Josh Land

Jordan Zimmermann rocked in possible last home start

September 25, 2015, 6:48pm

In what might be his final home start at Nationals Park, Jordan Zimmermann didn't receive the friendliest going away present from the Phillies. Zimmermann surrendered three homers - including a rare inside-the-park grand slam - as the Nationals fell 8-2. "Obviously, I'm a little upset," Zimmermann said. "We didn't get the win and I didn't pitch very good. That's what my job is, to go out there and keep the team in the ballgame. I wasn't able to do that tonight." With the Nats leading...

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Jordan Zimmermann surrenders three homers in Nats' 8-2 loss

September 25, 2015, 3:23pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann surrenders three homers in Nats' 8-2 loss

Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann opened with a perfect first inning, whiffing Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera to end the frame. Anthony Rendon ripped a double leading off the bottom of the inning. After Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickoff struck out Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth drilled a single to left-center, scoring Rendon. Update: The Phillies loaded the bases on Zimmermann in the third. With one out, Aaron Altherr smoked a sinking liner to center. Michael A. Taylor...

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Jordan Zimmermann aims to finish strong at home (with lineups)

September 25, 2015, 11:56am

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann aims to finish strong at home (with lineups)

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound against the Phillies tonight in what might be his last home start for the Nationals. The right-hander is 39-21 with a 3.04 ERA in 93 career starts at Nationals Park. Zimmermann is 4-0 with a 4.04 ERA in his last seven starts with the Nats, winning six of the games. He did allow two homers and six runs over six innings in the Nats' 8-7 victory in Philadelphia on Sept. 14. Bryce Harper is coming off his first hitless series of the season. The Orioles pitched...

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Jonathan Papelbon receives three-game suspension, will appeal

September 25, 2015, 9:48am

Nationals

Jonathan Papelbon receives three-game suspension, will appeal

Major League Baseball has suspended and fined Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon for intentionally throwing in the head area of Manny Machado in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 4-3 loss. Papelbon will appeal his three-game suspension, which was scheduled to begin with tonight's contest against the Phillies. Papelbon plunked Machado two innings after the Orioles star hammered a two-run go-ahead homer off Nats ace Max Scherzer. There was question whether Machado showboated his game-changing...

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This could be the last time for Jordan Zimmermann

September 25, 2015, 6:08am

Nationals

This could be the last time for Jordan Zimmermann

As the late, great poet James Douglas Morrison once wrote, "The future's uncertain and the end is always near." Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound tonight in what might be his last home start in a Nationals uniform. The free agent-to-be is likely to sign elsewhere in the offseason after spending his entire professional career with the Nationals organization. Selected in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, Zimmermann made is major league debut two years later in a start at...

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Patrick Reddington: Harper walking toward a franchise record

September 25, 2015, 4:31am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Harper walking toward a franchise record

The second of three free passes Bryce Harper took in the series opener of Washington's three-game set with the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night gave the Nationals' 22-year-old slugger 117 walks on the year, one more than the Nationals' previous single-season record holder, Adam Dunn, took in 2009. In the first of his two seasons in the nation's capital, Dunn, then 29, put up a .267/.398/.529 line on the year, with 29 doubles, 38 home runs, 116 walks and 177 strikeouts in 159...

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Matthew Taylor: A surprising outcome from O's sweep of Nationals

September 25, 2015, 4:13am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: A surprising outcome from O's sweep of Nationals

What could be more surprising from this week's series with the Washington Nationals than the Orioles getting the sweep in D.C.? For me, it's the fact that I came away with a greater appreciation and respect for Bryce Harper. The heated three-game set left me thinking less about rivalry and more about respect, starting first and foremost with the Nationals' young superstar. Go figure. If you're not a Nationals fan, it's easy to dislike Harper. He's a classic case of the guy you would love...

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Deja vu for Nats bullpen in 5-4 loss

September 24, 2015, 4:48pm

Nationals

In a week where baseball is honoring the life of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, it seems only appropriate to borrow one the icon's legendary expressions to describe the Nationals' latest loss. "It's like dÃ©jÃ vu all over again" nails exactly what happened this evening as the Nats bullpen once again blew a lead late, resulting in a sweep to the Orioles with a 5-4 defeat. After falling behind 3-0, the Nationals battled back with two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh, taking a...

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Nats swept in Beltway Series after blowing late lead

September 24, 2015, 12:16pm

Nationals

Nats swept in Beltway Series after blowing late lead

The Orioles jumped on Tanner Roark early. Gerardo Parra belted a leadoff double over Michael A. Taylor's head in center. And then on a full count, Manny Machado smoked a fastball back up the middle for an RBI single. Update: Orioles starter Tyler Wilson did not attempt any form of retaliation against Bryce Harper or any other member of the Nationals as he went through their lineup the first time. Harper drew a walk in his first at-bat, his sixth free pass of the series. Matt Wieters lined a...

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Danny Espinosa's season likely ends with hamstring tear

September 24, 2015, 11:36am

Nationals

Danny Espinosa's season likely ends with hamstring tear

Nationals manager Matt Williams revealed before today's game that Danny Espinosa is "likely done for the season" with a small tear in the attachment of his right hamstring. "It's a very difficult spot and for him to try to ramp up and get to a point where he can play," Williams said. "It's a great risk and if it tears any more at that spot, then it's a long, long rehab." The versatile infielder first experienced pain in his hamstring while racing to the plate to score the eventual...

