Byron Kerr

2019 Nationals minor league rosters announced

April 02, 2019, 7:52am

Here are the 2019 rosters for the minor league affiliates in the Nationals system. Shortstop Carter Kieboom will be at Triple-A Fresno. Left-hander Tim Cate begins in low Single-A Hagerstown. Infielder Luis Garcia and pitcher Wil Crowe are at Double-A Harrisburg. Pitcher Mason Denaburg remains at extended spring training. Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies Pitchers Kyle McGowin Joe Ross Austin Voth Scott Copeland Paolo Espino Tanner Rainey Austin Adams Jimmy Cordero Austen Williams Brady Dragmire...

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Notes on Dozier, Doolittle and Carter Kieboom

April 02, 2019, 3:10am

Nationals

Notes on Dozier, Doolittle and Carter Kieboom

Of course, new second baseman Brian Dozier would love to be getting better results at the plate in the first three games of the season, but the Nationals can already see the difference he brings defensively to that side of the infield. Dozier has gone 0-for-10 with three strikeouts in three games, so he is working toward that first hit as a National. But his defense has been above average and is an upgrade to the spot where the Nationals got average, and sometimes below-average, defense from...

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Robles learning with each game to get better in center field

April 01, 2019, 3:19am

Nationals

Robles learning with each game to get better in center field

The Nationals probably knew it would not be easy for center fielder Victor Robles to just jump into a major league everyday starting role. Even with his five-tool plus-plus ratings and top-prospect accolades, there would be growing pains. It would be a trial by fire in some sense, and it has been. But with every play, the 21-year-old Robles is learning from his mistakes and building to get better. The two biggest points of emphasis for Robles from the first three games of 2019: reads on center...

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Should there be concern over bullpen overuse in just third game of the season?

March 31, 2019, 2:38pm

Nationals

Should there be concern over bullpen overuse in just third game of the season?

The bullpen struggled in the season-opening series with the Mets. In the eighth inning alone, the Nationals 'pen allowed eight runs on 11 hits in the three games combined. On Sunday, the Nats relinquished a 5-2 lead, but rebounded in the end thanks to a dramatic walk-off solo homer by Trea Turner to salvage the final game of the series with a 6-5 win. After Patrick Corbin pitched six innings, Justin Miller got through the seventh without allowing a run. But in the eighth, the Mets scored three...

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Turner ignites offense with longball (Nats win 6-5 on walk-off)

March 31, 2019, 10:31am

Nationals

Turner ignites offense with longball (Nats win 6-5 on walk-off)

The Mets' Pete Alonso continued his red-hot start to the season with a RBI double off of left-hander Patrick Corbin in the top of the third. The base hit was his sixth in three games. He also has three RBIs. The Nationals connected off of right-hander Zack Wheeler in the bottom of third. Victor Robles doubled and Adam Eaton singled to begin the rally. Trea Turner then delivered a no-doubt line drive deep over the left field wall for a three-run shot. It was his first homer of the season and...

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Nats line up Scherzer for three starts in first eight games

March 31, 2019, 9:02am

Nationals

Nats line up Scherzer for three starts in first eight games

With two off-days built in between Max Scherzer starts out of the gate in 2019, Nationals manager Davey Martinez has decided their ace right-hander will go again in Tuesday's series opener against the Phillies, even though it will be his second such start in the Nats' first four regular season games. Scherzer had six days off before his opening day start on Thursday, a no-decision against the Mets. Scherzer is tentatively set for his third start next Sunday, April 7 at Citi Field against the...

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Strasburg settled in, but what happened in first?

March 31, 2019, 2:10am

Nationals

Strasburg settled in, but what happened in first?

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was able to finish six innings for the Nationals on Saturday, keeping his club in its matchup with the New York Mets. After the first inning, he surrendered just one run in the next five frames, allowing only three hits. But in the first inning, the Mets connected against him, scoring three runs off four hits. Three of those hits were consecutive: a single, double and a triple that lifted the Mets to a 3-0 lead. The Mets eventually won the game 11-8. In that first...

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Some good and some bad for Robles in Nats' 11-8 setback

March 30, 2019, 2:10pm

Nationals

Some good and some bad for Robles in Nats' 11-8 setback

Some good, some bad for center fielder Victor Robles in his second game with the Nationals in 2019. The Mets dropped the Nats 11-8 Saturday afternoon. Robles went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. But defensively he was charged with a throwing error and was picked off first base following his base hit. Defensively, Robles had a tough time making some plays in center field early in the game. He did not get a good read on Jeff McNeil's triple in the first inning that gave the Mets a 3-0...

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Mets connect versus Strasburg early (Nats fall 11-8)

March 30, 2019, 9:47am

Nationals

Mets connect versus Strasburg early (Nats fall 11-8)

Both of today's starters, Stephen Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard, struck out the side in the first inning. But during those frames, the teams combined for four runs and six hits. The Mets enjoyed a two-run double from Wilson Ramos and an RBI triple courtesy of Jeff McNeil to lead 3-0 off of Strasburg in the first. The Nats countered with a two-out Anthony Rendon double off the bottom of the right field wall. Juan Soto delivered a seeing-eye single to right field to plate Rendon. In the second,...

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Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

March 30, 2019, 5:43am

Nationals

The Nationals look to get their offense going in game two of the 2019 season, but it will not be easy. That is because the opponent today is the Mets and their starter, Noah Syndergaard. The Nats are excited about seeing right-hander Stephen Strasburg make his season debut after a strong spring training. Strasburg made it through spring training with no health issues and appeared to get stronger with each start. He also had a positive demeanor and no setbacks, which would seem to project for a...

