Dan Kolko

On the rain and the pick

June 07, 2013, 6:44am

Last night's rainout pushed Gio Gonzalez's start back to today and eliminated the need for the Nationals to call up a starter from Triple-A Syracuse to get the ball Saturday. Now it looks like we might have another rainout tonight that could bump Gonzalez back another day and possibly give us a doubleheader over the weekend. If you don't happen to live in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area - or if you do but are completely oblivious to the wet stuff coming out of the sky - it rained heavily...

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Nats select right-hander Jake Johansen with 68th overall pick (updated with quotes)

June 06, 2013, 7:49pm

Nationals

Nats select right-hander Jake Johansen with 68th overall pick (updated with quotes)

It took quite a while for the Nationals to make their first pick of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. Once they were on the clock, they took a kid with a big-time power arm. The Nationals have selected Jake Johansen, a right-handed pitcher out of Dallas Baptist University, with the No. 68 overall selection. The 22-year-old righty, who checks in at 6-foot-6, 235 lbs., struck out 75 in 88.1 innings this season, his junior year at Dallas Baptist. Johansen went 7-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 15 starts...

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Strasburg set to throw bullpen session on Tuesday

June 06, 2013, 4:25pm

Nationals

Strasburg set to throw bullpen session on Tuesday

Stephen Strasburg landed on the disabled list yesterday with a strained lat muscle, but he's already making strides in his recovery. The Nationals ace played catch today and has a simulated game on the docket for next week. Manager Davey Johnson said that Strasburg is scheduled to throw a sim game this upcoming Tuesday, the Nats' first day in Colorado. This comes after Strasburg did a good bit of throwing off flat ground earlier today. "He went out early and he was throwing," Johnson...

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Tonight's Nationals-Mets game postponed (updated with makeup information)

June 06, 2013, 3:34pm

Nationals

The Nationals have just announced that tonight's game between the Nats and Mets has been postponed due to inclement weather. No makeup date has been announced as of yet. The Mets make two more trips to D.C. this season - July 26-28 and August 30-September 1 - so there are plenty of options when it comes to makeup dates. The Nats could choose to push back Gio Gonzalez and have him start tomorrow and then have Nathan Karns start Saturday. That would allow them to not have to call-up a...

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Espinosa to be shut down for 4-5 days

June 06, 2013, 2:10pm

Nationals

The Nationals tried one five-game shutdown period with Danny Espinosa a couple weeks ago in an attempt to allow the second baseman's fractured right wrist to heal and his offensive performance to improve. That period of rest didn't seem to help too much, at least based on the numbers that Espinosa put up after his return to the Nats' lineup (2-for-17 over five games with no walks and seven strikeouts). Espinosa was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with the wrist injury, and after...

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Harper to see Dr. James Andrews for second opinion on knee (we're in a delay)

June 06, 2013, 1:06pm

Nationals

Harper to see Dr. James Andrews for second opinion on knee (we're in a delay)

The swelling in Bryce Harper's left knee has not subsided since he was placed on the disabled list on Saturday, and in search of a second opinion on what's ailing the 20-year-old outfielder, the Nationals are sending Harper to renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Harper has been diagnosed with bursitis in his left knee, but he hasn't played since May 26, and the knee has not improved much in that span. The knee started swelling up again after Harper did some jogging in a pool,...

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Strasburg officially to DL, Cedeno called up from Triple-A (with lineups)

June 06, 2013, 11:27am

Nationals

Strasburg officially to DL, Cedeno called up from Triple-A (with lineups)

The Nationals have officially placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list this afternoon, retroactive to June 1, because of a strained right lat. That puts both of the Nats' star No. 1 picks, Bryce Harper and Strasburg, on the DL at the same time. To take Strasburg's place on the roster, the Nats have recalled left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno from Triple-A Syracuse. This will be Cedeno's second stint with the Nats, but he did not appear in a game during his previous one day with...

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A quick draft note, plus some background on Krol

June 06, 2013, 10:47am

Nationals

A quick draft note, plus some background on Krol

Tonight marks the first night of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, and while this is one of Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's favorite days of the year, he'll have to wait a little while to get in on the drafting action tonight. The Nationals forfeited their first-round pick in this year's draft by signing free agent closer Rafael Soriano this offseason after Soriano had been given a qualifying offer by the Yankees. That means that the Nats won't get to make their...

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A deeper look into the offensive offense

June 05, 2013, 11:51pm

Nationals

A deeper look into the offensive offense

The Nationals have certainly faced their share of tough pitchers this season. They got beat by Johnny Cueto, who had a 2.17 ERA prior to landing on the DL. They suffered losses at the hands of Adam Wainwright and Shelby Miller, two insanely talented Cardinals hurlers. Mets righty Matt Harvey pushed the Nats around in New York, and they got dominated by Clayton Kershaw out in Los Angeles. No shame in that. Plenty of teams have been there. But what's a bit troubling so far this season - in...

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Hearing from Johnson and Span after Nats' 10-1 loss

June 05, 2013, 8:03pm

Nationals

Hearing from Johnson and Span after Nats' 10-1 loss

What can you really say after being on the receiving end of a 10-1 spanking at the hands of the Mets, who are 10 games under .500 after tonight's game? "We'll just turn the page on this one," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "We swung the bats better, but we didn't hit with runners in scoring position." No, they didn't. The Nats put up 10 hits tonight, but went just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. In the Nats' last 15 games, they've scored three...

