Byron Kerr

Severino's advanced mechanics have allowed him to start season quickly

April 23, 2015, 11:47am

Double-A Harrisburg catcher Pedro Severino made a big splash to begin the season by throwing out seven consecutive would-be base stealers. His range factor, which is his per game average of putouts and assists, is 9.10. After a slow start at the plate, Severino's bat has heated up. He has gone 9-for-16 (.563) with two doubles and seven RBIs. He had started the season going six games without a hit. But his arm and his defense have been the buzz to begin the season. Nationals catching...

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Pregame notes on Uggla, Werth, Span, Harper, Roark and Martin

April 23, 2015, 10:13am

Nationals

Pregame notes on Uggla, Werth, Span, Harper, Roark and Martin

Nationals manager Matt Williams was asked during his pregame media session Thursday about second baseman Dan Uggla and how the veteran must change his preparations each game now that he comes off the bench. "It's never easy. Being an everyday player his whole career, it's not easy to learn how to do it," Williams said. "The objective when he walks up there is to be him and not try to be something that he is not. His thought process when he goes up there is(to) get a good one to hit and...

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Matt Grace's "whirlwind" day ends with scoreless frame in major league debut

April 22, 2015, 7:22pm

Nationals

Matt Grace's "whirlwind" day ends with scoreless frame in major league debut

Early in the day, left-handed reliever Matt Grace was suited up and ready to go for Triple-A Syracuse in its game versus Rochester. Then he got the call that he was headed to D.C. to join the Nationals because left-hander Felipe Rivero had to be placed on the disabled list due to a gastrointestinal issue. Grace then hurried to catch a flight to D.C., only to be delayed before taking off from Syracuse. "Kind of a whirlwind. I was in Syracuse, game's about to start," Grace said. "Kind of...

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Nationals' lineup versatility has been early bright spot for Williams

April 22, 2015, 2:07pm

Nationals

Nationals manager Matt Williams has had to juggle his lineup again this year, fighting his way through the first two weeks of the season. Left fielder Jayson Werth has returned from shoulder surgery. Center fielder Denard Span is back for core muscle surgery. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is set to start his rehab assignment Friday for Double-A Harrisburg after missing time with a left knee injury. New infield additions Dan Uggla and Yunel Escobar, coupled with young outfielder Michael A. Taylor...

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Williams on Storen: "All in all, not as sharp as he would like to be"

April 21, 2015, 8:03pm

Nationals

Williams on Storen: "All in all, not as sharp as he would like to be"

Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar was the hero tonight with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to beat the Cardinals 2-1. But closer Drew Storen was unable to hold the 1-0 Nationals lead in the top of the ninth. He allowed an RBI single by Matt Holliday that evened the game. Matt Carpenter had started the Cardinals rally with a line single to left field. Manager Matt Williams was not too concerned after the game, and broke down how St. Louis was able to get a couple of hits off of...

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Williams on Espinosa and Janssen; update on Cole

April 21, 2015, 1:39pm

Nationals

Williams on Espinosa and Janssen; update on Cole

Danny Espinosa is back to playing second base again tonight as the Nationals begin a series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is hitting in the eight-hole versus veteran right-hander Lance Lynn. Espinosa is batting .238 with two homers and three RBIs, but he also has a .385 on-base percentage in his first seven games with four walks and two strikeouts. Nationals manager Matt Williams has been impressed with the way Espinosa has taken to anything the club has asked him to do this season. In...

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Syracuse shortstop Martinson showing value at multiple spots this season

April 20, 2015, 6:42am

Nationals

Syracuse shortstop Martinson showing value at multiple spots this season

Triple-A Syracuse shortstop Jason Martinson is proving to be the ultimate utility man in the Nationals system. Because of his all-around athletic skill, the Nationals have employed the 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter in the infield and the outfield this season. For example, in his first two weeks (10 games) with Triple-A Syracuse this season, Martinson has played shortstop (three games), left field (four games), third base (two games) and designated hitter (one game). He has had 22...

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Span on his return: "Today was my opening day"

April 19, 2015, 2:03pm

Nationals

Span on his return: "Today was my opening day"

The Nationals welcomed back center fielder Denard Span, who led off and played center field Sunday for the first time this season. He had been out of the lineup since the beginning of the season while recovering from right core muscle surgery. Manager Matt Williams said it felt "normal" again with Span playing. Span went 1-for-5 with a single and run scored in the Nationals' three-run fifth. The Nats went on to beat the Phillies 4-1, clinching their first series win of the season. "No...

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Zimmermann felt better than Boston game, but this time struggled with control in loss

April 18, 2015, 1:12pm

Nationals

Zimmermann felt better than Boston game, but this time struggled with control in loss

Nationals manager Matt Williams said after starter Jordan Zimmermann's outing in Boston on April 13 that the gametime conditions were dry at Fenway Park and that's why his starter couldn't get a good grip on the baseball. In that loss, Zimmermann surrendered seven earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings. Boston won 9-4. Saturday was a better day for humidity in D.C. The stickiness was better for pitchers and their varying grips on the baseball. It allowed Zimmermann to feel the texture of the ball...

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Williams on young outfielders Taylor and Harper, and day off for Werth

April 18, 2015, 8:46am

Nationals

Williams on young outfielders Taylor and Harper, and day off for Werth

Center fielder Denard Span has now played through two rehab games and is closer to returning from right core muscle surgery. Span went through a full workout at Nats Park on Saturday morning. Nationals manager Matt Williams said Span is closer to being activated. One big question the Nationals must answer when Span returns is what to do with the current starting center fielder, Michael A. Taylor. Should the Nats keep Taylor on the 25-man roster as a super-sub, or get him back to Triple-A...

