start of July.

Escobar went 3-for-7 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and five RBI across both games of Saturday's doubleheader split with the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Two errors in the matinee helped ruin Erick Fedde's day, but Escobar atoned for his shaky glovework with his bat, driving in three runs in the first game before swatting his second homer of the season off Tylor Megill in the fifth inning of the nightcap. The veteran shortstop hit second in both contests, and in 48 games for the Nats he's slashing a surprising .283/.335/.384 -- numbers that would give him the second-best OPS of his career, behind only the .721 mark he reached in 2012 with the Royals.

Escobar (knee) is starting Thursday's game against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar missed Tuesday's game after he fouled a ball off his left knee Monday, but he'll be back in action following a one-game absence. Across his last five appearances, the 34-year-old has gone 8-for-18 with a double, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base.

Escobar (knee) will sit Tuesday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar left Monday's series opener after fouling a ball off his knee and will be sidelined for at least one game. Luis Garcia slides to shortstop in his absence, with Adrian Sanchez starting at second base.