Byron Kerr

Game 117 lineups: Nats at Rockies

August 15, 2016, 6:53am

DENVER - Greetings from the Mile High City and Coors Field! Remember, the purple line of seats in the upper deck designates the 5,280 foot mark here at the stadium. The welcome sight of right fielder Bryce Harper back in the Nationals lineup Sunday had to be a good thing for his teammates and an uncomfortable one for the Rockies and their pitching staff. Right-hander Max Scherzer will make his 25th start of the season, and he's been enjoying a hot streak the past month and a half. Since June...

Tags:

Into thin air: Belisle and Robinson on what Coors Field does to a baseball

August 15, 2016, 6:48am

Nationals

Into thin air: Belisle and Robinson on what Coors Field does to a baseball

Right-hander Matt Belisle spent a good portion of his career pitching in the thin air of Denver. From 2009 through 2014, Belisle won 32 games with the Rockies and pitched in total of 220 1/3 innings over 207 games with 167 strikeouts at Coors Field. Belisle's best season in Colorado was in 2010, when he put together a 2.93 ERA in 76 games and a 1.087 WHIP. So more than any other Nationals hurler, Belisle knows what to expect and how baseball is different a mile above sea level as his club...

Tags:

byron kerr clint robinson matt belisle nationals coors field featured_sidebar rockies frontstory_nationals3

Murphy on Nats' young guns lifting club to win: "They bring energy"

August 13, 2016, 7:34pm

Nationals

Murphy on Nats' young guns lifting club to win: "They bring energy"

The Nationals edged the Braves 7-6 on Saturday night with their young guns making it happen. Players like Trea Turner, Pedro Severino and Reynaldo Lopez all played a major part in the series-evening win. Turner finished a double away from the cycle, Severino contributed a pair of base hits and called the game for Lopez, who went a major league career-high seven strong innings, allowing only one run on five hits for the win. It was a night that also meant a lot in outposts like Hagerstown and...

Tags:

byron kerr daniel murphy mark scialabba nationals pedro severino reynaldo lopez trea turner dusty baker featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Baker on Lopez's first big league win: "It was a great performance"

August 13, 2016, 7:15pm

Nationals

Baker on Lopez's first big league win: "It was a great performance"

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez gathered all the knowledge from his first two starts and put it together for a solid seven innings and his first major league victory as the Nationals dropped the Braves 7-6 before a sold-out 38,490 at Nats Park Saturday night. Lopez surrendered a first-inning solo shot to Freddie Freeman and then allowed only four more hits to improve to 1-1. He walked two and struck out two on 100 pitches, 63 for strikes. Manager Dusty Baker spoke in his pregame briefing about how...

Tags:

byron kerr daniel murphy dusty baker nationals reynaldo lopez trea turner featured_sidebar pedro severino frontstory_nationals3

Murphy's early homer sets tone (Lopez's first victory, Nats win 7-6)

August 13, 2016, 3:29pm

Nationals

Murphy's early homer sets tone (Lopez's first victory, Nats win 7-6)

The Braves jumped out first when Freddie Freeman slammed a solo shot off Reynaldo Lopez. It was Freeman's 23rd homer of the year, a career high. He has now hit 12 homers in his career against the Nationals. In the bottom of the first, Trea Turner tripled off of Rob Whalen. Turner's five triples since the All-Star break are the most in the major leagues. Daniel Murphy followed with a two-run shot, his first homer since Aug. 3, to give the Nats a 2-1 lead. It marked Murphy's 22nd homer of the...

Tags:

byron kerr daniel murphy nationals reynaldo lopez trea turner frontstory_nationals3

Scherzer defends Papelbon: "Competes every single day"

August 13, 2016, 2:38pm

Nationals

Scherzer defends Papelbon: "Competes every single day"

On the day Jonathan Papelbon was released by the Nationals, many will remember the closer putting his hands around the neck of the eventual National League Most Valuable Player Bryce Harper at the end of last season as his lasting image with the club. Many believed that image meant there was unrest in the Nationals clubhouse and that Papelbon was not a model teammate. Right-hander Max Scherzer said that notion of Papelbon being a negative influence on the team at any time was...