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Williams on Escobar's strained groin, plus Span update

April 17, 2015, 7:02pm

Nationals

Williams on Escobar's strained groin, plus Span update

Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar strained his groin running out a ground ball in the fourth inning, according to manager Matt Williams. The Nats pulled Escobar from the Friday's game and moved Danny Espinosa to third base and Dan Uggla to second. Williams explained the move and how the team will evaluate Escobar before Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies. "He strained his groin a little bit, so we took him out to making sure he didn't do anything further," Williams said...

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Williams updates injury rehabs, including Span and Rendon

April 17, 2015, 1:03pm

Nationals

Williams updates injury rehabs, including Span and Rendon

Nationals manager Matt Williams had updates on all the injured players looking to come back off the disabled list during his pregame briefing with the media this afternoon. On right-hander Casey Janssen, who is out with right shoulder inflammation: "Good. He's on his throwing program. It's a build-up of course. Being shut down and taking care of it for a while. We have to build him back up, so it's a normal spring training-type situation where he'll throw and build that arm strength....

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Solis moves to Harrisburg, Giolito and Lopez each go three innings in Florida

April 17, 2015, 3:26am

Nationals

Solis moves to Harrisburg, Giolito and Lopez each go three innings in Florida

Left-hander Sammy Solis is reporting to Double-A Harrisburg, according to Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player development and pro scouting Doug Harris. Solis will begin the season in the bullpen. He appeared in only five games, all starts, in 2014. He has made 37 starts since 2010 for the Nationals, and has battled through Tommy John surgery, shoulder fatigue, back problems and elbow discomfort over the years. Solis, who has been working in Florida at the Nationals...

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Bullpen finishes win over Phillies, looks back at importance of Stammen

April 16, 2015, 6:44pm

Nationals

Bullpen finishes win over Phillies, looks back at importance of Stammen

The Nationals took down the Phillies 5-2 in their return to D.C. with the help of 2 1/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen. Matt Thornton, Aaron Barrett and Drew Storen came in to hold the Phillies without a run on just one hit for the final seven outs. In the seventh, with the bases loaded and the Nationals ahead 5-2, Thornton was able to force the often dangerous Chase Utley to line out to center field to end the threat. "It's a three-run lead and I'm trying to make sure that I don't let...

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Rivero brings starter mentality to relieving role with Nationals

April 16, 2015, 2:10pm

Nationals

Venezuelan left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero was activated Thursday by the Nationals, occupying an important role. He joins Matt Thornton as the only two southpaws in the Nationals bullpen. Rivero got the news from Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Billy Gardner told him after the road trip yesterday. Rivero arrived in a four-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays prior to spring training in 2014. He made 14 starts with three teams in the Nationals' system last season. "Real surprised, didn't...

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On the Phillies, the weekend series, Span and Martin

April 16, 2015, 2:43am

Nationals

On the Phillies, the weekend series, Span and Martin

The Phillies have gone into a tailspin since their last meeting with the Nationals. The three-game set last weekend in Philly was their last and only win streak, when they won two of three versus the Nats. A team meeting called by closer Jonathan Papelbon did not help them snap a three-game skid yesterday, when they lost to the Mets 6-1. Both teams begin play tonight in D.C. with identical 3-6 records. Alongside the Marlins, the trio is tied for third place in the National League East. The...

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Denard Span looked close to returning after seven innings for Harrisburg

April 14, 2015, 5:49pm

Nationals

Denard Span looked close to returning after seven innings for Harrisburg

Nationals center fielder Denard Span, who is on the disabled list recovering from right core muscle surgery, went 1-for-4 and played seven innings in a rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg. The Senators went on to win 8-4 over Bowie at Metro Bank Park. Span was the leadoff hitter and played center field. He cranked a single in his fourth at-bat. Span also apparently did well defensively. Denard Span just ran a long way to nab a dying flyball in RCF...I'd say he's moving just fine...

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At Triple-A, Cutter Dykstra finishes comeback with ninth-inning hit

April 14, 2015, 2:47am

Nationals

At Triple-A, Cutter Dykstra finishes comeback with ninth-inning hit

At Triple-A, Jason Martinson and Cutter Dykstra provided dramatic ninth-inning hits as Syracuse came back to stun Lehigh Valley 5-4 on Monday. Martinson doubled to begin the scoring in the ninth, bringing home Josh Johnson to tie the game at 4-4. Martinson got to third on a fielding error. Dykstra punched a ball through the shortstop hole for the game-winning single. Syracuse starter Bruce Billings went five innings, surrendering only one earned run on five hits, with one walk and five...

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Minor league notes: Severino has not allowed a stolen base to begin season

April 13, 2015, 3:20am

Nationals

Minor league notes: Severino has not allowed a stolen base to begin season

Double-A Harrisburg catcher Pedro Severino has started the season on a stunning streak. Seven base runners have attempted to steal second base on him and seven have failed. His range factor, which is putouts plus assists divided by games played, is also double digits (11.0). That is also a career high. The 21-year-old is in his first season with the Senators. His teammate, right-hander Austin Voth, tossed six scoreless innings in his initial start, allowing three hits, striking out seven and...

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Werth said Boston series "a possibility" for return from shoulder surgery

April 11, 2015, 5:01pm

Nationals

Werth said Boston series "a possibility" for return from shoulder surgery

Left fielder Jayson Werth went 1-for-4 with a home run, two walks and one strikeout over the course of a doubleheader for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals as he continues his rehab from right AC joint surgery in his shoulder. The strikeout was on a change up and the home run came on a hanging curveball off of Lynchburg. After the nightcap, Werth spoke with P-Nats play-by-play announcer Bryan Holland, who asked the veteran how his shoulder felt through several at-bats. "I feel pretty good,"...