Josh Land

Gonzalez, Peavy return to mound in stellar matchup (with lineups)

July 03, 2015, 11:03am

A well-rested Gio Gonzalez takes the mound for the Nationals against the Giants tonight. Gonzalez pitched only one inning last Saturday before the game was called due to rain. Nationals manager Matt Williams chose to hold Gonzalez out until his normal spot in the starting rotation came back around. Gonzalez's last full outing came back on June 21 when he threw seven scoreless innings, allowing only four hits in a win over the Pirates. Jake Peavy will be making just his third start of the...

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Matthew Taylor: Remembering 1974, when the O's went on an historic streak

July 03, 2015, 5:10am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Remembering 1974, when the O's went on an historic streak

Last Friday, the Nationals' scoreless innings streak by starters ended at 48 innings when the Phillies' Cody Asche laced an RBI double against Max Scherzer. It was the longest scoreless inning streak in franchise history and the second-longest streak in baseball history to the 1974 Orioles. Two days later, the Orioles shut out the Cleveland Indians in both games of a doubleheader. The last time the O's swept a doubleheader with two shutouts was ... 1974. Not only did both of the...

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Scherzer not issuing free passes, Nats offense scuffling entering Giants series

July 03, 2015, 4:58am

Nationals

Scherzer not issuing free passes, Nats offense scuffling entering Giants series

The Nationals wasted another incredible pitching performance from Max Scherzer in last night's 2-1 walk-off loss in Atlanta. The Braves combined an infield single and a chopper that bounced over Yunel Escobar's head to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Scherzer has a decision in all but one of his starts this season, with the Nationals holding a 10-6 record when their ace pitches. But in Scherzer's six losses, the Nationals have managed to score a combined seven...

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Patrick Reddington: Clint Robinson making the most of his opportunities

July 03, 2015, 4:54am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Clint Robinson making the most of his opportunities

After eight minor league seasons and a total of 3,836 minor league and 73 major league plate appearances, 30-year-old Nationals first baseman/outfielder Clint Robinson finally connected for his first major league home run in the Nats' June 11 game in Milwaukee's Miller Park. Robinson, 30, hit 141 homers in the minor leagues for Royals, Jays and Dodgers minor league affiliates, putting up a combined .302/.381/.510 line in 921 minor league games. But before this season, the 2007 25th-round pick...

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Controversial call costs Scherzer, Nationals

July 02, 2015, 7:11pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer pitched brilliantly once again only to take the loss on a controversial call that resulted in a 2-1 walk-off win for the Braves in the bottom of the ninth. Nationals manager Matt Williams sent Scherzer back out for the ninth after throwing only 97 pitches through the first eight frames. Braves skipper Fredi Gonzalez countered with pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco, who beat out a bouncing ball to Danny Espinosa for a leadoff single. Ciriaco quickly advanced to second on Jace Peterson's...

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Braves beat Scherzer, Nats 2-1 on walk-off single in ninth

July 02, 2015, 4:34pm

Nationals

Braves beat Scherzer, Nats 2-1 on walk-off single in ninth

Max Scherzer breezed through the first four innings, allowing just one base hit with four strikeouts. But Braves third baseman Juan Uribe ripped a leadoff double in the fifth. Uribe then scored easily on a one-out single to center from shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Scherzer has thrown 64 pitches through five frames. Meanwhile, the Nationals have struggled to figure out Braves left-hander Manny Banuelos, who's making his major league debut. The rookie has struck out seven while only yielding two...

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Max Scherzer honored again as NL Pitcher of the Month

July 02, 2015, 1:52pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer honored again as NL Pitcher of the Month

After tossing his first career no-hitter, Max Scherzer was recognized as the National League Pitcher of the Month for June. Scherzer, who also received the honor in May, began the month by allowing a combined eight earned runs over two losses. But the 30-year-old right-hander responded in his third start with one of the most dominating performances in Major League Baseball History. Scherzer threw six perfect innings at Milwaukee before allowing a broken bat bloop single to the Brewers' Carlos...

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Escobar, Span making All-Star cases (with lineups)

July 02, 2015, 12:19pm

Nationals

Escobar, Span making All-Star cases (with lineups)

The Nationals boast three of the top 10 hitters in the National League. Bryce Harper has been getting most of the attention and deservingly so. Harper isn't just knocking the ball out of the ballpark. He's hitting 68 points higher than his career mark and Harper's .340 batting average is third best in the league. With the Major League Baseball All-Star fan vote closing at 11:59 p.m. ET tonight, Harper is virtually guaranteed to lead all players. At last count, Harper had over three million...

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Orioles recall right-hander Kevin Gausman, option right-hander Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk

July 02, 2015, 10:47am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalledr right-hander Kevin Gausman from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned right-hander Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk. Gausman, 24, has gone 1-0 with a 4.24 ERA (17.0IP, 8ER) in nine games (one start) with the Orioles this season. He has posted a 1.64 ERA (11.0IP, 2ER), while walking one and striking out nine over his last five Major League appearances. Gausman made one start with Triple-A Norfolk after being optioned to the Tides on June 21,...

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Orioles Orioles News Release

Orioles' Travis Snider meets his biggest fan from Thailand

July 02, 2015, 9:45am

Orioles

A pinch-hit grand slam in 2013 by then-Pittsburgh Pirate Travis Snider gave the Bucs a 5-3 lead over the Cubs. Beyond helping the Pirates eventually win 5-4, Snider's home run also had a much bigger, long-term effect: the birth of his superfan. Nine-year-old Wyatt Anthony said he called the grand slam right before it happened, and the big knock was what made Snider his favorite player. However, after the 2014 season came to an end, Wyatt and his family moved to Thailand. Shortly after, Snider...

