Byron Kerr

Lopez delivers win in first high Single-A start for Potomac; Janssen begins rehab

May 08, 2015, 3:00am

The Nationals' No. 3 prospect right-hander Reynaldo Lopez provided a solid debut with high Single-A Potomac on Thursday. Lopez threw five scoreless innings in a 2-1 Potomac victory in Game 1 over the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. In Game 2, right-hander Casey Janssen tossed one scoreless inning to begin his rehab from shoulder tendinitis. Lopez fired 54 pitches, 37 for strikes, and hit 98 mph velocity with his fastball according to P-Nats media relations. He...

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Roark's versatility paying big dividends for on-call bullpen

May 07, 2015, 9:12am

Nationals

Roark's versatility paying big dividends for on-call bullpen

Right-hander Tanner Roark has done it all out of the bullpen for the Nationals so far this season. After serving as a starting pitcher in 36 of the first 45 games of his career with the Nats, it is impressive that he hasn't missed a beat as a reliever. He has made 10 appearances so far this season, finishing three games and recording his first major league save. His shortest outing was 1/3 inning, and his longest was 3 2/3 innings. His ERA is 3.00. Roark has also made three appearances in a...

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Scherzer pitches around two mistakes to notch 7-5 win over Marlins

May 06, 2015, 1:15pm

Nationals

Scherzer pitches around two mistakes to notch 7-5 win over Marlins

Coming into Wednesday afternoon's game, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer had allowed two or fewer earned runs in all three of his losses this season. So, of course, on the day he gave up five runs, Bryce Harper delivered three home runs as the offense erupted to earn him a 7-5 win. The Nationals have now won three series in a row. Since starting the season 7-13, they have won seven of their last nine games. Scherzer had allowed five total earned runs in his first five starts, going 1-3. On...

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Harper's walk total could be turned into more stolen bases

May 06, 2015, 9:13am

Nationals

Harper's walk total could be turned into more stolen bases

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper continues to show patience at the plate. He walked twice in the series opener against the Marlins, putting his total for the young season at 26 free passes in 28 games, which is tops in the majors. Nationals manager Matt Williams has noticed how Harper has waited for his pitches early this season. "The ability to understand the strike zone, his strike zone," Williams said. "And that's a good thing. It's good that he's being patient. We surround him,...

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Werth sitting out second straight game due to "cranky" shoulder

May 06, 2015, 8:23am

Nationals

Werth sitting out second straight game due to "cranky" shoulder

Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to allow left fielder Jayson Werth to rest for a second straight game in Wednesday's series finale with the Marlins. Williams said Werth's shoulder is still sore as he recovers from offseason surgery. The day off is "part of the progression" toward 100 percent health, the manager explained. "It's going to be cranky from time to time," Williams said. "You know, surgery five months ago. It's part of the rehab process. You get through stuff like...

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Solis, Uggla and Williams after 2-1 loss to Marlins

May 05, 2015, 8:01pm

Nationals

Solis, Uggla and Williams after 2-1 loss to Marlins

The Nationals lost a tough 2-1 decision to the Marlins on Tuesday night, and were only able to squeeze out three hits on the night. The Nationals went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. In the ninth, the Nationals got a potential rally off to a good start against Marlins late inning specialist Steve Cishek. Thanks to a base hit by Wilson Ramos and a fielding error, the Nationals had men on first and second with no one out. In a critical moment, Dan Uggla...

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Nationals showing ability to connect with two-out base hits and runners on base

May 05, 2015, 1:35pm

Nationals

During his media availability before Tuesday's game, Nationals manager Matt Williams was asked about the team building confidence in its offense after winning six of seven games. The Nationals have been able to win these games in a variety of ways, whether it be a late-inning comeback or grinding out a one-run lead for innings on end. On Saturday and Sunday, the Nats scored only two runs, but won each game in New York against the Mets. Last week, the current streak started with a comeback from...

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Zimmermann and Roark find a way to deliver another Nationals win

May 04, 2015, 7:18pm

Nationals

The Nationals once again got seven innings from their starter, but needed to rally in the eighth inning to come back and beat the Marlins 6-4. Jordan Zimmermann allowed a couple of hits in the first. Marcell Ozuna's RBI single game Miami the early 1-0 lead. But then Zimmermann did not give up another run until the seventh inning. Zimmermann knew after the first frame he would have to rely on other pitches to get guys out. "The first inning, I was right over the middle with the fastball and I...

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One-run wins are good, but can offense help out some more?

May 04, 2015, 1:34pm

Nationals

One-run wins are good, but can offense help out some more?

The Nationals hung on for a pair of thrilling 1-0 wins over the Mets over the weekend to win the four-game series in New York. The pitching was incredible, allowing the Mets only 11 hits over the last two games. But the Nationals left 21 men on base and scored only two runs in those final two wins at Citi Field. In Sunday's series finale, the Nationals had several chances to score more than one run. They left the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Two men were left on in the first, fourth,...

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Club source: Giolito and Lopez joining high Single-A Potomac (updated)

May 04, 2015, 8:10am

Nationals

Club source: Giolito and Lopez joining high Single-A Potomac (updated)

Two of the Nationals' top right-handed pitching prospects, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, will officially join high Single-A Potomac this week, a high-ranking club source confirmed to MASNsports.com. The duo has been working out and logging innings at the Nationals training facility in Viera, Fla., over the past month. Giolito and Lopez's first starts with the P-Nats are imminent, and will be announced this week. Potomac's published game notes list "TBA" for Wednesday night's scheduled...

