With the postseason five days away, Nationals manager Matt Williams used 17 position players in the final game of the season, as he wanted to rest his starters after a couple of at-bats.
His starting pitcher got a couple of base hits.
His shortstop hit a home run for the only run the Nationals needed in a 1-0 shutout of the Marlins and the club's 96th win of the season.
Oh, wait.
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann tossed the first no-hitter in Nationals history, going nine innings, allowing...
Shortstop Ian Desmond hit a line-drive home run into the Marlins bullpen to emphatically signal the beginning of the scoring in the regular season finale. The Nationals lead 1-0.
The home run was his 24th of the season, this one off of Henderson Alvarez on a 1-2 pitch. It was also his 91st RBI of the season.
Jordan Zimmermann set down the Marlins in order the first and second frames, ending each inning with a strikeout.
The Nationals lead 1-0 after two innings.
Update: Denard Span's...
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is in a groove at the right time for the Nationals. He is also pitching at a time of year he wasn't afforded the luxury of enjoying two seasons ago because he was shut down after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Now the National League will have to contend with Strasburg in the postseason.
Strasburg went six innings Saturday without giving the Marlins a run, allowing just two hits and striking out seven as the Nationals won 5-1.
"Oh yeah, 98, 97, 98, 98,...
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is home for his final regular season start prior to the National League Division Series commencing Friday. He went 2-0 on the Nationals' recent road swing.
In the bottom of the first, Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos reached with base hits. Asdrubal Cabrera reached first on a fielder's choice, moving Harper to third. Strasburg brought Harper home with a sacrifice bunt to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
Update: Denard Span has two singles in the game and 58...
Right-hander Taylor Hill got his first major league start for the Nationals and almost got through five innings. But that last out in the fifth proved to be too much, and the Marlins scored five runs to take the lead for good, 7-4, on their way to a 15-7 victory over the Nationals.
Hill went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs, with two walks and four strikeouts.
"I definitely wasn't sharp like I obviously wanted to be," Hill said. "But that's part of it. It's part of...
Right-hander Taylor Hill managed to battle his way out of a tough jam in the first inning of his initial major league start.
The Marlins got a walk and two base hits in the first. Casey McGehee's RBI single got the Marlins on the board first, 1-0. Hill then induced a huge 4-6-3 double play from Garrett Jones to derail the rally.
Hill's Triple-A Syracuse teammate, outfielder Michael A. Taylor, came up big for his buddy to begin the bottom of the first, slamming a double to deep center. Kevin...
Nationals starter Doug Fister notched his 16th win with a complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over the Marlins Friday afternoon. He allowed only three hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. But afterward, it was all about the ballclub.
"It's a great team win," Fister said. "Something we can enjoy for a little while and get ready for tonight. Guys are rolling, putting good at-bats together. What was there? Eight or nine walks. I mean, guys are seeing the ball well. That's what you want...
Anthony Rendon did not waste any time getting the offense rolling for the Nationals against the Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday.
Facing Jarred Cosart, Rendon launched a 2-1 offering into the left field stands and the Nationals lead 1-0.
After a single from Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond doubled to put men on second and third.
LaRoche came home on a passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and the Nationals lead 2-0.
Doug Fister needed less than four minutes to retire the Marlins in...
Nationals manager Matt Williams said they wanted to get center fielder Denard Span back in the lineup after missing a couple of games with a banged-up knee, diving for a fly ball Tuesday night against the Mets.
"He could've played last night," Williams said. "But he's just a little but sore still, but he'll work through that. He needs to play. He's got to play the last few games here to keep his rhythm. He's good. He's fine today to go one of the games today and tomorrow and Sunday...
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez was authoritative on the mound Thursday, demanding the ball and delivering a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in a 3-0 shutout of the Mets.
"I've had some fun outings this year, but definitely more aggressive this time in the strike zone," Gonzalez said. "That's a lot of credit to the catcher Willy (Wilson Ramos), we were on the same game plan. We just wanted to attack these guys, especially early in the game....
