Josh Land

Updates on Stephen Strasburg, Michael A. Taylor and Tanner Roark

September 03, 2015, 2:42pm

The Nationals were able to prevent a sweep in St. Louis last night, securing a much-needed win as they prepare to begin a seven-game homestand with four against the Braves followed by three versus the NL East leading Mets. With New York off tonight, the Nationals have the ever important opportunity to gain a Â½ game in the standings. The Nats own a 37-26 record in D.C. this year. "We've got work to do," manager Matt Williams said after last night's 4-3 win over the Cardinals. "We've got...

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Bryce Harper starts in center field (with lineups)

September 03, 2015, 12:14pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper starts in center field (with lineups)

Bryce Harper is in the Nationals' lineup for the beginning of an important seven-game homestand. The 22-year-old's left glute tightened up after lunging for the bag at first on an infield hit in the seventh inning of Tuesday's loss. Harper started last night but left in the fourth inning after popping up in his second at-bat, saying later "it just did not feel good at all." Harper will play center field as Michael A. Taylor misses his second straight game with right knee soreness. Taylor...

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Tyler Moore back from DL, A.J. Cole recalled for bullpen support

September 03, 2015, 12:04pm

Nationals

Tyler Moore back from DL, A.J. Cole recalled for bullpen support

The Nationals reinstated Tyler Moore (sprained left ankle) after his stint on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse. Moore batted .200 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 79 games (28 starts) for the Nationals this season. In six minor league rehab games, Moore went 5-for-22 (.227) with a home run, two doubles, two walks and three RBIs. Cole's major league debut came in the Nationals' historic 13-12 comeback win over the Braves on April 28....

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Nationals reinstate Tyler Moore and recall right-hander A.J. Cole

September 03, 2015, 11:05am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, and recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Moore, 28, returns to the Nationals after missing 14 games with a left ankle sprain. In six minor league rehab games with Single-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse Moore went 5-for-22 (.227) with a home...

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Nationals Nationals News Release

Max Scherzer: "Now it's time for us to answer the bell"

September 03, 2015, 9:11am

Nationals

Max Scherzer: "Now it's time for us to answer the bell"

ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer battled through six tough innings on Wednesday night to put the Nationals in position to avoid a sweep against the Cardinals. To tell how rough the past month has been, the 4-3 win was just the first for the Nationals with Scherzer on the mound since Aug. 4. The Cardinals offense was aggressive, whacking 11 hits against Scherzer, a season-high and the most since June 7, 2014 against the right-hander. But the ace responded, limiting St. Louis to two runs while striking...

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Zach Wilt: Chris Davis' importance to the Orioles

September 03, 2015, 5:27am

Orioles

It's been a frustrating couple weeks in Birdland, you can feel the tension on the field. The Orioles have won just two of their last 10 games, went 11-18 in August and are 6 1/2 games back of the wild card, but at least they entered today's off-day on a positive note before heading north to Toronto. The O's avoided their longest losing streak in over four years last night when Chris Davis launched a monstrous walk-off homer in the 11th inning to help the Birds grab one of three from Tampa...

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David Huzzard: The cruelty of baseball

September 03, 2015, 5:11am

Nationals

The Nationals' 2015 season has been a lesson in the cruelty of baseball. Sure they built a roster full of injury-prone players and they had to expect they'd miss time. The ultimate outcome of how many players and how much time affected the Nationals in far more ways than just when those players were out. Clint Robinson, Danny Espinosa and Michael A. Taylor were all admirable fill-ins and helped the Nationals get to nine games over .500 and a lead in the division, but then Anthony Rendon, Ryan...

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Healthy and locked in, Ryan Zimmerman is on a tear

September 02, 2015, 11:30pm

Nationals

Healthy and locked in, Ryan Zimmerman is on a tear

ST. LOUIS - The script seemed to be headed in the same direction as the previous two nights - Nationals blow a late lead only to lose in heartbreaking fashion. But after the Cardinals evened the score in the seventh, Ryan Zimmerman once again stepped up, delivering a double in the eighth to score Anthony Rendon for the eventual game-winning run as the Nationals took the finale 4-3. "Tonight was vintage Zim," manager Matt Williams said. The RBI was Zimmerman's third of the night after...

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chris johnson drew storen matt williams max scherzer nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar jonathan papelbon frontstory_nationals1

Bryce Harper day-to-day with glute tightness (Taylor injury update)

September 02, 2015, 9:35pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper day-to-day with glute tightness (Taylor injury update)

ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper left tonight's game in the fourth inning with left glute tightness. Harper popped out to second to start the frame, jogging slowly down the first base line. "At this point in the season, there's always aches and pains, but this one felt a little different, a little worse," Harper said after the Nationals' 4-3 win. "On that last swing, it just didn't feel good. I didn't want to run it out. It just did not feel good at all. Hopefully, it feels better...

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bryce harper chris johnson matt williams michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar

Ryan Zimmerman lifts Nats to 4-3 win (Bryce Harper injured)

September 02, 2015, 5:30pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman lifts Nats to 4-3 win (Bryce Harper injured)

ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer's recent problem with the longball continued into tonight's start when Brandon Moss launched a 96 mph heater deep to right-center to begin the second inning. The 454-foot blast was the longest homer ever hit by a left-handed batter at Busch Stadium. The Nationals responded in the third when Jayson Werth drilled Tyler Lyons' fastball to straightaway center for a two-out solo homer. It was Werth's sixth tater of the season. Scherzer has yielded six hits already but...

