Mark Zuckerman

Slowly but surely, Murphy starting to look like pre-surgery self

July 27, 2018, 8:39pm

MIAMI - Anyone who watched Daniel Murphy in his first week back from major knee surgery could tell the veteran second baseman wasn't himself at the plate. One of baseball's best pure hitters the last two-plus seasons, Murphy opened his 2018 campaign 3-for-29 with five strikeouts for the Nationals. Anyone who watched Murphy in his second and third weeks back from major knee surgery could tell he was better, but still not himself at the plate. Though he was starting to make better contact and...

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Scherzer dominates in another Miami blowout (updated)

July 27, 2018, 5:56pm

Nationals

Scherzer dominates in another Miami blowout (updated)

MIAMI - If the intention of Nationals players this weekend is to convince the front office to keep believing in their chances and not sell before Tuesday's trade deadline, they've done everything they can the last 48 hours to move the needle in their preferred direction. It helps, of course, to be facing the Marlins. And to have Max Scherzer starting one of these games. Not that the Nationals are about to apologize for their performance in the first two games of what could be a critical...

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Robles activated onto Triple-A Syracuse's roster (Nats up 9-1)

July 27, 2018, 3:39pm

Nationals

Robles activated onto Triple-A Syracuse's roster (Nats up 9-1)

MIAMI - They may not have room for him in their crowded outfield right now, but Victor Robles is healthy again and available should the Nationals require his services before season's end. Robles, who entered the year as the organization's top prospect only to hyperextend his left elbow making a diving catch at Triple-A Syracuse in early April, has completed his rehab and is back on the Chiefs' active roster. The 21-year-old outfielder probably would have been playing in Washington after...

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Strasburg receives shot in neck, could resume throwing Sunday

July 27, 2018, 2:16pm

Nationals

Strasburg receives shot in neck, could resume throwing Sunday

MIAMI - The Nationals have received what they believe to be good news about Stephen Strasburg, though it's still an open question when the right-hander will be ready to pitch again. Strasburg, in Los Angeles on Thursday to have his ailing neck examined by a neurologist, was given a shot and is set to rejoin the Nationals in Miami on Saturday. He'll need to wait 72 hours for the shot to take full effect, but provided he feels well at that point he'll be cleared to resume throwing. "That's...

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Game 103 lineups: Nats at Marlins

July 27, 2018, 11:32am

Nationals

MIAMI - The last time the Nationals won three in a row, the opponent was the Marlins. This was three weeks ago in D.C., a streak that began with a record-breaking comeback from nine runs down. Miami's starting pitcher that evening: Pablo LÃ³pez, who is starting tonight's game as well. The Nats actually didn't get off to a good start that evening against LÃ³pez, who faced the minimum through his first three innings. Then they finally got to the young right-hander in the fourth and fifth,...

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On Milone's start, Zimmerman's stroke and Difo's blunder

July 27, 2018, 4:18am

Nationals

On Milone's start, Zimmerman's stroke and Difo's blunder

MIAMI - More from Thursday night's 10-3 victory over the Marlins ... * This wasn't the first time the Nationals needed to summon a starter from Triple-A Syracuse to fill in for a regular member of the big league rotation. They previously had called upon Erick Fedde, Jefry Rodriguez and Austin Voth for situations such as the one they faced Thursday, when Stephen Strasburg landed back on the disabled list. It took until now, though, for the Nats to call upon Tommy Milone, and that was the...

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Depleted Nats rally from early deficit to rout Marlins (updated)

July 26, 2018, 6:24pm

Nationals

Depleted Nats rally from early deficit to rout Marlins (updated)

MIAMI - Their No. 2 starter back on the disabled list with a mysterious neck injury, two of their top hitters out of the lineup and their emergency starter in a three-run hole early, the Nationals had given even their most ardent supporters no legitimate reason to be optimistic after one inning of baseball tonight at Marlins Park. If this weekend series really is going to determine the front office's approach to Tuesday's trade deadline, and by extension determine whether a late-season run is...

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Murphy gets night off, Reynolds subbing for Rendon (Nats lead 6-3)

July 26, 2018, 3:48pm

Nationals

Murphy gets night off, Reynolds subbing for Rendon (Nats lead 6-3)

MIAMI - When Daniel Murphy, originally listed in the Nationals lineup for tonight's series opener against the Marlins, was scratched about 3 1/2 hours before first pitch, it was only natural for conspiracy theorists out there to wonder if the veteran second baseman had just become the first victim of an unexpected late-July fire sale. Rest assured, the Nationals didn't trade Murphy, nor have they made any decisions to become surprise sellers in advance of Tuesday's trade deadline. Not yet,...

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Strasburg getting examined by neurologist in L.A.

July 26, 2018, 2:23pm

Nationals

Strasburg getting examined by neurologist in L.A.

MIAMI - Stephen Strasburg, despite a poor pitching line, didn't report any physical issues following his start Friday night against the Braves, his first outing following a six-week stint on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Strasburg also didn't report any problems after he threw off the bullpen mound in Milwaukee on Monday. But when the right-hander returned to the clubhouse Wednesday morning after playing catch at Miller Park, he informed manager Davey Martinez something was wrong...

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Game 102 lineups: Nats at Marlins

July 26, 2018, 11:42am

Nationals

MIAMI - So the tone of this weekend's series at Marlins Park has changed just a bit, even in the last 24 hours, huh? The immediate issue: Stephen Strasburg isn't pitching tonight as planned. He's back on the disabled list with a neck injury, only one start after he returned from his shoulder injury. So in his place is Tommy Milone, promoted from Triple-A Syracuse to make an emergency start tonight. Milone, you'll remember made his major league debut for the Nationals way back in 2011 (and...

