Byron Kerr

Williams on Desmond's day off and Zimmerman's status

June 05, 2014, 10:39am

Nationals manager Matt Williams gave shortstop Ian Desmond the day off in Thursday's series finale with the Phillies. It marked the first time in 58 games Desmond will not start a game for the Nationals. Williams has said for a few weeks he has wanted to give all his regulars a day off and Thursday seemed a natural spot to give Desmond the breather. Wednesday was a late game where the Nats had to start and stop because of the rain delay. "He came in last night a little tight after (the...

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Nationals could select UNLV pitcher in first round of tonight's draft

June 05, 2014, 8:41am

Nationals

The Nationals have hit the pot of gold when it comes to the First-Year Player Draft. Three recent first-round picks, two of them No. 1 overall selections, are starters for the team right now. Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon are considered by many, including ESPN's Jim Callis, the best three-year run in the First-Year Player Draft ever. The Nationals have built their system behind strong pitching. They have also sent off top prospects like Alex Meyer to get starters like...

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First game under his belt, tests get tougher now for Zimmerman in left field

June 04, 2014, 9:19am

Nationals

First game under his belt, tests get tougher now for Zimmerman in left field

Nationals left fielder Ryan Zimmerman caught two balls in his first game in the outfield Tuesday, a 7-0 win over the Phillies. The first game worked out the way manager Matt Williams might have drawn up. Zimmerman contributed two doubles and a RBI, raking the first hit of the game for the Nationals. Williams believes that Zimmerman will play hard in left field, will need to learn as he goes and will not limit his effort worrying about his thumb or shoulder. Williams has not told Zimmerman to...

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Zimmerman and Zimmermann team up to down the Phillies 7-0

June 03, 2014, 7:13pm

Nationals

Zimmerman and Zimmermann team up to down the Phillies 7-0

If Ryan Zimmerman dreamed about getting back on the field with his teammates and helping out with the bat and in the field, Tuesday might have been one sequence that actually came true. In a 7-0 victory over division rival Phillies, the new Nationals left fielder clubbed a pair of doubles good for an RBI, making two nice catches to help the Nationals secure the win. He had missed 44 games with a right thumb fracture and spent four days on a minor league rehabilitation assignment with high...

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Zimmerman smacks double in first at-bat since April 13 (Nats win 7-0)

June 03, 2014, 3:39pm

Nationals

Zimmerman smacks double in first at-bat since April 13 (Nats win 7-0)

The Nationals and their fans welcomed back Ryan Zimmerman to the lineup Tuesday in their series opener against the Phillies. Playing left field for the first time in his major league career, Zimmerman slapped the first offering from Phillies starter David Buchanan in the second into left field for a double. It was the Nationals' first hit of the game. Both pitchers have been solid in the first two innings, each allowing just one base hit (Dominic Brown had a single for Philadelphia), but no...

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Solis placed on the disabled list with elbow discomfort

June 03, 2014, 3:01pm

Nationals

Solis placed on the disabled list with elbow discomfort

Double-A Harrisburg Senators left-hander Sammy Solis is back on the disabled list, this time with elbow discomfort, a club source confirmed to MASNSports.com. Solis missed the beginning of the season due to a back issue. He made one start for the Senators, but lasted only 3 1/3 innings, giving up nine runs, eight of them earned. He was scheduled to pitch late last week, but was scratched. On Tuesday, the Senators announced Solis was placed on the disabled list. Solis recovered from Tommy John...

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Williams says Zimmerman will play majority of upcoming games in left field

June 03, 2014, 1:51pm

Nationals

Williams says Zimmerman will play majority of upcoming games in left field

Ryan Zimmerman is back, activated from the disabled list after being out since April 13 with a broken right thumb. Outfielder Tyler Moore was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Zimmerman on the 25-man roster. Zimmerman will bat fifth tonight against the Phillies, and will play left field for the first time in his major league career. He played three games in left field for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals over the weekend on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. "I felt...

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Span steals another base, wants 30 for the season

June 02, 2014, 5:53am

Nationals

Span steals another base, wants 30 for the season

One of the top reasons Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had his eyes on center fielder Denard Span while he was with the Minnesota Twins was his ability to not only get on base, but while he was on base, steal some, and get in a spot where his team can get him home. Recently, Span has been able to take an extra base and force the defense to make a play. In the last series for the Nationals, Span scored from first base thanks to a bad throw to third base. On Sunday Span swiped his eighth...

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Span, LaRoche and Roark on the mastery of Darvish in 2-0 setback

June 01, 2014, 2:09pm

Nationals

Span, LaRoche and Roark on the mastery of Darvish in 2-0 setback

Nationals center fielder Denard Span went 2-for-4 against Rangers winning pitcher Yu Darvish Sunday. The rest of the team managed three hits. Texas ended up with the 2-0 shutout. Span believes Darvish's windup and delivery can mess up guys' rhythm in the box. "I think it just throws your timing off," Span said. "He has that long, dramatic leg kick. He pitches to both sides of the plate. He can throw the cutter back door, front door. Two-seamer same way. He has the devastating breaking...

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Dual first-inning challenges go Nationals' way (Rangers win 2-0)

June 01, 2014, 9:54am

Nationals

The Nationals are seeking their first series sweep since April 30 at Houston, facing off against Yu Darvish and the Rangers on Sunday. Darvish has not pitched since May 22 at Detroit. He missed his last scheduled start against the Twins due to a stiff neck, but has gone at least seven innings in three consecutive starts. Washington's Tanner Roark is trying to break out of a two-game losing streak against the club that drafted him in 2008. The game started with some quick controversy on a pair...

