Josh Land

Plenty of missed opportunities in Nats' 4-1 loss

September 22, 2015, 7:06pm

As time continues ticking away on the regular season, the Nationals can't afford to squander any opportunities. With the Braves knocking off the Mets tonight, the Nats had a prime chance to cut the division lead to 5 1/2 games. But left-hander Gio Gonzalez once again battled command issues early and the Nationals bats came out sluggish as the Orioles took the opener 4-1. Caleb Joseph and J.J. Hardy entered tonight's game batting .246 and .213, respectively. Gonzalez walked them both in the...

Tags:

Tough night for Gio Gonzalez, Nats offense in 4-1 loss

September 22, 2015, 3:51pm

Nationals

Tough night for Gio Gonzalez, Nats offense in 4-1 loss

Both starters experienced early bouts with command problems in this game. The Orioles took advantage while the Nats did not. Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez issued consecutive free passes to Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper with one out in the first. But Jayson Werth was caught looking at a third strike, and then Clint Robinson grounded out to end the frame. In the second, left-hander Gio Gonzalez walked Caleb Joseph and J.J. Hardy. Jimenez delivered a two-out line drive single to center,...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson gio gonzalez jayson werth nationals nationals pastime yunel escobar frontstory_nationals2

Domenic Valada: "Battle of the Beltways" an extra-special series

September 22, 2015, 1:39pm

Orioles

Domenic Valada: "Battle of the Beltways" an extra-special series

With the O's in DC this week, we find ourselves watching National League games for the first time in a while. Some people like interleague play, and some don't - either view point is fine with me. But I'm a fan of it. People might ask how I can call myself a purist and like interleague play. The answer is because, as I said, I'm a purist - the pitcher is part of the team, so why shouldn't he have to swing a bat? But speaking for myself, the "Battle of the Beltways" is extra special....

Tags:

beltways domenic vadala guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Max Scherzer starts Wednesday, Danny Espinosa suffers hamstring tear

September 22, 2015, 1:36pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer starts Wednesday, Danny Espinosa suffers hamstring tear

Nationals manager Matt Williams has shuffled his pitching rotation a bit after last night's rainout. Right-hander Tanner Roark, who was scheduled to start in Game 2, now moves to the finale on Thursday afternoon. Williams will keep his ace Max Scherzer on normal rest, sending the righty to the mound tomorrow night. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is due to take the hill for Friday's opener against the Phillies in what could be his final start at Nationals Park. Zimmermann, 29, becomes a free...

Tags:

chris johnson danny espinosa jordan zimmermann matt williams max scherzer nationals nationals pastime tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Gio Gonzalez looks to set tone in series opener (with lineups)

September 22, 2015, 11:49am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez looks to set tone in series opener (with lineups)

Both Nationals manager Matt Williams and Orioles manager Buck Showalter stayed with their starters from last night's rainout. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes the mound for Washington after going 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA over his last three starts. He matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in a 12-2 win over the Phillies last Wednesday. Gonzalez started the Nats' lone loss in Baltimore before the All-Star break, but left in the seventh with a one-run lead before the Orioles tied the game in the...

Tags:

chris johnson gio gonzalez nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals2

Matt Kremnitzer: O's philosophies may have to change

September 22, 2015, 6:26am

Orioles

Matt Kremnitzer: O's philosophies may have to change

As Andrew Stetka discussed yesterday, you know the Orioles are not going to re-sign all of their impending free agents. There's a very real possibility that they decide to let all of them walk. The choice to not re-sign Nelson Cruz, and to a lesser extent Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller, hurt the 2015 team somewhat, but a lot of that collapse has come from other key parts of the Orioles taking significant steps back. That departing group did not have much to do with the starting rotation...

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matt kremnitzer orioles orioles buzz

Matt of Matt's Bats: Picking postseason favorites with Nats on outside looking in

September 22, 2015, 6:03am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Picking postseason favorites with Nats on outside looking in

With the Nats 6 1/2 games out of the National League East with 13 games to go, it looks a lot like the New York Mets are going to pull away with the division title. There still is hope, though. The Nats are 6 1/2 games out, and the Mets are coming off a series loss against the New York Yankees. If the Nats can make up enough ground to roll into New York next week within three games of the division lead, they could pull of an end-of-season upset. As much as I would love to see that happen, it is...

