Josh Land

Patrick Reddington: Nats' advice shaped Walters

August 01, 2014, 5:32am

Zach Walters was 166 games into his professional career after Arizona drafted him in the ninth round of the 2010 Draft out of the University of San Diego when the Nationals acquired him from the Diamondbacks in a July 2011 trade that sent veteran right-hander Jason Marquis to Arizona. "Zach Walters (is a) switch-hitting shortstop that we had seen as an amateur in the college ranks that we really liked," Nats general manager Mike Rizzo explained in a radio interview that summer. "He's...

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Opposite dugout: Seattle's stingy pitching staff looks to stifle O's bats in Baltimore

August 01, 2014, 4:12am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Seattle's stingy pitching staff looks to stifle O's bats in Baltimore

Manager: Lloyd McClendon, first year Record: 56-52 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Robinson Cano (.328/.389/.453, 25 doubles, 7 HR, 59 RBIs); 3B Kyle Seager (.281/.348/.486, 25 doubles, 16 HR, 67 RBIs); RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5, 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP); LHP James Paxton (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 0.67 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 1-3, 7 runs scored, 12 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 1: Roenis Elias vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 2: James Paxton vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug....

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Orioles reinstate left-hander T.J. McFarland; Right-hander Preston Guilmet optioned to Triple-A Norfolk

July 31, 2014, 11:53am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Bereavement List and optioned right-hander Preston Guilmet to Triple-A Norfolk. McFarland, 25, has gone 4-2 with a 3.07 ERA (41.0IP, 14ER) in 23 games (one start) for the Orioles this season. Guilmet, 27, did not pitch after being recalled on Monday. He has posted a 5.23 ERA (10.1IP, 6ER) in 10 games with the Orioles this season, striking out 12 and walking two.

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Nationals acquire infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from Indians

July 31, 2014, 11:25am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today acquired 28-year-old infielder Asdrubal Cabrera and cash considerations from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for shortstop Zach Walters. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cabrera is a career .270 hitter (933-for-3460) with 211 doubles, 82 home runs, 290 walks and a .331 career on-base percentage in 914 games, spent exclusively with the Indians, spanning eight seasons (2007-14). A two-time...

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Orioles acquire left-hander Andrew Miller from Boston in exchange for minor league left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez

July 31, 2014, 11:24am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-hander Andrew Miller from Boston in exchange for minor league left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Miller, 29, has posted a 2.34 ERA (42.1IP, 11ER) with 13 walks and 69 strikeouts in 50 appearances for Boston this season. He has held left-handed hitters to a .150/.203/.217 line in 65 plate appearances, while keeping righties to a .180/.279/.258 line in 105 plate appearances. Miller ranks fourth among major league relievers this season,...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals at the deadline and the other deadline

July 31, 2014, 4:32am

Nationals

When it comes to the Nationals front office as run by Mike Rizzo, there are no leaks. Any rumors about the Nationals leading up to this trade deadline have been mere speculation. Danny Espinosa doesn't have an major league-quality bat and with Ryan Zimmerman out for perhaps the rest of the season, the Nats lineup could use an upgrade. That is only marginally true. The Nationals have a record of 39-33 in games Espinosa starts and his 2014 OPS of .624 is right in line with the National League...

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Opposite dugout: Phillies aim to keep Nats on toes with top four starters slated to pitch

July 31, 2014, 4:23am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies aim to keep Nats on toes with top four starters slated to pitch

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 47-61 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: RF Marlon Byrd (.270/.318/.477, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 60 RBIs); 2B Chase Utley (.289/.355/.436, 26 doubles, 9 HR, 54 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (6-5, 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP); LHP Cliff Lee (4-5, 3.78 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 3-6, 29 runs scored, 43 runs allowed Pitching probables July 31: Cliff Lee vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 1: Roberto Hernandez vs. Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 2: A.J....

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Zach Wilt: Is Adam Jones an MVP?

July 31, 2014, 4:19am

Orioles

Adam Jones went yard in back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Angels. Opposing pitchers would be wise to just pitch around him in the first inning, as 11 of his 21 homers have come in that first frame. He's Major League Baseball's leader in first-inning homers. Jones shows up to the Yard hungry and ready to grind. He has cooled off a bit after slashing .348/.383/.643 in June, but no one can argue his importance to the Orioles this season. He leads the club in WAR at 4.1 via...

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Roark, Desmond and Storen on Nats' 4-3 win over Marlins

July 30, 2014, 1:35pm

Nationals

Roark, Desmond and Storen on Nats' 4-3 win over Marlins

Tanner Roark might've walked the first batter of Wednesday's sweep-avoiding 4-3 win over the Marlins, but he was exceptional from there. Roark allowed just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven in seven innings. The Nationals right-hander has held opponents to exactly one run in seven innings in each of his last four starts for a sparkling 1.29 ERA and a personal four-game winning streak. It also marked the Nats' sixth straight start of at least seven innings with...

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Williams: Rizzo "will not make a trade just to make a trade"

July 30, 2014, 9:03am

Nationals

Williams: Rizzo "will not make a trade just to make a trade"

One day remains until baseball's non-waiver trade deadline and whether the Nationals will be active or stand pat remains to be determined. The pitching staff is just fine, and entered play today leading the majors in ERA. Maybe the only obvious area for improvement is second or third base with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) now out for the foreseeable future. But there's no guarantee that a move will make sense. Manager Matt Williams answered a series of questions regarding the...

