Behind Sánchez's brilliance, Nationals take Game 1 (updated)

Behind Sánchez's brilliance, Nationals take Game 1 (updated)
ST. LOUIS - Aníbal Sánchez is not Max Scherzer. He's not Stephen Strasburg. And he's not Patrick Corbin. The rest of baseball may overlook him because of that, but the Nationals most definitely do not. Who cares if Sánchez doesn't have Strasburg's dominant stuff or Scherzer's adrenaline or Corbin's wipeout slider? He's got 14 years of big league experience, a vast repertoire of pitches few else in this sport can match, and the smarts and guts to use every one of them in any...
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Suzuki, Robles on roster but not in lineup for Game 1 (Nats win 2-0)

Suzuki, Robles on roster but not in lineup for Game 1 (Nats win 2-0)
ST. LOUIS - Neither Kurt Suzuki nor Victor Robles is in the Nationals lineup for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but both injured players remain on the active roster, suggesting there's reason to believe both will be ready to return soon. Suzuki, who took a fastball off his wrist and then his face in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the NL Division Series on Wednesday night, was still undergoing tests this afternoon, according to manager Davey Martinez. "I'll know more in...
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Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS
ST. LOUIS - When Daniel Hudson left the Nationals in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, he hoped to spend only 24 hours in Phoenix for the birth of his daughter, then fly to St. Louis this morning and be ready to pitch tonight in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. But as anyone who's ever had a baby can attest, Mother Nature doesn't care about best-laid plans. When the baby's ready, the baby's ready. And in this case, the newest member of the Hudson family wasn't ready to...
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NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)

NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)
ST. LOUIS - It's 46 degrees. The wind chill is 39. It's not going to be pleasant at all. But none of that matters, because there's a ballgame tonight and the Nationals are playing in it. The Nats' first National League Championship Series gamesis going to present some challenges, and we're not just talking about the weather at Busch Stadium. The lineup and roster are missing three key players: Daniel Hudson, Kurt Suzuki and Victor Robles. Hudson, who flew from Los Angeles to Phoenix early...
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NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize

NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize
ST. LOUIS - As cathartic as Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium was - and how could it not be, given the massive roadblock they finally overcame in their fifth try - the Nationals were in no mood to rest on their laurels and take satisfaction out of their first postseason series win in club history. No, there was a good night's sleep still to get, then a flight to catch to St. Louis, then another good night's sleep before they take the field again for their first ever appearance in the National...
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Reliving the key moments from an instant classic

Reliving the key moments from an instant classic
LOS ANGELES - Sean Doolittle was trying to run through the final moments of an epic baseball game that propelled the Nationals to the National League Championship Series for the first time in club history. There was a strikeout of A.J. Pollock. Then a ground ball by Max Muncy. Then Michael A. Taylor's diving catch of Justin Turner's sinking liner to center, which had to be reviewed before umpires officially declared the game over. And then a mad celebration, with Doolittle right in the middle...
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With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)

With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)
LOS ANGELES - On a warm morning in West Palm Beach in February 2018, Davey Martinez did something that raised a few eyebrows and made even more eyes roll. He gathered his Nationals team together and then directed everyone to watch as coaches Bobby Henley and Tim Bogar rode in on a pair of camels. The point, Martinez explained, was to offer a simple metaphor. This Nationals franchise he had just taken over as manager had been unable to get past the first round of the postseason, falling four...
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Robles getting better, not ready to start yet (Nats win 7-3 in 10)

Robles getting better, not ready to start yet (Nats win 7-3 in 10)
LOS ANGELES - The fate of the Nationals' season will be determined without Victor Robles patrolling center field. Robles, who suffered what the team called a mild right hamstring strain during Game 2 of the National League Division Series, remains out of the lineup for tonight's do-or-die Game 5 against the Dodgers. The 22-year-old rookie, who rated as one of the best defensive outfielders in the majors this season, worked out Tuesday and showed signs of progress, according to manager Davey...
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NLDS Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

NLDS Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - And so it has come to this. Nationals. Dodgers. Game 5 of the National League Division Series. They wouldn't have had it any other way. The winner goes to the NL Championship Series, against either the Braves or Cardinals, whose Game 5 should be wrapping up right around the time this one starts. Reminder: The Nats would not get home field advantage against either opponent, so Games 1-2 would be on the road, with Games 3-5 in D.C., then potential Games 6-7 back on the road. First...
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Why this Game 5 could be different from the other Game 5s

Why this Game 5 could be different from the other Game 5s
LOS ANGELES - That the Nationals find themselves here, in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, is not at all surprising. This is the norm for this franchise, having now been in this exact position four times in the last eight years, three in the last four. And yet this one feels entirely different than those that came before. The end result - a heartbreaking loss, after leading at some point - may wind up feeling familiar. Too familiar. But the circumstances entering this Game 5 do...
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Zimmerman not done delivering big moments for Nats