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matt's bats nationals nationals buzz

Nationals right-fielder Bryce Harper and right-hander Stephen Strasburg named co-NL Players of the Week

September 22, 2015, 5:51am

Nationals

Following a week filled with dominance by both players, Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper and right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg were named co-National League Players of the Week on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Harper - who currently leads the National League in several categories, including: batting average (.343), on-base percentage (.470), slugging percentage (.674), home runs (41), OPS (1.143), OPS+ (206), runs scored (116), and WAR (9.6) - had...

Tags:

Nationals Nationals News Release

Bryce Harper deserves MVP in historic season

September 22, 2015, 4:52am

Nationals

Bryce Harper deserves MVP in historic season

During this final homestand, the Nationals began a campaign promoting 22-year-old sensation Bryce Harper for National League MVP. They loaded a one-page document full of mind-boggling statistics comparing Harper to his contemporaries, and in some cases, displaying prowess over some of the game's most legendary figures. Whether the Pope's arrival to D.C. later today can help the Nats miraculously turn a 6 1/2-game deficit into a NL East crown in the next 13 days should be irrelevant for...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Rain postpones tonight's game, makeup scheduled for Thursday (updated)

September 21, 2015, 4:18pm

Nationals

Rain postpones tonight's game, makeup scheduled for Thursday (updated)

Persistent rain forced the postponement of tonight's game between the Nationals and Orioles. The two teams will make up the game this Thursday at 4:05 p.m. The Nationals and Orioles will play Tuesday and Wednesday with both games scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. Visit nationals.com/Rainout for information on rainout ticket exchange policies. Update: Nationals manager Matt Williams only chose to announce his starter for tomorrow's game. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who was set to go tonight, will...

Tags:

chris johnson nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar gio gonzalez frontstory_nationals2

Pedro Severino debuts with double in first major league at-bat

September 21, 2015, 3:34pm

Nationals

Pedro Severino debuts with double in first major league at-bat

There were a plethora of Nationals highlights from Sunday's 13-3 drubbing of the Marlins, including the major league debut of highly regarded catching prospect Pedro Severino. Severino was one of the Nationals' initial September call-ups, joining the team on the first of the month in St. Louis. But the 22-year-old had yet to appear in a game until the eighth inning yesterday when manager Matt Williams summoned him to pinch-hit. Facing Marlins hard-throwing right-hander Jose Urena, Severino...

Tags:

chris johnson nationals nationals pastime pedro severino wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Matt Williams reacts to weekly honors for Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper

September 21, 2015, 1:59pm

Nationals

Matt Williams reacts to weekly honors for Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper

In back-to-back years, the Nationals were given the opportunity to draft two players considered transcendent. Today, both of those young stars shared the National League's Player of the Week honors. Stephen Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, was recognized for the second time in his career (June 7-13, 2010) after going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA. The right-hander allowed just one earned run over 15 innings while striking out 24 and walking just two in dominating performances...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

There's still time to win big with Maryland Lottery's Baseball Bucks ticket

September 21, 2015, 8:28am

Orioles

There's still time to win big with Maryland Lottery's Baseball Bucks ticket

While the regular season has wrapped up, there are still plenty of opportunities for you to hit it big with the Maryland Lottery! The $5 Baseball Bucks scratch-off still has one $50,000 top-prize and many other prizes between $10 and $5,000 remaining. Will you be the next big winner? You can purchase your Baseball Bucks ticket at local Lottery retailers. For more information, visit mdlottery.com/baseball. All season long, fans were able to enter their non-winning Baseball Bucks tickets for a...

Tags:

maryland lottery olivia witherite orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: Adam Jones' heart is in the right place

September 21, 2015, 7:12am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Adam Jones' heart is in the right place

When I read last week that Adam Jones wanted to meet with Peter Angelos, Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter during the offseason to discuss the team's plans for re-signing players and making trades, I honestly thought it was an old link. It was the same story last offseason when Jones wanted to discuss the team's mindset following an American League East crown. Now that the dream of a repeat has gone out the window, have any of the plans changed? Jones doesn't want to see a mass exodus like the...

