Josh Land

Nats down early in San Francisco (Nats lose 7-1)

June 12, 2014, 12:25pm

Over his first three major league starts, right-hander Blake Treinen has pitched to a miniscule ERA of 1.78. However, he has yet to earn his first win in the majors, and is 0-2 on the season. If he wants to earn his first win today, he'll need the Nationals to mount a comeback. After pitching a scoreless first inning, Treinen allowed two runs in the second. The first run came on Tyler Colvin's monster hit that bounced at the base of the right field wall. Jayson Werth had a hard time...

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Williams credits improved defense before series finale

June 12, 2014, 11:50am

Nationals

Williams credits improved defense before series finale

Before today's game in San Francisco, manager Matt Williams met with the media and discussed the Nationals' improved defense before looking ahead to the finale. "I think guys have settled into the season a little more. It's cold early, playing in cold weather is a factor, but I wanted to say it to you guys early and I believe it. I think it was a little bit of aberration," Williams said to reporters in San Francisco. "There was some weird things, so that being said, they work hard and...

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Washington Nationals finalists announced as part of MLB, Target and Time Inc.'s 'People' "All-Star Teachers" Program

June 12, 2014, 11:18am

Nationals

Major League Baseball, Target Corp (NYSE: TGT) and PEOPLE recently announced that Washington Nationals fans Sabrina Hayden, Jessica Valoris and Chad Wright are the team's finalists in the "Target Presents PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" campaign, which celebrates remarkable current and retired teachers who make an impact on the lives of their students and communities. The three finalists will visit Nationals Park next Tuesday, June 17 to take part in the pregame ceremony before the Nationals take...

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David Huzzard: How hot has the Nats' starting pitching been?

June 12, 2014, 6:54am

Nationals

David Huzzard: How hot has the Nats' starting pitching been?

Coming into this week, the Nationals had won three consecutive series, but because they were against the underperforming Rangers and the below-.500 Phillies and Padres, it wasn't certain if the Nationals had turned a corner or found a soft spot in the schedule. Starting Monday, the Nationals were going to be tested by the Giants in a four-game series and the Nationals passed the test. Not only have they taken the first three games of the four-game series, they have yet to trail on the...

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Zach Wilt: Best season of Nick Markakis' career?

June 12, 2014, 6:50am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Best season of Nick Markakis' career?

I can't get enough of the season that Nick Markakis is putting together in 2014. Atop the Orioles lineup, he's turned into one of baseball's most consistent leadoff hitters. Coming into Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Markakis had hit .318 in 145 games as the O's leadoff hitter and was batting .410 in the first inning this season. But you already know how dominant he has looked to since moving to the top of Buck Showalter's lineup. What I've been more fascinated with is how this...

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Opposite dugout: Blue Jays look to pad AL East lead in Baltimore

June 11, 2014, 11:38am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays look to pad AL East lead in Baltimore

Manager: John Gibbons, second year Record: 39-28 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF Jose Bautista (.311/.434/.548, 15 HR, 45 RBIs); 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.261/.350/.582, 20 HR, 16 doubles, 53 RBIs); LHP Mark Buehrle (10-2, 2.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP); RHP Drew Hutchison (4-4, 3.96 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 3-3, 35 runs scored, 29 runs allowed Pitching probables June 12: Mark Buehrle vs. Kevin Gausman, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD June 13: Drew Hutchison vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 7 p.m., MASN HD June...

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Finalists announced for Orioles as part of MLB, Target, People "All-Star Teachers" program

June 11, 2014, 10:30am

Orioles

Major League Baseball, Target, and People recently announced the 90 finalists in the "Target Presents People All-Star Teachers" campaign, which celebrates remarkable current and retired teachers who make an impact on the lives of their students and communities. The three finalists for the Baltimore Orioles are Brian Raska, Dr. Catherine Thorson and Thomas Arentz. Fans are encouraged to visit www.AllStarTeachers.com to vote on their favorite stories through June 29. One winner from each of...

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Rachel Levitin: A take on the discontinuation of "Take on Me"

June 11, 2014, 6:13am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: A take on the discontinuation of "Take on Me"

With the Nationals out of town, this gives folks like me who don't travel to cover the team a little break of sorts. For me, I find Nats road trips to be a time for reflection. That includes thinking about the team's work on the field, but also other things like the discontinuation of A-ha's "Take On Me" being played after the seventh-inning stretch. Reports of this change in musical selections occurred over the weekend in May when the Mets were in town. Just over six weeks into the...

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Daniel Clark: O's rotation set for change

June 11, 2014, 5:00am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: O's rotation set for change

As the Orioles continue to experience troubles on the mound, a series of injuries last week to both Johan Santana, who was nearing a comeback, and Miguel Gonzalez has thrown up a number of possibilities with the starting rotation going forward. Having been inconsistent all season, the planned addition of Santana was hoped to add an element of consistency and reliability to a shaky group of starters. However, his season-ending Achilles injury, suffered while retrieving a batted ball during an...

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Orioles to host 5K walk benefiting LUNGevity Foundation in memory of Monica Pence Barlow at Oriole Park September 20

June 10, 2014, 11:11am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they will host LUNGevity Foundation's Breathe Deep Baltimore, a walk to raise funds and awareness for lung cancer in memory of Orioles' late Public Relations Director, Monica Pence Barlow, on September 20 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The 5K walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude on the field. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., and participants will receive a T-shirt and refreshments. Registration fees are $25 for adults, $20 for lung cancer survivors,...

