Byron Kerr

Are Rendon's 2015 injuries slowing progress this season?

May 16, 2016, 5:24am

The Nationals offense has not had a moment yet where more than a handful of players were hitting at the same time. Bryce Harper started off well. Wilson Ramos is surging now. Daniel Murphy has been consistent throughout. But other key pieces like Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman haven't gotten into a groove yet at the plate. They have certainly had their moments, just not the day-to-day consistency up and down the lineup the team will need to really get rolling in the National League East. And...

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Fernandez gets stronger as game rolls along in 5-1 defeat of Nats

May 15, 2016, 1:50pm

Nationals

Fernandez gets stronger as game rolls along in 5-1 defeat of Nats

Miami right-hander Jose Fernandez tossed a career-high 117 pitches, and finished up with relative ease, as the Marlins defeated the Nationals 5-1 to split the four-game set. Fernandez struck out 10 of the last 12 batters he faced, striking out 11 batters overall. He pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits, one run (earned) and three walks. "I think that's been the whole season," Fernandez said on his surge to end the outing. "The whole season, as the game progresses, I've been...

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Fernandez too much for the Nationals in 5-1 loss

May 15, 2016, 12:06pm

Nationals

Jose Fernandez beat the Nationals with his arm and his bat Sunday. Fernandez threw seven innings, allowing only one run, and provided a huge two-run single with the bases loaded that put the game out of reach. The Marlins won 5-1, splitting the four-game set. Fernandez got some early assistance from the Nationals defense. With two outs and two men on in the third inning, Martin Prado's infield pop-up was dropped by Stephen Drew as he battled the bright sunshine, allowing both runs to score and...

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Taylor patient at the plate as he returns to reserve role

May 14, 2016, 2:19pm

Nationals

Taylor patient at the plate as he returns to reserve role

Michael A. Taylor got the start in the leadoff spot in Saturday's first game of a day/night doubleheader as the Nationals downed the Marlins 6-4. Taylor had struggled at times in the leadoff spot prior to Ben Revere's return to the lineup last weekend. But on Saturday, Taylor once again displayed what he can do on offense and defense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two walks. He stole two bases and made an outstanding catch of a fly ball off the bat of the Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis that...

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Strasburg undeterred by early struggles, downs Marlins

May 14, 2016, 1:43pm

Nationals

Strasburg undeterred by early struggles, downs Marlins

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg doesn't need to strike out a batter every inning or completely shut down lineups to be successful. Fresh off signing a new seven-year, $175 million contact extension earlier in the week, Strasburg pitched out of frequent challenges Saturday afternoon to drop the Marlins 6-4 i n the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Strasburg continued his best start of the season, improving to 6-0, with six innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three walks, seven...

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Nationals cash in on early free passes (Nats win 6-4)

May 14, 2016, 9:32am

Nationals

Left fielder Christian Yelich got the Marlins off first with a mammoth home run to center field. The blast gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead after the first half-inning. It was the second straight start where Stephen Strasburg had allowed a first-inning home run. Nick Castellanos of the Tigers drilled a two-run shot on May 9. It also marked only the fourth homer Strasburg had allowed in his initial eight starts of the season. But the Nationals quickly got that run back for Strasburg - and then...

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Baker on twinbill lineups, Harper, Revere, Belisle and bullpen

May 14, 2016, 8:06am

Nationals

Baker on twinbill lineups, Harper, Revere, Belisle and bullpen

Manager Dusty Baker said right-hander Matt Belisle, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 27 with a right calf strain, will go through a bullpen session today and is closer to getting to rehab games. "He has to go get some innings in and get some back-to-backs," Baker said. "He's doing fine. He's been working hard, which doesn't surprise anybody. He's in great shape. We actually had to slow him down a little bit because he's such a go-getter. "He will go out (on a rehab...

