Byron Kerr

Rivero can fill multiple roles for Nationals out of 'pen

July 27, 2015, 8:07am

The Nationals have been included in trade rumors for fireballing closers like Aroldis Chapman, Jonathan Papelbon and Craig Kimbrel. The team appears to be looking for the bridge to get them from the seventh inning to closer Drew Storen in order to finish off games. One in-house name that might be able to fit the bill is fastball-throwing left-hander Felipe Rivero. Rivero came up big for the Nationals on Saturday night, notching four outs and a hold in their 9-3 win over the Pirates. Rivero now...

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Gonzalez sick of watching the Nats lose to Pirates, notches win

July 26, 2015, 7:37am

Nationals

Gonzalez sick of watching the Nats lose to Pirates, notches win

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez turned in a gutsy performance Saturday night in the Nationals' 9-3 win over the Pirates. Despite feeling under the weather, Gonzalez finished five innings and allowed only one earned run to get the win (8-4). "I thought Gio pitched well and gave us what he could," said manager Matt Williams to reporters. "He wasn't feeling great today, either. He was a little sick, so he may (have) run out of gas a little bit." Gonzalez showed true grit for a Nationals team that...

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Top Nationals pitching prospect Giolito promoted to Double-A

July 25, 2015, 9:44am

Nationals

The Nationals' top prospect, right-hander Lucas Giolito, has been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg according to a release from the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 21-year-old, a 2012 first-round selection, has gone 2-3 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 10 starts. On July 6 versus Wilmington, he went six innings, allowed three hits, no runs, one walk and struck out 10. In five of those starts, he did not surrender an earned run. Rick Giolito, Lucas' father, broke the news on Twitter: Proud of...

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Sammy Solis breaks down his matchups in 7-5 loss to Pirates

July 25, 2015, 7:18am

Nationals

Sammy Solis breaks down his matchups in 7-5 loss to Pirates

Left-hander Sammy Solis entered Friday night's game versus the Pirates in a good situation. The Nationals had just tied the game at 5-5 on a dramatic home run by the hot-hitting Ian Desmond. After trailing 2-0 and 5-4, the Nationals had tied the game again. Max Scherzer was done, finishing five innings. Now it was time for the bullpen to take over and hold back the Pirates. It didn't work out that way for Solis. After a strikeout of Pedro Alvarez, Solis allowed a single to Francisco Cervelli....

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If Aroldis Chapman is acquired, who pitches eighth inning?

July 24, 2015, 5:41am

Nationals

If Aroldis Chapman is acquired, who pitches eighth inning?

The Nationals bullpen has been knocked around a couple of times in the last week. Fortifying this concern is the ongoing issue of not having a fireballer eighth inning setup man following the departure of Tyler Clippard to the Athletics last season. Casey Janssen is a veteran reliever that certainly works fast, but is more of a finesse pitcher. He has done a good job as the eighth inning guy recently. Manager Matt Williams has mentioned him in that spot a few times in the last week. Janssen has...

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Yunel Escobar's X-rays on left hand/wrist negative, but he'll need more tests

July 22, 2015, 1:07pm

Nationals

Yunel Escobar's X-rays on left hand/wrist negative, but he'll need more tests

Following the Nationals' 4-3 win over the Mets, manager Matt Williams confirmed that third baseman Yunel Escobar has an injured left hand and wrist. He has been dealing with an injury to that area from earlier in the season. Escobar went down to the ground after taking a healthy swing in his first at-bat in the second inning on a pitch from Mets' right-hander Noah Syndergaard. He laid on top of home plate for almost a minute, and after recovering, stepped back into the box with a 1-2 count....

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Williams: Ross "pitched well" in tough loss to Mets

July 21, 2015, 7:11pm

Nationals

Williams: Ross "pitched well" in tough loss to Mets

Right-hander Joe Ross did his best to keep the Nationals in the game Tuesday. And for six-plus innings he did just that. But the seventh inning did not turn out the way the Nationals and Ross would have hoped. The Mets scored two runs in the seventh on a pinch-hit two-run single from Eric Campbell off Aaron Barrett. A single and a costly error by Clint Robinson set up the inning. Ross was lifted right before Campbell stepped in. "(We) are going to get to (Barrett) there with guys on second and...

