Byron Kerr

Erick Fedde promoted to Double-A Harrisburg

August 07, 2016, 11:34am

On Friday night, right-hander Erick Fedde fanned a career-high 10 batters over seven innings as high Single-A Potomac dropped Wilmington 3-1. On Sunday, Fedde was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. Last season, he split time between short-season Single-A Auburn and low Single-A Hagerstown. The 23-year-old is rated the No. 5 Nationals prospect on MLB.com. Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba said Fedde earned the move to Double-A because of his consistency in the Carolina League...

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A look into how Matt Cain solved the hot Nats hitters two games in a row

August 06, 2016, 7:41pm

Nationals

A look into how Matt Cain solved the hot Nats hitters two games in a row

The Nationals struggled to solve Giants right-hander Matt Cain Saturday in the 7-1 setback. It was the second start in a row that the three-time All-Star had the Nationals' number. In their first meeting in San Francisco last week, Cain tossed five no-hit innings against the Nats in a 3-1 victory. Saturday, Cain held the Nationals scoreless while pitching five innings again, this time allowing five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The Nationals had chances to score runs in both...

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Turner continues to dazzle at plate and in center field

August 05, 2016, 6:44pm

Nationals

Turner continues to dazzle at plate and in center field

Trea Turner will continue to start if he keeps playing like he has the last few games. On Friday night, he added to the resume with his second homer of the season, a double and two runs scored in the Nationals' 5-1 victory over the Giants. Turner also ran the bases with his plus-plus speed and made all the plays he needed to in center field, his new position since he learned the spot while with Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Dusty Baker reminded the media not to be misled by Turner's baby face or...

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Ramos credits health as biggest factor for chart-topping season

August 04, 2016, 7:47pm

Nationals

Ramos credits health as biggest factor for chart-topping season

Daniel Murphy has been the best hitter in the National League all season. Murphy took home July Player of the Month thanks to his .372 average with 12 doubles, six homers, 26 RBIs and a 1.144 OPS in the seventh month of the year. Murphy was also NL Player of the Month in May. But neck and neck with Murphy atop the NL in batting average all season has been catcher Wilson Ramos (.358 to .331). Ramos' splits in July have been good as well. The Venezuelan catcher hit .291 with four doubles, three...

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Three minor league starters allow just one run apiece in wins

August 04, 2016, 2:19am

Nationals

Three minor league starters allow just one run apiece in wins

I heard a lot of buzz from the Nationals coaching staff about Phillips Valdez during the work up to the regular season. Right now, the right-hander is on a roll and pitching the way he was predicted to be able to during spring training. Valdez has won four of his last five decisions after last night's Double-A Harrisburg's 6-1 win at Binghamton. The 23-year-old Dominican allowed one run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He tossed 100 pitches, 63 for strikes. He left the bases...

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All three affiliates split doubleheaders on Tuesday

August 03, 2016, 5:51am

Nationals

All three affiliates split doubleheaders on Tuesday

The triple play pulled off last Friday by the Nationals against the Giants was the first that involved the first baseman making the first two outs and then throwing to the third baseman to complete the inning (3-3-5). Ryan Zimmerman catching a line drive, tapping first, and then throwing to Anthony Rendon marked the first triple play in Nationals history. It was also the first triple play by a D.C.-based team since the 1968 Senators. The Expos last pulled off a triple play on September 3, 2002,...

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Roark invaluable to Nats success, and they know it

August 02, 2016, 5:33am

Nationals

Roark invaluable to Nats success, and they know it

Right-hander Tanner Roark has been on a roll his last seven games as the Nationals maintain first place in the National League East. In his last six starts and one relief appearance, Roark has gone 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA in 43 1/3 innings. He has 31 strikeouts and only 10 walks in that span. Tonight, he seeks his 11th win of the season when he takes on the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. He is currently 10-6 overall with a 2.96 ERA. In his best season two years ago, he went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA....

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Lopez's road to D.C. paved by stunning advance through minors

August 01, 2016, 12:19am

Nationals

Lopez's road to D.C. paved by stunning advance through minors

With Reynaldo Lopez struggling a bit with five walks and lasting only four innings in his second major league start Saturday at San Francisco, it is easy maybe to forget what a giant step forward the Dominican hurler has made in his development this season. Lopez allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts in the no-decision for the Nationals at AT&T Park. The Giants went on to win 5-3. Lopez tossed 92 pitches, 51 for strikes. The right-hander went 5-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 minor...

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Talks heating up to acquire Melancon from Pirates

July 30, 2016, 10:26am

Nationals

Talks heating up to acquire Melancon from Pirates

The Nationals continue to pursue bullpen help as the Aug. 1 trade deadline looms. The Pirates and Nationals' talks regarding right-hander Mark Melancon are heating up, a league source confirmed. The Pirates are interested in a top starting pitching prospect in return, or maybe two. Pittsburgh inquired about No. 1 pitching prospect Lucas Giolito, but he is unavailable. The talks center around a package that would contain right-hander Erick Fedde or right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, or both,...

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Severino heading to San Francisco to join Nats

July 29, 2016, 8:36am

Nationals

Severino heading to San Francisco to join Nats

According to a league source, Triple-A Syracuse catcher Pedro Severino is en route to San Francisco to potentially join the Nationals. He will reportedly be at AT&T Park today. It is unclear corresponding move the Nationals will make to add Severino to the 25-man roster. Severino has been considered a top catching prospect in the Nationals system. He was called up in late April to join the Nationals and started one game. He has been in Syracuse since then. He had been promoted to Triple-A...