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Zimmerman plays five innings in left field for Potomac, goes 1-for-3

June 01, 2014, 4:19am

Nationals

Zimmerman plays five innings in left field for Potomac, goes 1-for-3

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (right thumb fracture) went 1-for-3 with a single in his second rehab game for high Single-A Potomac Saturday night, playing for the first time in left field. He played five innings. There was a standing room only crowd of 7,000 at Pfitzner Stadium. "It felt good," Zimmerman said. "I think just getting my legs back under me and getting on the field and being in the pace of the game instead of DHing is always nice. So we will kind of...

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Zimmerman on return: "I think Tuesday is a realistic goal"

May 31, 2014, 4:30am

Nationals

Zimmerman on return: "I think Tuesday is a realistic goal"

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (right thumb fracture) got his swings in a rehab game Friday night for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals in Woodbridge, Va. The P-Nats defeated Salem 5-4 in 10 innings. Zimmerman had a RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning, finishing 0-for-3 with the RBI. He was the designated hitter. Zimmerman told reporters at Pfitzner Stadium that he believes he will play there through the weekend and then be activated for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, barring...

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Strasburg, Desmond and McLouth on 9-2 victory over Rangers

May 30, 2014, 7:05pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Desmond and McLouth on 9-2 victory over Rangers

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg notched his fourth win of the season with a nine-strikeout six-inning performance against the Rangers on Friday night in a 9-2 victory. It did not start off well for Strasburg, however. In the second, the Rangers scored two runs with two outs. Strasburg allowed three hits in the inning and committed a fielding error, leading to two unearned runs. "It was a good win for us," Strasburg said. "I ... had the little hiccup there in the second inning, but...

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Rangers get early lead thanks to Strasburg's bobble (Nationals win 9-2)

May 30, 2014, 3:42pm

Nationals

Friday marked the first visit to Nationals Park for the Texas Rangers since June 2008, when they won two out of three games against the Nationals. The last time the Nationals played in Arlington, Texas, was 2005. The three games in D.C. this season will be their only regular season meeting. Texas has won three of four in consecutive series against the Tigers and the Twins. The Nationals have lost six of their last seven games. The Rangers are 0-2 in interleague play on the road. The Rangers got...

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Williams on getting guys days off and the importance of the pinch-hitter

May 30, 2014, 3:10pm

Nationals

Williams on getting guys days off and the importance of the pinch-hitter

Nationals manager Matt Williams today offered some intriguing insight about how he puts together a lineup and how he decides who goes into pitch in the late innings. He said a lot of lineup decisions can be made by how the team is playing, especially when they are struggling. If they were on a winning streak, for instance, players like Ian Desmond or Jayson Werth might have already taken a day off or more. "It's communication with those guys and talking with them and saying, 'Hey, I am...

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Williams on Zimmerman rehab start, Harper and Gonzalez

May 30, 2014, 2:18pm

Nationals

Williams on Zimmerman rehab start, Harper and Gonzalez

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the 15-day disabled list with a right thumb fracture, went to high Single-A Potomac on Friday night for a rehab game. Manager Matt Williams said Zimmerman will be the designated hitter. "He has got to get some at-bats," Williams said. "He hasn't hit live. The field BP was great the other day. Did it again yesterday. Took some grounders at third yesterday. He took grounders at first the day before. Certainly been doing all the stuff in the outfield....

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A look at how Blake Treinen's throwing schedule changed since rainout

May 29, 2014, 10:44am

Nationals

A look at how Blake Treinen's throwing schedule changed since rainout

Nationals right-hander Blake Treinen could see work out of the bullpen in the next couple of games after his start was rained out Tuesday, according to manager Matt Williams. Treinen said he is happy with any arrangement, as long as he gets a shot at pitching. "I am here to help in any way I can," Treinen said. "If the game gets delayed, I will throw in my next opportunity and I will make the most of it." But on Wednesday, the Nationals used six relievers in their marathon 10-inning 8-5...

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Hearing from McLouth, LaRoche, Zimmermann and Barrett after loss to Marlins

May 28, 2014, 8:16pm

Nationals

Hearing from McLouth, LaRoche, Zimmermann and Barrett after loss to Marlins

Left fielder Nate McLouth tied a career-high with four hits in the Nationals' 8-5 loss to the Marlins in 10 innings. "It was nice, because I have been grinding," McLouth said. "It is really nice to come through for your team at the plate a little bit and certainly is a chance to exhale a little bit. "Staying confident and positive. I don't think you remain confident all the time, but at least staying positive when you are in the box and just knowing that sooner or later it will turn...

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Zimmermann suffers another rough May start (Marlins win 8-5 in 10 innings)

May 28, 2014, 3:45pm

Nationals

Zimmermann suffers another rough May start (Marlins win 8-5 in 10 innings)

Following Tuesday's rainout, Wednesday's game turned into the series finale between the Nationals and Marlins. Prior to Monday, the three game set would have decided second place in the National League East in late May. Now that the series has been reduced to a pair of games and the Nationals dropped the opener Monday night 3-2, it is important they get a split before Miami leaves town. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann did a nice job of working around two hits in the first innings thanks to a...

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Williams, Zimmerman update third baseman's first live BP since thumb injury

May 28, 2014, 1:42pm

Nationals

Williams, Zimmerman update third baseman's first live BP since thumb injury

Nationals manager Matt Williams had another positive update on the status of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has been out with a right thumb fracture. Zimmerman went through batting practice Wednesday and even had former Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez throwing to him. "Today is a stepping stone for him," Williams said. "He got on the field for live BP. Took a lot of swings. He also took grounders today. That is a big step. We will see how he feels tomorrow. And what his body feels...