Zimmerman not done delivering big moments for Nats
Ryan Zimmerman was sitting next to Max Scherzer in the interview room at Nationals Park late Monday night, the pair of 35-year-olds talking about their immense contributions to their team's stave-off-elimination victory in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, when the inevitable question was raised. "Zim, your contract's expiring, and this could be your last game before a home crowd," the out-of-town reporter began. "Did you have any extra oomph at your at-bats, especially with...
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Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)

Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)
The Nationals' chances of beating the Dodgers in this National League Division Series have always rested on the shoulders of the very best players on their roster. They don't have the depth to compete with the 106-win champions of the NL West, but they do have the star power at the top of their roster to make them sweat. And so with their season hanging by a thread tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-five series, the Nats turned to the best they had to keep the 2019 campaign alive and well for...
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Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again

Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again
Victor Robles took a full round of batting practice this afternoon. He was not, however, in the Nationals lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with club officials not wanting to take any chances he might severely injure his already strained right hamstring. "He's still a little bit sore," manager Davey Martinez said. "He'll be available to pinch-hit, but that's it." Robles, who hurt himself trying to run out a bunt during Game 2 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, did...
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NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
This is the fourth time the Nationals have trailed two games to one in a best-of-five series. Twice in the past, they've gone on to win Game 4 (Jayson Werth's walk-off homer in 2012, Stephen Strasburg's dominant start at Wrigley Field in 2017) and force a Game 5. Once they lost and were eliminated (Aaron Barrett and Matt Thornton in San Francisco in 2014). What does tonight hold in store for us? Well, Max Scherzer is on the mound, and if he's in peak form, obviously the Nationals have a...
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Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5

Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5
Imagine you were presented with this scenario on May 24. Or July 24. Or even Sept. 24, for that matter. The Nationals are facing the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with Max Scherzer on the mound, needing to win to force a Game 5 in which they'd have Stephen Strasburg on the mound. Would you have taken that opportunity? Just know this: The Nationals themselves are happily taking it. "I think we're really comfortable right now, even though our backs are against the...
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After seven-run sixth, Nationals' season on brink (updated)

After seven-run sixth, Nationals' season on brink (updated)
In electing to start Aníbal Sánchez tonight for Game 3 of the National League Division Series and hold Max Scherzer back for Game 4, the Nationals mapped out what felt like a viable path to victory. They were confident in Sánchez's ability to hold the Dodgers lineup in check, but they also were confident in Patrick Corbin's ability to replace him at some point and serve as tonight's much-needed bridge from starter to back end of the bullpen. So when the very scenario they had...
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Scherzer: Holding back for Game 4 "probably the best thing"

Scherzer: Holding back for Game 4 "probably the best thing"
The conversation took place late Friday night, after the Nationals had hung on for a dramatic 4-2 win over the Dodgers to even up their best-of-five National League Division Series. Max Scherzer, who made a surprise 14-pitch relief appearance to help make that win possible, and Davey Martinez met in the Dodger Stadium clubhouse to decide when the ace would next start: Game 3 tonight or Game 4 on Monday. The decision wasn't complicated. The already well-rested Aníbal Sánchez would start...
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Sánchez gets nod for Game 3 tonight

Sánchez gets nod for Game 3 tonight
Aníbal Sánchez will start Game 3 of the National League Division Series tonight, giving Max Scherzer an extra day to recover from his relief appearance before the Nationals ace likely starts Game 4 against the Dodgers on Monday. The Nationals had delayed making a decision on tonight's starter, wanting to see how Scherzer felt in the wake of his dominant, 14-pitch relief outing in Game 2 on Friday night. Originally announced as their Game 3 starter, Scherzer instead will be held back and...
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Plenty of questions for Nationals to answer before Game 3

Plenty of questions for Nationals to answer before Game 3
The Nationals spent most of their Saturday in the sky, electing to get a full night's sleep in Los Angeles following their intense Game 2 win over the Dodgers and take a charter flight that wasn't scheduled to arrive back in Washington until after 8 p.m. It gave them plenty of time to think back to all the critical moments in Friday night's game at Dodger Stadium, all the moves that worked to even up the National League Division Series at one game apiece. It also gave them plenty of time to...
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Nats' biggest names embracing expanded roles in October

Nats' biggest names embracing expanded roles in October
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals have pitched 26 innings of postseason baseball so far this week, all of them high-stress, high-stakes innings, with one game officially must-win and another game ostensibly must-win. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin have pitched 21 of those 26 innings. Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle have pitched another three. That's 24 of 26 innings, a staggering 92.3 percent, manned by those five key members of the staff, the five best members of the staff. "I...
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