Tags:

byron kerr jonathan papelbon max scherzer nationals shawn kelley featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Harper MRI is "clean," plus other injury updates

August 13, 2016, 2:03pm

Nationals

Harper MRI is "clean," plus other injury updates

Nationals manager Dusty Baker said right fielder Bryce Harper is still listed as "day-to-day" with neck spasms. Harper has not played since last Saturday's game against the Giants. Baker did confirm that Harper could have pinch-hit last night if he was needed. "He's been analyzed by our people and it is what it is," Baker said. "I've heard all kinds of reports. I think it's kind of careless reporting when you're reporting something that's not even true. It's not his arm. If it was,...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr dusty baker jose lobaton mike rizzo nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar joe ross frontstory_nationals3

Baker and Rizzo react to the release of Papelbon

August 13, 2016, 1:31pm

Nationals

Baker and Rizzo react to the release of Papelbon

The Nationals released veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon on Saturday to make room for Reynaldo Lopez. Papelbon finished his career with the Nationals with 26 saves in 59 appearances. But he struggled with his command and velocity recently, no longer possessing the swing-and-miss stuff that is required from a top-of-the-line closer. The Nationals went out and picked up Mark Melancon to close games. Papelbon's role diminished from there. Since July 28, Papelbon appeared in only two games. He...

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker jonathan papelbon mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Former Nats starter J.D. Martin is back, this time as a knuckleball pitcher

August 13, 2016, 9:31am

Nationals

Former Nats starter J.D. Martin is back, this time as a knuckleball pitcher

Right-hander J.D. Martin had relished the taste of the majors with the Nationals in 2009 and 2010. But since then, he has not been able to make it back to the big leagues. Since his release from the Nats in 2011, Martin has made stops with the Marlins, Rays, Korea and the White Sox. Back in 2011, then Nationals pitching coordinator (currently senior advisor, player development) Spin Williams suggested that Martin try to incorporate the knuckleball pitch. Martin did well with it off the mound...

Tags:

byron kerr j.d. martin nationals spin williams nationals farm report

Game 115 lineups: Braves at Nats

August 13, 2016, 7:16am

Nationals

Just another Saturday night for the first-place Nationals, right? Not really. Former closer Jonathan Papelbon requested his release. He got that release at 3 p.m. The Nationals activated right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. He will make his third major league start, seeking his first win. This would seem to be his best chance to date to earn that first victory: a last-place team filled with guys he could have faced at the minor league level, plus Lopez has two starts under his belt and comes in with...

Tags:

atlanta braves byron kerr jonathan papelbon lineups nationals reynaldo lopez frontstory_nationals3

Jonathan Papelbon seeking his release (updated)

August 13, 2016, 6:48am

Nationals

Jonathan Papelbon seeking his release (updated)

The Nationals must make a corresponding move today when they activate right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez is the starter for tonight's matchup against the Atlanta Braves. Usually when a pitcher is added to a roster, another hurler is taken off. The bullpen has been pretty consistent up and down this season, except for Jonathan Papelbon, who was demoted from his closer role late last month. When Mark Melancon was acquired in a trade from the Pirates, Papelbon was told his role would change with...

Tags:

byron kerr jonathan papelbon mark melancon nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Freeman's stellar track record vs. Nats continued against ace Strasburg

August 12, 2016, 7:40pm

Nationals

Freeman's stellar track record vs. Nats continued against ace Strasburg

Freddie Freeman has Stephen Strasburg's number. He also likes hitting at Nats Park. Both trends continued in Friday's series opener. Freeman went 2-for-3 with a double and homer and four RBIs as Atlanta dropped the Nationals for the first time in seven matchups 8-5. Manager Dusty Baker said Strasburg labored in the sweltering temps, but in the end it was the Braves first baseman that caused the most damage. "It was too much Freddie Freeman," Baker said. "I was told before that Freddie has...

Tags:

braves byron kerr freddie freeman nationals stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Freeman leads Braves past Strasburg 8-5

August 12, 2016, 6:17pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg had an opportunity to earn his career-high 16th victory if he could hold off the last-place Braves Friday night at Nat Park. But Freddie Freeman had other ideas as the Braves stunned the Nationals 8-5. It was the Nats first loss to the Braves in eight straight meetings. They were 6-0 versus Atlanta this season before Friday's setback. When Freeman faces off against the Nats, it usually hasn't worked out well for the Nats. In his career, Freeman has hit .324 with 25 doubles,...