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Game 36 lineups: Marlins at Nationals

May 14, 2016, 4:39am

Nationals

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg gets the call in Game 1 of today's day-night doubleheader against the Marlins, fresh off signing a new seven-year, $175 million contract extension with the Nationals. Right-hander Tanner Roark gets the nod for the Nats in the nightcap. Strasburg is 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts over 49 innings, the best start to a season in his career. He has struck out 58 batters and walked 12.The Nationals have recalled outfielder Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse...

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Papelbon and bullpen hold down Marlins in Nats' comeback win

May 13, 2016, 7:28pm

Nationals

Papelbon and bullpen hold down Marlins in Nats' comeback win

The Nationals came back to beat the Marlins 5-3 as manager Dusty Baker maneuvered his bullpen around to find a way to get the win. Starter Gio Gonzalez got into the fifth, but left trailing 2-0. Plus, he had allowed three straight singles to open the sixth. After that, the bullpen took over, with Baker employing five relievers in the final four innings. They allowed just one more run as they watched the Nationals offense come alive. Baker was asked if he spread the wealth in the bullpen because...

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Harper, Drew, Heisey homer as Nats come back to beat Marlins 5-3

May 13, 2016, 6:28pm

Nationals

Harper, Drew, Heisey homer as Nats come back to beat Marlins 5-3

Kyle Barraclough pitched 20 games last season for the Marlins before allowing a home run. On Sept. 19, 2015, that streak ended thanks to a blast by Bryce Harper. The next 17 games, Barraclough appeared in, he did not allow another homer. Until Friday night, again at Nationals Park. With a man on, Harper connected for the second homer given up by the Marlins right-hander, lifting the Nationals to a 4-2 lead. It was Harper's 11th homer of the season. The Nationals went on to win 5-3 in the...

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Baker keeping relievers rested, up to date on when they will pitch

May 13, 2016, 1:47pm

Nationals

Baker keeping relievers rested, up to date on when they will pitch

During most pregame media sessions, at least one reporter asks Nationals manager Dusty Baker who is available to pitch from the bullpen that night. Baker never answers the question because he doesn't want the opponent to know who he might go to and who is getting a night off. If you go back over the previous three or four games, you can easily put together a good guess of which pitcher or pitchers might not be available because Baker has gone to them a lot. The 2016 bullpen is also a very...

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Ramos reaches elite company following another game caught for Scherzer

May 11, 2016, 7:47pm

Nationals

Ramos reaches elite company following another game caught for Scherzer

Hey, I hear you are a Major League catcher? Yes, yes I am. What have you accomplished in your last 150 games? Oh, I don't know, three no-hitters, one by Jordan Zimmermann, two from Max Scherzer, plus a record-setting 20 strikeout performance from Scherzer. No big. I beg your pardon. That is just part of the resume for Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, who caught Zimmermann's no-hitter to end the 2014 season, followed that up with a pair of no-hitters in 2015 and now a 20-strikeout performance...

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Zimmermann good in return to D.C., but not as good as Scherzer

May 11, 2016, 7:18pm

Nationals

Zimmermann good in return to D.C., but not as good as Scherzer

On a night when his former teammate Max Scherzer struck out a career-high and MLB-record-tying 20 batters, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann never backed down from the battle. In a 3-2 loss to the Nationals, Zimmermann went seven innings and allowed seven hits, three runs and three walks with three strikeouts. It was his second setback after five wins to start the season. The Nationals touched Zimmermann for three hits and a run in their first at-bat. "I was able to wiggle out of the first,"...

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Scherzer sets record with 20 strikeouts in 3-2 win over Tigers

May 11, 2016, 5:47pm

Nationals

Scherzer sets record with 20 strikeouts in 3-2 win over Tigers

Right-hander Max Scherzer was determined to bounce back from his worst start of the season at Chicago, a game in which he allowed seven runs. He certainly did. On Wednesday, Scherzer (4-2) struck out a career-high and franchise-record 20 batters in the Nationals' 3-2 win over the Tigers. He is only the fifth pitcher to reach 20 strikeouts in any length of a game in Major League Baseball history. Scherzer allowed a solo shot to Jose Iglesias in the third and another homer to J.D. Martinez in...

