Josh Land

Max Scherzer aims for All-Star performance in series finale (with lineups)

July 12, 2015, 7:35am

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams will send his ace Max Scherzer to the mound this afternoon in hopes of winning the team's final series before heading into the All-Star break. Scherzer is looking to rebound from his worst start of the year after surrendering five runs over only 4 2/3 innings in the Nationals' 5-0 loss to the Reds last Tuesday night. Scherzer is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in six career regular season starts against Baltimore. However, the Orioles did plate five runs,...

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Bryce Harper on hitting at Camden Yards: "I can't stand it, actually"

July 12, 2015, 4:43am

Nationals

Bryce Harper on hitting at Camden Yards: "I can't stand it, actually"

BALTIMORE - Most would expect to hear that Bryce Harper enjoys hitting in Camden Yards - especially with its short porch in right field and homer-welcoming dimensions - but the young slugger's feelings couldn't be more opposite. "I don't," Harper said after last night's 7-4 Nationals win. "I really don't. I can't stand it, actually. I can't see very well, so hopefully in the daytime (on Sunday) I see it better. I feel like it's a little dark." Harper is only 5-for-26 with 10...

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Jordan Zimmermann: "It could've been a lot worse"

July 11, 2015, 9:48pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann: "It could've been a lot worse"

BALTIMORE - Jordan Zimmermann battled through a tough five innings on Saturday night before Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to make an early call to the bullpen. "He struggled a little bit with command and left some balls middle of the plate," Williams said. "He got to 95 (pitches) at that point and he's had a pretty strenuous first half, as well, and we're behind at that point, so we got him out." The Nationals surged back in the top of the sixth behind a solo homer from Bryce...

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Espinosa powers Nats to 7-4 comeback win

July 11, 2015, 7:55pm

Nationals

Espinosa powers Nats to 7-4 comeback win

BALTIMORE - The comeback campaign for Danny Espinosa continued with a huge three-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the Nationals over the Orioles 7-4. Espinosa scuffled mightily with his bat the last two seasons, leaving the Nationals requesting that the 28-year-old abandon switch-hitting in favor of batting exclusively from the right side. Espinosa spent all of spring training attempting to get comfortable facing right-handed pitching from the right side. Once opening day arrived though,...

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Harper, Espinosa homer in Nats' 7-4 win

July 11, 2015, 3:58pm

Nationals

BALTIMORE - The Nationals had an early chance to score tonight. Yunel Escobar slapped a single to right in the first. After Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez got Bryce Harper swinging, Clint Robinson ripped a two-out double into the right field corner. Escobar, who is battling tightness in his left hamstring, motored around from first as third base coach Bob Hendley signaled for the plate. Orioles right fielder Steve Pearce fired to second baseman Ryan Flaherty who relayed to catcher Caleb Joseph...

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Scherzer out of All-Star Game after decision to start Sunday

July 11, 2015, 2:01pm

Nationals

Scherzer out of All-Star Game after decision to start Sunday

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams has opted to start his ace Max Scherzer in this season's first half finale on Sunday in Baltimore. The decision leaves Scherzer unavailable to pitch for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. "Rules stipulate that if you are a starting pitcher certainly on Sunday that you're not available for the All-Star Game to pitch," Williams said. "He's gonna go and enjoy the process and be part of it, but he'll be...

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Zimmermann looks to end Nats' three-game skid (Chris Davis scratched for O's)

July 11, 2015, 11:35am

Nationals

Zimmermann looks to end Nats' three-game skid (Chris Davis scratched for O's)

BALTIMORE - Jordan Zimmermann aims to stop a three-game losing skid for the Nationals tonight. The right-hander has returned to his normal dominant self in recent weeks. Zimmermann is 2-0 with 0.40 ERA in his last three starts while striking out 17 and walking only one. Zimmermann is 1-3 with a 4.13 ERA in five career starts against Baltimore. His last came in 2013 when the Orioles tagged him for three homers including one apiece from Chris Davis and Steve Pearce. This will be Miguel...

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Nationals searching for offense

July 11, 2015, 5:26am

Nationals

The Nationals' offensive struggles continued in last night's 3-2 loss to the Orioles. In six of the last 10 games, the Nationals have scored two runs or fewer, resulting in six losses. Tyler Moore and Michael A. Taylor delivered two-out RBIs in the fifth inning yesterday, but that was all the Nats could manage despite collecting 10 hits on the night. Moore's run-scoring double was the Nationals only extra-base hit. "Two runs in this stadium is tough," Moore said. "We need to score more,...

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Nationals' bullpen falters late in 3-2 walk-off loss

July 10, 2015, 7:44pm

Nationals

BALTIMORE - The Nationals' bullpen couldn't protect a one-run lead as Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop launched a walk-off homer off Tanner Roark in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 win. The only run Gio Gonzalez allowed came on a solo blast from Adam Jones in the fourth. Otherwise, the left-hander pitched brilliantly for the third consecutive start, exiting after walking Jimmy Paredes to begin the seventh as the Nationals held a 2-1 advantage. Aaron Barrett followed Gonzalez to the...

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Roark tagged for walk-off homer (Nats lose 3-2)

July 10, 2015, 4:27pm

Nationals

Roark tagged for walk-off homer (Nats lose 3-2)

BALTIMORE - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones broke a scoreless tie with a solo homer off Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez to begin the fourth. It was Jones' 12th home run of the season. Gonzalez has allowed one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. A leadoff single from Yunel Escobar in the first is the only hit the Nats have managed against Orioles starter Chris Tillman. Tillman has struck out Bryce Harper in both at-bats so far. Update: Clint Robinson and Ian Desmond connected...