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Joe Ross is back, and Williams says he will stay until Strasburg is healthy

July 21, 2015, 1:05pm

Nationals

Joe Ross is back, and Williams says he will stay until Strasburg is healthy

There is something to be said for a rookie pitcher who is called up and told to jump right on the mound for a crucial start for the big club. Right-hander Joe Ross certainly looked the part in his initial start with the Nationals on June 6 against the Cubs. In that game, he went five innings, allowed six hits and only three runs with no walks and four strikeouts. He took the loss that day, but showed poise beyond his 22 years. And tonight, just like in that first game in early June, he comes...

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10 in 10: Scherzer signs on to Cards for a Cause fundraiser for youth academy

July 21, 2015, 7:01am

Nationals

10 in 10: Scherzer signs on to Cards for a Cause fundraiser for youth academy

From the time they arrived from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have been a mainstay in the Washington, D.C., sports scene. But the Nats are also very active in the community, working diligently over the past decade to touch the lives of many in the region and proving that baseball has a further reach than wins and losses, balls and strikes, batters and pitchers. Each Thursday through mid-August, MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr will explore the Nationals' community outreach...

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Gio Gonzalez credits defense after 7-2 win over Mets

July 20, 2015, 7:07pm

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez credits defense after 7-2 win over Mets

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez was once again solid and consistent in pitching the Nationals to a 7-2 victory over the Mets. Gonzalez went six innings, scattering six hits and allowing two runs for his seventh win. He has recorded only two losses since April 27. Gonzalez struck out four and walked three. But Gonzalez found himself in danger in the fifth. Leading 5-2, the Mets got singles from Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores to attempt a rally. With two men out, Eric Campbell lined a Gonzalez offering...

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Williams on De Los Santos, who replaced Treinen in 'pen: "Everybody loves his stuff"

July 20, 2015, 1:07pm

Nationals

Williams on De Los Santos, who replaced Treinen in 'pen: "Everybody loves his stuff"

The Nationals called up right-hander Abel De Los Santos on Monday and optioned right-hander Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse. The 22-year-old de Los Santos was 4-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 26 appearances for Double-A Harrisburg. He has not surrendered a run since June 8, a span of 15 innings over nine outings. De Los Santos was acquired from the Texas Rangers, with second baseman Chris Bostick, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler on Dec. 12, 2014. "We don't know a lot because he's...

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Blake Treinen struggles in ninth as Dodgers win 5-0; will Rizzo seek bullpen help?

July 19, 2015, 1:55pm

Nationals

Blake Treinen struggles in ninth as Dodgers win 5-0; will Rizzo seek bullpen help?

Nationals reliever Blake Treinen came on in the ninth inning with the Dodgers clinging to a 1-0 lead. When he left, the Dodgers led 5-0. Andre Ethier had the key base hit on a 0-2 fastball that he lined up the middle to make it 2-0 Dodgers. A.J. Ellis followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Yasiel Puig's base hit past a diving Yunel Escobar scored two more runs, and L.A. led 5-0. That turned into the final score. Treinen had not pitched since July 11, and Drew Storen had closed Saturday's...

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Rendon and Werth contribute in rehab assignments for Potomac (Zimmerman update)

July 18, 2015, 5:35pm

Nationals

Rendon and Werth contribute in rehab assignments for Potomac (Zimmerman update)

Third baseman Anthony Rendon went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored and designated hitter Jayson Werth went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk in rehab assignments with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals on Saturday night. The P-Nats fell to Myrtle Beach 7-5, thanks to a five-run Pelicans sixth inning that erased a 4-2 lNationals lead. Rendon, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a left quad strain, was making his first rehab appearance, while Werth, on the DL recovering from a fractured...

