Byron Kerr

Storen not available today because of flu, Mattheus likely to pitch in both games (updated)

July 26, 2013, 8:02am

Right-handed reliever Drew Storen has been hit by the flu bug, and is not available for the doubleheader today against the Mets, according to Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Johnson said Storen is being "sequestered in the back" of the clubhouse. Johnson said Storen's ailment appeared similar to the flu-like symptoms suffered by first baseman Adam LaRoche that forced him to miss two games early in the current homestand. Johnson joked that he didn't think Storen and LaRoche hung out, even...

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Updated Mets-Nats lineups for day game (Mattheus returns)

July 26, 2013, 7:04am

Nationals

Updated Mets-Nats lineups for day game (Mattheus returns)

Here are the lineups for the first game of today's day/night doubleheader against the New York Mets at Nationals Park: For the Nationals: Bryce Harper LF Steve Lombardozzi 2B Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Jayson Werth RF Ian Desmond SS Denard Span CF Kurt Suzuki C Jordan Zimmermann P For the Mets: Eric Young, Jr. LF Daniel Murphy 2B David Wright 3B Marlon Byrd RF Ike Davis 1B Juan Lagares CF Anthony Recker C Omar Quintanilla SS Jenrry Mejia RHP Right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus has...

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Nationals watch lead vanish, then win it with dramatic bottom of ninth on Harper walk-off

July 25, 2013, 1:39pm

Nationals

The ninth inning had a little bit of everything for the Nationals on Thursday in a thrilling 9-7 victory over the Pirates. In a game the Nationals led throughout, they watched as the Pirates went right at their closer, Rafael Soriano, and scored four runs to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Reliever Ian Krol, in a rare move, replaced the Nationals closer and survived a rocky outing himself to strikeout Garrett Jones to end a tumultuous top half of the inning. Pittsburgh handed the ball...

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Strasburg: "Six innings isn't cool anymore for me "

July 24, 2013, 7:34pm

Nationals

Strasburg: "Six innings isn't cool anymore for me "

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg put together one of his most complete outings Wednesday yet, because of the Nationals' anemic offense, walked out with the loss, 4-2 to the Pirates. Strasburg (5-8) went eight innings and struck out a season-high 12 hitters. He allowed two hits, one run on a homer by Pedro Alvarez, and no walks. His career-high in strikeouts in a game was 13 at Boston on June 8, 2012. Strasburg fired 118 pitches, 80 for strikes. His 47 strikeouts in his career against the...

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Johnson believes Taylor Jordan a good fit for 2014

July 24, 2013, 2:08pm

Nationals

Johnson believes Taylor Jordan a good fit for 2014

Right-hander Taylor Jordan continues to be consistent on the mound, and although his record doesn't show it, he has made progress fine-tuning a pair of his best pitches. Jordan is 0-3 with a 3.68 ERA in five starts for the Nationals. He was 9-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 15 minor league games. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Jordan will only have a handful of starts remaining before he will need to be shut down if general manager Mike Rizzo follows the same restriction of 160 innings he placed on...

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Skole's rehab is "on track," top prospect could play fall or winter ball

July 24, 2013, 1:01pm

Nationals

Skole's rehab is "on track," top prospect could play fall or winter ball

The Nationals' 2012 minor league Player of the Year, third baseman Matt Skole, is making good progress as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery back in April. While with Double-A Harrisburg, Skole's elbow was injured early in the season on a collision at first base while attempting to field a throw. It is unlikely, however, that Skole will return to play for Harrisburg during the regular season, according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. Harris is hopeful that Skole...

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Despite tough loss to Pirates, Jordan believes he is making progress

July 23, 2013, 6:59pm

Nationals

Despite tough loss to Pirates, Jordan believes he is making progress

He is getting closer. Right-hander Taylor Jordan had allowed only two earned runs through seven innings Tuesday. But again the Nationals could not score runs, and he trailed, 3-1. Manager Davey Johnson liked what he was seeing from Jordan and with a low pitch count, and wanted to give the youngster a shot in the eighth inning to earn his first major league victory. "He pitched so good in the seventh, I was going to take him out for the left-hander, but I thought he deserved the chance to...

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Source: A.J. Cole to make Double-A debut Thursday night at Portland

July 23, 2013, 4:38pm

Nationals

Source: A.J. Cole to make Double-A debut Thursday night at Portland

Right-hander A.J. Cole, promoted from high Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg Tuesday, will make his Double-A debut Thursday at Portland against the Sea Dogs, according to a club source. Cole was 6-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 18 starts for Potomac. He has 102 strikeouts and 23 walks. In his last start July 20 against Lynchburg, Cole went six innings, allowed two hits, two runs, one earned run, one homer, one walk and struck out three batters. Cole has allowed only one earned run in his last...

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Schu on becoming hitting coach: "Glad I got an opportunity"

July 23, 2013, 2:02pm

Nationals

Schu on becoming hitting coach: "Glad I got an opportunity"

The Nationals welcomed Rick Schu as their new hitting coach Tuesday, looking to turn around a team that has struggled with inconsistent hitting all season. The Nationals are 13th in the National League in batting average (.240) and 14th in runs scored (367). Schu spent the last four seasons as the Nationals' minor league hitting coordinator. He has watched and coached six teams in the organization before arriving in D.C. to replace the fired Rick Eckstein Schu has been a hitting coach for...

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Storen's costly wild pitch allows eventual winning run in loss to Pirates

July 22, 2013, 7:46pm

Nationals

Storen's costly wild pitch allows eventual winning run in loss to Pirates

The Nationals' rally fell short in the ninth because they needed to score three runs instead of just two. Jayson Werth's second two-run shot of the game pulled the Nationals within one at 6-5. The reason they needed three to tie was a costly run scored by the Pirates because of a wild pitch. Looking back at the eighth inning, a wild pitch by Drew Storen allowed the Pirates Pedro Alvarez to break for home. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos retrieved the ball and threw back to the plate, but...

