Josh Land

Williams provides good news on Werth, Rendon, Zimmerman and Span

July 17, 2015, 2:13pm

The Nationals seem to be moving closer to getting some of their injured stars back. Jayson Werth became the first of five positon starters on the 15-day disabled list to see game action when he began his minor league rehab stint at Single-A Potomac last night. Werth, who fractured his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch on May 16, went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout while playing three innings in left field yesterday. The 35-year-old is batting third as the designated hitter in...

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Jordan Zimmermann starts off second half for Nationals (with lineups)

July 17, 2015, 11:41am

Nationals

Nationals manager Matt Williams sends Jordan Zimmermann to the mound to lead off the second half of the season against the Dodgers tonight. Zimmermann is 3-0 in his last five starts with a 1.63 ERA. The right-hander has walked only one while striking out 21 across 27 2/3 innings during the stretch. With Denard Span (back spasms) still on the 15-day disabled list, Williams has slotted Yunel Escobar in the leadoff spot. Escobar is 13-for-39 (.333) with a homer when batting first in the order this...

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Sammy Solis recalled; David Carpenter to 15-day disabled list

July 17, 2015, 9:49am

Nationals

Sammy Solis recalled; David Carpenter to 15-day disabled list

The Nationals have placed right-hander David Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 12, with right shoulder inflammation. Lefty Sammy Solis will take his spot on the Nats' 25-man roster. Carpenter is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA over six innings (eight games) with the Nats. He's 0-1 with a 4.01 ERA over 24 2/3 innings this season. This will be Solis' third stint with the Nats this season. In the majors, he's 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and one hold. Over his first three games with the...

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Matthew Taylor: Digging deeper into Darren O'Day's numbers

July 17, 2015, 6:32am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Digging deeper into Darren O'Day's numbers

I wanted to be able to better articulate the value of Orioles All-Star reliever Darren O'Day. In attempting to do so, I developed an appreciation for the late Stu Miller. That's the sort of thing that can happen when you dig into the numbers late at night. The difference in my understanding of both players was a lesser-mentioned statistic that speaks to the value of relief pitchers. Ask most O's fans to talk about O'Day's value and you're as likely to hear a chant as you are any kind of...

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Patrick Reddington: Enjoy Jordan Zimmermann while you can

July 17, 2015, 5:57am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Enjoy Jordan Zimmermann while you can

The Washington Nationals made three selections in the 2007 draft before their second-round pick came up at No. 67. At that point they had a decision to make, but they couldn't come to an agreement. There was a difference of opinion among the front office executives and scouts gathered in the nation's capital, as now-former general manager Jim Bowden explained in a 2011 segment of his show on MLB Network Radio. "Everybody's lists are different," Bowden explained. "We got to the point of...

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Nationals rookies playing key roles so far

July 17, 2015, 5:32am

Nationals

A large reason the Nationals enter the second half of the season holding a two game lead in the National League East has to do with the significant contributions of several rookies. Let's take a look at who has been the best of the youngsters so far. 5. Sammy Solis: After undergoing Tommy John surgery and battling several other nagging injuries, the 26-year-old left-hander finally made his major league debut on April 30 at Citi Field. Solis limited the Mets to one hit while striking out one...

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Weekend pitching matchups are set, then re-set

July 16, 2015, 12:16pm

Nationals

Weekend pitching matchups are set, then re-set

Nationals manager Matt Williams has announced how the first three starting pitchers will line up coming out of the All-Star break. The result sets up some of the game's premier pitching matchups of the season as the National League West-leading Dodgers visit Nationals Park this weekend. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will square off with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on Friday night. Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and last year's NL MVP, took the loss in Tuesday's All-Star Game...

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Jayson Werth begins minor league rehab assignment tonight

July 16, 2015, 10:26am

Nationals

Jayson Werth begins minor league rehab assignment tonight

A day before the Nationals are set to embark on the second half of the season, one of their injured stars is ready to see his first game action in two months. Left fielder Jayson Werth hasn't played since Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne ran a 92 mph fastball in on Werth that violently struck his left wrist in the second inning of a Nats' 10-0 win in San Diego on May 16. Tonight, Werth begins his minor league rehab stint for Single-A Potomac, where he'll play left field and bat second...

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Nationals agree to terms with 16-year-old Dominican Elvis Alvarado

July 16, 2015, 9:15am

Nationals

The Nationals this morning announced that they have agreed to terms with outfielder Elvis Alvarado, a 16-year-old international free agent from the Dominican Republic. Alvarado is 6-foot-4 and 175 lbs. He profiles as a corner outfielder, said Johnny DiPuglia, the team's director of Latin American operations. Alvarado throws and bats right-handed. "He's got the potential to hit for power and has an above-average arm," DiPuglia said in a team-issued release. This is the Nationals' third...

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OMG! It's the Nats' top 10 quotes from the first half of the season

July 16, 2015, 6:18am

Nationals

OMG! It's the Nats' top 10 quotes from the first half of the season

The Nationals clubhouse is loaded with a wide spectrum of personalities - from the quirkiness of guys like Gio Gonzalez and Jose Lobaton to the intensity of Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper. As the Nationals prepare to ramp back up for a run at a second straight National League East crown, we take a look a back at the top 10 quotes from the season's first half. 10. June 27, Gonzalez: "This rain kinda caught us all off-guard. I mean, we didn't know it was coming for, like, three days." This was...

