Dan Kolko

As promised, Harper hitting seventh in his debut

April 28, 2012, 1:35pm

I'm not going to lie, it was a little strange typing Bryce Harper into the lineup that you see below. I'm still not used to the 19-year-old phenom being in the Nationals' batting order, and I'm probably not the only one. Harper will bat seventh and play left field in his major league debut tonight, and he'll take his hacks off Dodgers righty Chad Billingsley, who is 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA so far this season. The Nationals will send Stephen Strasburg to the hill, as he looks to notch his...

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Ready or not, here he comes

April 28, 2012, 6:10am

Nationals

Happy Harpmas. Is that what we're going with? Anyone got a better idea for a Bryce Harper-themed holiday name? This is certainly an exciting day in NatsTown, one which will see Stephen Strasburg on the mound and Harper in left field. It's a day Nationals fans (and many baseball fans everywhere) had been waiting for, although it comes a bit earlier than most of us had expected. When the Nationals optioned Harper to Triple-A Syracuse back in spring training, they said part of their rationale...

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An uphill climb in L.A. (Nats lose 3-2)

April 27, 2012, 8:14pm

Nationals

Adam LaRoche is doing his best to keep the Nationals in this one, but they've still got some work to do. The Nats trail 3-2 as we go to seventh, thanks to a solid outing by Ross Detwiler and the one guy who has provided consistent offense for this team in 2012 - LaRoche. The first baseman's two-run homer in the sixth inning has gotten the Nats back to within a run, but with Clayton Kershaw still on the hill, they'll have to battle it out against the tough lefty to try and even this game...

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Lidge to DL with abdominal injury, Perry recalled

April 27, 2012, 3:55pm

Nationals

Lidge to DL with abdominal injury, Perry recalled

Ryan Zimmerman isn't the only Nationals player heading to the disabled list. The Nats announced that they've placed right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge on the 15-day DL with an abdominal wall strain and recalled right-hander Ryan Perry from Triple-A Syracuse. Lidge, who has spent quite a bit of time on the disabled list over the course of his career, finds himself sidelined yet again. He battled a bout of vertigo earlier this season, and now The 35-year-old has two saves and two blown saves...

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Lombardozzi hitting second, Espinosa hitting sixth

April 27, 2012, 3:02pm

Nationals

Lombardozzi hitting second, Espinosa hitting sixth

Before we dive even deeper into Bryce Harper cracking the Nationals lineup tomorrow, let's look at the Nats lineup today. There's an interesting twist to manager Davey Johnson's lineup against the Dodgers: He's dropped second baseman Danny Espinosa to sixth in the order and has Steve Lombardozzi playing third base and hitting in the No. 2 spot tonight. Johnson has said he likes slotting Espinosa into the two hole in his lineup because he likes having run-producers towards the top of the...

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Bryce Harper to be activated, Ryan Zimmerman to the DL (updated)

April 27, 2012, 12:55pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper to be activated, Ryan Zimmerman to the DL (updated)

The star of tomorrow will make his debut tomorrow. The Nationals have announced that Bryce Harper will be activated from Triple-A Syracuse and will replace third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 25-man roster. Zimmerman will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday. Harper, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, will make his major league debut at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Speaking on a conference call with reporters late this afternoon, general manager Mike Rizzo said that this wasn't...

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Left field rotation not helping us forget about Morse

April 27, 2012, 11:48am

Nationals

Left field rotation not helping us forget about Morse

Of all the current Nationals who have faced Clayton Kershaw in their careers, guess who has recorded the highest batting average against the Dodgers left-hander? If you went with Craig Stammen, you are either a genius or your sarcastic sense of humor really backfired this time. Not surprisingly, most of the Nats who have faced Kershaw have struggled against him, but Stammen has actually gone 2-for-3 with a double in his career against the 2011 National League Cy Young Award winner. Kershaw...

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It was bound to happen

April 26, 2012, 11:10pm

Nationals

It's pretty simple, really: It's incredibly difficult to win at a consistent level when you score three or fewer runs a game. And in that regard, the Nationals have been pushing their luck so far. Through the season's first 19 games, the Nats' hitters have been spoiled. They've played 11 games in which they scored three or fewer runs and somehow found a way to win eight of them. They won a game 1-0. They were victorious in three separate games in which they managed just two runs....

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Before using brooms, Nats need their bats (Nats lose 2-1)

April 26, 2012, 7:54pm

Nationals

Before using brooms, Nats need their bats (Nats lose 2-1)

If the Nationals scored seven runs yesterday, does that mean they've used up their offensive allotment for the next three days? The Nats have managed just two hits tonight off Padres starter Edinson Volquez, and have yet to touch home plate as we go to the seventh inning. Wilson Ramos and Adam LaRoche are the only two Nationals hitters to have registered a tally in the hit column. Both guys reached scoring position with two outs (Ramos in the third inning, LaRoche in the fourth), but Ian...

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Nationals begin spring training negotiations with Lee County

April 26, 2012, 5:15pm

Nationals

The Nationals have officially begun negotiations with Lee County and the city of Fort Myers that could lead to the team moving its spring training facility as early as 2014.