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez is dealing better than a blackjack dealer at the Bellagio in Game 2 of a split doubleheader between the Nationals and Mets at Nationals Park.
He has struck out seven of the first nine batters he has faced, including six straight. The Mets have one base hit from Daniel Murphy that was quickly wiped out by an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Zack Wheeler is matching him with five strikeouts and one Anthony Rendon single allowed through three innings.
No score heading...
On a soggy field and a misty Thursday, it did not take long for the Mets to get on the board in Game 1 of a split doubleheader. Facing Nationals starter Blake Treinen, the Mets connected on three singles in the first inning.
Curtis Granderson's single to right field plated Wilmer Flores and the Mets lead 1-0.
In the bottom of the first, the Nationals went 1-2-3 against Dillon Gee. The Mets lead 1-0 heading to top of the second.
Update: In the third inning following a Danny Espinosa leadoff...
Nationals manager Matt Williams is playing four opening day starters in the lineup for Game 1 against the Mets today, including Ryan Zimmerman in left field, who is batting third. Williams reiterated he would continue to sprinkle his starters between both games today and tomorrow. Williams also has a very deep bench in which to choose from and this allows him to give Denard Span a bit more time to rest his banged up knee.
"You want to be competitive certainly in both," Williams said. "I...
The Nationals postponed Wednesday night's game because of rain. The game has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday with the first game at 1:05 p.m. and the second game at 7:05 p.m.
Blake Treinen will start Game 1 and Gio Gonzalez will start Game 2. Taylor Hill and Doug Fister will be the starters Friday.
Stephen Strasburg starts Saturday and Jordan Zimmermann will start Sunday.
In terms of the order for the postseason, it has not been officially announced, but this...
Manager Matt Williams installed Ryan Zimmerman in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets. He will play left field. It is his second start since returning from a severe right hamstring strain.
"We're going to bubble wrap him as much as possible," Williams said. "I'd like to see him get 5 ABs and hit a couple of doubles and score from second and do all the things he needs to do to be able to feel good about it."
Williams said they will check on Zimmerman even...
The Nationals have named outfielder Steven Souza Jr. their minor league Player of the Year and right-hander Lucas Giolito minor league Pitcher of the Year. The club also named infielder Wilmer Difo the recipient of the second annual Bob Boone Award.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, vice president of player personnel Bob Boone, assistant general manager/vice president of player development Doug Harris and director of player development Mark Scialabba made the announcement.
The...
The Nationals recorded another victory, their 92nd on this playoff-bound season, 4-2 over the Mets. But after the game, concern turned toward center fielder Denard Span, who crashed hard to the ground and into the center field wall after making a diving catch to end the third inning. He left the game and was replaced by Michael A. Taylor.
"It's all right, a little sore," Span said. "Banged it pretty hard when I came down, also scraped it pretty good, too. So just a little sore, iced it a...
There was a big ovation as the Nationals took the field at Nats Park for the first time since wrapping up their second National League East title in three seasons last Tuesday in Atlanta.
Right-hander Tanner Roark allowed a double in the first inning, but has since recorded six straight outs.
Jayson Werth made a diving catch in right to rob Kirk Nieuwenhuis of extra bases, ending the second inning.
Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon surrendered a leadoff hit to Denard Span and later a walk to...
Nationals manager Matt Williams said right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is doing "good," but is still pretty sore after getting hit by a batted ball last week in Miami.
"He's got a pretty good black and blue shoulder," Williams said. "He's going to go out and throw. Actually, he threw the day after he got hit, was OK. Looks pretty bruised up."
Williams said they will get a further report later today on how Zimmermann's shoulder is feeling.
The good news is Williams does not anticipate...
When discussing left-handed relievers, are Jerry Blevins and Xavier Cedeno battling for one playoff roster spot? Should they be?
Blevins has been with the team the whole season. He started off well. But recently, he has had some rough outings, especially the Sept. 10 appearance against the Braves at Nationals Park. Blevins allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning. The Nationals lost that game 6-2. They lost only two of the next 11 games.
Blevins has...