Byron Kerr

Scherzer allows homer, Nats go quietly in 1-0 loss to Brewers

July 04, 2016, 10:00am

Right-hander Max Scherzer's trend of of pitching well but allowing at least one homer continued again Monday in his start against the Brewers. Martin Maldonado hit a solo homer to lead off the fifth inning to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. That was all the Brewers needed in a 1-0 win over the Nationals that snapped their four-game skid. Scherzer (9-6) ended up with the hard luck loss by allowing only one run over six innings on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Scherzer threw 114...

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Game 84 lineups: Brewers at Nats

July 04, 2016, 3:08am

Nationals

The Nationals now have 50 wins after taking care of the Reds in three of four games. Even with the Mets sweeping the National League-best Cubs in four games, the Nationals still maintain a five game lead in the NL East. Right-hander Max Scherzer gets the rare morning call with his first Independence Day start with the Nationals. Scherzer is 9-5 with a 3.30 ERA. He has a 1-1 record with a 2.89 ERA in five appearance (four starts) against the Brewers. He has 39 strikeouts in 28 innings against...

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Espinosa caps off record-breaking series in a big way

July 04, 2016, 2:47am

Nationals

Espinosa caps off record-breaking series in a big way

Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa had a series. I mean, he really had a series. Espinosa capped off a four-game run for the ages with two homers, two singles and six RBIs in Sunday's 12-1 dispatch of the Reds. The 15 RBIs are tied for third-most in a four-game series in Major League Baseball history. It is already a franchise record. His week to remember almost assuredly will result in a National League Player of the Week honor. Over the last seven days, he has hit .423 with five homers and...

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Ross admits feeling discomfort in shoulder

July 03, 2016, 2:07pm

Nationals

Ross admits feeling discomfort in shoulder

Manager Dusty Baker said the Nationals decided to place right-hander Joe Ross on the disabled list when they got the results of an MRI on his right shoulder after Saturday's loss to the Reds. "He had some inflammation," Baker said. "We were limiting his innings in the first place. We wanted to make sure Joe is gonna be ready toward the end of the season and we didn't have to shut him down like (Stephen) Strasburg, because this guy can come up big in postseason." Ross watched as his...

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Strasburg and Baker on decision to end no-hit bid in seventh

July 03, 2016, 1:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg and Baker on decision to end no-hit bid in seventh

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg had to labor, but certainly displayed the toughness and grit that have been hallmarks of his amazing start to the 2016 season in the Nationals' 12-1 dismantling of the Reds on Sunday. Strasburg no-hit the Reds through 6 2/3 innings, allowing no runs with four walks and five strikeouts. He fired 109 pitches, 70 for strikes, in his first start since June 15. He had been recovering from an upper back strain. Danny Espinosa slammed two of the Nationals' season-high...

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Strasburg tosses 6 2/3 no-hit innings (Nats win 12-1)

July 03, 2016, 10:20am

Nationals

Strasburg tosses 6 2/3 no-hit innings (Nats win 12-1)

Wilson Ramos continues to make the case for his first-ever All-Star selection with a first pitch solo home run off of lefty John Lamb in the bottom of the second in the series finale between the Nats and the Reds on Sunday. His 13th homer of the season lifted the Nats to a 1-0 lead. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg walked two batters in a 25-pitch first frame, but got out of it unscathed and then worked a 1-2-3 second inning. After three innings, the Nats lead the Reds 1-0. Update: Lamb walked...

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Joe Ross to disabled list with right shoulder inflammation

July 03, 2016, 9:39am

Nationals

Joe Ross to disabled list with right shoulder inflammation

The Nationals activated right-hander Stephen Strasburg from the disabled list to start today's series finale against the Reds. He had been on the shelf with an upper back strain since June 16. Right-hander Joe Ross has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Ross went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, with no walks and two strikeouts in Saturday's matchup against the Reds. Ross has seen his velocity dip, especially to his sinker, which went from...

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Game 83 lineups: Reds at Nats

July 03, 2016, 5:32am

Nationals

On a night when the Nationals could not get much going offensively, they still forced the Reds into extra innings. The Nats mustered just three hits in a 9-4, 10-inning loss. The bullpen allowed five runs in that final frame, helped along by two errors, one a rare fielding miscue from Bryce Harper. Harper, similar to when Ryan Zimmerman said "everyone just needs to calm down" back in April, stressed that the bullpen is fine. "Sometimes it just happens like that and it's just part of the...

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Velocity drop for Ross not big concern following rough start

July 02, 2016, 8:21pm

Nationals

Velocity drop for Ross not big concern following rough start

Bookend pitching difficulties doomed the Nats on Saturday night. Starter Joe Ross struggled early and the bullpen could not slow the Reds in extra innings. Cincinnati dropped the Nationals 9-4 in 10 innings to end their winning streak at six games. The concern after the game was the velocity drop for Ross on his fastball. According to Brooks Baseball, his sinker averages around 93.4 mph. In this game, it was averaging only 91.8 mph. Manager Dusty Baker did not think this meant that Ross was...

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Baker confirms Strasburg to return and start Sunday

July 02, 2016, 7:38pm

Nationals

Baker confirms Strasburg to return and start Sunday

Following Saturday's 9-4 loss in 10 innings to the Reds, Nationals manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Stephen Strasburg would return from the disabled list to start on Sunday in the series finale. "We're getting one of our main men, Stras, back tomorrow," Baker said. "He can put us back in sync for the remainder of first half." Strasburg has been on the disabled list retroactive to June 16 with an upper back strain. He missed starts in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Although not officially...

