Josh Land

Williams on Harper: "I'd like to see him back by the first of July"

June 04, 2014, 1:53pm

It's still too early for Matt Williams and the Nationals to have an accurate read on when Bryce Harper will be able to return from a torn ligament in his left thumb. But Williams does have a target date in mind. The Nats manager would like to see Harper back by July 1. "He's continuing to work with the therapist and do a little bit of strengthening, but he can't swing a bat yet, it's not time yet," Williams said. "He's itching, he's pacing. But that's one of those things where he's...

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Rachel Levitin: Examining fallout of Zimmerman's move

June 04, 2014, 5:27am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Examining fallout of Zimmerman's move

I didn't want to have to echo someone else's sentiments this morning, but I do find myself in agreement with MASNsports.com's Pete Kerzel. While I concur with Kerzel when he says he understands why the Nationals are turning Ryan Zimmerman into a utility man - since that appears to be what they have an urgent need for - I, too, feel it's more than a little strange. Last week, I floated the thought of moving Zimmerman to second base. I'm still not completely convinced that it's a bad idea,...

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Daniel Clark: Where would O's be without Cruz?

June 04, 2014, 5:12am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: Where would O's be without Cruz?

As the Orioles continue their inconsistent season, which between short-term winning and losing streaks has left them with a fragile record of 29-27, their most valuable player through 56 games continues to shine. Nelson Cruz was a late signing for the O's, having only inked a deal in the last week of February. At the time, the one-year deal worth a reported $8 million was touted as being an absolute bargain for the O's. Now, almost a third of the way through the season, it's become evident...

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Harper only Nats player in NL All-Star running

June 03, 2014, 11:06am

Nationals

Harper only Nats player in NL All-Star running

It's a good thing All-Star voting continues until July 3. Why? The Nationals are barley visible in the most recently released All-Star balloting figures. In the most recent results, Bryce Harper is the only Nats player with a shot at being in the National League's starting All-Star lineup, and it's not looking promising. Harper sits in 15th place among NL outfielders with 314,860 votes, which is understandable considering he has only played in 22 games this season due to surgery to repair a...

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Nats reinstate Ryan Zimmerman from DL, option IF/OF Tyler Moore to Triple-A Syracuse

June 03, 2014, 10:23am

Nationals

Nats reinstate Ryan Zimmerman from DL, option IF/OF Tyler Moore to Triple-A Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-Day Disabled List, and optioned infielder/outfielder Tyler Moore to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Zimmerman, 29, returns to the Nationals after missing 44 games due to a right thumb fracture, suffered April 12 at Atlanta. He rejoins the active roster after hitting .357...

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Stuart Wallace: Fister's fielding continues to back his pitching approach

June 03, 2014, 5:00am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: Fister's fielding continues to back his pitching approach

As a pitcher not blessed with the high-octane fastball of some of his Nationals starting rotation cohorts, Doug Fister must do a lot of things, well, sometimes perfectly in order to succeed. Much of this success, which he appears to have finally found as a Washington National after a brief convalescence for a back injury, lies in his ability to locate his pitches on the corners and for these pitches to have movement, not so much in order to generate swings and misses, but to generate contact....

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Jon Shepherd: Nick Markakis is everything

June 03, 2014, 4:49am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: Nick Markakis is everything

Over the first third of this season, there has been considerable discussion about how well Nick Markakis has performed. Depending on your perspective, he has been doing poorly, has been a breath of fresh air or something in between. Amazingly, all of those stances are somewhat equal in being accurate. Markakis has been doing poorly, he has been excelling and he has been merely adequate. How is this so? It depends on what you choose as your baseline. Back in the day, we nailed what Markakis...

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Orioles select contract of left-hander Johan Santana and place him on the 15-day disabled list

June 02, 2014, 3:07pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Johan Santana from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the 15-day disabled list (recovering from left shoulder surgery). Santana, 35, was signed to a minor league contract on March 4. A two-time Cy Young Award winner (2004 and '06), four-time All-Star (2005-07 and '09) and a Gold Glove winner (2007), Santana is 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA (2025.2IP, 721ER) in 360 career games (284 starts) with the Twins and Mets since...

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Opposite dugout: Rangers, O's set for series of reunions in Texas

June 02, 2014, 1:30pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Rangers, O's set for series of reunions in Texas

Manager: Ron Washington, eighth year Record: 29-28 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: LF Shin-Soo Choo (.289/.414/.456, 6 HR, 18 RBIs); RF Alex Rios (.320/.352/.473, 22 XBH, 29 RBIs, 11 SB); 3B Adrian Beltre (.291/.354/.442, 5 HR, 20 RBIs); RHP Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.75 ERA) Season series vs. O's (2013): 2-5, 25 runs scored, 32 runs allowed Pitching probables June 3: Joe Saunders vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD June 4: Nick Martinez vs. Bud Norris, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD June 5: Colby Lewis vs....

