Byron Kerr

Harper on potential fine for post-ejection antics: "I'll pay it"

May 09, 2016, 7:55pm

It's very likely that getting walked almost every time he steps into the batter's box has started to take its toll on Nationals slugger Bryce Harper. Or maybe it was his batting average dipping to .260 or his team losing four straight games. But during the ninth inning Monday, in a 4-4 tie between the Nationals and the Tigers, Harper had finally had enough after watching teammate Danny Espinosa get called out on a third strike by home plate umpire Brian Knight. Harper was ejected while...

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Nationals rally on night Strasburg reportedly gets big extension

May 09, 2016, 7:31pm

Nationals

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg started his 139th career game with the Nationals on Monday night, taking a no-decision in an eventual 5-4 walk-off win over the Detroit Tigers. Clint Robinson cranked a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to complete the comeback for the Nationals, his first ever walk-off shot. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Nationals, who trailed 4-1 in the sixth. But the news most will remember from Monday was that Strasburg had reportedly signed a...

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Strasburg agrees to seven-year, $175 million extension with Nats (updated)

May 09, 2016, 4:15pm

Nationals

Strasburg agrees to seven-year, $175 million extension with Nats (updated)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has reportedly agreed to a long-term extension to remain with the Nationals, according to multiple published reports. The Washington Post was first to report the news of the deal. MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the deal was for seven years and $175 million, and is expected to include opt-out clauses, performance bonuses and deferred money. Update: MASNsports.com's Mark Zuckerman has confirmed through a source familiar with the deal that Strasburg will...

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Strasburg allows rare early homer against Tigers (Nats win 5-4)

May 09, 2016, 3:35pm

Nationals

Strasburg allows rare early homer against Tigers (Nats win 5-4)

The Tigers jumped on top early against the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg. And they did it by doing something that only one hitter has been able to accomplish in Strasburg's first six starts of the season. Strasburg had allowed only a Brian Dozier eighth-inning three-run shot on April 24, the only homer in his 42 innings of work to begin 2016. But Nick Castellanos was able to turn on a Strasburg fastball and knock it over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the first. His...

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Matt Belisle "doing really, really well" as he rehabs calf strain

May 09, 2016, 2:29pm

Nationals

Matt Belisle "doing really, really well" as he rehabs calf strain

Right-hander Matt Belisle is making solid progress as he recovers from a right calf strain. He has been on the disabled list since April 27. "I'm doing really, really well," Belisle said. "I've been doing a ton of work. It was only about the first 24-hour period where we gave it completely off. We had (platelet-rich plasma therapy) after that, so like 36 hours let that settle in. Since then, it has responded extremely well and I've been hitting rehab really diligently and hard." The...

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Baker not changing lineup with Harper free passes routine

May 09, 2016, 1:45pm

Nationals

Baker not changing lineup with Harper free passes routine

The Cubs walked right fielder Bryce Harper six times Sunday, which allowed first baseman Ryan Zimmerman several opportunities to help bring him home and change the game for the Nationals. But Zimmerman was unable to come through, leaving 14 men on base. With the strategy of walking the National League MVP in front of Zimmerman becoming a viable way to slow the Nats' ability to score runs, will more teams employ this technique? Should manager Dusty Baker put the hot-hitting second baseman...

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Game 32 lineups: Tigers at Nationals

May 09, 2016, 11:10am

Nationals

The Nationals return home after a grueling 10-game road trip to play host to the Detroit Tigers. A 5-5 road trip is certainly good for that much time away, but stings a bit after the team arrived in Chicago after a 5-1 trek through St. Louis and Kansas City. The Cubs swept the series thanks to a 4-3 13-inning win over the Nationals Sunday. And for the first time this season, the Nationals are looking up to the Mets in the National League East standings, trailing New York by a half-game. The...

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Lopez building consistency as he builds innings in Harrisburg

May 07, 2016, 5:05am

Nationals

Lopez building consistency as he builds innings in Harrisburg

So far so good for right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who had the end of his 2015 campaign derailed due to minor back tightness. Lopez used an outstanding spring training to catapult himself into a steady start at Double-A Harrisburg. "He had a wonderful spring training," said Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart as the season kicked off. "His arm's felt great. He's made every start. This is the year that we get to see what we drafted." Lopez's most recent outing was his best to date....

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Potomac right-hander Phillips Valdez showing good control to begin season

May 06, 2016, 9:00am

Nationals

Potomac right-hander Phillips Valdez showing good control to begin season

Right-hander Phillips Valdez has pitched well in his last two starts for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 24-year-old Valdez has allowed only two earned runs in his last 14 innings, giving up only seven hits and striking out 15. He struck out a career-high 11 batters on April 23 in a 5-2 win at Wilmington. Overall he is 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA. But in three of his starts, he has given up a combined three earned runs in 14 innings. Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart said the...

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Glover off to quick start in promotion to Double-A

May 04, 2016, 7:00pm

Nationals

Glover off to quick start in promotion to Double-A

Reliever Koda Glover, an eighth-round selection out of Oklahoma State in 2015, has not allowed a run in his first nine games. After stonewalling the Carolina League for seven games, Glover was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on April 29. In his two games for Harrisburg, Glover has fired three innings without allowing a run. He has struck out five and walked none on just two hits. He pitched in the seventh inning in his first Double-A appearance, then the seventh and eighth innings on May 2...