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Zach Wilt: Reacting to O's decision to DFA Delmon Young

July 02, 2015, 5:08am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Reacting to O's decision to DFA Delmon Young

For weeks, we have speculated. But on Wednesday afternoon, the tough decision was finally made. Dan Duquette opted to designate Delmon Young for assignment and added reliever Tyler Wilson to the Orioles roster. Unlike previous seasons, the Orioles roster is filled with players who are out of options, which forced the club to part with a guy who slashed .270/.289/.339 for them this season. Like many fans in Charm City, on October 3, 2014, I screamed so loud that I lost my voice. I could actually...

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Max Scherzer aiming for series win in first shot at Braves

July 02, 2015, 4:37am

Nationals

Max Scherzer aiming for series win in first shot at Braves

The Braves get their first look this season at Nationals ace Max Scherzer in tonight's series finale in Atlanta. Scherzer finished June with one of the more remarkable three-game pitching performances the game has seen. He took perfect games into the sixth inning in all three starts while achieving a no-hitter, two complete-game shutouts and three wins. Scherzer surrendered just six hits in 26 innings over the three outings, striking out 33, walking one and hitting one batter. "Dominance,"...

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Nationals offense stalls in 4-1 loss

July 01, 2015, 9:02pm

Nationals

The Braves did all of their damage in the fourth inning against right-hander Doug Fister to end a nine-game losing streak against the Nationals with a 4-1 win. "I was fighting myself a little bit," Fister said to reporters. "Period. Didn't get my job done. I didn't keep our team in the game and that hurts." Fister faced only 10 batters in the first three innings, yielding just one walk without a hit. But in the crucial fourth, the Braves sent nine to the plate with five delivering hits....

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Homers cost Fister in Nats' 4-1 loss

July 01, 2015, 6:48pm

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister cruised through the Braves order the first time around, giving up just a walk to Cameron Maybin in the opening inning. Maybin bothered Fister in the fourth again, this time delivering Atlanta's first hit to trigger a big inning. Two batters later, Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski battled Fister before ripping a 3-2 cutter over the right field wall for a two-run homer. It was Pierzynski's third longball of his career against Fister. Juan Uribe stepped to the...

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David Huzzard: Savoring July as baseball's most enjoyable month

July 01, 2015, 5:22pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Savoring July as baseball's most enjoyable month

Welcome to July, one of the busiest months on the baseball calendar. First off, today is the opening of the international signing period which means a bunch of 15- and 16-year- olds out of the Caribbean will be signed by major league teams with the hopes of one day making it to the American minor leagues and then possibly the majors. This is only interesting in the fact that one day some of these players will be good but that is so far off it isn't even worth thinking about. Wilmer Difo has...

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Orioles recall right-hander Tyler Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk, designate outfielder Delmon Young for assignment

July 01, 2015, 3:45pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Tyler Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk and designated outfielder Delmon Young for assignment. Wilson, 25, made his major league debut on May 20 against the Seattle Mariners, tossing a scoreless inning in relief. He made his first career Major League start in Game 1 of a doubleheader on May 28 against the Chicago White Sox, allowing two runs on five hits over 6.0 innings. He has gone 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA (17.0IP, 4ER) in five games (one...

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Orioles Orioles News Release

Nats look to Fister for 10 in a row over Braves (game started)

July 01, 2015, 12:26pm

Nationals

Nats look to Fister for 10 in a row over Braves (game started)

The Nationals begin July in first place in the National League East, holding a 3 1/2 game lead over the Mets and leading tonight's opponent, the Braves, by seven. Nationals manager Matt Williams will send veteran righty Doug Fister to the mound to face Braves highly-ranked right-hander Matt Wisler. It will be a rematch from last Thursday night when Fister outpitched the 22-year-old as the Nationals finished off a sweep against the Braves in a 7-0 win. Fister allowed just four hits with one...

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Rachel Levitin: Nats' depth has come in handy

July 01, 2015, 5:22am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats' depth has come in handy

The Nationals are 3 1/2 games up over the New York Mets in the National League East after their 6-1 victory over the Braves in Atlanta on Tuesday night. They've won nine of their last 10 games, have battled through injuries to realign their starting rotation and have witnessed several hitting hot streaks for various players up and down the lineup. Despite a little bit of struggle to get back to first place within their division and stay atop the baseball standings as one of the teams with the...

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Zimmermann dominates Braves again in Nats' 6-1 win

June 30, 2015, 7:22pm

Nationals

Zimmermann dominates Braves again in Nats' 6-1 win

The Nationals' bats jumped on Shelby Miller quickly, giving Jordan Zimmermann more than enough offense to beat the Braves 6-1 tonight. Zimmermann dominated Atlanta for the second time in the last six days. He scattered six hits with six strikeouts and no walks over 7 2/3 scoreless innings. Zimmermann's control and command was superb as the right-hander only threw 24 balls out of his 109 pitches, meaning 78 percent of his pitches were strikes, the highest strike percentage of his career in 7...

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Domenic Vadala: Playing roster roulette with the Orioles

June 30, 2015, 6:19pm

Orioles

Barring a trade or injury, the Orioles are probably going to have to risk losing at least one player this week by designating them for assignment. If they opt not to option Jonathan Schoop to the minors to continue his rehab, they'll potentially have to DFA a second player at some point. This is never easy, both from a personal and a business standpoint. The last thing that any team wants is a guy that's literally on their payroll and playing for someone else. Having said that, the time is...