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Jon Shepherd: When stats fail

June 10, 2014, 6:35am

Orioles

One of the early thoughts that emerged through the primordial sabermetric movement was that the previous year's numbers racked up at Triple-A was as meaningful as those earned at the major league level when trying to determine what would happen in the upcoming season. That matured into more refined ways to project performance, such as Clay Davenport's Minor League Translations. That approach looks at park factors, the performance of players crossing over from one minor league level to the...

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Stuart Wallace: Treinen a bright spot for Nats so far in '14

June 10, 2014, 5:04am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: Treinen a bright spot for Nats so far in '14

Blake Treinen has done much as of late to solidify not only his spot on the 25-man roster, but in the starting rotation. In his most recent start against the San Diego Padres and rotation stalwart Andrew Cashner, the right-hander scattered five hits and two earned runs over six innings, keeping the Nationals in a game that was eventually lost 4-3 in 11 innings. While the effort did not earn him an elusive first major league win, it was nonetheless one that speaks well to Treinen's talent and...

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Nats losing ground in All-Star Game voting

June 09, 2014, 4:45pm

Nationals

Nats losing ground in All-Star Game voting

The Nationals have made very little progress in the voting for the 2014 All-Star Game. Since the first release of balloting figures on May 28, Washington has seen just two players with a shot at making the National League's starting lineup on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis. Now just one remains. Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper stands alone as the only Nationals player vying for a starting gig, and he hasn't played in more than a month. Harper has moved up one spot in the most recent...

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Orioles select contract of RHP Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk

June 09, 2014, 1:49pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of RHP Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned RHP Brad Brach to Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson, 26, has gone 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA (26.0IP, 15ER) in nine games (two starts) for Norfolk, striking out a batter per inning. Brach, 28, has pitched to a 5.40 ERA (18.1IP, 11ER) in 10 games for the Orioles this season. To make room for Stinson on the 40-man roster, LHP Johan Santana has been transferred to the 60-day DL.

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Jordan Zimmermann named National League Player of the Week

June 09, 2014, 12:21pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann named National League Player of the Week

Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann today was named the National League Player of the Week. Major League Baseball made the announcement this afternoon on MLB Network. Zimmermann, 28, opened the month of June with 17 consecutive scoreless innings as he pitched back-to-back gems over the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres. In earning his first NL Player of the Week honors, Zimmermann went 2-0, allowed just seven hits, walked one and struck out 16. He held opposing...

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Zimmermann throws gem, rewarded with top-notch videobombs

June 09, 2014, 7:50am

Nationals

Zimmermann throws gem, rewarded with top-notch videobombs

Jordan Zimmermannn tossed a fantastic game Sunday, going the distance in the Nationals' 6-0 victory over the Padres. After the game, he talked to Dan Kolko about holding San Diego to just two hits in the shutout. While Zimmermann was the star of the show, the stars of the video may just be teammates Jerry Blevins and Drew Storen. Check out the hilarious antics for yourself below.

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Marty Niland: Nationals face their own Test of Champions

June 09, 2014, 5:32am

Nationals

Just like California Chrome coming off his Preakness victory in mid-May, the Nationals finally seem to be rounding into form. They have won seven of their past nine games, outscoring opponents 53-16. The bats have been hot, with the fifth-best OPS in the National League at .737 since the start of the month. The starting rotation has put together two straight solid turns, and is coming off its strongest stretch of the season. Over the past six games, Nats starters have struck out 44 batters and...

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Andrew Stetka: Machado's reputation on the line after rough weekend

June 08, 2014, 7:09pm

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Machado's reputation on the line after rough weekend

It seems the so-called unwritten rules of baseball have been tested throughout this season. We've seen brawls between the Pirates and Brewers, Red Sox and Rays. and a few different incidents now involving the Orioles - most notably when Bud Norris threw inside on Boston's David Ross. The latest stems from Manny Machado's actions on Friday night, which boiled over into yesterday and led to an ejection and a public shaming. All of a sudden, one of the game's most respected young stars has a...

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Machado, Jones, Markakis make progress in All-Star voting

June 08, 2014, 5:50pm

Orioles

Machado, Jones, Markakis make progress in All-Star voting

The Orioles are moving on up. Well, some of them. In the most recent All-Star balloting figures, designated hitter Nelson Cruz (1,404,275 votes) and catcher Matt Wieters (1,235,369) still lead at their respective positions, but a couple of Orioles are moving up the board. After being fourth American League third baseman in the previously released results, Manny Machado has now moved up to third with 720,761 votes. The young third baseman trails Josh Donaldson(1,470,544) of the A's and Evan...

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Opposite dugout: Giants, Nats match up two of baseball's best pitching staffs

June 08, 2014, 1:33pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Giants, Nats match up two of baseball's best pitching staffs

Manager: Bruce Bochy, eighth year Record: 42-21 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: LF Michael Morse (.278/.329/.550, 13 HR, 16 doubles, 42 RBIs); RF Hunter Pence (.290/.363/.468, 8 HR, 14 doubles, 23 RBIs); RHP Tim Hudson (6-2, 1.97 ERA, 0.96 WHIP); LHP Madison Bumgarner (8-3, 2.68 ERA, 90 K) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 3-3, 24 runs scored, 17 runs allowed Pitching probables June 9: Ryan Vogelsong vs. Stephen Strasburg, 10 p.m., MASN2 HD June 10: Madison Bumgarner vs. Doug Fister, 10 p.m.,...