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Zimmermann will start tomorrow, Williams remains undecided on Sunday

July 10, 2015, 2:41pm

Nationals

Zimmermann will start tomorrow, Williams remains undecided on Sunday

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams said right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will return from paternity leave to start tomorrow night's game against the Orioles. Zimmermann's wife, Mandy, gave birth to their daughter, Ava Kristeen, this morning. "Now that we know that everybody's healthy and everybody's gonna be home, Jordan is gonna pitch tomorrow and determine Sunday at some point tomorrow," Williams said. Right-hander Max Scherzer threw his bullpen session this afternoon at Camden...

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Yunel Escobar returns for the Nationals (with lineups)

July 10, 2015, 11:47am

Nationals

BALTIMORE - Yunel Escobar will see his first action since leaving Monday's loss to the Reds in the fifth inning with tightness in his left hamstring. With Denard Span (back spasms) on the 15-day disabled list, Escobar assumes the leadoff spot in the order. He is 11-for-35 (.314) with one homer and one double batting first. Escobar propelled the Nats to a 5-2 win over the Phillies on April 16 when he started the game with a home run off Cole Hamels. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez has won his past...

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Difo up, Barrett back, Span to DL in flurry of roster moves

July 10, 2015, 10:57am

Nationals

Difo up, Barrett back, Span to DL in flurry of roster moves

BALTIMORE - The Nationals made a flurry of roster moves ahead of the final series of the first half, the first of two interleague series against the Orioles at Camden Yards. Center fielder Denard Span, who has been troubled by back problems and previously said he expected to miss the weekend series, was placed on the 15-day disabled list, while right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was placed on the paternity list. To take their places on the 25-man roster, the Nationals recalled infielder Wilmer Difo...

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Nationals recall Difo, reinstate Barrett; Span placed on 15-day DL, Zimmermann placed on paternity list

July 10, 2015, 10:45am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Wilmer Difo from Double-A Harrisburg, and returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett from the 15-day disabled list on Friday. Center fielder Denard Span was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 7, with back tightness and right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann was placed on the paternity list. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Difo, 23, joins the...

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Nationals Nationals News Release

#AskRendon: Anthony Rendon answers fans questions in Twitter takeover

July 10, 2015, 10:29am

Nationals

#AskRendon: Anthony Rendon answers fans questions in Twitter takeover

While he doesn't have a Twitter account of his own, Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon was an old pro when he took to the @masnNationals account to answer fans' questions. MASN's Twitter followers submitted questions for Rendon using #AskRendon, and then the real fun began. Rendon wielded both baseball-related and off-the-field questions, with topics ranging from his favorite baseball player growing up to "the biggest bromance on the team." Naturally, some of his answers proved to be...

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Matthew Taylor: Will Nats' Harper be taking aim at warehouse this weekend?

July 10, 2015, 6:05am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Will Nats' Harper be taking aim at warehouse this weekend?

Would you be OK with a batter from a visiting team hitting the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards? What if it were a member of the New York Yankees? The Boston Red Sox? How about the Washington Nationals? What if Bryce Harper were to do it this weekend? Two years ago, then-Washington Examiner columnist Thom Loverro predicted that Harper would hit the warehouse, boasting, "They might as well order the plaque now. Sooner or later, he is going to hit that warehouse." Loverro argued it could well...

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Bryce Harper leads Nationals into Beltways series

July 10, 2015, 5:44am

Nationals

Bryce Harper enters this weekend's series at hitter-friendly Camden Yards batting only .194 (7-for-36) in 10 career games against the Orioles, his third lowest mark against any club in the majors. But this year's version of Harper is much more polished at the plate, where he has added patience and discipline to his approach. His .471 on-base percentage, .709 slugging percentage and 1.181 OPS leads all big leaguers while his .343 batting average is just seven points behind Detroit's Miguel...

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Patrick Reddington: Taking a look at Doug Fister's struggles

July 10, 2015, 5:27am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Taking a look at Doug Fister's struggles

While plenty of digital ink has been spilled examining what's wrong with Stephen Strasburg, Nationals rotation mate Doug Fister has struggled as well, though a little more quietly. Before Washington's 31-year-old sinkerballing right-hander landed on the DL with forearm tightness in mid-May, the free agent-to-be put up a 4.31 ERA in seven starts and 39 2/3 innings over which opposing hitters had a .291/.331/.456 line. In four starts since he's returned to the rotation, Fister has put up a...

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Orioles to celebrate 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken, Jr.'s record-breaking consecutive game streak

July 09, 2015, 12:05pm

Orioles

The Orioles will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken, Jr.'s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game on Tuesday, September 1, at the 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The celebration will recognize the iconic moment when Ripken played his 2,131st consecutive game, passing New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig, on September 6, 1995. Ripken will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of a variety of commemorative events planned at Oriole Park to honor the anniversary....

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Orioles Orioles News Release

Orioles reinstate Nolan Reimold from paternity list, release Delmon Young

July 09, 2015, 11:21am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated outfielder Nolan Reimold from the paternity list. The team also announced the release of outfielder Delmon Young. Reimold, 31, was placed on the paternity list on July 6. In 17 games with the Orioles this season since having his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk on June 9, he is batting .244/.340/.463 (10-41) with a double, triple, two home runs, five RBI, and seven runs scored. Young, 29, was designated for assignment on July 1. He...