Byron Kerr

Bundy outduels Cole as Nats fall to Orioles 4-3

August 22, 2016, 5:39pm

The anticipated matchup between Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg and the Orioles' version, right-hander Dylan Bundy, didn't come to fruition Monday night. Strasburg was placed on the disabled list for a second time this season due to right elbow soreness. Turns out Bundy was up to the task, as he kept the Nationals at bay in an 4-3 Orioles victory. The Nationals got to Bundy early. Trea Turner walked and stole second and then later came home on a RBI single by Daniel Murphy. In the...

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Ross long tossing, plus updates on Cole and bullpen arms

August 22, 2016, 2:37pm

Nationals

Ross long tossing, plus updates on Cole and bullpen arms

BALTIMORE - Manager Dusty Baker said the season is winding down so much that a rehab assignment for right-hander Joe Ross may not be able to happen during the minor league season. Ross has been on the shelf with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to July 3. "Man, I feel like I got a M*A*S*H unit going on. Joe said he's feeling good. The longer he's out, the longer it's going to take him to come back to sharpness," Baker said. "One of the things I was talking to Joe about, 'Hey man,...

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Updates on Giolito and Fedde (Latos starts for Syracuse tonight)

August 22, 2016, 3:27am

Nationals

Updates on Giolito and Fedde (Latos starts for Syracuse tonight)

With all the talk of right-hander Reynaldo Lopez's outstanding start at Atlanta last week, many might have wondered what's going on with the No. 1 pitching prospect. Remember him? That's right. Right-hander Lucas Giolito. After a couple of losses at Triple-A Syracuse, Giolito has had two tremendous starts in a row. On Aug. 12, Columbus beat Syracuse 1-0, but Giolito went six innings and scattered three hits, allowing one run with one walk and five strikeouts. The lone run was a solo homer...

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Roark's glove work and leg strength contribute to potential Gold Glove season

August 18, 2016, 6:57pm

Nationals

Roark's glove work and leg strength contribute to potential Gold Glove season

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark, who starts tonight in Atlanta, has put together another outstanding season as he finally gets to be a starter again. Roark's pitching has been incredible. But one aspect of his game that is a major strength is his defense and his fielding ability. In his last start, he threw home in the first inning to nab a runner coming from third base, making a barehanded play. Roark can also start double plays with his glove. This week, he described the play against the...

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Nats head to Atlanta with concerns for Strasburg, taxed bullpen

August 18, 2016, 4:26am

Nationals

Nats head to Atlanta with concerns for Strasburg, taxed bullpen

DENVER - The bullpen was overused in the Rockies series, a problem Nationals manager Dusty Baker was hoping to avoid. But the relievers pitched starter innings. Max Scherzer lasted four innings in Game One. Gio Gonzalez three innings on Tuesday and Stephen Strasburg lasted a stunning 1 2/3 innings in the finale. The 16 1/3 innings in three games for the bullpen is too much, especially when coming in you would hope that number would be around six or seven frames for the three-game set. Baker...

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Strasburg on worst outing of season: "Just didn't have it today"

August 17, 2016, 4:03pm

Nationals

Strasburg on worst outing of season: "Just didn't have it today"

DENVER - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg raced out of the blocks this season with the best start of his career, going 13-0 through his first 17 starts. He didn't suffer his first loss until July 21. But in his last six starts it has been a different story. Strasburg has gone 2-4 with a 7.75 ERA. In that span, he has allowed 26 runs over 30 2/3 innings. Wednesday afternoon, Strasburg allowed the most runs in his career, nine earned runs, and lasted only 1 2/3 innings in a 12-10 loss to the...

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Strasburg shelled early, lasts only 1 2/3 (Rockies win 12-10)

August 17, 2016, 11:47am

Nationals

Strasburg shelled early, lasts only 1 2/3 (Rockies win 12-10)

DENVER - Coors Field is probably not the place to shake off a couple of tough outings. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg had allowed 10 earned runs in his last two starts. Wednesday's first inning did not get better for the Nationals ace. It got worse. The Rockies' first six men reached base on four hits and two walks. One of the big hits came from Gerardo Parra, who laced a three-run double that bounced up against the wall in right-center. Nolan Arenado had a run-scoring single and catcher...

