Josh Land

Nationals get Denard Span back for playoff push (Tanner Roark optioned)

August 25, 2015, 11:47am

It only took 123 games, but it finally appears the Nationals will play with their entire projected opening day lineup when they take on the Padres tonight. Center fielder Denard Span has been reinstated from the disabled list after back spasms sidelined him on July 7. Span missed the first 12 games of the season after undergoing core muscle surgery in early March. It was his second abdominal procedure of the offseason after experiencing hernia surgery in mid-December. Lingering effects from...

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Orioles select contract of infielder Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk, place catcher Steve Clevenger on paternity list

August 25, 2015, 11:45am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of infielder Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk and placed catcher Steve Clevenger on the paternity list. Janish, 32, batted .235/.313/.272 (71-302) with seven doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, and 29 runs scored in 95 games with the Tides this season and led International League shortstops with a .990 fielding percentage (four errors, 407 total chances). In 431 career Major League games, Janish has hit .214/.284/.288 with 55 doubles,...

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Orioles Orioles News Release

Denard Span returns to the Nationals lineup

August 25, 2015, 11:44am

Nationals

The Nationals get Denard Span back in the leadoff spot tonight for the first time since 31-year-old went on the disabled on July 7 with back spasms. When Span starts, the Nats are 35-24 this year. He is batting .304 with five homers, 15 doubles, 22 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Yunel Escobar also returns to the lineup after missing the past two games with hyperextended neck. Escobar suffered the injury while trying to make a catch in foul territory in the first inning of Friday's loss to the...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Examining how Nats can regain division lead

August 25, 2015, 6:08am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Examining how Nats can regain division lead

Think back to about a month ago, July 29, 2015. The Nationals enjoyed a two-game lead in the National League East. They won 7-2 in Miami and made a road trip up to New York. In the first game of that series, Wilmer Flores, who everyone thought was about to be traded, hit a walk-off single to win the game, and the lead was cut to one going into a start against reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom. The Nats lost the next game, too, and the Mets were suddenly tied for first. On...

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Matt Kremnitzer: Investigating Caleb Joseph's offensive improvement

August 25, 2015, 5:52am

Orioles

Matt Kremnitzer: Investigating Caleb Joseph's offensive improvement

Caleb Joseph has already demonstrated that he's an effective defensive catcher. He was very good in part-time duty last year, displaying a strong, accurate arm and very good pitch-framing abilities. In 78 games in 2014, Joseph finished with a Defensive Runs Saved total of +8 and threw out 40 percent of baserunners. In 76 games this year, he's dropped to +4 and 32 percent, respectively, though the DRS total is still top 20 among all major league catchers. Joseph also again ranks well in...

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Nationals look to go streaking

August 25, 2015, 4:38am

Nationals

It doesn't appear that the New York Mets will make it easy for the Washington Nationals to catch them. The Mets extended their lead in the National League East to 5 1/2 games after bashing a club-record eight home runs in a 16-7 win in Philadelphia last night. The Mets, who welcomed David Wright back from the disabled list, play three more against the Phillies this week while the Nats open a series with the Padres in D.C. The Nats, coming off back-to-back win over the Brewers, haven't won...

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Anthony Rendon heating up for stretch run

August 24, 2015, 7:48am

Nationals

Anthony Rendon heating up for stretch run

A large part of the expectations heaped on the Nationals this year had to do with Anthony Rendon. The 25-year-old was coming off a breakthrough season, leading the National League in runs scored (111), while slashing .287/.351/.473 with a .824 OPS. In just his second year in the big leagues, he finished fifth in the NL MVP voting. But his promising season was derailed before it even got started. Rendon sprained his left MCL making a spectacular diving stop on a grounder in his second Grapefruit...

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Marty Niland: Encouraging signs spark memories of Nats' 2014 run

August 23, 2015, 5:56pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Encouraging signs spark memories of Nats' 2014 run

Funny how quickly your outlook can change. A week ago, many Nationals fans were calling for manager Matt Williams' firing, for the team to cut bait on Jayson Werth and the $42 million the team still owes him through 2017, and for the benching of Anthony Rendon, who had gone more than two weeks without an extra-base hit or an RBI. But after Williams placed the struggling Werth atop the batting order and Rendon was forced back to his natural third base position because of an injury to Yunel...

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Offense finally clicking as Nationals take series with 9-5 win

August 23, 2015, 2:58pm

Nationals

Wilson Ramos and Anthony Rendon went deep and Danny Espinosa delivered a three-run double as the Nationals opened up their offense in a 9-5 win over the Brewers. It was the Nationals' first back-to-back series win since they took three straight series from the Pirates, Braves and Phillies from June 19-June 28. The Nats also claimed only their second series win in D.C. since the All-Star break. Jordan Zimmermann fell behind quickly after Scooter Gennett led off the game with a single. Jonathan...

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Andrew Stetka: Ripken's return to a dugout could be awkward for O's fans

August 23, 2015, 1:00pm

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Ripken's return to a dugout could be awkward for O's fans

As Orioles fans prepare to celebrate 20 years since Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak, there's word that he could be nearing a return to Major League Baseball. It shocked me, too, when I realized it's been 20 years since No. 8 took that faithful lap around Camden Yards to thank the fans. What might shock me even more is if he ends up in a uniform other than one that reads "Orioles" across the front. Last week in an interview on ESPN 980 in Washington, D.C., the...