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Bullpen success never more important than in one-run wins

May 03, 2015, 12:46pm

Nationals

Bullpen success never more important than in one-run wins

The bullpen has started to set itself recently. After Saturday's contest, the Nationals' relievers had put together 8 2/3 innings over their last four games, allowing only four hits, three earned runs and one walk, and registering 10 strikeouts. Then Sunday, Tanner Roark notched two huge outs, including a strikeout of Ruben Tejada in the seventh. Matt Thornton battled past two walks to get two outs himself. Aaron Barrett struck out Michael Cuddyer to end the threat. As we noted on "Nats...

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Rendon rehabs in Bowie, MLB amends rule though Turner remains with Padres

May 02, 2015, 2:37am

Nationals

Rendon rehabs in Bowie, MLB amends rule though Turner remains with Padres

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) played second base for Double-A Harrisburg Friday night, batting second and going 0-for-2 with a walk. This was a good sign to see him finally return to his rehab schedule after a couple of days off. With the team playing in Bowie, Rendon could finish up with two more games this weekend and then rejoin the Nationals on Monday when they return home to host the Marlins and start a six-game homestand. More on the Senators later in this blog. * Triple-A...

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Solis pitches to form in major league debut (with quotes), plus minor league notes

May 01, 2015, 3:42am

Nationals

Solis pitches to form in major league debut (with quotes), plus minor league notes

The Nationals dropped the Mets 8-2 Thursday, handing New York its first loss in 11 games at Citi Field this season. With a 5-2 lead in the sixth, left-hander Sammy Solis made his major league debut, firing two scoreless innings. Solis tossed 22 pitches, 16 for strikes, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out one batter. Facing seven hitters, it was a nice introduction for Solis in a game the Nats provided him with a three-run cushion. As my colleague Chris Johnson wrote, Solis was...

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Solis has battled injuries to finally get big league chance

April 29, 2015, 11:03am

Nationals

Solis has battled injuries to finally get big league chance

Left-hander Sammy Solis was called up to the big leagues Wednesday, finally getting a shot with the Nationals after showing so much promise coming out of the University of San Diego. Yes, Solis is that other great pitcher in the Nationals system from San Diego. Back in 2010, then-minor league pitching coach and current Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart thought Solis' stuff could play at the highest levels because he could pitch well against Arizona Fall League competition, and he...

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Uggla's home run could have lasting effect on Nationals season

April 29, 2015, 2:22am

Nationals

The Nationals needed someone, anyone, to make a play. Denard Span and Jose Lobaton made plays to get the Nationals back in the game. But it was a former Braves player, who is still drawing a paycheck from Atlanta (the Braves owe Uggla $12,692,500 in 2015, the most of any player on their current roster in 2015), who was still booed by the home team each early at-bat (drawing the admiration of a Braves legend) that provided the most dramatic of swings for a struggling team. Disappointed with...

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The road traveled by A.J. Cole as he debuts with the Nationals in Atlanta

April 28, 2015, 9:20am

Nationals

It is exciting to see one of the Nationals' top prospects, A.J. Cole, get a shot tonight and a chance to stop his club's longest losing streak of the season in his major league debut. I remember saying hello to the tall, lanky and quiet right-hander at a minor league game a couple of seasons ago. He was charting pitches, and was cool and calm, just like he is on the mound. It all starts with Cole's difference-making fastball, plus a changeup and an improving slider. Baseball America...

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Renda, Difo, Skole, Suero, Lively, Ward and Taylor shining early in Nats system

April 27, 2015, 5:22am

Nationals

Renda, Difo, Skole, Suero, Lively, Ward and Taylor shining early in Nats system

Double-A Harrisburg Senators second baseman Tony Renda in a groove at the plate to begin season. Renda is hitting .299 with four doubles, five stolen bases and six RBIs in 17 games. He has four walks and has struck out only seven times in 67 at-bats. Outfielder Rick Hague leads the Senators with a .735 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) for batters with a minimum of 40 plate appearances. He leads the team with five doubles. He has two stolen bases, but would like to trim the strikeout total...

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Scherzer says he could have done better, thumb is OK

April 23, 2015, 4:07pm

Nationals

Scherzer says he could have done better, thumb is OK

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer went seven innings and allowed only six hits, but suffered his second loss in three decisions in a 4-1 setback to the Cardinals on Thursday. In the first and sixth innings, St. Louis plated single runs against Scherzer. Matt Carpenter led off the game with a double and Jason Heyward quickly followed with a single. Later, Scherzer uncorked a wild pitch with Matt Adams at the plate, and the Cardinals had the lead 1-0. "I thought he pitched well. The first...

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Reetz making big strides in less than one full year with Nationals

April 23, 2015, 2:23pm

Nationals

Nationals catching prospect Jakson Reetz is making nice gains nearing his first full year in the organization. The 6-foot-1, 195 lb. backstop from Norris, Neb., was selected in the third round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft Nationals catching coordinator Michael Barrett has seen the acceleration by the 19-year-old Reetz firsthand. Barrett said Reetz looked the part of a catcher, offensively and defensively. "I saw him in the summer last year and he did a phenomenal job," Barrett said....

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Williams: Accelerated pace of games has not affected quality of play

April 23, 2015, 1:29pm

Nationals

Williams: Accelerated pace of games has not affected quality of play

Major League Baseball's enhanced pace-of-play initiatives have been in place since spring training, first in the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues and now at ballparks around the American and National leagues. A timer can be seen counting down at the end of each half inning. It is located below the giant video board in right-center field at Nationals Park and is used under these MLB guidelines: "Immediately following the third out of each half-inning, the timer will count down from 2:25 for...