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Turner is Nats' 2018 Heart and Hustle Award nominee

July 24, 2018, 6:47am

Nationals

Turner is Nats' 2018 Heart and Hustle Award nominee

Trea Turner was named the Nationals' 2018 recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award, a deserving honor for the talented and giving shortstop, though the timing of the announcement was less than ideal on the day his manager suggested he'll likely be benched for failing to run out a bunt during Monday night's loss in Milwaukee. The Heart and Hustle Award is handed out annually by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which seeks to recognize one player from each club who...

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More on Sunday's win and Saturday's rainout makeup

July 22, 2018, 8:39pm

Nationals

More on Sunday's win and Saturday's rainout makeup

More from Sunday's twice-delayed, 6-2 victory over the Braves ... * Davey Martinez managed this game like it was being played in September or October. Which, to be honest, is probably how he needs to manage just about every game the rest of the way, certainly those against the Braves and Phillies. The difference was most noticeable following the second rain delay, at which point the rookie manager had to try to piece together three innings from a bullpen that was without Sean Doolittle (on the...

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Nats battle through two rain delays to beat Braves 6-2 (updated)

July 22, 2018, 4:34pm

Nationals

Nats battle through two rain delays to beat Braves 6-2 (updated)

Whether it came via a Max Scherzer gem, an offensive explosion, a grind-it-out nailbiter or even a rain-shortened affair, the Nationals knew only one thing when they took the field today: They needed to win this game against the Braves, one way or another. They got their wish, but it didn't come easily to a team that sure could've used a relaxing day at the park. Instead, a combination of clutch hits, a gutsy performance from a less-than-perfect Scherzer, some outstanding defense, two rain...

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Nats trade Goodwin to Royals, bring SolÃs back (Nats up 5-2)

July 22, 2018, 9:52am

Nationals

Nats trade Goodwin to Royals, bring SolÃs back (Nats up 5-2)

The Nationals knew they couldn't stick with a six-man bullpen for long. They just needed to figure out how to clear a roster spot to address that need. They found a way today, trading outfielder Brian Goodwin to the Royals for minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan, then recalling left-hander Sammy SolÃs from Triple-A Syracuse to give themselves a full relief corps again. Goodwin, a member of the Nationals since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011 and a key member of last season's...

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Stress reaction will sideline Doolittle several more weeks

July 22, 2018, 8:46am

Nationals

Stress reaction will sideline Doolittle several more weeks

The Nationals are going to be without their All-Star closer a while longer than they initially expected. Sean Doolittle, who hoped the injury to his left foot that sidelined him for the first week before the All-Star break and then prevented him from pitching in the Midsummer Classic at Nationals Park, learned this weekend he'll be out several more weeks after a follow-up MRI revealed a "stress reaction" in the bridge of the foot. The injury, which is not as severe as a stress fracture, is...

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Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

July 22, 2018, 6:31am

Nationals

The sun is out on South Capitol Street. At least, it is at the moment I'm typing this. It's probably not going to stay that way through the afternoon, with more rain forecast to sweep through the region on the heels of Saturday's deluge. The Nationals aren't calling the series finale against the Braves off just yet, and my hunch is they'll be more willing to wait around a bit today to try to get this one in, given the fact they already have to squeeze one makeup game into Atlanta's next...

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Nats-Braves rained out, no makeup scheduled yet

July 21, 2018, 10:30am

Nationals

Nats-Braves rained out, no makeup scheduled yet

The Nationals are going to have to wait a while longer to try to get over Friday night's loss to the Braves and everything else that accompanied it. Tonight's game at Nationals Park was postponed a full five hours before scheduled first pitch, with heavy rain dousing the area all morning and expected to continue straight through the evening. No makeup plans were immediately announced, but a Sunday doubleheader doesn't appear to be a viable option because the forecast remains lousy and the...

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On the first base platoon and the short bullpen

July 20, 2018, 8:09pm

Nationals

On the first base platoon and the short bullpen

More on Friday night's 8-5 loss to the Braves that was not related to the Stephen Strasburg-Max Scherzer dugout dustup ... * Davey Martinez's most delicate lineup decisions as the second half of the season opens is at first base, with Ryan Zimmerman back off the disabled list but Matt Adams remaining one of the team's most productive hitters. Martinez didn't hesitate to start Adams on Friday night, opting to go with the hot-hitting lefty slugger against Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez....

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Emotions in the dugout, peacekeeping in the manager's office

July 20, 2018, 7:33pm

Nationals

Emotions in the dugout, peacekeeping in the manager's office

The Nationals' 8-5 loss to the Braves had ended only minutes earlier when Davey Martinez summoned Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer to his office and closed the door. It would be roughly 15 minutes before that door reopened, and though no one was revealing the precise details of what was said during that meeting, it was clear the session was necessary after what transpired in the dugout during the top of the fifth. Strasburg, who had just been removed by Martinez after allowing six runs in 4...

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Nats drop opener to Braves, Strasburg has words with Scherzer

July 20, 2018, 6:03pm

Nationals

Nats drop opener to Braves, Strasburg has words with Scherzer

They said and did all the right things before the game. They went through a spirited afternoon workout that included a focus on defense and baserunning. They all wore customized shirseys with their regular numbers on the back but the world "NATIONALS" replacing their last names. They spoke of the need to play as one and to treat every remaining series on the schedule as critical. Then the Nationals took the field and opened the second half of their season with an 8-5 loss to the Braves that...