Given all the hype and hoopla that surrounded tonight's Mets-Nationals game featuring the major league debut of top prospect Lucas Giolito, the first word that comes to mind to sum up the night for the right-hander is bummer. Not because of his performance, far from it. No, it was a bummer because of the 55-minute delay before the game started and then the 1-hour, 25-minute rain delay that cut Giolito's debut short in the fourth inning.
Sadly, the rookie didn't get a decision in a 5-0...
Much is being said about Lucas Giolito's highly anticipated major league debut tonight at Nationals Park. Giolito is the Nationals' top prospect, he has a big presence on the mound, he's got a powerful fastball and a killer curveball. Every move he makes tonight will be carefully watched and analyzed by media and fans alike.
But there's also a second part to Giolito's debut, one that might be getting overlooked a bit as all eyes focus on the 21-year-old: his batterymate, Wilson Ramos....
The Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Rafael Martin from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, adding him to the active roster in the space that was vacated when right-hander Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an upper back strain (retroactive to June 16) on Sunday, June 26. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Martin, 32, joins the Nationals for his first major league assignment of the season. The right-hander...
Manager: Terry Collins (6th season)
Record: 40-34
Last 10 games: 5-5
Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.287/.358/.566 with 18 HR, 45 RBIs), 2B Neil Walker (.265 with 14 HR, 30 RBIs), RF Curtis Granderson (13 HR, 21 RBIs), RHP Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 2.08 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (2.89 ERA with 26 saves)
Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3
Pitching probables:
June 27: RHP Noah Syndergaard vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 28: RHP Matt Harvey vs. TBA, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 29: LHP Steven Matz vs....
The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Norfolk as the 26th player for today's doubleheader.
McFarland, 27, went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA (7 ER/21.0 IP) over five games (four starts) with Triple-A Norfolk this season. In 13 games with the Orioles this season, McFarland has gone 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA (12 ER/21.0 IP). Over 118 career major league games (two starts), he has gone 11-7 with a 4.02 ERA (87 ER/194.2 IP) and 124 strikeouts.
So last night's end to the Nationals-Dodgers series was less than ideal ...
Plain and simple: Michael A. Taylor had a bad night at Dodger Stadium (0-for-5, five strikeouts and a three-base error in the ninth inning). But those days happen, and he's not the only one to struggle over this five-game losing streak on the West Coast. Alas, the Nationals must press on ...
Meanwhile, Byron Kerr and I get to look back at last night's crazy and unfortunate finish for this week's episode of District...
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season)
Record: 31-39
Last 10 games: 3-7
Who to watch: 3B Evan Longoria (.273/.328/.539 with 18 HR, 43 RBIs), OF/DH Corey Dickerson (12 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Brad Miller (9 HR, 24 RBIs), RHP Matt Andriese (6-0, 2.61 ERA), RHP Alex Colome (1.76 ERA with 19 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: 2-3
Pitching probables:
June 24: LHP Matt Moore vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 25: RHP Jake Odorizzi vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 1:05 p.m., MASN June 25: RHP Matt Andriese vs. RHP...
The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Oliver Drake from Triple-A Norfolk and outrighted infielder Paul Janish to Triple-A Norfolk.
Drake, 29, pitched to a 2.02 ERA (6 ER/26.2 IP) with 10 saves over 27 games with Triple-A Norfolk this season. He did not surrender an earned run over his last 14 games with the Tides (14.0 IP), totaling 25 strikeouts in that span and was named the International League Pitcher of the Week on June 20. Drake has posted a 2.87 ERA (5...
Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season)
Record: 38-33
Last 10 games: 6-4
Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.280/.342/.502 with 15 HR, 36 RBIs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.274 with 32 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (12 HR, 31 RBIs), LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-1, 1.58 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (1.59 ERA with 19 saves)
Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-2 in 2015)
Pitching probables:
June 20: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw, 10:10 p.m., MASN2 June 21: RHP Tanner Roark vs. LHP Scott Kazmir, 10:10...
We've got a quick episode for you today, as the Nationals finish their three-game series with the Cubs. Byron and I recorded the fourth episode of District 34 leading up to Stephen Strasburg's first pitch at Nats Park.
During this brief episode, we wrap up this Cubs-Nats series ahead of the rubber match and look at Strasburg's start. He is the only undefeated starting pitcher left in Major League Baseball as he looks to improve his 10-0 record against the Cubs' Jason Hammel, who has never...
