Mark Zuckerman

Nats asking Venters, Rodney to help stabilize improving 'pen

June 25, 2019, 2:11pm

MIAMI - Jonny Venters has been called up to join major league rosters under more noteworthy circumstances than this, from his major league debut with the Braves in 2010 to his return in 2018 following a six-year layoff. That doesn't mean the 34-year-old reliever didn't still get that familiar feeling of accomplishment when he got the call Monday to join the Nationals in Miami. "I couldn't have been more excited, especially with the way this team's been playing lately," he said. "And...

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Game 78 lineups: Nats at Marlins (roster moves announced)

June 25, 2019, 11:37am

Nationals

Game 78 lineups: Nats at Marlins (roster moves announced)

MIAMI - There isn't nearly the kind of buzz surrounding the Nationals' upcoming week as there was for the last one, but that doesn't mean this isn't an important road trip for the team. It also doesn't mean it's going to be an easy one. Though the Marlins own the National League's worst record, they're playing a whole lot better right now than they were to begin the season. After opening up a dreadful 10-31, they've gone 20-15 since May 17, and they'll ride a four-game winning streak...

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Source: Veteran Venters also joining Nats bullpen tonight

June 25, 2019, 8:52am

Nationals

Source: Veteran Venters also joining Nats bullpen tonight

MIAMI - The Nationals are going to give another veteran reliever with shaky numbers so far this season a chance to help their bullpen during this final stretch before the All-Star break. Jonny Venters, the longtime Braves left-hander who has overcome what he describes as "3 1/2" Tommy John surgeries, will be promoted from Double-A Harrisburg before tonight's series opener against the Marlins, a source familiar with the transaction confirmed. Venters, 34, joins right-hander Fernando Rodney,...

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Slow-climbing Nats now have chance to pick up the pace

June 24, 2019, 7:04pm

Nationals

Slow-climbing Nats now have chance to pick up the pace

The Nationals just completed their most important homestand of the season to date. We noted it. They acknowledged it. And while the 6-4 record they posted against the Diamondbacks, Phillies and Braves may feel a bit disappointing given the opportunities they had to win a couple more games, that's actually a good representation of what they need to do the rest of the season to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs. We've pointed out that the Nationals have played .667 ball since their...

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Source: Nationals calling up 42-year-old reliever Rodney

June 24, 2019, 2:59pm

Nationals

The Nationals are going to take a flyer on another late-inning reliever with a track record of success but ugly numbers this season. Fernando Rodney, the 42-year-old with 325 career saves but a 9.42 ERA in 17 big league games this season, will be promoted from Triple-A Fresno and added to the active roster before Tuesday's series opener against the Marlins in Miami, a source familiar with the transaction confirmed. Rodney owns a 3.79 ERA and a long track record as a quality late-inning...

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Fedde optioned to Fresno, opening door for Voth to start again

June 24, 2019, 6:27am

Nationals

Fedde optioned to Fresno, opening door for Voth to start again

It appears Austin Voth's fill-in start Sunday opened enough eyes to warrant another look. The Nationals have optioned Erick Fedde to Triple-A Fresno, paving the way for Voth to remain as part of the big league rotation on the heels of his impressive outing Sunday afternoon against the Braves. Fedde had assumed the No. 5 starter's job over the last month, and had pitched well for much of that time, posting a 2.70 ERA in four outings. But he gave up five runs in six innings to the Diamondbacks...

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On Voth's velocity, a bullpen opening and Zimmerman's rehab

June 23, 2019, 9:21pm

Nationals

On Voth's velocity, a bullpen opening and Zimmerman's rehab

Some thoughts and observations to help get you through the Nationals' first day off in nearly two weeks before they return to action Tuesday night in Miami ... * The most significant development of Sunday's 10-inning loss to the Braves didn't occur in the late innings. It might well have happened in the first six, when Austin Voth authored by far the best outing of his brief major league career. Pressed into emergency starting duties to compensate for the pair of rainouts at the start of the...

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Nationals fall in 10 to close out big week on down note (updated)

June 23, 2019, 12:48pm

Nationals

The outcome today - a 4-3, 10-inning loss - may not have been what they wanted, certainly not on the heels of Saturday night's bullpen meltdown. But in the larger picture, the Nationals can't be too down about what just took place on South Capitol Street. In their most important week of the season, the Nats went 4-2 against the two teams they're chasing in the National League East. They still have significant ground to make up, but they've got ample opportunity to do it, and they made...

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Robles sits day after dehydration scare (game tied 2-2)

June 23, 2019, 10:11am

Nationals

Robles sits day after dehydration scare (game tied 2-2)

Though he said this morning he felt "great" after departing Saturday night's game with dehydration, center field Victor Robles was held out of the Nationals lineup for their series finale against the Braves. "Not starting, but he's available," manager Davey Martinez said. "When you have a scary moment like that ... I told him be ready to come into the game. If it was a night game, it may be different. But we had a quick turnaround, so we will use him off the bench." Robles gave the...