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Rachel Levitin: Nats need to pay extra attention to NL East games down the stretch

July 30, 2014, 5:27am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats need to pay extra attention to NL East games down the stretch

It hasn't been an easy road trip for the Nationals. They're 4-4 against the Rockies, Reds and Marlins with one more game to be played before heading home on Thursday. The Nats have dropped two of three in Miami with their final game of that series this afternoon. Once they return to Washington, the next homestand - if played well - could help bolster their hopes for a slightly longer season, as long as they make a strong strike against their National League East division foes. The Phillies...

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Daniel Clark: Pitching now the key to Orioles' winning ways

July 30, 2014, 4:25am

Orioles

As August approaches and the Orioles hold on to the outright lead in first place, there is a growing expectation among the fan base that 2014 will be the year in which the American League East title finally returns to Baltimore for the first time since 1997. When the Orioles went close to breaking the pennant drought in 2012, it was the strength of the bullpen (3.00 ERA) and offensive power (214 home runs) that covered up for an inconsistent starting rotation. That rotation, which saw an...

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Opposite dugout: Cooled Angels look to return favor against Orioles in Baltimore

July 29, 2014, 5:42am

Orioles

Manager: Mike Scioscia, 15th year Record: 63-41 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: CF Mike Trout (.302/.390/.592, 30 doubles, 24 HR, 76 RBIs, 72 R); 1B Albert Pujols (.273/.325/.472, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 66 RBIs, 60 R); RF Kole Calhoun (.290/.346/.492, 11 HR, 30 RBIs); RHP Garrett Richards (11-3, 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 1-2, 7 runs scored, 10 runs allowed Pitching probables July 29: Jered Weaver vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 30: Garrett Richards vs. Kevin Gausman, 7...

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Jon Shepherd: The first half does not matter

July 29, 2014, 5:35am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: The first half does not matter

It is natural to think of the most recent occurrences to be the product of a new realization. That is, if a player all of a sudden has a monster first half or a terrible first half, then that player is defined by that play. However, if the only bits of information you have are projections from the beginning of the year and how a player has performed so far, then you can ignore the latter and focus solely on the former. In other words, it is more likely that Nelson Cruz's preseason projection...

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Dave Nichols: With Zimmerman out, Nats should deal for infielder

July 29, 2014, 4:58am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: With Zimmerman out, Nats should deal for infielder

The major league trade deadline is Thursday. The Nationals have won eight of their last 12 games and 15 of the last 23. But with Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury reportedly keeping him out of the lineup for six to eight weeks, most folks around baseball think the Nats will be active in the trade market for an infielder - either second base or third - to help the team with its pursuit of a division title. In this space a week ago, I came to the conclusion that the Nats were as healthy as...

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Williams on second base rotation, Zimmerman, Soriano and more

July 28, 2014, 2:52pm

Nationals

Williams on second base rotation, Zimmerman, Soriano and more

Since losing third baseman/outfielder Ryan Zimmerman last Tuesday to a hamstring injury, Nationals manager Matt Williams has started Danny Espinosa, Zach Walters and Kevin Frandsen at second base. Espinosa has started three of the five games despite sporting a .214 average this season. He will also start tonight's series opener in Miami after picking up one hit in Sunday's win over the Reds. "I just like the way Danny played yesterday," Williams told reporters in Miami. "He hit three...

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Hair Cuttery styling upcoming Social Media Weekend at Nats Park

July 28, 2014, 7:42am

Nationals

Hair Cuttery styling upcoming Social Media Weekend at Nats Park

Did you hear? We're at it again! We're excited to kick off another Social Media Weekend (#masnSMW) styled by Hair Cuttery this Friday, Aug. 1 at Nationals Park. Before our full weekend of giveaways, prizes, seat upgrades and more, Gio Gonzalez will be taking out a lucky group of MASN Word of the Day winners to lunch in the District. After lunch, the fun continues for everyone at Nats Park. We'll be on site with Hair Cuttery all weekend, and if you're at the park, we want to hook you up!...

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Marty Niland: History shows Rizzo deals for difference-makers

July 28, 2014, 5:27am

Nationals

Marty Niland: History shows Rizzo deals for difference-makers

Aside from President Obama's golf scores, the most closely held secrets in Washington these days are how long Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury will keep him sidelined and whether the Nationals will make a trade to replace Zimmerman's potent bat if his absence is a long one. General manager Mike Rizzo has said publicly that he likes the current roster, and that he has confidence that Danny Espinosa, Kevin Frandsen and recent call-up Zach Walters will collectively fill the void. Perhaps he's...

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Andrew Stetka: Road success shows O's postseason dreams are a reality

July 28, 2014, 5:13am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Road success shows O's postseason dreams are a reality

There's previously been some doubt surrounding the Orioles' ability to hang with the upper class of the American League. After a 6-4 road trip against the three best teams in the AL West, there's no longer any doubt that they have that ability. The O's have carried the third-best record in the AL since the end of May and the pitching of late has been spectacular. Everyone on the outside looks at the Orioles and sees an offensive juggernaut that lacks the arms to succeed in October, but if...

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Opposite dugout: Streaking Marlins look to stay hot on mound with Nats in town

July 28, 2014, 3:18am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Streaking Marlins look to stay hot on mound with Nats in town

Manager: Mike Redmond, second year Record: 51-53 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Giancarlo Stanton (.292/.391/.536, 24 doubles, 23 HR, 69 RBIs, 66 R); CF Marcell Ozuna (.270/.318/.456, 15 doubles, 16 HR, 55 RBIs); 3B Casey McGehee (.310/.376/.383, 24 XBH, 59 RBIs); RHP Henderson Alvarez (7-5, 2.62 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 3-5, 35 runs scored, 46 runs allowed Pitching probables July 28: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 29: Henderson Alvarez vs....