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Tanner Roark shows grit in lifting Nats past Giants

July 29, 2016, 6:58am

Nationals

Tanner Roark shows grit in lifting Nats past Giants

With all the drama surrounding Jonathan Papelbon being pulled from the ninth inning last night, it is important to remember what starter Tanner Roark did to get the Nationals in position to win the game. Roark went seven innings and allowed one run and four hits with three walks and three strikeouts for his 10th victory of the season. He now has gone seven innings or more and allowed one earned run or less in eight starts this season, tied for second-most in the majors. He has won at least 10...

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Strasburg and Solis' pitch selection demonstrate their dominance in win

July 28, 2016, 1:13am

Nationals

Strasburg and Solis' pitch selection demonstrate their dominance in win

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg mixed his pitches to perfection in the Nationals' 4-1 win over the Indians to split their two-game set at Progressive Field on Wednesday afternoon. Strasburg struck out seven over seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits with just two walks. As we noted on MASN's "Nats Xtra", Strasburg used any one of his pitches in any count to get guys out. His slider struck out Carlos Santana swinging in the first inning. Then to lead off the second, he got Mike Napoli...

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Trea Turner's speed messes up the opponent's defense, creates havoc

July 26, 2016, 4:40am

Nationals

Trea Turner's speed messes up the opponent's defense, creates havoc

Shortstop Trea Turner has made a big impact on the Nationals offense in his 10 games up this season. Already we are seeing more Turner running on double steals, going first to third, moving from second to third on sac flys and stealing home. Even what would normally be doubles by regular players are triples with Turner racing around the bases. This is just the beginning of Trea Turner. Turner isn't going to move levels any more this season. His game-changing speed has to remain in the Nats...

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Murphy and Ramos continue to be Nats' most consistent hitters

July 25, 2016, 4:57am

Nationals

Murphy and Ramos continue to be Nats' most consistent hitters

The two most consistent hitters for the Nationals this season continue to be Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos. They are the top two hitters in the National League in batting average. They also combined for six hits in Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Padres. Before the San Diego comeback in Sunday's 10-6 loss, they were on tap to be the heroes. Murphy's sac fly gave the Nats a 1-0 lead in the first, and Ramos singled in that inning. Murphy tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single and Ramos' two-run...

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Could moving Bryce Harper around in lineup spark offense?

July 23, 2016, 8:08pm

Nationals

Could moving Bryce Harper around in lineup spark offense?

For the third game in a row, the Nationals scored only three runs. Their starting pitching and bullpen allowed only two runs, so they were able to squeeze out a dramatic 3-2 walk-off win over the Padres. But the lineup had difficulty for most of Saturday night putting together good rallies against Padres veteran Edwin Jackson. Despite managing to get at least a man on base in each of his six innings, plus a hit in five of those frames, they scored only on a sac fly by Daniel Murphy and a RBI...

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Revere needs to get back on track for Nats offense to ignite

July 22, 2016, 7:46pm

Nationals

Revere needs to get back on track for Nats offense to ignite

Nationals center fielder Ben Revere struggled to get on base Friday night in a 5-3 setback to San Diego. Revere went 0-for-5 with three groundouts to second base and a pair of center field flyouts. The rough patch is beginning to pile up for Revere. He has two hits in his last seven games and is hitting only .176 (9-for-51) in his previous 15 contests. Manager Dusty Baker said the Padres were able to get Revere to go under in his swings. Baker said Revere trying to hit the ball up is not going...

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Allowing two homers again, Nats fall to Padres 5-3

July 22, 2016, 7:24pm

Nationals

Allowing two homers again, Nats fall to Padres 5-3

In the last game of the series against the Dodgers on Thursday, third baseman Justin Turner cranked two homers and had five RBIs as L.A. won over the Nationals 6-3 to take the series. That scenario repeated itself Friday, when Padres and former Dodgers right-fielder Matt Kemp launched two homers and finished with four RBIs in a San Diego series-opening 5-3 win over the Nationals. Manager Dusty Baker said he wants his club to be more aggressive early in games. "We don't kick dirt on people...

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Werth and Ramos lift Nats to quick start (Padres win 5-3)

July 22, 2016, 3:34pm

Nationals

Werth and Ramos lift Nats to quick start (Padres win 5-3)

The Padres scored first against Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark. Right fielder Matt Kemp blasted a 3-1 pitch over the left-center field wall to give San Diego a 1-0 lead. The Nationals quickly answered in the bottom on the first. With one out, Jayson Werth slammed a home run over the left field wall and the game was even up at 1-1. Werth now has a 26-game on-base streak with the first-inning homer. Later in the inning, Bryce Harper walked and then stole second base. It was his 15th stolen...

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Solis joins Zimmerman at Potomac, Ross rehab Sunday

July 22, 2016, 12:57pm

Nationals

Solis joins Zimmerman at Potomac, Ross rehab Sunday

Manager Dusty Baker announced that left-hander Sammy Solis will begin his rehab assignment and pitch tonight and tomorrow night for high Single-A Potomac as he recovers from right knee inflammation. He has been on the disabled list retroactive to July 8. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman will be the designated hitter tonight for Potomac as he continues his rehab assignment. Last night, he had a single, a double and a run scored in the P-Nats' 4-2 win. "He told me that he felt good," Baker said of...

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Game 97 lineups: Padres at Nationals

July 22, 2016, 10:44am

Nationals

The Nationals welcome in the Padres to D.C., searching to get back on track after losing three of their last four games. Washington split four games with San Diego earlier this season, winning the first two from June 16-19 at Petco Park. Five Nationals players, including Stephen Strasburg and Daniel Murphy, were invited to last week's All-Star Game in San Diego. Murphy has hit in eight straight games, hitting 12-for-30 (.400) with five doubles, four homers, 13 RBIs and six runs scored. He...