Madson (0-2) took the loss Wednesday after allowing six runs on five hits and a walk while recording just two outs against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Madson was called upon to protect a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning, but he struggled from the get-go en route to picking up his second loss and first blown save of the year. He still remains a trusted member of the backend of the bullpen -- and second in the pecking order for saves behind Sean Doolittle -- but the six-run blow up leaves his ERA at a bloated 6.97.

Madson got the save in Washington's 8-6 victory over the Mets on Monday, working around one hit and striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

It was the second save of the season for the right-hander, who is throwing it well to start 2018 with only two earned runs to his name in his first nine appearances. Sean Doolittle should still get the lion's share of the save opportunities in Washington, but Madson looks like the primary option for days when he can't go and he should also continue to post solid ratios.

Madson allowed one hit but recorded the final two outs against the Braves on Tuesday to earn his first save of the season.

EDGE Analysis

Two inherited runners scored on Dansby Swanson's double, but Madson bounced right back and got Ryan Flaherty looking to end the game. Madson now has a 4:1 K:BB over 5.2 scoreless innings this season. Sean Doolittle is still the primary closer, but Doolittle has had trouble staying healthy in recent seasons and Madson has a lot of appeal even when he's not closing, as the ratios are stellar.

Madson tossed a perfect eighth inning in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Mets, striking out one batter in the 11-pitch frame.

EDGE Analysis

Unfortunately for Madson, his strong outing wasn't of much consequence with Washington already trailing by six runs by the time he entered the contests. With the Nationals having played no competitive games since Sunday, manager Dave Martinez was likely just eager to get his top setup man some work following a three-day layoff. The bulk of Madson's appearances are still expected to come in high-leverage situations this season.

First-year Nationals manager Davey Martinez said during the offseason that he intends to deploy Madson as the team's primary eighth-inning man in 2018, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Considering how poorly the Nationals' bullpen performed before acquiring Sean Doolittle, Madson and Brandon Kintzler in a pair of July trades, it's no surprise that Martinez will follow the model former manager Dusty Baker used in the second half of the 2017 campaign and lean heavily on the three relievers in the late innings. With Doolittle set to reprise his role as closer, Madson will step in as the primary setup man, while Kintzler sees most of his work in the seventh inning. Like Madson, Kintzler possesses prior closing experience, but the former would offer more stability and fantasy upside as an end gamer due to his superior strikeout rate. As such, Madson represents the clear top handcuff for saves in the Washington bullpen in the event the notoriously fragile Doolittle succumbs to an injury at some point.

Madson allowed two runs on three hits in an inning of work but was able to convert the save Sunday against the Phillies. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

Madson put two men on before allowing a two-run single with two outs in the ninth. He got Rhys Hoskins to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game, earning him his second save of the season. Sean Doolittle has been lights out as the Nats' closer since his acquisition and should see the vast majority of the save opportunities the rest of the way after taking a breather Sunday.

Madson gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning Thursday to collect his 20th hold of the season in a win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

While Sean Doolittle has seen all the glory in the Nats bullpen as the team's new closer, Madson has been just as valuable since the duo came over from Oakland, posting a 17:1 K:BB over 12 shutout innings while recording three wins and six holds in a Washington uniform. Expect the veteran righty to remain locked into his setup role down the stretch.

Madson (finger) was reinstated from the 10-day DL prior to Friday's game against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

As Zuckerman references, it remains unclear whether Madson is actually ready to pitch at this point, or if the club made this move since there is no need for him to stay on the disabled list with expanded rosters. Madson was placed on the 10-day DL on Aug. 17, and as of last week, the Nationals didn't know for certain whether he would be ready to return before the playoffs, so it seems unlikely that he'll be back on the mound anytime in the immediate future.

Madson (finger) will meet the Nationals in Milwaukee on Thursday for a reevaluation, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

There hasn't been any news indicating that Madson has experienced a setback with the sprained finger on his right hand following his placement on the disabled list Aug. 17, so it sounds like he'll just be receiving a routine two-week checkup. If the Nationals determine that Madson has healed as expected, the team could outline a throwing program for the veteran reliever, but as things stand now, it looks like he'll remained sidelined for most of September.

Madson is suffering from an inflammed sheath around the tendon that runs through the knuckle of his right index finger, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports. He received electric therapy that has helped eliminate daily inflammation, and the Nationals are expecting him to be ready by the postseason, at the latest.

EDGE Analysis

It would make sense for the Nationals, who are all but guaranteed the NL East crown, to rest Madson until the start of their playoff trek. Any NL-only fantasy players still holding on to him can cut him, as -- though this could change -- he probably won't make a big impact the rest of the regular season. He wasn't pitching in a relevant fantasy role anyway, considering Sean Doolittle and Brandon Kintzler are set to see save chances the rest of the way.