Tags:

braves byron kerr freddie freeman nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Baker confirms Lopez will make third start Saturday

August 12, 2016, 1:30pm

Nationals

Baker confirms Lopez will make third start Saturday

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that right-hander Reynaldo Lopez will make his third major league start for the Nationals on Saturday night against the Braves. Baker said Lopez gets the call in part because that was his start date with Triple-A Syracuse. He also likes Lopez in that spot because of the long road trip starting Monday in the Mile High City. "Well, that's his day and also this will be our last opportunity give these other guys an extra day off," Baker said. "Because this 20 in a...

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker nationals reynaldo lopez featured_sidebar

Rendon's doubles adding needed punch to lower half of lineup

August 12, 2016, 5:03am

Nationals

Rendon's doubles adding needed punch to lower half of lineup

Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos have done a nice job of carrying the offense with the most consistency for the first four-and-a-half months of the season. Injuries to Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper have kept them out of the lineup at times. Both have had to deal with injuries. More recently, Harper's stiff neck has forced him to miss three games. The Nationals have had Jayson Werth getting on base a season club record of 40 straight games. Plus, Trea Turner has been able to get on base and...

Tags:

anthony rendon bryce harper byron kerr jayson werth nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Fedde delivers in Double-A debut

August 11, 2016, 4:58am

Nationals

Right-hander Erick Fedde (1-0) went seven innings for the win in his Double-A debut as Harrisburg defeated Altoona 5-2. Fedde allowed one run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He also hit one batter. Fedde threw 103 pitches, 58 for strikes. Overall, Fedde is now 7-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) between Harrisburg and high Single-A Potomac. The only run Altoona scored was a two-out triple in the seventh. It is impressive to see Fedde go up to Double-A and have such a...

Tags:

byron kerr erick fedde nationals farm report andrew stevenson frontstory_nationals2 harrisburg senators nationals

Revere making plays to stay on field; update on Ramos

August 10, 2016, 6:17am

Nationals

Revere making plays to stay on field; update on Ramos

It hasn't been the smoothest season at the plate for center fielder Ben Revere, and he would be the first to acknowledge it. The oblique injury to begin the season sidetracked what he was hoping would be a quick start. Unfortunately, Revere has struggled for consistency at the plate. His .212 average is way down from what he has been able to do every season since 2012: .294, .305, .306, (.298 with the Phillies, .319 with the Blue Jays). His career on-base percentage is .322, but this year it...

Tags:

ben revere byron kerr dusty baker max scherzer nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2 pedro severino wilson ramos

Baker wants Trea Turner to enjoy his play with the Nats, not overanalyze

August 09, 2016, 3:52pm

Nationals

Baker wants Trea Turner to enjoy his play with the Nats, not overanalyze

Manager Dusty Baker had a great response when asked a couple of questions about second baseman Trea Turner's outstanding play recently for the Nationals. Turner has displayed the ability to get on base and play good defense, mostly from a spot he is just learning in center field. Still, Baker doesn't want anyone to overanalyze Turner's success just yet. "Let's leave him alone for a while," Baker said, following a second question about Turner during pregame Tuesday. "Let's leave him...

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker nationals trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Werth, Turner and Harper big for the Nats offense to be consistent

August 09, 2016, 7:35am

Nationals

Werth, Turner and Harper big for the Nats offense to be consistent

He maybe would like to have more hits during this run, but left fielder Jayson Werth being on base so many times is good for the offense. On Sunday with a walk in the first inning, Werth extended his on-base streak to a career-high 38 games. It extends the longest streak in Major League Baseball this season. Miami's outfielder Marcell Ozuna had a 36-game streak from April 21 to May 29. The longest Nationals streak of all-time was a 43-game on-base streak by first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr jayson werth nationals trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

17-year-old Juan Soto making good progress for GCL Nationals

August 08, 2016, 6:29am

Nationals

Another Dominican outfielder is off to a good start for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals. 17-year-old Juan Soto is hitting .325 with six doubles, two triples, four homers, two stolen bases and 20 RBIs in 30 games. On Aug. 1, Soto went 4-for-5 with a solo homer, three runs and three RBIs in a 11-10 loss to the GCL Cardinals. Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba said the organization is very happy with Soto's progress this season. "He is a corner outfielder with...