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Nats lineup in series finale against Padres (updated)

April 26, 2012, 2:51pm

Nationals

Nats lineup in series finale against Padres (updated)

The Nationals have already locked up their sixth straight series win to start the 2012 season, but they'll look for their first sweep of three games or more when they take the field against the Padres tonight. Washington will face Padres right-hander Edinson Volquez, who has started the season with an 0-2 record and a 4.30 ERA. Chad Tracy will play third base tonight, as Ryan Zimmerman is still not in the lineup as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Here's manager Davey Johnson's lineup...

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Which player's start has been most impressive?

April 26, 2012, 9:52am

Nationals

Which player's start has been most impressive?

There have been plenty of positives for the Nationals through the season's first 18 games - the franchise-best start, the league-best ERA, the clutch hitting and the play of the Nats' bench to name just a few. Individually, there has been plenty to like, as well. A number of Nationals players have gotten off to hot starts and have helped lead the team to the best record in the National League. But I'm curious as to who you think has been the most impressive performer so far this...

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Runs aplenty within the Nats' organization

April 26, 2012, 5:11am

Nationals

Runs aplenty within the Nats' organization

When Adam LaRoche crossed the plate with the Nationals' seventh run yesterday, those in the visiting dugout at Petco Park must not have known how to react. First of all, their seven runs scored matched their season high. Compared to the Nats' previous five wins (in which they scored a combined 12 runs), yesterday seemed like an absolute offensive explosion. Secondly, they'd actually gotten starter Jordan Zimmermann some run support. Accustomed to pitching in games in which his offense...

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Nats win fourth in a row, top Padres 7-2

April 25, 2012, 5:28pm

Nationals

Nats win fourth in a row, top Padres 7-2

Jordan Zimmermann allowed a run? Boy, this rotation is getting soft. The Nationals' scoreless innings streak from their starters ended at 26 tonight when Zimmermann allowed a run in the fifth inning, but that was about all the Padres could muster off Nats pitching today, with the exception of a tack-on run in the ninth. Backed by six strong innings from Zimmermann, the Nats beat the Padres 7-2, moving to 14-4 on the season. Washington now has tied the Rangers for the best record in...

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Zimmermann helps himself

April 25, 2012, 3:56pm

Nationals

If Jordan Zimmermann isn't going to get much run support from the eight guys above him in the order, he might as well get the job done himself. Zimmermann smacked an RBI single to center in the second inning, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead over the Padres. The righty is actually a pretty good hitter, and now has six career RBIs. His base knock brought in Rick Ankiel, who doubled in Adam LaRoche earlier in the second inning. This is Zimmermann's first outing in his last right times to the...

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Tracy hitting third, playing third base tonight

April 25, 2012, 11:23am

Nationals

Tracy hitting third, playing third base tonight

With Ryan Zimmerman still out because of a shoulder injury, Nationals manager Davey Johnson has Chad Tracy hitting third and playing third base today against the Padres. Hey, why not reward the guy for his massive two-run, pinch-hit single last night? Tracy's big hit yesterday snapped an 0-for-11 skid. He'll have a few chances to up his .200 average today against Padres righty Joe Wieland, who is 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA this season. With Wieland on the mound, Johnson has all of his left-handed...

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Zimmerman's absence will be tough to take

April 25, 2012, 7:24am

Nationals

Zimmerman's absence will be tough to take

While it certainly hasn't been easy considering the lack of power in their lineup, the Nationals have been able to scratch and claw their way to wins without cleanup hitter Michael Morse, who is currently shut down with a strained lat muscle. They've made do without Drew Storen, who saved a whopping 43 games last season but is out until around the All-Star break because of elbow surgery. But if they're without Ryan Zimmerman for any extended period of time, the Nats might be in...

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Enjoying life atop the National League

April 24, 2012, 10:32pm

Nationals

How's it all look from up top, folks? Think you could get used to this view? After toiling toward the bottom of the league for the vast majority of their previous seven years of existence, the Nationals went to bed last night owners of the best record in the National League. Their 3-1 victory over the Padres yesterday coupled with the Dodgers' loss to the Braves made Washington's 13-4 mark tops in the NL and tied the franchise record for best 17-game start to a season. It's still...

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Lots o' zeros (Nats win 3-1)

April 24, 2012, 7:50pm

Nationals

Nationals starters have now thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings. Gio Gonzalez himself has tossed 20 straight scoreless frames. That's all well and good. Actually, it's more than that; it's pretty damn impressive. But at some point, the Nationals are going to have to score a run or two if they want to win this ballgame. The Nats and Padres are scoreless in the middle of the sixth, and Washington has managed just one hit off San Diego starter Clayton Richard. They have walked four...

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Ryan Zimmerman not in Nats lineup

April 24, 2012, 2:35pm

Nationals

The Nationals said over the weekend that they felt confident if Ryan Zimmerman rested Saturday, Sunday and Monday, he'd be ready to go come Tuesday's game against the Padres. Tuesday's game against the Padres is here, and Zimmerman is not in the lineup. Zimmerman has now had the benefit of three days of rest, but his inflamed right shoulder is apparently still an issue. The Nationals third baseman was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup, but said after the game that the shoulder injury...