Josh Land

Stephen Strasburg throws, status remains unclear for next start

September 01, 2015, 4:11pm

ST. LOUIS - Stephen Strasburg threw, albeit casually, for the first time since leaving Sunday's game with upper back tightness. "He played catch," manager Matt Williams said. "We'll see how he comes out of that. He didn't feel anything abnormal today, and so we'll do a little more of that tomorrow and look to get him to a bullpen (session)." Tanner Roark made his second minor league start last night since the Nats optioned him on Aug. 25. However, the right-hander's outing at Double-A...

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Nats reinstate Dan Uggla, call up Pedro Severino and recall Sammy Solis

September 01, 2015, 1:40pm

Nationals

Nats reinstate Dan Uggla, call up Pedro Severino and recall Sammy Solis

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals have reinstated second baseman Dan Uggla, selected the contract of catcher Pedro Severino from Double-A Harrisburg and recalled left-hander Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse. To make room for Severino on the 40-man roster, right-hander David Carpenter was put on the 60-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Uggla returns to the Nats after missing 22 games with back spasms. He played in seven rehab assignment games with Harrisburg, hitting .217 (5-for-23)...

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Nats looking to get the most out of rookie Joe Ross (with lineups)

September 01, 2015, 12:35pm

Nationals

Nats looking to get the most out of rookie Joe Ross (with lineups)

ST. LOUIS - As right-hander Joe Ross prepares to make his 12th start of his rookie season in tonight's game against the Cardinals, the question remains how much longer the Nationals intend to use the 22-year-old. "It's an interesting scenario because, one, he hasn't been hurt," manager Matt Williams explained. "It's not like he's had an injury and we're cautious in that regard." Combined with his 76 innings thrown in the minors this season, Ross has totaled 142 2/3 innings in 2015....

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MASN holds exclusive Chris Davis autograph signing for Twitter followers

September 01, 2015, 9:08am

Orioles

MASN holds exclusive Chris Davis autograph signing for Twitter followers

Orioles fans who follow @masnOrioles on Twitter were able to take a long lunch break at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant at Camden Yards on Monday, Aug. 31 to grab a burger, walk down Eutaw Street ... and meet Chris Davis! Before Monday's event, MASN tweeted out an exclusive ticket for its Twitter followers, giving them access to an autograph signing with Davis. IT'S HERE: Show this at our event tomorrow (8/31) at Dempsey's Brew Pub to get into @CrushD19's autograph signing!...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Giving thanks for Denard Span

September 01, 2015, 5:33am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Giving thanks for Denard Span

Last week, Nationals fans got the disappointing news that center fielder Denard Span, who had just come off the disabled list, needed hip surgery and would be out for the rest of the 2015 season. This is a huge blow for the team and Nats fans. In his three seasons on the Nationals, Span became a fan favorite and a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder. Since he becomes a free agent at the end of this season, and given how Michael A. Taylor has played this year, chances are Span has played his last...

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Matt Kremnitzer: Despite O's crumbling season, Adam Jones still raking

September 01, 2015, 5:17am

Orioles

Matt Kremnitzer: Despite O's crumbling season, Adam Jones still raking

When it comes to the Orioles, there's a lot to be negative about right now. They just lost yet again and they've dropped 12 of their last 14 games. They ended August with only 11 wins in 29 games. Hisashi Iwakuma fired a no-hitter against them in Seattle. The Twins took all four games in a crucial series at Camden Yards. They were also swept out of Texas to complete a dismal road trip. Considering what they've done since the day Buck Showalter arrived on the scene, this horrendous stretch of...

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Nats' playoff hopes fading after dismal August

August 31, 2015, 11:41pm

Nationals

Nats' playoff hopes fading after dismal August

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals ended a disappointing August in fitting fashion, wasting a comeback three-run homer from Ryan Zimmerman in last night's 8-5 loss to the Cardinals. Washington began the month holding a two-game lead over the Mets in the National League East. But that margin quickly evaporated as the Nats were swept out of New York on Aug 2. Bolstered by several trade deadline acquisitions, the Mets rolled off seven in a row, taking a commanding first-place lead. The Nationals dropped...

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Bullpen woes lead to crushing 8-5 loss to Cardinals

August 31, 2015, 9:19pm

Nationals

Bullpen woes lead to crushing 8-5 loss to Cardinals

ST. LOUIS - The road to the playoffs took a gloomy turn for the Nationals in the seventh inning of Monday's 8-5 loss to the Cardinals. "It's a tough one," Nationals manager Matt Williams said three different times after the game. The Nationals entered the frame trailing by a run and knowing they needed to pull off a win to not lose ground to the first-place Mets, who had already finished off the Phillies earlier in the night. With the Nats down to their final seven outs, Ryan Zimmerman...

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Nats fall 8-5 after blowing late lead

August 31, 2015, 4:52pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - With two outs in the first, Kolten Wong misplayed a grounder, allowing Bryce Harper to reach safely on the error. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a double sliced down the right field line. With Stephen Piscotty dealing with the carom off the corner of the wall, Nationals third base coach Bob Henley aggressively waved the hustling Harper around. As the relay throw reached the plate, Harper slid safely head first just inside the tag of Yadier Molina. Gio Gonzalez has yielded one hit with...

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Nationals game blog: Nats face tall test with Cardinals

August 31, 2015, 4:43pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Fighting for their playoff lives, the Nationals are set to begin a three-game set against the National League Central division-leading Cardinals, owners of the best record in the majors. Gio Gonzalez is 0-3 with a 10.22 ERA in his last three starts, but the left-hander holds a 2-1 career mark against the Cardinals with a 0.93 ERA in four starts. The Cardinals send right-hander John Lackey (11-8 2.92 ERA) to the mound. Lackey is coming off seven innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 win...