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Nationals game blog: Max Scherzer looks for first win in over a month

September 02, 2015, 4:24pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer takes the mound tonight in his hometown looking for his first win since July 30. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA while surrendering seven homers in his last five starts. "It's a big game for us," manager Matt Williams said. "I think he's ready. He's ready to compete anytime he takes the mound. He's working hard in his bullpens and staying on top of the baseball a little bit more. The ability to throw that fastball down and away to the righties is...

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bryce harper chris johnson max scherzer nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals1 wilson ramos

Stephen Strasburg unable to make Friday's start

September 02, 2015, 3:54pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg unable to make Friday's start

ST. LOUIS - Stephen Strasburg will not make his scheduled start on Friday against the Braves at Nationals Park. Manager Matt Williams announced before tonight's game that right-hander Tanner Roark will be recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to fill Strasburg's spot. Strasburg left Sunday's 7-4 win over the Marlins after just four innings with upper back tightness. Williams indicated that Strasburg reported today feeling good after throwing on flat ground yesterday. He threw again on the field...

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Michael A. Taylor scratched tonight, Danny Espinosa now starts in left

September 02, 2015, 12:47pm

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor scratched tonight, Danny Espinosa now starts in left

ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer returns home to pitch at Busch Stadium for only the second time in his career. The St. Louis native looks to rebound from a brutal August, where the right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in five starts after dominating for most of the season's first four months. Scherzer allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 23. He is 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against St....

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Orioles to host 5K walk benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation in memory of Monica Pence Barlow at Oriole Park

September 02, 2015, 7:43am

Orioles

The Orioles will host the LUNGevity Foundation's Breathe Deep Baltimore, a 5K walk to raise funds and awareness for lung cancer in memory of Orioles' late Public Relations Director, Monica Pence Barlow, on Saturday, October 3, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The 5K walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude on the field. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., and participants will receive a T-shirt and refreshments. Registration fees are $25 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $10 for...

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Orioles Orioles News Release

Best of the BBQ: Adam Jones and Wayne Kirby face off against CareFirst Fan Challenge winner

September 02, 2015, 7:32am

Orioles

Best of the BBQ: Adam Jones and Wayne Kirby face off against CareFirst Fan Challenge winner

"Work or Don't Eat." That phrase was scripted across the front of All-Star center fielder Adam Jones' shirt as he and Wayne Kirby strolled down Eutaw Street to Boog's BBQ stand. Trays of ribs in hand, the duo set to take on CareFirst Fan Challenge winner Thomas Turnbaugh in a good, old-fashioned BBQ battle. While Jones and Kirby prepared Greek-style ribs, throwing them on the grill and adding lemon and secret spices, Turnbaugh brought a unique course to the table: a classic pulled-pork BBQ...

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adam jones carefirst fan challenge olivia witherite orioles orioles buzz thomas turnbaugh wayne kirby

Joe Ross suffers shortest outing of his career in 8-5 loss

September 02, 2015, 1:04am

Nationals

Joe Ross suffers shortest outing of his career in 8-5 loss

ST. LOUIS - For the past few weeks, the question has lingered of how many innings rookie Joe Ross has left this season. On Tuesday night, that issue didn't even get pressed as Ross departed after 2 2/3 innings, battling major command concerns. "He had problems holding it and feeling it and throwing it over the plate," manager Matt Williams said. "No issues physically. Just couldn't command it." The game time temperature was 89 degrees at a humid Busch Stadium as Ross retired the side in...

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Nationals dealt devastating blow in walk-off loss

September 01, 2015, 10:02pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The replay of the walk-off homer he surrendered had stopped playing several minutes before, but Casey Janssen still sat staring blankly at the monitor screen. When the veteran reliever finally made his way to his locker, he stood for the second consecutive night trying to explain how the Nationals let another late lead slip away. "These are two big losses and I had my hand in both of them," Janssen said. Janssen took over the in the ninth with the scored tied 5-5 and promptly...

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Casey Janssen gives up walk-off homer, Nats lose 8-5

September 01, 2015, 6:06pm

Nationals

Casey Janssen gives up walk-off homer, Nats lose 8-5

ST. LOUIS - Cardinals rookie left-hander Marco Gonzales' first start of the season didn't last too long. Joe Ross and Jayson Werth delivered consecutive singles to start the third. After bunting Gonzales' first pitch foul, Anthony Rendon roped a double to right-center, scoring Ross and Werth to put the Nationals on the scoreboard. Rendon advanced to third on the play and then scored on Bryce Harper's sacrifice fly to center. A red-hot Ryan Zimmerman followed with a deep blast to center. The...

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anthony rendon bryce harper chris johnson joe ross nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Domenic Vadala: Cal Ripken Jr. belongs to fans of baseball

September 01, 2015, 5:01pm

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Cal Ripken Jr. belongs to fans of baseball

If you're used to what I write on Birds Watcher and for that matter even here on MASN, a lot of what you read here today might come as a surprise. For the most part, I feel that writers should remain above the fray of the fan on the street when writing about the team. So most of what I try to put out there is analytical as opposed to emotional in nature. But some events rock the world. The career of the great Cal Ripken Jr. spanned my entire childhood, adolescence and into early adulthood....

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Nats game blog: Nationals look to ride Ryan Zimmerman's hot bat

September 01, 2015, 4:29pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Ryan Zimmerman nearly willed the Nationals to victory last night. The 11-year veteran blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning before the Nats bullpen collapsed in the 8-5 loss. Zimmerman has driven in runs in seven of his last eight games, batting .333 (10-for-30) with four homers, two doubles and 15 RBIs over the stretch. Since returning from the disabled list on July 28, Zimmerman is leading the Nats with eight homers, 10 doubles, 29 RBIs and a .587 slugging...