Espinosa is not in the starting lineup for the Nationals on Friday, Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa has continued to struggle at the plate over his last 10 games, hitting just .194 with 12 strikeouts in his last 36 at-bats. He will likely rejoin the starting lineup on Saturday when the Nationals host Rob Whalen and the Braves.

Espinosa is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa will head to the bench after starting 12 straight coming out of the break, affording Wilmer Difo his first start with the big club this season. The 29-year-old Espinosa's been mired in a miserable slump, going 5-for-44 (.114 average) with 18 strikeouts to begin the second half, but his playing time appears relatively safe for now with Trea Turner taking on a significant role in center field.

Espinosa is out of the lineup Wednesday, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.

EDGE Analysis

He has continued to shine at the dish of late, with five homers in his last six games. Not only is he holding the Nationals' presumed shortstop of the future, Trea Turner, at bay in Triple-A, but Turner has actually started playing some center field, suggesting Espinosa could hold regular playing time through the rest of the season, provided he continues to produce. Stephen Drew will start at shortstop and hit seventh Wednesday.

Espinosa went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI in Sunday's blowout win over the Red

EDGE Analysis

The shortstop destroyed Cincinnati pitching over course of their four-game series, going 7-for-18 (.389) with five homers and 15 RBI, and Espinosa's hot streak not only gives him 18 home runs on the season it also puts him in the team HR lead, one ahead of Bryce Harper. Espinosa's previous career high is 21 HR in a season, but at this rate he could pass that mark before the All-Star break.

Espinosa went 2-for-4 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and a career-high seven RBI in Thursday's hammering of the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa's second career slam put Washington up 8-1 in the third inning, and his next drive made it 13-1 in the fourth. He ranks second on the team with 15 homers despite usually batting eighth. The switch-hitting shortstop connected off Brandon Finnegan (3-7) batting right-handed, then went deep from the left side against Josh Smith. Espinosa's previous career high for RBI was six, and his only other grand slam came in his fifth major league game on Sept. 6, 2010. With a solid June, he's pushed his average up to .235, the highest its been since the fourth game of the season.

Espinosa went 3-for-5 with a double, a run, two RBI and a steal Monday against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa looked refreshed following Sunday's day off, picking up his sixth multi-hit performance in the last three weeks. The shortstop has earned his every-day lineup spot with a surprisingly productive bat, as he's already just three short of last season's total of 37 RBI to go along with an identical 13 homers in 43 less games played.

Espinosa is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

This will be just the second day off since May 15 for Espinosa, as the veteran has been able to display durability in addition to bursts of offense in 2016. While he sits for a regular maintenance day, Stephen Drew will draw the start at shortstop in his stead.

Espinosa went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran shortstop has picked it up at the plate in June, with Wednesday's effort representing his fifth multi-hit outing of the month. Espinosa exited May with an average just under the Mendoza Line (.199), but has managed to raise that figure 26 points courtesy of a solid .292/.378/.662 line in June, along with seven homers and 10 RBI.

Espinosa went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

The homer was his 13th of the season and seventh in the month of June, as Espinosa does everything he can to try and maintain his hold on the starting shortstop job and keep Trea Turner in the minors.

Espinosa went 1-for-3 with a solo homer Sunday at the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa's 12th bomb of the season pulled the Nationals to within one run in the fifth inning of a game they'd go on to lose. He's now launched seven homers over his last 17 games, and he's slugging .403 on the season.