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Matt Williams updates the latest on Stephen Strasburg

August 31, 2015, 4:14pm

Nationals

Matt Williams updates the latest on Stephen Strasburg

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals decided to rest Stephen Strasburg a day after the right-hander's start was ended prematurely by upper back stiffness. "He's not gonna throw today," manager Matt Williams said before tonight's game. "We'll let the medication kick in a little bit and see how he is tomorrow. As of right now, we don't have an update because he just hasn't thrown a ball yet." Williams pulled Strasburg after throwing only 60 pitches through four innings yesterday. The pain...

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Jayson Werth leads Nats into St. Louis, Yunel Escobar returns (with lineups)

August 31, 2015, 12:55pm

Nationals

Jayson Werth leads Nats into St. Louis, Yunel Escobar returns (with lineups)

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals enter tonight's game against the Cardinals as winners of eight of their last 12 games, backed by an offense that has scored 71 runs over the stretch, second best in the National League. Jayson Werth continues his success in the leadoff spot. In 10 games since moving to the top of the order, Werth is slashing .325/.413/.650 with two homers, one triple, five doubles, six walks, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored. Bryce Harper has reached base safely in 11 straight games,...

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

Marty Niland: Nats get most from Jayson Werth in the leadoff spot

August 31, 2015, 5:27am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats get most from Jayson Werth in the leadoff spot

When the Nationals learned Friday that leadoff man Denard San would have hip surgery and miss the rest of the season, it was certainly discouraging news. Without Span's .365 OPB and base-stealing potential atop the lineup, the team's offense takes a severe hit, and with it, their chances to catch the New York Mets in the National League East. So manager Matt Williams turned to the solution he used when the Nats offense was struggling this season, and the one his predecessor Davey Johnson...

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Andrew Stetka: As O's slide, future starts now

August 31, 2015, 5:02am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: As O's slide, future starts now

As the Orioles continue to slide further and further away from the playoff picture, the start of the season's final full month will bring an opportunity to see what the future holds. The O's aren't out of it, but it's looking more and more like they'll be sitting home for the postseason. The question then becomes who are the players that will help the O's get back to October in 2016? As rosters expand, some of those players will join the team and look to make their mark. Some of those...

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Nationals set to open crucial series in St. Louis

August 30, 2015, 4:01pm

Nationals

Trailing the Mets by 5 1/2 games, the Nationals are set to open a crucial three-game series in St. Louis while New York prepares to host the last place Phillies. Yesterday's 7-4 win over the Marlins secured the Nats' fourth consecutive series win since Aug. 18, yet they've actually lost a game in the standings to the red-hot Mets over the stretch. "We got a long way to go," Jayson Werth said after driving in three runs in Sunday's win over the Marlins. "We got a tough three-game road...

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Back tightness derails Stephen Strasburg's start in Nats' 7-4 win

August 30, 2015, 2:50pm

Nationals

Back tightness derails Stephen Strasburg's start in Nats' 7-4 win

The frustrations of Stephen Strasburg's season continued again today as the right-hander was forced to leave a 7-4 win over the Marlins with recurring back discomfort after throwing just 60 pitches over four innings. "It's just a little bit of back tightness," Strasburg said. "It's something that I kind of dealt with in the middle of the year. It's got some sort of little ball that's in the back there that I can't really figure out what it is. Sometimes it gets upset." Strasburg ran...

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Werth homers, drives in three as Nats beat Marlins 7-4

August 30, 2015, 10:00am

Nationals

Werth homers, drives in three as Nats beat Marlins 7-4

Dee Gordon dropped a bunt down the third base line on Stephen Strasburg's second pitch of the afternoon, reaching on a leadoff single. Ichiro Suzuki then ripped Strasburg's next offering into right field for a double, giving the Marlins runners at second and third. After getting Martin Prado to pop out to Ryan Zimmerman, it appeared Strasburg had a chance to battle his way out of the jam when he pumped two heaters past Justin Bour. But the right-hander left a 95 mph fastball over the plate...

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Stephen Strasburg looks to continue dominant stretch (with lineups)

August 30, 2015, 6:37am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg looks to continue dominant stretch (with lineups)

Stephen Strasburg aims to deliver the Nationals' fourth consecutive series win when he takes the mound in the finale against the Marlins this afternoon. Strasburg has overmatched hitters in four starts since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 8 after missing more than a month with a strained left oblique. The hard-throwing right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA while striking out 32 and walking just three in 26 innings over the four-game stretch. Battling nagging injuries, Strasburg's ERA...

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Nationals focused on taking care of their own business

August 30, 2015, 5:34am

Nationals

It's been a volatile month for the Nationals, beginning with a sweep by the Mets in New York, where the balance of power in the National League East changed hands. Boosted by several trade deadline moves, including the acquisition of slugger Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets have gone from one of the worst offenses in baseball to the best over the past month. New York owns two seven-game winning streaks, boasting an 18-8 record in August while the Nats have reversed, playing to an 11-16 mark and...

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Nats flex their muscles with three homers in 5-1 win

August 29, 2015, 7:14pm

Nationals

Nats flex their muscles with three homers in 5-1 win

For the first time in 11 days, the Nationals actually gained ground on the Mets. The Red Sox helped the Nats by knocking off the Mets 3-1, while Washington took care of business, smacking three homers in a 5-1 win over Miami. Ryan Zimmerman began the longball parade with a solo shot into the Red Porch to start the second. He has now driven in runs in six straight games. Zimmerman is batting .286 (6-for-21) with three homers and 11 RBIs over the mini hot streak. "I think he's swinging it good....