Finnegan raising money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Finnegan raising money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan has put his name on an initiative to help children diagnosed with cancer. Finnegan is urging fans to donate to a campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation called Vs. Cancer, either in a lump sum or by pledging an amount for every strikeout Finnegan records for the remainder of the season. A co-worker of Finnegan's father, William Finnegan, told the right-hander about the organization. "Just trying to raise anything we can for this great cause,"...
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Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory

Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory
Overshadowed a bit in the 6-5 10-inning loss for the Nationals at Philadelphia on Thursday was the overall effectiveness of the Nats bullpen. Starter Aníbal Sánchez lasted only 3 1/3 innings. From there, the Nats relievers compiled 6 1/3 innings, allowing the Phillies only two runs on just two hits. The bullpen struck out 10 batters. Both Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey struck out the side. It all started with Wander Suero, who worked 1 2/3 innings after Sánchez's struggles. He kept...
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Martinez moves Eaton to leadoff spot to try to energize lineup

Martinez moves Eaton to leadoff spot to try to energize lineup
In an effort to jump-start an offense that has not scored a run in two games, Nationals manager Davey Martinez has moved right fielder Adam Eaton into the leadoff spot for today's series finale in Philadelphia. Martinez hopes that this will create more opportunities for his two hottest hitters, Trea Turner and Juan Soto, to drive in runs. "I talked to him last night," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I wanted to see if we could get somebody up there, get something...
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Scherzer's frustration shows in dugout during Nats' loss

Scherzer's frustration shows in dugout during Nats' loss
The frustration boiled over for Max Scherzer after allowing a run in the sixth inning Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Scherzer had just surrendered a solo homer to Jay Bruce that extended the Phillies lead to 3-0, which turned out to be the final margin. After the inning finished, the Nationals ace was shown on the Phillies broadcast slamming his glove down in the dugout. "Frustrated," Scherzer said after the game on his Zoom video call. "Look, tensions are high. You want to go out there...
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Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers

Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers
Some fans have asked the question with the Nationals at 12-21 and in last place in the National League East: Why not just call up all the prospects and see what you have for 2021 and beyond? Manager Davey Martinez was asked about third baseman Carter Kieboom, who started the season with the Nationals but since Aug. 26 is back at the alternate training site working on his hitting and his approach at the plate. "When we assessed Carter at the time, he was trending downward," Martinez said...
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García adjusting quickly at the plate and in the field

García adjusting quickly at the plate and in the field
Luis García, 20, is gaining valuable experience as he goes along in his first season in the major leagues. With each game, García has moments when he looks the part and moments when it's clear he is still learning. On Tuesday night in the Nationals' 6-0 loss to the Phillies, García delivered on a one-out double against Phillies starter Aaron Nola, but then later struck out twice on a steady diet of knuckle-curves. "Once he goes through this league and he understands what they are...
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Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming

Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming
Tonight's Nationals lineup again has Michael A. Taylor playing center field, replacing starter Victor Robles. Manager Davey Martinez said he noticed Robles appeared to be a bit fatigued during the weekend series at Boston. "I just wanted to give Victor a couple of days off," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I talked to him. Victor is a high-energy guy. We all know that. I just wanted him to get two days off. I look at some of his numbers and his bat speed has gone...
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Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat

Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat
Juan Soto has popularized the "Soto Shuffle" between pitches as he sizes up the pitcher and what he might throw him during each at-bat. But a lot of times between pitches, it looks like Soto is having a conversation with the umpire or the catcher. Is he talking to them, asking where the pitch was? What is he saying to them during the at-bat? Are they having actual conversations during each at-bat? Soto says he exchanges nothing more than "hellos" with the umpires. But against the Phillies,...
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Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going

Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going
Trea Turner is beyond the zone. He's on a different level. So is Juan Soto. Now if only the Nationals could figure out how to get everyone else in the lineup to join them on the same night. Turner went 4-for-5 with a homer and a run scored in Monday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. His average is a league-best .377 and his OPS is 1.077. According to statistics compiled by Ryan Spaeder, Turner is hitting .515 over his last 72 plate...
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Martinez says Voth will remain in rotation, start Friday

Martinez says Voth will remain in rotation, start Friday
Manager Davey Martinez is not giving up on right-hander Austin Voth. Pitching coach Paul Menhart, Voth and Martinez are working on trying to figure out how to get some more movement and cutting action on Voth's fastball. Voth wants to be able to alter the spin rate so that opposing hitters have a tougher time picking up his fastball. Martinez confirmed today that Voth will remain in the rotation and start one of the two games of the doubleheader Friday in Atlanta. "He's going to throw...
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Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies
The Nationals continue their 11-game road trip in Philadelphia tonight as they open a four-game set against the Phillies. The Nats went 1-2 in Boston and 0-2 last week against the Phillies in D.C., and are now 6-6 on the road. Tonight's pitching matchup features right-hander Erick Fedde (1-2, 3.57 ERA) opposing the Phillies right-hander Spencer Howard (0-1, 6.17). Last week against the Phillies, Fedde took the loss in an 8-3 setback, giving up four runs on seven hits over five innings with one...
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Turner and Suzuki break down what's working at the plate

