Mark Zuckerman

Rookie Robles rising to occasion in big moments

July 19, 2019, 10:25pm

ATLANTA - The bottom of the ninth at SunTrust Park last night left a sour taste in the Nationals' mouths. But it couldn't completely wash away the brief moment of exuberance they felt in the top of the ninth when Victor Robles provided his latest bit of late-game heroics. Robles' game-tying, two-run homer with two outs against Braves closer Luke Jackson was a jaw-dropping moment for the Nationals rookie, who has provided several of them already this season. "That was an unbelievable home...

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Nats lose after wild, head-scratching ninth inning (updated)

July 19, 2019, 6:56pm

Nationals

Nats lose after wild, head-scratching ninth inning (updated)

ATLANTA - They had just watched Victor Robles provide the latest in a summer full of jaw-dropping, inspiring moments to bring the Nationals back from the dead. Down to their last out in what had been a sleepy night at SunTrust Park for 8 2/3 innings, the Nats had just tied the game on Robles' monster home run off Braves closer Luke Jackson. And then, chaos. And confusion. And a dispiriting, 4-3 loss to Atlanta that opened up manager Davey Martinez to all sorts of questions and criticism for...

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Inflamed bursa sac will keep Scherzer on IL (Nats down 3-1)

July 19, 2019, 2:40pm

Nationals

Inflamed bursa sac will keep Scherzer on IL (Nats down 3-1)

ATLANTA - An inflamed bursa sac in his back will prevent Max Scherzer from pitching Sunday night against the Braves, but the Nationals ace is optimistic he'll be good to go soon, once a cortisone shot he received earlier this week takes full effect. Scherzer, who hasn't pitched since July 6 due to what initially was explained by the Nationals to be a mid-back strain, learned on Monday he's actually dealing with scapulothoracic bursitis: inflammation of the bursa sac between his scapula and...

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Game 96 lineups: Nats at Braves

July 19, 2019, 11:50am

Nationals

ATLANTA - The Nationals couldn't have asked for a better start to this big weekend series. Now they'll look to keep it rolling tonight and perhaps move to within three games in the loss column of the Braves. They'll do so with a historically notable battery. Patrick Corbin and Yan Gomes are each celebrating their birthdays today (Gomes is 32, Corbin is 30). And they're paired up, which makes this only the second time in major league history that a starting pitcher and catcher have shared...

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On Zimmerman's hard contact and Rainey's whiffs

July 18, 2019, 10:04pm

Nationals

On Zimmerman's hard contact and Rainey's whiffs

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg stole the show Thursday night, but there was more to the Nationals' 13-4 win over the Braves than the right-hander's stunning offensive performance. ... * Ryan Zimmerman hit the ball hard four times and wound up with two doubles. It began as a frustrating evening for Zimmerman, who was 0-for-3 through four innings and struck out with two on, one out and the Nats leading 2-1 in the top of the third. But two of his outs came on balls that left his bat at more than...

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Strasburg's bat carries Nats to blowout win over Braves (updated)

July 18, 2019, 7:05pm

Nationals

Strasburg's bat carries Nats to blowout win over Braves (updated)

ATLANTA - The ball cracked off his bat at 105 mph and soared on a 420-foot journey over the left field bullpen at SunTrust Park. And as the big slugger rounded the bases, the visitors' dugout roared with approval and formed its customary dance line to greet the man who had just clubbed this no-doubt home run. And then Stephen Strasburg danced. It was awkward, to be sure. And it required some help from Gerardo Parra, the veteran outfielder who started this whole home run dance phenomenon...

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Strasburg homers, has five RBIs (Nats lead 10-1)

July 18, 2019, 4:48pm

Nationals

Strasburg homers, has five RBIs (Nats lead 10-1)

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg has become the latest Nationals hitter to go through the dugout dance line following a home run. Yes, you read that correctly. Strasburg launched a 420-foot laser over the left field bullpen at SunTrust Park, capping an eight-run top of the third for the Nationals, who have opened up a commanding lead over the Braves in the opener of this critical, four-game weekend series. The Nats had already plated five runs in the inning before Strasburg stepped to the plate. (He...

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Still not 100 percent, Scherzer still up in air for weekend

July 18, 2019, 2:38pm

Nationals

Still not 100 percent, Scherzer still up in air for weekend

ATLANTA - If Max Scherzer is going to face the Braves this weekend, he's going to have to make some significant strides in the next 24 hours. And he's going to have to convince the Nationals powers that it's worth putting him on the mound even if he's potentially not 100 percent healthy. Scherzer, who hasn't pitched since July 6 due to a mid-back strain, played catch on flat ground this afternoon for the third straight day. Manager Davey Martinez described that throwing session, from 90...

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Game 95 lineups: Nats at Braves

July 18, 2019, 11:51am

Nationals

ATLANTA - No team in baseball has a better winning percentage since May 25 than the Nationals: .690. The next-best winning percentage after that: .659, by the Braves. And so the Nats, in spite of their torrid pace for nearly two months, have barely gained any ground on the National League East leaders, who enter play today 6 1/2 games up (only five in the loss column). There are, however, 14 head-to-head games still on the schedule between these teams. A whopping 21 percent of the Nationals'...

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After Fedde's quick hook, bullpen implodes in 9-2 loss

July 17, 2019, 7:29pm

Nationals Orioles

After Fedde's quick hook, bullpen implodes in 9-2 loss

BALTIMORE - Ask him before the game how he'd feel about six innings of one-run ball from Erick Fedde, and Davey Martinez would've scooped it up in a heartbeat and been content with it 'til the cows come home. But when that very proposition came true tonight, Martinez was faced with a decision he never could have foreseen. Fedde had only thrown 66 pitches in those six innings. His bullpen was rested and ready to go, trying to protect a one-run lead over the Orioles. Would he let his young...