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Conceding $8 million mistake, Nationals release Rosenthal

June 23, 2019, 8:52am

Nationals

For one fleeting moment Friday night, the Nationals thought Trevor Rosenthal had turned the corner and could finally become a trusted member of their bullpen. But then came yet another high-profile meltdown on the mound Saturday night, and so by Sunday morning, the team made the move that had loomed for months but was put off until now. The Nationals released Rosenthal today, finally conceding defeat on a reclamation project that went haywire in the season's first week and never could be...

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Game 77 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Rosenthal released)

June 23, 2019, 6:27am

Nationals

Game 77 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Rosenthal released)

This critical week had been going about as well as possible for the Nationals. They swept the Phillies. They won Friday night's opener against the Braves in exciting fashion. And then ... well, Saturday night's 13-9 loss - which saw the bullpen blow a pair of late leads - obviously put a big damper on the week and suddenly put more weight on today's finale at Nationals Park. A win today and the Nats would still going 5-1 against two division rivals and make a real statement that they're...

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Finally entrusted in big spot, Rosenthal comes through

June 21, 2019, 8:49pm

Nationals

Finally entrusted in big spot, Rosenthal comes through

As he handed Trevor Rosenthal the baseball with the game on the line Friday night - a scenario that had not been seen around these parts since the season's very first week - Davey Martinez had a simple message for his beleaguered right-hander. "This is your moment," manager said to pitcher. "Enjoy it." Given what Rosenthal has been through in 2019, why not try to spread a little positivity in a critical moment? Four pitches and one gargantuan out later, Rosenthal indeed was enjoying the...

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Nationals come up big to beat Braves in series opener (updated)

June 21, 2019, 6:11pm

Nationals

It's only June 21, so there's still the promise of far more important baseball games yet to be played. But in order for those future games to carry real importance, the Nationals know they needed to treat this June 21 game as though it was taking place on Aug. 21. And so here was Davey Martinez pulling out all the stops in tonight's series opener against the Braves, trying out a different lineup combination, then turning to whatever available arms he had at his disposal in an attempt to...

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Zimmerman begins rehab assignment at Harrisburg

June 21, 2019, 2:24pm

Nationals

Zimmerman begins rehab assignment at Harrisburg

Ryan Zimmerman is in a starting lineup and playing in a baseball game tonight - in Harrisburg, Pa. Which suggests the veteran first baseman could be back playing in a baseball game in Washington soon. Zimmerman is beginning a long-awaited rehab assignment tonight, starting at first base and batting third for Double-A Harrisburg in his first game action in nearly two months. On the injured list since April 28 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Zimmerman is scheduled to play five innings...

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Game 75 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

June 21, 2019, 11:23am

Nationals

This week's series against the Phillies was big. This weekend's series against the Braves might be even bigger. The Nationals are feeling good about themselves after sweeping Philadelphia and winning 17 of 24. But now they face the hottest team in the majors, the one now comfortably in first place in the National League East. The good news: The Nats are 2-0 against the Braves this season, having swept a quick series at SunTrust Park three weeks ago. But they're facing a bit of a different...

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Nationals finally winning games via standout defense

June 20, 2019, 8:47pm

Nationals

It would not be accurate to refer to the Nationals as a "good defensive team." They still rank close to the bottom of the majors in every defensive metric, both traditional and new-age. But it would be accurate to say the Nationals are playing much better defense right now than they did through the season's first two months. Back then, it felt like they failed to make one or two plays every night that directly contributed to a loss. Right now, it feels like they're making one or two plays...

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Nationals blast Phillies en route to series sweep (updated)

June 20, 2019, 6:40pm

Nationals

They knew at the outset this was a big week, and they didn't shy away from admitting that. And though they had to wait through two rainouts and watch as one of the games was rescheduled for late September, once the Nationals finally took the field against the Phillies, they got down to business and played like their season depended on it. Which, it's not unfair to say, it probably does. In that regard, there's nothing bad you can say about what transpired at Nationals Park over the last 36...

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Nationals clubhouse supports plan to extend netting

June 20, 2019, 2:14pm

Nationals

The Nationals were at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago last week when a foul ball went screaming into the stands down the third base line and struck a woman, who then needed to be hospitalized. Players had long expressed concerns about dangerous moments like that and supported the idea of extending protective nets at ballparks farther down the lines, and that incident only bolstered their opinion. So today's announcement by managing principal owner Mark Lerner that the club will extend the...

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Game 74 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

June 20, 2019, 11:23am

Nationals

The Nationals have swept a couple of two-game series this season, but they've yet to sweep a three-game series. This wouldn't be a bad time to break through that barrier, would it? After taking both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader, the Nats now have a chance with a win tonight over the Phillies to sweep the three-game set (condensed from the original four-game plan). They're sending Erick Fedde to the mound instead of Stephen Strasburg, who initially was scheduled to start tonight but was...

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Scherzer delivers twinbill shiner to Phillies

June 19, 2019, 6:10pm

Nationals

Scherzer delivers twinbill shiner to Phillies

When his pitching days are over and the countdown to Cooperstown begins, Max Scherzer will look back at a handful of starts that defined his career. He'll remember the two no-hitters. He'll remember the 20-strikeout game. He'll remember the time he became the first major leaguer in three decades to begin a season 13-0. And he'll remember "The Black Eye Game," the game in which the right-hander took the mound with a huge shiner surrounding his right eye after he broke his nose during a...