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Hairston says Rick Schu brings the right balance to the art of hitting

July 22, 2013, 2:43pm

Nationals

Hairston says Rick Schu brings the right balance to the art of hitting

Outfielder Scott Hairston remembered working with new hitting coach Rick Schu when he was battling back and forth between Triple-A Tucson and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 and 2005. Hairston remembered a hitting coach that communicated well with the players and knew his craft. "It was good with Rick," Hairston said. "I think he is good at communication. From what I remember, he really didn't say much right away until he saw you hit in the cage or in a game. "It wasn't always...

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Veteran players' reactions to firing of hitting coach Rick Eckstein

July 22, 2013, 1:30pm

Nationals

Veteran players' reactions to firing of hitting coach Rick Eckstein

A trio of Nationals veterans - third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, first baseman Chad Tracy and shortstop Ian Desmond - reacted for the first time to the news that hitting coach Rick Eckstein was relieved of his duties and replaced by the Nationals roving hitting instructor Rick Schu. Zimmerman reacted to Eckstein's release, saying it was not Eckstein's fault for the team's paltry hitting numbers and that the player has to take the responsibility for his hitting. "It is tough," Zimmerman said....

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Ohlendorf's long outing prepares him well for Friday's start

July 21, 2013, 2:04pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf's long outing prepares him well for Friday's start

As a relief pitcher, it is never easy to come into a game with your team already down 7-1. But your job is always to attempt to keep the score where it is to give your guys a chance to come back. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was able to do that Sunday in the Nationals' 9-2 loss to the Dodgers. In a game that was decided early, it is sometimes easy to forget the contributions of a long reliever in keeping the game from getting further out of hand. Ohlendorf went six innings and allowed just...

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Stammen on 10th inning: "I made some really bad mistakes"

July 20, 2013, 8:24pm

Nationals

Stammen on 10th inning: "I made some really bad mistakes"

Right-hander Craig Stammen was one of the most consistent relievers early on this season. In April and May, Stammen allowed a combined eight earned runs in 27 2/3 innings. In June, he allowed a total of seven earned runs in 15 innings. Since June 27, however, Stammen has surrendered 10 earned runs in the past 10 games. On Saturday, it was two earned runs following back-to-back doubles to the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez in the 10th inning of a 3-1 Los Angeles victory over...

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LaRoche still out with flu, plus Johnson's plan at first base

July 20, 2013, 1:45pm

Nationals

LaRoche still out with flu, plus Johnson's plan at first base

The promise of first baseman Adam LaRoche making a quick turnaround and returning to the field tonight is not going to happen. LaRoche is recovering from flu that will keep the veteran out of the starting lineup tonight for a second consecutive game. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said LaRoche might be available only to deke Dodgers manager Don Mattingly into using another pitcher in the late innings. Of course, if Mattingly reads this blog, that probably won't happen now. "Adam is real...

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Bases loaded, no-out opportunity one of few scoring chances for Nationals in loss

July 19, 2013, 7:27pm

Nationals

In the Nationals 3-2 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night, the fourth inning bases loaded no-out opportunity in which the Nationals failed to score proved to be costly in the end. Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper led off with back-to-back singles against Dodgers starter Ricky Nolasco. Jayson Werth earned a walk. Suddenly the bases were loaded for one of the most consistent hitters in the Nationals lineup, shortstop Ian Desmond. Desmond's grounder right at third baseman Juan Uribe was thrown...

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Top prospect Giolito doing well, but no promotion yet (plus minor league notes)

July 19, 2013, 9:02am

Nationals

Top prospect Giolito doing well, but no promotion yet (plus minor league notes)

The Nationals' top prospect, right-hander Lucas Giolito, has now made three starts for the rookie level Gulf Coast Nationals, and with each start he makes improvements. On July 15, Giolito made his longest start, going three innings, allowing three hits, no runs, one walk and striking out three batters. The 19-year old is 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three games, totaling just 5 1/3 innings. It is a small sample size, but still lots of fans are asking when Giolito will be moved to short-season...

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Potomac's Michael Taylor makes adjustment, on best hitting surge of season

July 18, 2013, 8:17am

Nationals

Potomac's Michael Taylor makes adjustment, on best hitting surge of season

Right fielder Michael Taylor has worked very hard the past year to improve his plate discipline, his approach and his swing control. This season, the high Single-A Potomac outfielder keeps building on that knowledge with experience to get into the best groove of his career. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said Taylor "made an adjustment in his approach right around the break that is starting to pay off." The numbers don't lie. Taylor went 4-for-4 Wednesday night in...

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Updates on Giolito, Johansen and Ray

July 17, 2013, 6:16am

Nationals

Here is a quick glance at three minor league starting pitchers and their progress the last couple of days: Right-hander Lucas Giolito pitched for three innings on Monday for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals, his longest outing of the season, scattering three hits but not allowing a run, with one walk and three strikeouts. Giolito has not allowed a run since his first outing of the season. His totals have climbed to 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 innings, with five hits, two runs, only one...

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Rendon and Jordan up, who else in minors could be headed to Nationals?

July 16, 2013, 8:51am

Nationals

As the Nationals rest and refocus for the second half run, here's a quick look around the minor league system reveals a few names that you could see playing time for the Nationals by the end of the season. Already we have seen what Anthony Rendon and Ian Krol can do, plus the additions of Taylor Jordan, Fernando Abad, Nathan Karns and Ross Ohlendorf have meant to the Nationals roster as they tried to get through the first half, and battle to stay barely above .500. Jordan could stick for a...