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Solis to have MRI, concern now lefty depth in bullpen

August 17, 2016, 11:23am

Nationals

Solis to have MRI, concern now lefty depth in bullpen

DENVER - Manager Dusty Baker announced that the club has placed left-hander Sammy Solis on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to August 16. Solis pitched one inning Monday, picking up the victory in relief, allowing no runs and two hits. But after the game Tuesday, Baker reported that Solis was feeling "soreness" in his left shoulder, and was not available in the rain-delayed marathon where left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez pitched only three innings. And today the...

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Glover "thrilled" to be back, has refined his breaking pitches

August 17, 2016, 10:44am

Nationals

Glover "thrilled" to be back, has refined his breaking pitches

DENVER - The first time right-hander Koda Glover was up with the Nationals, he made a pair of appearances July 20-21 against the Dodgers. In two innings in those two games he allowed no runs on one hit with no walks and one strikeout. It was a good debut for the 23-year-old from Monroe, Okla., but this time around manager Dusty Baker expects the responsibility to be much more intense. Glover was called up after the Nationals placed left-hander Sammy Solis on the disabled list with left shoulder...

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Game 119 lineups: Nats at Rockies

August 17, 2016, 8:52am

Nationals

DENVER - The Nationals and Rockies wrap up their three-game set on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in the Mile High City with the Nats seeking their 11th road series victory. The Nationals are 24-13 in series finales. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg faces right-hander Jon Gray, who were each recipients of the College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year Award. Strasburg with the honor in 2009 and Gray in 2013. The Nationals will need Strasburg to go long in this game after using eight...

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Nationals call up reliever Glover, place Solis on DL

August 17, 2016, 8:50am

Nationals

DENVER - To help a bullpen unit that has been taxed in the first two games of the series against the Rockies, the Nationals made two moves prior to Wednesday's series finale. Right-hander Koda Glover has been called up and will join the team. The Nationals confirmed the move late this morning. Glover has been outstanding in the minors, especially recently. In the last 6 1/3 innings, the 23-year-old Glover has allowed no runs on no hits with 12 strikeouts over four outings. Meanwhile, Sammy...

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LeMahieu, rain delay contribute to Nats' 6-2 loss at Colorado

August 16, 2016, 10:32pm

Nationals

LeMahieu, rain delay contribute to Nats' 6-2 loss at Colorado

DENVER - The Rockies came back after a long rain delay and took it to the Nationals, scoring four runs after the third inning to break open a close game and win 6-2, wasting what could have been a good outing for Gio Gonzalez. DJ LeMahieu has been the hottest hitter in the series. He tripled in the fifth for his seventh hit in two games. LeMahieu scored on a Nolan Arenado groundout to give the Rockies the lead for good 3-2. Arenado then added a sacrifice fly to score Gerardo Parra from third...

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Werth on-base streak reaches record 44 (Rockies win 6-2)

August 16, 2016, 5:40pm

Nationals

Werth on-base streak reaches record 44 (Rockies win 6-2)

DENVER - The Nationals had a single and a double in their first two innings against Rockies right-handed starter Chad Bettis but were unable to score any runs. That changed in the third. With one out, Jayson Werth singled to reach base for the 44th game in a row, a new Nationals record. Daniel Murphy followed with a single. Werth went to third on a passed ball. Bryce Harper's RBI groundout plated Werth and the Nationals lead 1-0. Wilson Ramos followed with a high fly ball off the wall in right...