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Dan Haren: "I'm just not getting the job done"

June 05, 2013, 7:26pm

Nationals

Dan Haren: "I'm just not getting the job done"

Regardless of how he performs, whether he's thrown seven scoreless innings or gotten lit up by the opposition, Dan Haren will always stand up after a game and give a brutally honest assessment of his start. Unfortunately for Haren, he's had as many rough outings to assess this season as he's had stellar ones. Haren went just four innings in tonight's 10-1 Nationals loss to the Mets, allowing five runs on seven hits. Three of those seven hits were home runs. In his 12 outings this season,...

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Home run derby off Haren (Nats fall into third place with 10-1 loss)

June 05, 2013, 4:19pm

Nationals

Home run derby off Haren (Nats fall into third place with 10-1 loss)

Dan Haren entered tonight having allowed 12 home runs this season, tying him for the seventh-most surrendered by any pitcher in the majors. After three innings of work, Haren now finds himself tied for the big league lead in homers allowed. The veteran right-hander has served up three longballs in as many innings tonight, including two to former National Marlon Byrd, and the Nats trail the Mets 5-1. At this point in his career, Haren lives and dies by his command. Working in the upper-80s to...

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Updates on Ramos and Mattheus, plus reactions to latest in Biogenesis case

June 05, 2013, 2:47pm

Nationals

Updates on Ramos and Mattheus, plus reactions to latest in Biogenesis case

Amid all the negative injury news coming out involving Nationals players lately, there are some positive updates to pass along, as well. Wilson Ramos told me today he will head down to the Nats' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., tonight to continue his rehab as he works back from a left hamstring strain. Ramos will spend around a week in Viera, where he'll take part in a host of baseball activities, including running, hitting and blocking pitches behind home plate. Ramos could take part...

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Nats to place Strasburg on DL, Detwiler progressing (updated)

June 05, 2013, 1:08pm

Nationals

Nats to place Strasburg on DL, Detwiler progressing (updated)

The list of Nationals to hit the disabled list is growing. Stephen Strasburg will be placed on the DL with a strained lat muscle, Nats manager Davey Johnson said today. Strasburg had originally been scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, but those plans were scrapped. Strasburg merely played catch, but he didn't feel completely right, so the Nats will shut him down for now and place him on the DL retroactive to June 1. "He was examined by a doctor and there's still some tenderness...

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Rendon makes first major league start at second base

June 05, 2013, 11:49am

Nationals

Rendon makes first major league start at second base

The Nationals don't have to decide between playing Anthony Rendon or Steve Lombardozzi for tonight's game against the Mets. Both are in the lineup. Rendon, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse in yesterday's wave of roster shuffling, makes his first major league start at second base and bats sixth. Lombardozzi, who played second base and delivered a walk-off sac fly last night, shifts to left field and hits seventh. Here is the full lineup for the Nationals CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth 3B...

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Getting on the root of the problem

June 05, 2013, 6:50am

Nationals

Want to see something funny? Take a look at

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A rough start to the day, but an uplifting finish

June 04, 2013, 7:21pm

Nationals

A rough start to the day, but an uplifting finish

All season, the Nationals have been searching for a spark, a big play, a dramatic win to turn the momentum and get things rolling downhill. Tonight, hours after they learned that three members of their opening day roster - Danny Espinosa, Henry Rodriguez and Zach Duke - had been shipped either to the disabled list or the waiver wire, the Nats rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning and picked up a big 3-2 win over the Mets, giving the Nats their first walk-off win of the season and their...

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Nats come to life late, pick up 3-2 walk-off win

June 04, 2013, 5:36pm

Nationals

Nats come to life late, pick up 3-2 walk-off win

The Nationals made some changes to their roster earlier today. Their offense then changed its M.O. tonight, putting up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and turning what could've been another frustrating loss into an uplifting 3-2 walk-off win. Trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Nats got three straight hits to open the inning and set up Steve Lombardozzi, who delivered a walk-off sac fly to plate Adam LaRoche with the game-winning run. Leading off the ninth, Ryan...

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Report: Suspension unlikely for Gonzalez in Biogenesis scandal (game update)

June 04, 2013, 4:28pm

Nationals

Report: Suspension unlikely for Gonzalez in Biogenesis scandal (game update)

Dating back to the very early stages of spring training this year, the Nationals have said - both on and off the record - that they had confidence that Gio Gonzalez wasn't going to be disciplined by Major League Baseball for his involvement with Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic in the Miami area that allegedly distributed performance-enhancing drugs to players. ESPN is reporting tonight that MLB has gotten the cooperation of Tony Bosch, the founder of Biogenesis, and that the league office...

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Strasburg could start Saturday, Detwiler progressing (and more)

June 04, 2013, 3:22pm

Nationals

Strasburg could start Saturday, Detwiler progressing (and more)

It's fair to wonder whether all the roster moves the Nationals made today were made with the intention of shaking things up and giving the team a spark after a mediocre start to the season. According to general manager Mike Rizzo, that wasn't the case. "Well it wasn't for the jolt scenario, more so than getting guys here that gives us the best chance to win baseball games," Rizzo said. "It has nothing to do with trying something different. It's putting the best 25 out there at this...