Turner and Suzuki break down what's working at the plate
After going 5-for-5 Saturday night in the Nationals' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox, Trea Turner is now riding a career-high 14-game hit streak. On Saturday, Turner connected for a ground-rule double in his first at-bat. He followed that up with another double in the third inning. He has four doubles in the series, in a span of six at-bats. Before the sixth inning Saturday night, he had already collected four hits. Here is a rundown of each of Turner's at-bats Saturday at Fenway Park: 1. Double, fly...
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Turner has five hits, but early Red Sox runs stand up in 5-3 loss (updated)

Turner has five hits, but early Red Sox runs stand up in 5-3 loss (updated)
Trea Turner tied a career high with five hits, but Xander Bogaerts set the tone with a three-run shot off Aníbal Sánchez and the Red Sox made the early offense stand up in a 5-3 win over the Nationals at Fenway Park on Saturday night. Turner went 5-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored. It was his third career five-hit game. "Just be relaxed and getting a good pitch to hit in the zone," Turner said on a postgame Zoom video call. "I felt like I got pitches to hit and didn't miss...
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Doolittle on rehab of knee and simplified mechanics

Doolittle on rehab of knee and simplified mechanics
Left-hander Sean Doolittle is back with the Nationals and is eligible to pitch tonight. His last appearance was Aug. 10. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 11 with right knee fatigue. Manager Davey Martinez said the club wanted Doolittle to rehab his sore knee and build some strength in his lower half in his two weeks at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. "Just go down there and hone in on his mechanics," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom video call Saturday. "I think...
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Nationals agree to terms with infielder Brock Holt (updated)

Nationals agree to terms with infielder Brock Holt (updated)
Manager Davey Martinez confirmed that the Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran infielder Brock Holt. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter can play almost every infield spot and in the outfield, bringing nine seasons of big league experience to the club. To make room for Holt on the 28-man roster, the Nats optioned left-hander Ben Braymer to the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals transferred infielder Starlin Castro (broken right...
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Game 30 lineups: Nats at Red Sox

Game 30 lineups: Nats at Red Sox
Right-hander Aníbal Sánchez is seeking his second win in a row and a series victory for the Nationals as they take on the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park. The Nats have not won two games in a row since Aug 10- 11. Their last series win was Aug. 16 at Baltimore. With the conclusion of tonight's game, the Nats will officially be halfway through this abbreviated 60-game regular season. The last time the Nats won a series over the Red Sox at Fenway Park was a three-game series sweep from June...
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Robles and Turner help ignite offense in 10-2 rout of Red Sox

Robles and Turner help ignite offense in 10-2 rout of Red Sox
The Nationals offense stepped up early and kept the pressure on the Red Sox all night in a 10-2 runaway win to open their weekend series at Fenway Park. Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Josh Harrison hit home runs, part of eight extra base hits in the 16-hit attack. Trea Turner went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Victor Robles went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Three times in the game, No. 9 hitter Robles contributed a base hit in front of Turner that helped score a run or two,...
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Martinez on legacy of Jackie Robinson: "He means a lot to this game"

Martinez on legacy of Jackie Robinson: "He means a lot to this game"
Today marks the official Major League Baseball in-season remembrance of Jackie Robinson Day, which usually is commemorated on April 15. Customary to the annual in-season Jackie Robinson Day celebration, all players, managers, coaches, umpires and other on-field personnel will wear Robinson's No. 42 to honor the historic significance of him breaking the color barrier in in the majors in 1947. "For us baseball players, he was the guy that united and started honestly what we call right now is...
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Marlins return Rule 5 pick Sterling Sharp to Nats

Marlins return Rule 5 pick Sterling Sharp to Nats
Right-hander Sterling Sharp has been returned to the Nationals and assigned to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. The Miami Marlins selected Sharp in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December 2019. They were required to keep him on their major league roster the entire season or risk losing him, but opted Monday to designate him for assignment. That gave every other team the opportunity to pick him up, but if a team selected him it would also have to keep him on the active roster for...
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Corbin solid for six-plus innings, but one defensive miscue changes game

Corbin solid for six-plus innings, but one defensive miscue changes game
Patrick Corbin put together a quality start for the Nationals on Wednesday night that resulted in a no-decision because of a defensive miscue late in the game. The Phillies won the game, scoring two runs in a decisive seventh inning comeback, 3-2. With the Nats up 2-1 and Corbin in the mound, the seventh inning started on a triple by Didi Gregorius to left field that Juan Soto made a play for, but the ball got away and rolled toward the warning track. What could have been a single turned into...
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