Espinosa went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, a run scored, and an RBI against the Cubs on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa has been raking of late, reaching base 11 times while scoring eight runs over the last five games despite hitting in the bottom third of the Nationals order for the entirety of that stretch. Enjoy the hot streak while it lasts, but know that the middle infielder is unlikely to continue producing at this rate given his meager .223/.312/.411 triple slash line.

Espinosa went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Friday's 9-6 victory over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran now has two three-hit outings over his last three games, and already has four homers in June, after having hit five in all of May. Espinosa is still struggling considerably at the plate-- as his .214/.300/.393 line suggests-- but certainly offers solid upside with respect to the long ball.

Espinosa went 3-for-5 with a double, a solo homer and three runs against the White Sox on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

How rare are multi-hit games for Espinosa? Well, this was only his eighth in 58 games this year, and it lifted his average back over the Mendoza Line to .206. The power (nine homers) has been his lone redeeming quality, and much of it has come recently -- he's gone yard four times in his last seven games as he continues his efforts to hold off the looming Trea Turner. Ultimately, it's not going to be enough.

Espinosa went 1-for-4 with a two-run shot, his sixth home run of the season, in Tuesday's win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

His batting average is still hovering right around the Mendoza Line, but Espinosa at least finished up the month of May by hitting three home runs in his last six games. The clock is probably ticking on his stint as the Nats' starting shortstop, though, as Trea Turner continues to play well at Triple-A (.314/.378/.479 and a perfect 16-for-16 on stolen base attempts) and could get the call at any moment.

Espinosa was 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a losing effort against the Cardinals on Friday night.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't enough to overcome a five-run Cardinals' third inning. Regularly hitting near the bottom of the Nationals' order, he sports a weak .203 average but does provide a little pop with five home runs and 18 RBI.

Espinosa is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins, the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.

EDGE Analysis

He went 1-for-4 in the first game Saturday, which was enough to up his average to .204 on the season. Espinosa's time as the starting shortstop is nearing an end, as prospect Trea Turner is widely anticipated to be recalled at the end of May, after the team has gained an extra year of control. Stephen Drew will start at shortstop and hit eighth in the second game Saturday.

Espinosa went 1-for-3 with a solo homer that ended up being the difference in a 3-2 win over Detroit on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa's now hit safely in five straight, bringing his average over the Mendoza Line in the process, and and he's going to need to keep it up with top prospect Trea Turner looking MLB-ready in Triple-A action. Espinosa has about three weeks until the Nats can call up Turner while retaining his rights for an extra year, and he's going to need to prove himself as a legitimate starter in that time if he wants to hold off the 22-year-old. It doesn't seem overwhelmingly likely that he'll be able to do so for long.

Espinosa went 0-for-4 in the Nats' win over the Royals on Wednesday afternoon, dropping his season line to .185/.292/.272.

EDGE Analysis

Meanwhile, Trea Turner is hitting .309/.393/.443 with a pair of homers and 10 steals in 10 attempts at Triple-A Syracuse through 25 games. The Nationals may be contemplating a change in the near future, as it's quickly becoming difficult to justify the top of the organizational depth chart at short given Espinosa's prolonged slump to begin 2016.

Espinosa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa is stuck in a slump currenly, getting four hits in his last 17 at bats. Daniel Murphy will take his place at second base and hit third while Espinosa rests.

Espinosa is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, according to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa is mired in a deep 2-for-24 slump, so manager Dusty Baker decided to give him his first day off the season Sunday, in hopes that a mental break will help him turn things around. Stephen Drew will start at shortstop for the Nationals on Sunday afternoon.