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Baker monitoring bullpen after heavy use in first game

August 16, 2016, 4:09pm

Nationals

Baker monitoring bullpen after heavy use in first game

DENVER - The Nationals had to employ five relievers Monday night after Max Scherzer was unable to get past the fourth inning. The bullpen was outstanding, keeping the Rockies off the scoreboard for the final five innings, en route to a 5-4 comeback victory. Matt Belisle, Sammy Solis, Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley and Mark Melancon all pitched to combine for five scoreless innings. Oliver Perez and Yusmeiro Petit were the only relievers to not get into Monday's game. Kelley said they should be OK...

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Werth values on-base streak: "It's a product of my approach"

August 16, 2016, 7:23am

Nationals

Werth values on-base streak: "It's a product of my approach"

DENVER - Left fielder Jayson Werth smacked his fourth home run in the past nine games in Monday's 5-4 win over the Rockies. But he didn't think the homer was because of the thin air associated with Coors Field. "Nah, you got to deal with the elements," Werth said. "Everybody deals with it when they come here. Played in the NL West when I was first coming up, I've been here enough times to know what you need to do so it's tough to come in here, it really is. It's a different style of...

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Game 118 lineups: Nats at Rockies

August 16, 2016, 6:59am

Nationals

DENVER - The Nationals have won nine of their last 12 games following Monday's comeback 5-4 win, continuing to play well recently versus the Rockies. Since the start of the 2013 season, the Nationals have won 13 of their last 20 games against Colorado. Since 2005, the Nationals are now 18-21 at Coors Field. The Nats are also 18-13 in one-run games and have 29 come-from-behind victories. The 23 games above .500 are their most games above the even line so far this season. In 2012, they reached...

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Treinen delivers again in the clutch thanks to his patented sinker

August 15, 2016, 9:29pm

Nationals

Treinen delivers again in the clutch thanks to his patented sinker

DENVER - A major reason for Monday's comeback victory over the Rockies for the Nationals was the bullpen, which picked up starter Max Scherzer with five shutout innings. That allowed the Nationals to rebound from a 3-0 deficit to beat Colorado 5-4. Matt Belisle, Sammy Solis, Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley and Mark Melancon combined to allow only three hits the rest of the way. Treinen continues to master his time on the mound with an outstanding sinker. He arrived with one out in the seventh and...

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Harper and bullpen bail out Scherzer in 5-4 comeback win

August 15, 2016, 9:13pm

Nationals

Harper and bullpen bail out Scherzer in 5-4 comeback win

DENVER - Bryce Harper had two doubles and went 3-for-3 with two walks, while Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos each homered as the Nationals came back to drop the Rockies 5-4 in the series opener Monday night at Coors Field. The Nationals are now a season-high 23 games over .500 at 70-47. Colorado raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first and led 4-2 after four innings. DJ LeMahieu went 4-for-4 and Charlie Blackmon hit his 21st homer for the Rockies. Right-hander Max Scherzer lasted only four innings,...

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Scherzer still having trouble in Denver (Nats come back and win 5-4)

August 15, 2016, 5:19pm

Nationals

Scherzer still having trouble in Denver (Nats come back and win 5-4)

DENVER - Right-hander Max Scherzer struggled to throw strikes in the first inning, and that helped the Rockies race out to a 3-0 lead. Following a one-out DJ LeMahieu single, Scherzer walked Carlos Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado. That left the door open for hot-hitting David Dahl, who promptly lined a two-run double off the wall in center. Daniel Descalso then followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Arenado and Colorado led 3-0. Scherzer has a track record of struggles at this park....

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Baker updates Zimmerman, Lobaton, Ross, Drew and others (updated)

August 15, 2016, 3:44pm

Nationals

Baker updates Zimmerman, Lobaton, Ross, Drew and others (updated)

DENVER - Manager Dusty Baker gave some insight on the plan for Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Lobaton's respective recoveries. The pair began their rehab assignments tonight with Triple-A Syracuse in Toledo. Zimmerman is on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist contusion, while Lobaton is on the 15-day DL with left elbow tendinitis. "We are going to leave them at least two or three days and get some consecutive ABs," Baker said. "DH one day, play the field one day. Alternate between catching...