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Behind the scenes on a peculiar night at Nationals Park

July 18, 2015, 9:38am

Nationals

A night at the ballpark. Friday, July 17, 2015, Dodgers at Nationals. I got the chance to host "Nats Xtra," with Bob Carpenter off for the weekend and Johnny Holliday calling the game. 5:30 p.m. - The night started off in normal fashion, with our "Nats Xtra" producer John Harvey, along with Ray Knight and production assistant Rich Nodonly, going over the rundown for the pregame show. I put together previews of each pitcher on the first page. The second page is usually notes on individual...

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Werth goes 0-for-3 as designated hitter at Potomac in second rehab start

July 17, 2015, 7:47pm

Nationals

Werth goes 0-for-3 as designated hitter at Potomac in second rehab start

Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth (wrist) had three at-bats Friday night for high Single-A Potomac in its 7-2 loss to Myrtle Beach. Werth was the designated hitter and reached first base on a fielding error by the shortstop. He flew out to center field on his second at-bat and grounded out to third in the sixth inning, finishing 0-for-3. Werth's first at-bat was an error, but he crushed the ball, according to reports from the field. In his second at-bat, he squared up the ball nicely...

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Desmond impressed by team depth and pitching as he readies for second half

July 17, 2015, 12:53pm

Nationals

Desmond impressed by team depth and pitching as he readies for second half

The longest-tenured member of the Washington Nationals helped to preview the second half and tonight's key series opener against the N.L. West first-place L.A. Dodgers. The Nationals are in first place as well, 48-39, two games ahead of the Mets. The series with the Mets begins Monday. Shortstop Ian Desmond said the team has made some important steps in growth during the first half despite all the injuries. "I think in every facet," Desmond said of the improvements since opening day....

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Werth singles in rehab start; Ross solid in Syracuse outing

July 17, 2015, 2:55am

Nationals

Werth singles in rehab start; Ross solid in Syracuse outing

Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth (left wrist) completed a rehab game last night in high Single-A Potomac's 1-0 loss to Myrtle Beach. Werth went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout. He also had to go after a double by Pelicans center fielder Trey Martin in the third inning. Werth played three innings and reportedly everything went well. Manager Matt Williams told "The Junkies" on 106.7 The Fan that Werth would be the designated hitter tonight for five innings, and he expects Werth to...

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Harrisburg's first-half offense highlighted by Turner, Skole, Renda, Lozada and Ramsey

July 15, 2015, 4:37am

Nationals

Harrisburg's first-half offense highlighted by Turner, Skole, Renda, Lozada and Ramsey

Triple-A Syracuse shortstop Trea Turner has recorded at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games. In the last 10 games, Turner is hitting .417 (15-for-36) with four multi-hit games. He has had two games in that span with at least three hits. On the season, between three teams, Turner is batting .318 with 17 doubles, six triples, seven homers and 45 RBIs in 84 games. Turner hit .359 in 10 games with Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Looking at first half power numbers offensively for the Senators,...

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Review of Harrisburg Senators pitching pre-All-Star break

July 14, 2015, 6:16am

Nationals

Review of Harrisburg Senators pitching pre-All-Star break

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators have reached the All-Star break with a 45-46 record and are six games out of the first place Bowie Baysox in the Western Division. A review of the pitching staff in the first half revealed some good control from the Senators hurlers. Harrisburg has allowed only 214 walks pre-All-Star break, the lowest mark in the Eastern League. Their 3.46 team ERA is fifth in the league. They have worked, throwing 797 2/3 innings in the first 91 games, second most to Akron's...

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Turner and Giolito shine in U.S. All-Stars' 10-1 rout at Futures Game

July 13, 2015, 3:14am

Nationals

Turner and Giolito shine in U.S. All-Stars' 10-1 rout at Futures Game

U.S. Futures All-Stars blasted the Worlds Futures All-Stars 10-1 at the SiriusXM Futures Game Sunday. Nationals prospect Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Bell each contributed two RBIs, and the U.S. tallied five runs early and then five more runs in the sixth inning to put the game away. Turner went 2-for-2 with the two RBIs, including a double. But his biggest highlight might have come before the game began. J.J. Cooper, managing editor of Baseball America, was there and explained: "When...