Josh Land

Matt Kremnitzer: O's offense could use Hardy's power

July 27, 2015, 7:27pm

Orioles

Matt Kremnitzer: O's offense could use Hardy's power

Whether or not the Orioles end up making a major acquisition before the trade deadline, one of the most frustrating parts of this season has been the lack of production from position players who have previously demonstrated the ability to play well. Steve Pearce, Travis Snider, Delmon Young, and Alejandro De Aza are far from stars, but when used correctly, they have been able to contribute. Perhaps the expectations were too high for many of the O's role players. Despite his timely walk-off...

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Mets bolster bullpen by adding Tyler Clippard

July 27, 2015, 3:45pm

Nationals

Mets bolster bullpen by adding Tyler Clippard

Former Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard will not be coming back to D.C. for a run to the playoffs. Making matters worse, Clippard will join the Mets, who are chasing the Nats in the National League East. Oakland traded Clippard earlier this evening to New York along with cash considerations for minor league right-hander Casey Meisner. Clippard was the A's closer this season, saving 17 of 21 chances with a 2.79 ERA. The Mets will most likely use Clippard in an eighth-inning setup role to get...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Hoping for a big splash from Nats at trade deadline

July 27, 2015, 3:24pm

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Hoping for a big splash from Nats at trade deadline

The trade deadline: baseball's most frantic and exciting time of the year. Already, Johnny Cueto, Scott Kazmir and Juan Uribe have been dealt to the Royals, Astros and Mets, respectively. There are probably a lot more deals coming before July 31 as teams that are postseason contenders are buying, and teams that probably won't make it to October are selling. The first-place Nationals are probably buyers this year because they have a few holes that need to be fixed to be playoff-ready. Last...

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Incredible catches, clutch hits featured in Michael A. Taylor's rookie season

July 27, 2015, 7:18am

Nationals

Incredible catches, clutch hits featured in Michael A. Taylor's rookie season

Michael A. Taylor received his first look at PNC Park over the weekend and the rookie outfielder continued delivering stunning defensive plays for the Nationals. Gregory Polanco led off the sixth inning Sunday with a bullet to the gap in left-center. It appeared to be certain extra bases for Polanco as the ball screamed through the air, until Taylor, on a full sprint, leaped and snatched the ball across his body with his glove high in the air. Polanco threw his hands in the air, in...

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Andrew Stetka: Development woes create clear path for Orioles

July 27, 2015, 5:10am

Orioles

This week's non-waiver trade deadline is unlike any in years for the Orioles. Not only do the O's have the clear distinction of not really knowing where they sit on the buy/sell fence, but there's also a certain weight of importance with this deadline because of key pending free agents. Some people you talk to are fully on the sell train, while others believe this team has a real chance to defend its American League East crown. I don't dismiss that this team can be competitive down the...

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Marty Niland: Taylor's breakout recalls past Senators rookie phenom Allison

July 27, 2015, 4:40am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Taylor's breakout recalls past Senators rookie phenom Allison

There's nothing quite like seeing a major league rookie come into his own, especially when he's making the most of an opportunity to fill in for a starter. You can say, "I remember when ..." So it was fun watching Michael A. Taylor have a breakout weekend, even though the Nationals lost a difficult series in Pittsburgh and saw their NL East lead over the New York Mets shrink to two games. The rookie recorded the first four-hit game of his career on Saturday, including a two-run,...

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Matt Williams on Joe Ross: "For such a young pitcher, he's not rattled"

July 27, 2015, 4:28am

Nationals

Matt Williams on Joe Ross: "For such a young pitcher, he's not rattled"

PITTSBURGH - Rookie right-hander Joe Ross delivered another impressive effort in yesterday's 3-1 loss to Pirates. Pittsburgh scored twice in the third on three hits plus a costly error and added a solo homer in the fourth, but that was all the offense Ross allowed in his fifth big league start. "I thought he threw really well," fellow rookie Michael A. Taylor said. "His stuff looked good. His slider was working. We just couldn't pull it out for him. I think he's done great. He's shown...

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Division lead shrinks after Nats drop series to Pirates

July 26, 2015, 1:55pm

Nationals

Division lead shrinks after Nats drop series to Pirates

PITTSBURGH - A solo home run from rookie Michael A. Taylor was all the offensive the Nationals managed as they dropped the series with today's 3-1 loss to the Pirates. After Taylor's homer, right-hander Gerrit Cole retired 11 straight Nationals until a double from Clint Robinson in the seventh. Ian Desmond followed with a single to give the Nats runners at the corners with one out, trailing by two. But Wilson Ramos hit a tailor-made double play grounder to end the threat. Anthony Rendon...

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Nats bats quiet in 3-1 loss

July 26, 2015, 10:32am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - Michael A. Taylor crushed a 1-0 fastball from Pirates starter Gerrit Cole over the wall in right-center field for a solo home run with two outs in the third. Taylor has now homered in consecutive games. The rookie has six hits and four RBIs in the series. The Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame with RBI singles from Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen. Right-hander Joe Ross has allowed two runs on four hits with one walk, one hit batter and four strikeouts through three...

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Anthony Rendon sits in series finale (with lineups)

July 26, 2015, 7:33am

Nationals

Anthony Rendon sits in series finale (with lineups)

PITTSBURGH - A day after returning from the 15-day disabled list, Anthony Rendon is not in the lineup as the Nationals aim for a split with the Pirates in the series finale. Rendon went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but he did collect an RBI on a sacrifice fly in Washington's 9-3 win last night. Nationals manager Matt Williams has indicated Rendon will be rested until he fully returns to playing shape after missing 25 games with a left quad strain. Yesterday's game was Rendon's sixth in a...