Manager: John Farrell (4th season)
Record: 36-26
Last 10 games: 4-6
Who to watch: DH David Ortiz (.340/.423/.708 with 16 HR, 55 RBIs), SS Xander Bogaerts (.359/.405/.527 with 44 RBIs), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.311 with 10 HR, 43 RBIs), RHP Steven Wright (7-4, 2.09 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (2.31 ERA with 14 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: 3-4
Pitching probables:
June 10: RHP Chris Tillman vs. LHP David Price, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June 11: RHP Tyler Wilson vs. RHP Steven Wright, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June...
The Orioles tonight selected right-hander Cody Sedlock from the University of Illinois with their first selection as the 27th overall pick of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. The Orioles also selected left-hander Keegan Akin at No. 54 overall from Western Michigan University and right-hander Matthias Dietz at No. 69 overall from John A. Logan College (IL).
Sedlock, 20, went 10-6 with a 2.96 ERA (54 ER/164.1 IP) and 175 strikeouts in 47 games (19 starts) over three seasons with the University...
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season)
Record: 29-31
Last 10 games: 3-7
Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.318/.422/.431), 3B Maikel Franco (10 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Freddy Galvis (6 HR, 22 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (5-4, 2.65 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2.61 ERA with 19 saves)
Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5
Pitching probables:
June 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 11: RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 12:05 p.m., MASN June 12: LHP Adam Morgan vs. RHP Joe Ross,...
The Washington Nationals selected third baseman Sheldon Neuse out of the University of Oklahoma with the 58th-overall selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and assistant general manager & vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement.
A 6-foot, 195-pound junior, Neuse hit .369 (73-for-198) with 15 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 48 RBIs, 39 walks, 12 stolen bases and 42...
The Washington Nationals selected prep shortstop Carter Kieboom out of Walton (GA) High School with the 28th-overall pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft and followed that selection with collegiate right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning out of the University of Florida with the 29th-overall selection. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and assistant general manager & vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement.
Kieboom,...
The Nationals offense is hot coming into the summer months! After their third straight 10-run game and victory, the Nats are looking to close out this 11-day road trip with a sweep of the White Sox before returning home.
It's an exciting and eventful time in the baseball calendar with the First-Year Player Draft starting tonight. The Nationals hold the 28th, 29th and 58th overall picks in the first two rounds, so Byron Kerr and I give you a brief preview of the possible areas general manager...
The Baltimore Orioles have named Patrick Di Gregory as director of professional scouting and special projects, where he will oversee professional scouting operations and complete special baseball operations projects.
This marks Di Gregory's fifth season working in professional baseball and his fourth season with the Orioles. He served as coordinator of baseball operations for parts of three seasons (2014-2016) and joined the organization's baseball operations department in 2013.
Prior to...
Daniel Murphy, come on down to claim your award!
Murphy was named the National League Player of the Month, the second consecutive month a Nationals player has been awarded the honor after Bryce Harper was named the NL's best in April.
After slashing .416/.424/.673 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs and a new Nats record for hits in a month of 47, Byron Kerr and I figured Murphy would win, so we went ahead and discussed Murphy's May in this week's episode of District 34.
With the calendar turning...
Manager: Bryan Price (3rd season)
Record: 19-35
Last 10 games: 4-6
Who to watch: SS Zack Cozart (.306/.333/.524 with 7 HR, 20 RBIs), RF Jay Bruce (.275 with 11 HR, 36 RBIs), LF Adam Duvall (.260 with 14 HR, 31 RBIs), RHP Dan Straily (3-2, 3.43 ERA), RHP Blake Wood (4-1, 3.76 ERA)
Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (5-1 in 2015)
Pitching probables:
June 3: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. LHP Brandon Finnegan, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June 4: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Dan Straily, 4:10 p.m., MASN June...
Don't have tickets to go see the Nationals take on the Phillies at Nats Park on June 10-12? Still want to be outside in the early summer sun while showing your support for the Nats and getting free stuff? We have you covered.
The MASN booth is taking its talents to Northern Virginia, specifically the Celebrate Fairfaix! community-wide festival!
On the weekend of June 10-12, the annual celebration will host tens of thousands of visitors at the Fairfax County Government Center with more than 300...