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Kershaw, Greinke bookend Dodgers' starters for series at Nats Park

July 15, 2015, 3:06pm

Nationals

Kershaw, Greinke bookend Dodgers' starters for series at Nats Park

The Nationals will face three-time National League Cy Young Award Clayton Kershaw when the Dodgers come to D.C. on Friday night. Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly plans to send right-hander Mike Bolsinger to the mound for Saturday's matinee and NL All-Star starter Zack Greinke will take the ball on Sunday for the series finale. After winning the 2014 NL MVP, Kershaw got off to a bit of an uncharacteristic start this season. But the left-hander rebounded in dominant fashion. In his last start...

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Casey Janssen: "I gotta build the trust of my teammates, the staff, everybody"

July 15, 2015, 11:16am

Nationals

Casey Janssen: "I gotta build the trust of my teammates, the staff, everybody"

Right-hander Casey Janssen sat on the couch in the Nationals clubhouse for several minutes late last Friday night with an untouched plate of food in front of him and a blank stare on his face. Fairly or unfairly, Janssen had been charged with the game-tying run as the Nationals blew a late-inning lead with just six outs remaining. Janssen had only faced two batters in his abbreviated outing. Orioles pinch-hitter Chris Parmelee nicked a 2-2 cutter to lead off the eighth, and the dribbler to...

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Bryce Harper comes up empty in All-Star Game (Franchise Four announced)

July 14, 2015, 4:42pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper comes up empty in All-Star Game (Franchise Four announced)

Major League Baseball announced the Franchise Four for each of the 30 teams prior to this evening's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. All four players named for the Washington Nationals played during the Montreal Expos era. C Gary Carter.262, 324 HR, 1225 RBIs RF Andre Dawson.279, 438 HR, 1591 RBIs RF Vladimir Guerrero.318, 449 HR, 1496 RBIs LF Tim Raines .294, 170 HR, 980 RBI Ryan Zimmerman was the only Nationals player included in the online voting process on MLB.com. Who would be your Franchise...

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Best of the Decade: Nationals draft Bryce Harper

July 14, 2015, 12:37pm

Nationals

As the Nationals celebrate 10 seasons in Washington, D.C., we reflect on some of the best moments since the franchise moved to the nation's capital. Each Wednesday through mid-August, check out Nationals Pastime for a remembrance of one of the watershed moments in Nationals history. Patience is rarely paid much attention in the world of sports. In the case of Bryce Harper, it never really existed. Most No. 1 overall picks in baseball aren't household names due the lack of media attention...

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Can Max Scherzer be even better in the second half?

July 14, 2015, 7:58am

Nationals

Can Max Scherzer be even better in the second half?

Before heading to a much deserved break, Nationals closer Drew Storen was asked what staff ace Max Scherzer can do for an encore in the team's second half. "I think he better be better," Storen said while trying to remain straight-faced. "I'm just kidding." What's crazy is Scherzer most likely believes he can be better as well. And why not? The 30-year-old has developed into a more complete and efficient pitcher since his American League Cy Young Award winning season two years ago in...

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Bryce Harper starting in right, batting third for NL All-Stars

July 13, 2015, 2:40pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper starting in right, batting third for NL All-Stars

Bryce Harper will start in right field and bat third for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game. It is the 22-year-old's third appearance in the Midsummer Classic after playing left field and going 0-for-1 with a walk in 2012 and then starting in center in 2013 while going 0-for-2. Harper will get an early chance to collect his first career All-Star hit when he faces Houston's Dallas Keuchel, who was named the American League's starter earlier today by manager Ned Yost. Harper was...

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Nats' injury situation emphasized as trade deadline nears

July 12, 2015, 5:22pm

Nationals

Nats' injury situation emphasized as trade deadline nears

BALTIMORE - When the Nationals return to play after the All-Star break on Friday, only two weeks will remain before the July 31 trade deadline for making non-waiver trades. General manager Mike Rizzo has shown his willingness to participate frequently in the wheeling and dealing in the past. Last year, Rizzo acquired infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the Indians for infielder Zach Walters at the deadline. Cabrera contributed more than his .229 batting average suggests, and his ability to play...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Longest Day"

July 12, 2015, 4:28pm

My MASN broadcast partner, Mike Bordick, is a history fan and was good enough to join us for this edition of Hitting the Books with a classic. "The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan is recognized as the book on the D-Day invasion that began, at great human cost, the beginning of the end of World War II. "Without a doubt, this is the Gold Standard of books about June 6 1944, D-Day," wrote BlogKitch in 2013. Ryan was a World War II reporter, actively involved in battlefront coverage, including...

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Scherzer delivers All-Star performance again in Nats' 3-2 win

July 12, 2015, 2:12pm

Nationals

Scherzer delivers All-Star performance again in Nats' 3-2 win

BALTIMORE - Max Scherzer bypassed an opportunity to start for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game, opting instead to take the mound for this afternoon's series finale against the Orioles. The much belabored decision turned out to be bad news for Baltimore as Scherzer yielded only two solo homers to fellow All-Star Adam Jones and the Nationals went on to take the series with a 3-2 win. Jones' second home run cut the Nats' lead to one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth,...

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Max Scherzer dominates Orioles in Nats' 3-2 win

July 12, 2015, 10:13am

Nationals

Max Scherzer dominates Orioles in Nats' 3-2 win

BALTIMORE - The Nationals narrowly missed a prime opportunity to light up the scoreboard in the first. After Yunel Escobar legged out an infield single, Bryce Harper drilled an 0-1 slider from Wei-Yin Chen over Chris Davis' head and off the wall in right. Davis regrouped and managed to throw the ball in, forcing Escobar to hold at third. Wilson Ramos followed with a drive to right-center which appeared to be headed for the gap before Davis sprinted over, reached up and made the grap to end the...