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Revere plays nine innings with Syracuse, nearing return to Nats

May 04, 2016, 4:26am

Nationals

Revere plays nine innings with Syracuse, nearing return to Nats

Ben Revere had his longest rehab outing this season Tuesday, going 1-for-5 with a single, in Triple-A Syracuse's 8-3 win over Rochester. The nine innings by Revere were more than he had played since joining the Chiefs. Revere had played several games of five or seven innings as he attempts to return from a strained right oblique suffered in the opening game of the season at Atlanta. Revere has gone 3-for-16 (.188) with a walk and a stolen base in five starts for the Chiefs. Manager Dusty...

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Revere goes five innings for Syracuse, still trending toward Thursday return

May 03, 2016, 7:38am

Nationals

Revere goes five innings for Syracuse, still trending toward Thursday return

Center fielder Ben Revere, on a minor league rehabilitation assignment with a strained right oblique, played five innings in Triple-A Syracuse's 1-0 win over Rochester on Monday, going 0-for-3. On defense, he caught a pair of flyouts in the second inning and one in the third. He squeezed a flyout in the fourth and then retrieved a single later in the inning. On offense, he grounded out to the pitcher in the first and grounded out to the first baseman in his second at-bat. He later grounded out...

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Revere plays seven innings for Syracuse, steals a base

May 01, 2016, 3:22pm

Nationals

Revere plays seven innings for Syracuse, steals a base

Ben Revere returned to the Syracuse lineup Sunday, playing seven innings in center field, as the Chiefs dropped Pawtucket 5-4 in 10 innings. Revere grounded out to shortstop, reached on a fielder's choice and grounded out to the pitcher in three at-bats. In the third inning, he reached on a fielder's choice. With Trea Turner batting, he stole second base. The Chiefs begin a three-game set Monday night at home against Rochester. After playing five innings in back-to-back games, Revere had the...

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Revere plays second straight game, goes five innings for Syracuse (updated)

April 30, 2016, 4:54am

Nationals

Revere plays second straight game, goes five innings for Syracuse (updated)

Ben Revere completed his second rehab game with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs Friday night. The center fielder, rehabbing a right strained oblique, went 0-for-2 with a walk. Syracuse stunned Pawtucket with a 3-2 walk-off victory. The Chiefs have won five of their last six games. Caleb Ramsey replaced Revere on defense to begin the top of the sixth. Revere has now played a pair of games in a row, playing five innings in each. Manager Dusty Baker had pointed to the Chicago Cubs series as the games...

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Nats "get to see what we're really made of" on trek, Zimmerman says

April 29, 2016, 3:54am

Nationals

Nats "get to see what we're really made of" on trek, Zimmerman says

Regardless of the last three games, the next 10 games on the schedule have been pointed to as a huge test in this young season. Whether the Nationals arrived 14-7 or 17-4, games at St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago were marked as difficult because of the caliber of teams and the venues they will have to play in. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is the longest-tenured Nationals player and he describes this trip as the most daunting of his career. "It's one of the tougher trips I think I've...

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Nats struggle for answers after back-to-back 3-0 losses

April 28, 2016, 5:12pm

Nationals

Nats struggle for answers after back-to-back 3-0 losses

The Phillies handed the Nationals another 3-0 shutout loss on Thursday, sweeping the three-game series. Despite a lineup that was switched around a bit to try to jumpstart the offense, the Nationals combined for only four hits. The Nationals have not scored in 22 innings and have just five runs in the past 34 innings dating to Sunday's 16-inning marathon win over the Twins. It's not like the Nationals had that many chances against Phillies starter Aaron Nola, with only base hits in the first...

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Roark blanks Phillies through seven innings (Phillies win 3-0)

April 28, 2016, 1:38pm

Nationals

Roark blanks Phillies through seven innings (Phillies win 3-0)

On a rainy and then misty Thursday getaway day, after waiting 36 minutes to get started, both starting pitchers have been very smooth in retiring batters as the Nationals and Phillies wrap up their three-game set. Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark, coming off a career-high 15 strikeout performance last Saturday in 2-0 shutout of the Twins, retired 10 straight batters after issuing a leadoff walk to Odubel Herrera to start the game. Herrera was thrown out trying to steal. But in the fourth...

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Game underway after 36-minute delay

April 28, 2016, 12:00pm

Nationals

The start of today's Phillies-Nationals game has been delayed due to rain. The original scheduled first pitch at Nationals Park was 4:05 p.m. The Nationals have announced they are hoping to begin the game at 4:40 p.m. The Nats are heading on a 10-game road trip after the game and are hoping to get this game in before they depart for St. Louis. The Nationals next face the Phillies at home June 10-12 with no off-day before or after that series. After that, the final series at home against the...

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Harper on major league debut: "I did everything I could to enjoy it"

April 28, 2016, 10:51am

Nationals

Harper on major league debut: "I did everything I could to enjoy it"

April 28, 2012 is date every Nationals fan will remember forever: Bryce Harper's major league debut. Today, when Harper takes the field against the Phillies, it marks the fifth anniversary of his debut, a 4-3 10-inning loss for the Nationals at Chavez Ravine against the Dodgers. Batting seventh and playing left field, he went 1-for-3 with a double, sacrifice fly and an RBI. The Nationals ended up going 81-58 in games he played during the 2012 campaign. Harper did well that day, but when asked,...

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Game 21 lineups: Phillies at Nationals

April 28, 2016, 10:05am

Nationals

The Nationals are looking to snap a three-game losing streak against Philadelphia today as they wrap up their series with the Phillies with an afternoon matchup at Nationals Park. This is also the first time the Nationals have lost two in a row at home this season. Right-hander Tanner Roark (2-2, 2.63 ERA) takes on right-hander Aaron Nola (1-2, 4.50). Roark is 2-5 with a 6.91 ERA in seven games (five starts) in his career against the Phillies. In his career, Roark loves to pitch at home, going...