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Tanner Roark looks to prevent sweep in Beltway Series finale (with lineups)

September 24, 2015, 8:31am

Nationals

Tanner Roark looks to prevent sweep in Beltway Series finale (with lineups)

Tanner Roark takes the mound for the Nationals in the Beltway Series finale with the Orioles. The right-hander is coming off on his roughest outings of the season, surrendering two homers and six runs over five innings in a 6-4 loss to the Marlins last Thursday. Roark is 3-3 with a 5.66 ERA over nine starts this season. The Orioles send rookie right-hander Tyler Wilson to the hill for the fourth start of his major league career. Wilson, 25, is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA. For the Orioles: CF Gerardo...

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Zach Wilt: Jonathan Papelbon's history with the Orioles

September 24, 2015, 5:42am

Orioles

Jonathan Papelbon desperately wanted out of Philadelphia for a chance to pitch in October again. The veteran reliever spent seven seasons in Boston with the Red Sox and put together an impressive resume that included pitching in four postseasons and recording the final out of the 2007 World Series. How can anyone forget that riverdance celebration? Things went south in 2011 when the Sox entered the season as the favorites to win the American League after the acquisitions of Adrian Gonzalez and...

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David Huzzard: The importance of a winning season

September 24, 2015, 5:21am

Nationals

David Huzzard: The importance of a winning season

With every passing day as the playoffs become more and more of an improbability, it is important to remember the 2015 Washington Nationals are still playing for something. With 78 wins and eleven games to play, the Nationals need to go 4-7 to clinch their fourth consecutive winning season. This might not sound like much or even that important. What's the big difference between 82 wins and 78 at this point? The Washington Nationals aren't making the playoffs either way, but the last time a...

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Retaliation won't surprise Bryce Harper: "I'll probably get drilled"

September 24, 2015, 4:46am

Nationals

Retaliation won't surprise Bryce Harper: "I'll probably get drilled"

This afternoon's series finale will undoubtedly be filled with added drama beyond the minimal chances both teams have of making their way to the playoffs. All eyes will be on whether the Orioles choose retaliation after Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon plunked Manny Machado in the ninth last night. Papelbon never admitted to purposely hitting the star third baseman, but his intentions seemed fairly clear to the Orioles. Machado, whose massive two-run homer off Max Scherzer in the seventh...

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Manny Machado beats Max Scherzer in deciding moment

September 23, 2015, 7:57pm

Nationals

Manny Machado beats Max Scherzer in deciding moment

There wasn't any theatrical, profanity-laced outburst on the mound tonight. Nationals manager Matt Williams remained in the dugout, allowing ace Max Scherzer to go mano a mano with one of the majors' elite hitters late in a one-run game with the season hanging by a thread. This time, Scherzer lost the battle, surrendering a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh to Orioles star Manny Machado as the Nationals fell 4-3. Scherzer's bat helped the Nats rally in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead....

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Max Scherzer loses battle with Manny Machado, Nats fall 4-3

September 23, 2015, 3:25pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer loses battle with Manny Machado, Nats fall 4-3

Just as he did in his last start, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer surrendered a two-run homer in the first inning of tonight's game. Scherzer retired Gerardo Parra and Manny Machado before walking Chris Davis. Steve Pearce then hammered Scherzer's 95 mph fastball over the left field wall for his 14th home run. The Nats answered in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff double, Anthony Rendon scored on Yunel Escobar's single to center. Update: When Jonathan Schoop whiffed in the fourth,...

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Mike Rizzo on Matt Williams' future: "We're going to certainly evaluate everything"

September 23, 2015, 2:04pm

Nationals

Mike Rizzo on Matt Williams' future: "We're going to certainly evaluate everything"

With Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Ian Desmond and Denard Span set to become free agents at season's end, the makeup of the Nationals in 2016 figures to be quite different. The most intriguing, though, revolves around whether the Nats manager will remain the same. This afternoon, Nationals general Mike Rizzo manager made his normal weekly appearance with show hosts Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. Early in the interview, Paulsen gave Rizzo the opportunity to go on...

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Max Scherzer nearing career and team highs for strikeouts (with lineups)

September 23, 2015, 11:31am

Nationals

Max Scherzer nearing career and team highs for strikeouts (with lineups)

Right-hander Max Scherzer makes his second start of the season against the Orioles tonight. Scherzer nearly threw a complete game in Baltimore on July 12, leaving with two outs in the ninth after Adam Jones' second homer. Drew Storen came on to close out a 3-2 win for the Nationals in the final game before the All-Star break. Scherzer is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last two starts, both wins for the Nationals over the Marlins. His 237 strikeouts are second highest in the National League to the...

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Rachel Levitin: After season full of Nats' injuries, all eyes will be on Rizzo this offseason

September 23, 2015, 6:12am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: After season full of Nats' injuries, all eyes will be on Rizzo this offseason

After last night's 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the Washington Nationals are 6 1/2 games back while the New York Mets maintain first place in the National League East. All other teams in the division have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The magic number is six. No matter what happens at the tail end of the 2015 season, though, the unfortunate part of the year - besides possibly missing the playoffs, since it's not a done deal yet - is the fact that this team...

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Bryce Harper walks into Nats' record books

September 23, 2015, 4:58am

Nationals

Bryce Harper walks into Nats' record books

Bryce Harper changed history again last night, breaking a record that represents the respect and fear opposing teams have for him while also validating the vulnerability of the Nats lineup surrounding him. Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez actually went ahead 0-2 on Harper in the first before shying away from the strike zone with four consecutive balls. Harper's 116th free pass tied him with former slugger Adam Dunn's 2009 mark for most walks in a single season in Nationals history. With...