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Barrett touched by SÃ¡nchez's gesture during return to Nats Park

March 28, 2019, 3:57pm

Nationals

Barrett touched by SÃ¡nchez's gesture during return to Nats Park

The Nationals' 5-3 exhibition win Monday night over the Yankees featured a special moment for right-handed reliever Aaron Barrett, who came in to pitch at Nationals Park for the first time since 2015. It was a long road back for Barrett, who suffered not one, but two major injuries before returning to baseball. In 2016, while rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery, Barrett suffered a fractured elbow. But he continued to rehab, continued to strengthen and rebuild his arm. Year after year. The...

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Scherzer did all he could on the mound, but Nats come up short

March 28, 2019, 1:19pm

Nationals

Scherzer did all he could on the mound, but Nats come up short

Right-hander Max Scherzer did everything in his power to give the Nationals every opportunity to win their season opener Thursday against the New York Mets before a sellout crowd at Nats Park. But fellow Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom was just a bit better. Scherzer allowed a solo homer to Robinson CanÃ³ in the first and later an insurance run in the eighth in the Mets' 2-0 win over the Nats on Thursday. CanÃ³'s blast over the left-center field wall on a 1-1 changeup came with two outs in...

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CanÃ³ connects off Scherzer (Nats fall 2-0)

March 28, 2019, 10:02am

Nationals

CanÃ³ connects off Scherzer (Nats fall 2-0)

Right-hander Max Scherzer allowed a solo homer to Robinson CanÃ³ to begin the scoring in the first inning as the Nationals welcomed in the Mets. Scherzer has struck out six in the first three innings. Mets starter Jacob deGrom has struck out four in three frames, including the side in the second. The Nats had a good shot at scoring in the third. Victor Robles led off with a double and Adam Eaton singled to put runners on the corners. But with one out, Anthony Rendon's grounder to third base...

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Noll leaned on veteran Gomes on way to big league opportunity

March 28, 2019, 8:57am

Nationals

Noll leaned on veteran Gomes on way to big league opportunity

One of the more interesting additions to the 2019 Nationals' 25-man roster is infielder Jake Noll, who earned his first shot in the big leagues. The right-handed hitting third baseman hit .314 with four doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs in 27 spring training games to earn the spot. He can play first, second and third base, in the outfield and be the emergency catcher. Noll said he found out Monday night he had made the team when he was called into manager Davey Martinez's office after the...

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Scherzer "excited" for fourth opening day start with Nationals

March 28, 2019, 6:29am

Nationals

Opening day is here and the Nationals would not have it any other way: It's their two-time National League Cy Young Award winner against the most recent Cy Young winner. Max Scherzer facing the Mets' Jacob deGrom. Scherzer said he knows deGrom is on the other side today, but his focus is on getting the Mets lineup out and not about trading zeros with the New York starter. "You're cognizant when your facing someone as good as Jake," Scherzer said. "You go to bring your A-game. But it's...

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Doolittle earns save, speaks on switch to jersey No. 63

March 26, 2019, 3:14am

Nationals

Doolittle earns save, speaks on switch to jersey No. 63

Nationals closer Sean Doolittle made it official Monday that he was changing his jersey No. from 62 to No. 63 for family reasons. He did not want to get specifics as to why, citing privacy. "(Fans) spend their hard-earned money on a shirt or jersey with my name and number on it. I think that's really cool," Doolittle said. "I definitely had to factor that into my decision. But at the end of the day it was just something I felt was really important to me and was something I could do for my...

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SÃ¡nchez goes past 80 pitches in prep for week off before first start

March 25, 2019, 5:10pm

Nationals

SÃ¡nchez goes past 80 pitches in prep for week off before first start

Nationals right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez wrapped up spring training with a strong 5 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs on two hits in a 5-3 win over the Yankees at Nats Park. SÃ¡nchez allowed a solo homer to Troy Tulowitzki in the third. The Yankees mounted another rally in the sixth that resulted in another run, courtesy of a Greg Bird RBI double off of Aaron Barrett. He walked four and struck out four, including Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He threw 86 pitches, 47 for...

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Eaton loves potential of Robles; Corbin throwing more fastballs

March 25, 2019, 3:06pm

Nationals

Eaton loves potential of Robles; Corbin throwing more fastballs

Right fielder Adam Eaton has watched Victor Robles get his reps in center field this spring and believes the 21-year-old is ready to take the next step as the season commences Thursday. The one thing Eaton has appreciated the most about Robles is that the youngster is not afraid to learn from his miscues in the outfield. Eaton likes the upside ability Robles has. And that ability will shine through once Robles gets dozens of big league games under his belt, the veteran believes. Robles has made...

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Rendon blast begins scoring early (Nats win 5-3)

March 25, 2019, 1:31pm

Nationals

Rendon blast begins scoring early (Nats win 5-3)

The Nats got on the board in the bottom of the first in their spring training finale at Nats Park. Trea Turner's one-out infield single started the rally against Yankees southpaw Stephen Tarpley With two away, Anthony Rendon blasted a 2-1 offering over the left field wall. Giancarlo Stanton barely moved. Rendon's fifth of the spring made it 2-0 Nats. AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez allowed a double to Brett Gardner to lead off the game but recorded two strikeouts in the first to get out unscathed. After...

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Zimmerman: "I think we have a really good team"

March 25, 2019, 10:29am

Nationals

Zimmerman: "I think we have a really good team"

Veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been through several camps with the Nationals over the years. Starting in spring training 2006 (played in 20 games late in 2005), Zimmerman has been to 14 big league camps with just one team. He has been healthy through some, rehabilitating in others. He has come off of 100-loss seasons and returned after four playoff appearances. He has seen well stocked teams and clubs that had holes to fill, even before the season even began. Before this campaign,...