Tags:

adam jones andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Nats and Orioles set for Beltway Series with slim playoff hopes alive

September 21, 2015, 5:03am

Nationals

Nats and Orioles set for Beltway Series with slim playoff hopes alive

The Nationals and Orioles enter their Beltway Series clinging to slim playoff hopes. Baltimore is coming off a crushing 7-6 loss at Tampa Bay where closer Zach Britton blew a save by surrendering two runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Orioles are 5 1/2 games back of the Astros for the second Wild Card spot with 13 games remaining, but they must also leapfrog three teams - the Angels, Twins and Indians - to get there. Meanwhile, the Mets dropped two of three in their Subway Series to the...

Tags:

chris johnson featured_sidebar gio gonzalez matt williams nationals nationals pastime tyler moore yunel escobar frontstory_nationals2

10 more strikeouts for Stephen Strasburg in Nats' 13-3 win

September 20, 2015, 2:07pm

Nationals

10 more strikeouts for Stephen Strasburg in Nats' 13-3 win

Widespread injuries are the main culprit for why the Nationals find themselves on the outside looking in to the playoffs with under two weeks remaining in the regular season. They also account for the primary reasons why Stephen Strasburg won't be mentioned in the Cy Young Award voting despite the dominant form the right-hander has displayed over the past three months. Strasburg's blazing fastball, nasty curveball and baffling changeup handcuffed the Marlins this afternoon. He fanned 10...

Tags:

chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg tyler moore yunel escobar featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Stephen Strasburg delivers dominant performance, Nats win 13-3

September 20, 2015, 10:14am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg delivers dominant performance, Nats win 13-3

The Nationals jumped on Marlins rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino early. Yunel Escobar drew a one-out walk and Bryce Harper followed with a single to center. Jayson Werth then hammered Nicolino's changeup over center fielder's Marcel Ozuna's head bringing Escobar and Harper racing to the plate for the game's first runs. Ian Desmond followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Werth. The Marlins got one back in the second when right-hander Stephen Strasburg walked Derek Dietrich....

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson featured_sidebar ian desmond jayson werth nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Despite few chances, Trea Turner still showcasing skill set

September 19, 2015, 4:43pm

Nationals

Despite few chances, Trea Turner still showcasing skill set

Rookie Trea Turner has seen limited action since making his major league debut on August 21. The 22-year-old has been used primarily in pinch-running and pinch-hitting situations, but did make one start at second base when the Nationals lineup was dealing with widespread injuries. On Friday night, Turner was summoned to pinch-run for Yunel Escobar, who led off the eighth with a single. Turner advanced to second on Bryce Harper's walk and then alertly hurried to third on a wild pitch. That set...

Tags:

chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Bryce Harper's tenacious at-bat, 41st homer lead Nats to 5-2 win

September 19, 2015, 4:25pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper's tenacious at-bat, 41st homer lead Nats to 5-2 win

For the third straight day, a Nationals starter spotted the Marlins a two-run lead in the first inning. But today, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann locked down Miami after that, combining with four relievers to shut the Marlins out over the final eight innings as the Nationals won 5-2. The Marlins connected on three hits against Zimmermann in the opening frame, including an RBI double from Christian Yelich and a run-scoring single from Justin Bour. But over the next five innings, Zimmermann...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson jordan zimmermann matt williams nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Bryce Harper, Tyler Moore homer in Nats' 5-2 win

September 19, 2015, 12:21pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper, Tyler Moore homer in Nats' 5-2 win

The Marlins jumped on Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann in the first. Dee Gordon legged out an infield single to start the game. After Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a force out, Christian Yelich laced an RBI double to the gap in left-center. Justin Bour followed with a line drive base hit to center, scoring Yelich. Update: The Nats managed only two hits against Marlins left-hander Brad Hand through the first four innings. But in the fifth, Tyler Moore drilled a solo homer to deep...