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Baker on switching Murphy and Zimmerman in the lineup

May 11, 2016, 1:50pm

Nationals

Baker on switching Murphy and Zimmerman in the lineup

Manager Dusty Baker finally moved hot-hitting Daniel Murphy ahead of Ryan Zimmerman in the batting order. He said before the game he doesn't believe it is that big a deal, it was more about the matchup with Tigers right-hander and former National Jordan Zimmermann. "It would probably be unusual to you guys but not unusual to me because I've been thinking about some things for quite sometime," Baker said. "I talked to Zim and talked to Murphy first because I thought about it today in...

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Trading Places: Zimmermann back at Nats Park to face Scherzer

May 11, 2016, 5:07am

Nationals

Trading Places: Zimmermann back at Nats Park to face Scherzer

The rubber match could not be any better Wednesday night as former Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann takes on former Tigers hurler Max Scherzer. "Of all the ways this could of shook out, this has to have happened exactly this way where I'm facing Jordie," Scherzer said. "He asked for a fastball right down the middle and I definitely said, 'no, you're not getting that'." "I saw it's Max and I just talked to him a few minutes ago, joked around and said we will be locking horns...

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Zimmerman "trying to hit the ball hard" in searching for power stroke

May 10, 2016, 7:41pm

Nationals

Zimmerman "trying to hit the ball hard" in searching for power stroke

After what has happened to Ryan Zimmerman in Chicago, Tuesday's two homers are certainly a positive step forward offensively for the Nationals veteran. Against the Cubs, Zimmerman went 2-for-19 in four games, leaving 14 men on base in the frustrating 13-inning 4-3 loss on Sunday. Zimmerman also struck out on a changeup in the ninth against the Tigers' Francisco Rodriguez, but that can't take away how hard he has been hitting the ball in his other contact at-bats. The two-run blast in the...

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Despite two homers from Ryan Zimmerman, Nats fall to Tigers 5-4

May 10, 2016, 6:05pm

Nationals

Despite two homers from Ryan Zimmerman, Nats fall to Tigers 5-4

Nationals right-hander Joe Ross had never given up more than six hits in a start this season. He also had not surrendered a home run in his first 32 1/3 innings. That all changed Tuesday as the Tigers used a home run by Nick Castellanos and a big sixth inning to end a seven-game losing streak and upend the Nationals 5-4. Ryan Zimmerman kept the Nationals close, with two homers and three RBIs. It was the 15th time in his career he had hit more than one homer in a game. The Nationals jumped out...

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Scherzer and Baker thrilled to see Strasburg locked up with Nats long-term

May 10, 2016, 1:32pm

Nationals

Scherzer and Baker thrilled to see Strasburg locked up with Nats long-term

Right-hander Max Scherzer was in the press room as the Nationals announced Stephen Strasburg's new seven-year, $175 million deal to remain with the club. "When I was signed here, there were a few other players that were at my signing as well and I always remember that," Scherzer said. "It's important that you show some camaraderie and you show you support your teammates. "When I heard the news last night that he had signed, I took it upon myself the time to make sure that I was there for...

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Robinson hits walk-off homer, thought it was eighth inning

May 10, 2016, 3:27am

Nationals

Robinson hits walk-off homer, thought it was eighth inning

What is better than hitting you first-ever walk-off homer in a Major League game? Thinking all you did was hit the go-ahead homer. Pinch-hitter Clint Robinson, who had struggled a bit to start the season to find his groove, slammed a Mark Lowe offering that bounced off the top of the right field wall Monday night, completing the Nationals' 5-4 come-from-behind winner over the Tigers. "Rounding third and I saw everybody crowded around home plate. Not kidding," Robinson said. So, wait a...