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Nats agree to terms with 19 international free agents

July 02, 2016, 4:23pm

Nationals

Nats agree to terms with 19 international free agents

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 19 international free agents. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President of International Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the announcement. Here is the rundown of the free agents: RHP Johan Adon RHP Thony Amoroso INF Yasel Antuna RHP Carlos Cuello OF David Escobar SS Luis Garcia RHP Niomar Gomez RHP Rafael Melendez OF Ricardo Mendez C Kelvin Pacheco RHP Eric Pena OF Landerson Pena C Wilmer...

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Reds go after Ross for early runs (Nats fall 9-4 in 10)

July 02, 2016, 3:51pm

Nationals

Reds go after Ross for early runs (Nats fall 9-4 in 10)

Joe Ross had trouble getting outs in the first inning in Saturday's start against the Reds. The Nationals right-hander allowed four runs in the first three frames against the Mets over six innings in his last start June 27. The Nats rallied for an 11-4 win. Saturday, the Reds slapped three hits and scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by an Adam Duvall two-run double. In the second, Zack Cozart added an RBI double to make it 4-0 Reds. The Reds already have four runs and six hits...

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Baker happy to hear of Arroyo's progress in possible return to majors

July 02, 2016, 2:43pm

Nationals

Baker happy to hear of Arroyo's progress in possible return to majors

Veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo made his second rehab start with the rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals today and it was a solid improvement over his first game back. Arroyo is rehabbing from inflamed tendons in his right shoulder. The 39-year-old signed with the Nationals as a minor league free agent on January 26. He last pitched in the majors in 2014 with Arizona. Arroyo underwent Tommy John surgery July 15, 2014. On June 26, Arroyo pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits...

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Still no definitive answer on Strasburg's Sunday status

July 02, 2016, 1:39pm

Nationals

Still no definitive answer on Strasburg's Sunday status

Manager Dusty Baker was asked prior to Saturday's matchup with the Reds who will be his starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has missed a pair of starts after injuring his back prior to a start in Los Angeles on June 16. Top prospect Lucas Giolito started Tuesday's game and pitched four scoreless innings. "It's not up to me," Baker said. "It's up to how Stras feels. Right now he's feeling pretty good. Probably be a decision tomorrow." "It might...

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Game 82 lineups: Reds at Nats

July 02, 2016, 10:10am

Nationals

Welcome to the second half of the season. The Nationals lost seven in a row last week. They now have won six in a row. I know, that's kind of hard to believe. So, tonight's game affords the club an opportunity to win their seventh in a row, which would tie their season-high streak. They enjoyed a seven-game run from April 10-16. The Nats have outscored opponents 39-14 during this recent stretch. Right-hander Joe Ross (7-4, 3.30 ERA) gets the call tonight for the Nats, his first ever...

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Daniel Murphy with Nats has been biggest plus in race for division crown

June 30, 2016, 4:36am

Nationals

Daniel Murphy with Nats has been biggest plus in race for division crown

Of all the changes to the Nationals this season, such as the bullpen or the resurgence of Wilson Ramos, the biggest positive change is the addition of second baseman Daniel Murphy. And in no other series is that difference more profound than when Murphy does his damage against the team he guided to the World Series in 2015. Murphy launched seven homers and 11 RBIs in winning the National League Championship Series MVP honors for the Mets last year. Against his former team, Murphy has been off...

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Difo has grand slam and seven RBIs, Turner plays center field again

June 29, 2016, 4:39am

Nationals

Difo has grand slam and seven RBIs, Turner plays center field again

Shortstop Wilmer Difo went 4-for-5 with a double, a grand slam and seven RBIs as Double-A Harrisburg outscored Bowie 13-10. First baseman Shawn Pleffner went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs. Rafael Bautista, Andrew Stevenson and Stephen Perez each added a pair of base hits. The Senators tallied four runs in the fourth and eighth innings. Difo's career-high seven RBIs marks the second time in a week a Senators player had tallied seven RBIs in one game. Left fielder Isaac Ballou also had a...

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Lopez makes Futures Game roster, Stevenson named Carolina League Player of the Week

June 28, 2016, 12:36pm

Nationals

Lopez makes Futures Game roster, Stevenson named Carolina League Player of the Week

The rosters for the 2016 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game have been announced. The U.S. All-Stars will face the World All-Stars 7 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, July 10 at Petco Park in San Diego. The Nationals will be represented on the World roster by right-hander Reynaldo Lopez from the Dominican Republic. The 22-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. The 6-foot-1, 185 lb. Lopez went 3-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 14 starts for Double-A Harrisburg. In his last six starts, Lopez struck out...

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Papelbon throws scoreless inning in rehab, Turner starts in center field for Syracuse

June 28, 2016, 3:27am

Nationals

Papelbon throws scoreless inning in rehab, Turner starts in center field for Syracuse

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals welcomed promoted players from low Single-A and continued their winning ways to begin the second half of the Carolina League season. Fresh up from Hagerstown, Victor Robles and Max Schrock combined for four hits in a 5-1 victory over Winston-Salem. Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon needed just 10 pitches in his rehab from an intercostal injury to retire three batters in the top of the first on a flyout, strikeout and groundout. He was back in the Nationals'...

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Nats announce several minor league promotions as prospects gain momentum

June 27, 2016, 12:20pm

Nationals

Nats announce several minor league promotions as prospects gain momentum

The Nationals announced that right-hander Lucas Giolito will be recalled to start Tuesday. The minor league system had some other major movement on Monday. The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs announced the addition of second baseman Chris Bostick, outfielder Zach Collier and right-handed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez. The team will also have Trea Turner play center field. Double-A Harrisburg will receive outfielder Andrew Stevenson, third baseman Drew Ward, and right-handers Ryan Brinley and Boone...