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Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman nearing returns

July 25, 2015, 8:26pm

Nationals

Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman nearing returns

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals added infielder Anthony Rendon back to their lineup on Saturday night and they appear to be closing on two more key players rejoining the ballclub. Outfielder Jayson Werth was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs while playing left field in Triple-A Syracuse's loss Saturday night. It was the 35-year-old's eighth minor league rehab game in the last 10 days. Werth has been on the disabled list since fracturing his left wrist on May 16. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman...

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Michael A. Taylor, Ian Desmond lead Nationals' offensive attack in 9-3 win

July 25, 2015, 7:57pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - Whether it was adding Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar back to the lineup or the sight of Pirates right-hander A.J. Burnett on the mound, the Nationals' offense erupted in a 9-3 win over Pittsburgh. Burnett gave up a career-high 14 hits against the Nationals on June 19. Tonight, the Nats drilled the 17-year veteran for 11 hits and five runs before knocking him out in the sixth. "For us, it's a little bit of what we do," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Yunel hit a couple...

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Ian Desmond's hot streak continues in Nats' 9-3 win

July 25, 2015, 3:53pm

Nationals

Ian Desmond's hot streak continues in Nats' 9-3 win

PITTSBURGH - Ian Desmond continued his hot streak with a one-out single to right in the second. Jose Lobaton followed with a base knock to center, advancing Desmond all the way to third. Pirates starter A.J. Burnett then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Desmond to race home safely for the game's first run. Desmond is 9-for-17 with three homers and five RBIs since Monday. The Pirates have one hit off Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, though the left-hander has been helped by some stellar defense...

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Second base or third, it doesn't matter to Anthony Rendon in return

July 25, 2015, 3:08pm

Nationals

Second base or third, it doesn't matter to Anthony Rendon in return

PITTSBURGH - This hasn't been the season Anthony Rendon expected after his breakout year in 2014. Rendon's sophomore campaign in the big leagues saw the Nationals' 2011 first round pick lead the National League in runs scored and finish tied for fifth in hits while smacking 21 homers and driving in 83 runs. The now 25-year-old's 6.5 WAR was tied for second-highest in the league, and he finished fifth in the NL MVP voting. But, a sprained left MCL suffered on a dazzling diving stop in...

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Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar return to Nationals lineup

July 25, 2015, 12:18pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals lineup is beginning to round into form. Anthony Rendon returns from the disabled list after missing the last 25 games with a strained left quad. Manager Matt Williams has penciled Rendon in at second base where he has started 12 of his 18 games this season. The Nationals also welcome back Yunel Escobar after the 32-year-old rested his sore left wrist and hand the past two games. Escobar, whose .321 batting average is fifth in the National League, will play third...

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Nationals reinstate Anthony Rendon from DL

July 25, 2015, 11:22am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals took a major leap forward on the road to health by reinstating Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list this afternoon. Rendon's season has been plagued by three different injuries, limiting him to just 18 games for the Nationals. A sprained left MCL suffered in spring training followed by a left oblique strain robbed Rendon of the first 53 games of the year. The 25-year-old returned to hit .290/.375/.362 with five doubles and five RBIs before landing back on the...

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Ian Desmond is battling back

July 25, 2015, 6:01am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - All season long, Ian Desmond's teammates have picked him up, and last night he returned the favor. After Max Scherzer surrendered the lead on back-to-back homers in the fifth, Desmond evened the score to start the sixth with a solo bomb of his own. "I was pretty excited to get Max off the hook," Desmond said. Certainly, the numerous injuries have led to inconsistencies in the Nationals offense, but a season-long struggle from Desmond has interfered, as well. Desmond's average...

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Max Scherzer frustrated after surrendering three homers in Nats' 7-5 loss

July 24, 2015, 7:54pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer frustrated after surrendering three homers in Nats' 7-5 loss

PITTSBURGH - A month ago, Max Scherzer dominated the Pirates en route to throwing his first career no-hitter. Pittsburgh exacted full revenge tonight, bombing three homers off the ace to beat the Nationals 7-5. Jung Ho Kang picked up the Pirates' first hit off Scherzer this year with a one-out single in the second. Scherzer then missed on a 93 mph fastball to Pedro Alvarez and it ended up 460 feet away in the Allegheny River for a two-run homer. The Nationals fought back with a four-run...

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Max Scherzer tagged for three homers, Nats lose 7-5

July 24, 2015, 3:58pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer tagged for three homers, Nats lose 7-5

PITTSBURGH - After being on the wrong side of Max Scherzer's first career no-hitter on June 20, the Pirates appear to be taking a far more aggressive approach against the Nationals ace tonight. Jung Ho Kang took care of the Pittsburgh's first hit with a one-out single in the second. Pedro Alvarez followed with a moonshot, pulverizing a Scherzer fastball over the stands in right. The two run-homer, which one-hopped in the Allegheny River, was estimated at 460 feet. Scherzer has allowed two...

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Updates on Strasburg, Escobar, Rendon, Werth and Zimmerman

July 24, 2015, 3:27pm

Nationals

Updates on Strasburg, Escobar, Rendon, Werth and Zimmerman

PITTSBURGH - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg threw three simulated innings at PNC Park this afternoon. It was the first time Strasburg has thrown with live hitters standing in since he landed on the 15-day disabled list on July 4, a day after a strained left oblique knocked him out of his start in the fourth inning. "I thought he was good," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He was optimistic about it from the time he went to the bullpen to warm up." Strasburg tossed 17 pitches each...