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Ramos and Rendon homer as Nats take series with 9-5 win

August 23, 2015, 10:01am

Nationals

Ramos and Rendon homer as Nats take series with 9-5 win

The Brewers didn't take long to jump on Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. Scooter Gennett started the game with a single and then Jonathan Lucroy unloaded on a hanging slider, smacking it over the wall in left-center for a two-run homer. Ryan Braun followed with a shot off the wall in right, but Bryce Harper came up throwing, nailing Braun on a laser at second base. The Nationals answered in the bottom of the first when Jayson Werth ripped a double to left. Anthony Rendon advanced Werth to...

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Jordan Zimmermann aims for series win (with lineups)

August 23, 2015, 6:04am

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann aims for series win (with lineups)

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound looking to claim just the second series win for the Nationals at home since the All-Star break. Zimmermann didn't fare so well facing his home-state Brewers in Milwaukee on June 12. In his second shortest outing of the season, the right-hander allowed six runs on nine hits before being bounced after 3 1/3 innings. Zimmermann is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers at Nationals Park. Bryce Harper has reached safely in 44 of his last 46...

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Jayson Werth delivering in a leading role

August 23, 2015, 5:38am

Nationals

Jayson Werth delivering in a leading role

When Jayson Werth showed up at the ballpark Saturday afternoon, he wasn't on manager Matt Williams' original lineup card. The Nationals skipper was looking to give the 36-year-old a night off to recover after the long and late trip back early Friday morning. But moments later, a new batting order was posted with Werth penciled in to lead off. "I really just wanted to play, so he put me in there," Werth said after last night's 6-1 win over the Brewers. Werth's presence was felt early when...

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Michael A. Taylor powers Nats to 6-1 win

August 22, 2015, 7:46pm

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor powers Nats to 6-1 win

Michael A. Taylor loudly introduced himself tonight, crushing a towering two-run homer in the second to spark the Nationals to a much-needed 6-1 win. It's the third straight night Taylor has flexed his muscles with a titanic blast, beginning with Thursday's monstrous 493 foot moonshot at Coors Field. When asked what it meant to own the majors' longest home run this season after the Nats' loss that night, Taylor simply told reporters, "Nothing." Like tonight's roundtripper, eight of...

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Michael A. Taylor, Anthony Rendon homer in Nats' 6-1 win

August 22, 2015, 3:59pm

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor, Anthony Rendon homer in Nats' 6-1 win

The Nationals lost a quality scoring opportunity in the first. Jayson Werth led off with a single and Anthony Rendon followed with a walk. Bryce Harper then blistered a ball to deep center that Shane Peterson made a sensational diving catch on. Werth tagged, but Peterson's throw nailed him at third for the second out. Ryan Zimmerman struck out to end the inning. With two outs in the second, Wilson Ramos delivered a two-out base knock to left. Michael A. Taylor then smashed Taylor Jungmann's...

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Nats need a late push from Anthony Rendon

August 22, 2015, 3:02pm

Nationals

Nats need a late push from Anthony Rendon

It hasn't been the 2015 season Anthony Rendon or the Nationals expected. After a solid rookie year, Rendon broke through in his sophomore campaign, leading the National League in runs scored (111) and tying for fifth in hits (176) while smacking 21 homers with 83 RBIs. Those impressive numbers led to a Silver Slugger Award and a fifth place finish in the NL MVP vote. So naturally, the prospects of Rendon continuing his maturation into one of the game's best players was a no-brainer. But the...

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Yunel Escobar not in Nats lineup (updated with Jayson Werth leading off)

August 22, 2015, 11:37am

Nationals

Yunel Escobar not in Nats lineup (updated with Jayson Werth leading off)

Yunel Escobar sits tonight after hyperextending his neck in the first inning of Friday's 10-3 loss to the Brewers. The Nationals third baseman collided with the railing and then a fan while pursuing a foul ball, which eventually sailed into the seats. Anthony Rendon slides over to third and leads off with Jayson Werth out of the lineup. Rendon is just 2-for-22 over his last six games and batting only .200 with one homer and two RBIs since returning from the disabled list on July...

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Bryce Harper homers in Nats' 10-3 loss

August 21, 2015, 10:33pm

Nationals

With no consistent threats surrounding Bryce Harper in the lineup, the Nationals slugger doesn't get many opportunities to show his power these days. Boosted by a 5-1 lead in the sixth inning last night, Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson challenged with a first-pitch heater and Harper walloped it deep over the right-center field wall for his National League-leading 31st homer. Harper's home run drew the Nats within three momentarily, but that's as close as they got as Milwaukee answered with five...

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Promising homestand starts with a dud

August 21, 2015, 8:05pm

Nationals

This was not the start the Nationals were looking for to begin a crucial nine-game homestand. After traveling all night back to D.C. following Thursday's loss in Denver, the Nats appeared to sleepwalk through much of tonight's 10-3 blowout at the hands of Brewers. The Nationals pointed to this run of games in front of their home crowd as a chance to make a move on the Mets in the National League East. Instead they find themselves five games behind New York, the furthest the Nats have been out...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "A Stranger in the Kingdom"

August 21, 2015, 6:46pm

From time to time, in my library roaming, I like to pick a book off the shelves that I know nothing about. I read the front and back leaf, and if it strikes me as a book of potential interest, out of the library we go together. Such is the case with " A Stranger in the Kingdom" by Howard Frank Mosher. I knew nothing of the book or the author, but my Maine history and his story setting in the "north country," in this case Vermont, caught my eye. Later, I discovered this from the Oct. 2, 1997...