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Scherzer throws again, no decision yet on Sunday start

July 17, 2019, 1:43pm

Nationals

Scherzer throws again, no decision yet on Sunday start

BALTIMORE - Max Scherzer again played catch in the outfield at Camden Yards today, but his status for this weekend's series in Atlanta won't be known for at least another 24 hours. Scherzer, on the 10-day injured list with a mid-back strain, threw from up to 90 feet on flat ground this afternoon. The Nationals ace had a long conversation with director of athletic training Paul Lessard at the end of the workout, but manager Davey Martinez described the throwing session as "encouraging"...

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Game 94 lineups: Nats at Orioles

July 17, 2019, 11:31am

Nationals Orioles

BALTIMORE - The Nationals got a strong start from an inexperienced right-hander last night, helping set the stage for a win over the Orioles. They'll hope for another tonight, and a two-game sweep at scorching hot and humid Camden Yards, where the heat index as I type this is a mere 110. Erick Fedde takes the mound for his first big league start since June 20, when he lasted only 3 2/3 innings against the Phillies, having thrown a whopping 84 pitches. Like Austin Voth last night, he's trying...

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Will Voth or Fedde seize open No. 5 starter's job?

July 16, 2019, 7:52pm

Nationals Orioles

Will Voth or Fedde seize open No. 5 starter's job?

BALTIMORE - The top four in the Nationals' rotation have been as good as advertised, maybe even better than advertised, so far this season. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez have combined to go 32-20 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. There are, however, five starters in a modern-day rotation. And those other starts count just as much as the rest. So it's more than a bit troubling to note that the Nationals' No. 5 starters (Jeremy Hellickson, Austin Voth,...

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Voth sets tone, lineup piles on as Nats rout O's (updated)

July 16, 2019, 6:17pm

Nationals Orioles

Voth sets tone, lineup piles on as Nats rout O's (updated)

BALTIMORE - Though they'd never admit it publicly, the Nationals know well their upcoming weekend series at SunTrust Park carries far more significance than this two-game set at Camden Yards. Four games against the division-leading Braves simply mean more to the Nats' ultimate chances in 2019 than two games against the worst-in-baseball Orioles. Which didn't mean the Nationals could completely gloss over this interleague series. They still need to take care of business here. They'd just...

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Fedde to face O's, Nats hoping Scherzer can face Braves

July 16, 2019, 2:19pm

Nationals Orioles

Fedde to face O's, Nats hoping Scherzer can face Braves

BALTIMORE - The Nationals have set up their rotation to have their top four starters on the mound for this weekend's critical series in Atlanta. Provided their ace is ready to return from the injured list, which is not yet a certainty. Manager Davey Martinez revealed this afternoon that Erick Fedde will be promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to start Wednesday's series finale against the Orioles. That pushes Stephen Strasburg back to Thursday night's opener against the Braves, with Patrick...

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Game 93 lineups: Nats at Orioles

July 16, 2019, 11:11am

Nationals Orioles

BALTIMORE - There have been times over the years when the Battle of the Beltways brought out a lot of excitement in both towns. It might be a slightly different situation this year, especially over the next two nights, as the worst-in-baseball Orioles host the resurgent Nationals for a quick, two-game interleague series. The Nats come to Camden Yards in the middle of a critical road trip that began in Philadelphia and wraps up in Atlanta. They can't overlook these next two nights, though,...

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Nationals face tricky rotation decision this week

July 15, 2019, 8:17pm

Nationals Orioles

Nationals face tricky rotation decision this week

There are any number of reasons for the Nationals' in-season resurgence, but their most recent stretch of success has especially been made possible by elite starting pitching. Over the last 22 games, Nats starters are 13-0 with 2.40 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and .594 opponents' OPS. Yes, that's right, a member of this rotation has not been charged with a loss since June 15. That's a staggering stretch of pitching dominance. But if this run is going to continue, the Nationals are going to have to get...

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Monday morning Nats Q&A

July 14, 2019, 3:55pm

Nationals

The second half of the season is underway. The Nationals took two of three in Philadelphia over the weekend, winning in dramatic fashion Saturday night, then losing in agonizing fashion Sunday afternoon. They still hold the No. 1 wild card position in the National League, 1 1/2 games up on the Phillies and two games up on the Brewers. But they're now seven games back in the NL East after the Braves swept the Padres over the weekend. Max Scherzer is on the 10-day injured list but expected to...

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As second half opens, Nats try to sustain positive momentum

July 11, 2019, 8:37pm

Nationals

As second half opens, Nats try to sustain positive momentum

With a torrid, 6 1/2 week stretch to close out the first half of the season, the Nationals got themselves into a pennant race that felt entirely out of reach when they were 19-31 and owned the National League's second-worst record. Now comes the tricky part: sustaining the turnaround and making sure the last 6 1/2 weeks were not in vain. And doing that while facing much stiffer competition than this previous stretch offered. The schedule the Nationals face to open the second half is no joke....

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Five key second-half storylines for the Nationals

July 10, 2019, 8:01pm

Nationals

The Nationals are going to be playing meaningful baseball through the rest of the summer, and perhaps into the fall. Given the state of things only seven weeks ago, that's a pretty remarkable development in its own right. Of course, the Nationals' goal was never simply to be playing meaningful baseball the rest of the way. They want to make sure it all ends with even more meaningful baseball. And to do that, they're going to need to overcome some more obstacles and make some critical...