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Opposite dugout: Struggling Phils look to get on track in D.C.

June 02, 2014, 12:43pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Struggling Phils look to get on track in D.C.

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 24-31 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Chase Utley (.319/.378/.517, 30 XBH, 27 RBIs); RF Marlon Byrd (.274/.330/.476, 8 HR, 17 doubles, 32 RBIs); 1B Ryan Howard (.226/.300/.428, 11 HR, 40 RBIs); RHP A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.79 ERA) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 11 runs scored, 7 runs allowed Pitching probables June 3: David Buchanan vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 4: A.J. Burnett vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 5: Kyle Kendrick...

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All-Star voting: Cruz overtakes Ortiz, Wieters still leads at catcher

June 02, 2014, 12:14pm

Orioles

All-Star voting: Cruz overtakes Ortiz, Wieters still leads at catcher

Nelson Cruz already tops the major leagues in home runs and RBIs. Now he leads in another category. Cruz, who has hit 20 homers and collected 52 RBIs this year, is now the American League leader among designated hitters in the most recent All-Star Game balloting results. Cruz jumped ahead of Boston's David Ortiz in the latest figures after setting an Orioles record for the most RBIs before the end of May. Cruz has received 888,855 votes and leads Ortiz (766,631), Victor Martinez of the Tigers...

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Marty Niland: Sub-.500 team can blame some notorious Nats killers

June 02, 2014, 4:54am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Sub-.500 team can blame some notorious Nats killers

Yu Darvish's performance on Sunday (five hits in eight innings with 12 strikeouts) certainly qualifies as one of the better games ever pitched against the Nationals, but this was also his first time facing them. Luckily for Washington fans, Darvish plays in the American League, so as Bob Carpenter might say, they'll "see Yu later" (most likely in three years). But over the past few weeks, some players who seem to make a regular living off the Nats have been up to their old tricks, turning a...

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Andrew Stetka: O's window doesn't have to close

June 01, 2014, 4:52pm

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: O's window doesn't have to close

There's been much made of a so-called window the Orioles are playing with over the next two seasons. Many believe the club's best chance to compete is when Chris Davis and Matt Wieters are under contract. Additions like Nelson Cruz for this season enhance that thought, and having a lack of superior competition in the American League East makes eyes widen even larger. The problem I have with this mindset of a window is that it was built by those running the ballclub. For years, Orioles fans...

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Patrick Reddington: The Nationals' once and future closer

May 30, 2014, 6:23am

Nationals

In 6 2/3 innings pitched this spring, 26-year-old former Nationals closer Drew Storen gave up nine hits, six walks and six earned runs (8.10 ERA) with opposing hitters posting a .310 batting average against him in Grapefruit League action. Storen endured a tough 2013 campaign in which he was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse for a stretch before returning to finish strong with 19 1/3 innings in the majors that saw him allow just three earned runs (1.40 ERA), while holding opponents to a combined...

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Opposite dugout: Injury-depleted Rangers still finding ways to win

May 30, 2014, 4:51am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Injury-depleted Rangers still finding ways to win

Manager: Ron Washington, eighth year Record: 28-26 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: LF Shin-Soo Choo (.297/.423/.465, 6 HR, 18 RBIs); RF Alex Rios (.325/.356/.486, 22 XBH, 29 RBIs, 10 SB); RHP Yu Darvish (4-2, 2.35 ERA, 1.11 WHIP); RHP Nick Tepesch (2-0, 2.95 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2013): Did not play Pitching probables May 30: Colby Lewis vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD May 31: Nick Tepesch vs. Doug Fister, 12 p.m., MASN HD June 1: Yu Darvish vs. Tanner Roark, 1:30...

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Matthew Taylor: O's single-season homer list undergoes modern renovations

May 30, 2014, 4:38am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: O's single-season homer list undergoes modern renovations

Cal Ripken Jr. stepped to the plate in the sixth inning on Sept. 29, 1991, and stroked his second home run of the game against the Detroit Tigers. It would be his 34th and final homer of the season. Ripken, Baltimore's career home run leader, tied Boog Powell for seventh on the O's single-season home run list with that effort; both players now rank 17th. Powell, who has the third-most career home runs in Orioles history, held four of the top 10 spots on the single-season list when Ripken...

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Marlins-Nationals May 27 game at Nationals Park rescheduled as part of split doubleheader on Sept. 26

May 29, 2014, 9:19am

Nationals

The May 27 Nationals-Marlins game at Nationals Park has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Friday, September 26, with the make-up game beginning at 1:05 p.m. All gates for the second regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. game on September 26 will open 1.5 hours after the last out of the 1:05 p.m. game or 6:00 p.m., whichever is later.* The two games against the Marlins on September 26 will require separate admission. Fans with game tickets to the May 27 postponed contest may use their...

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Opposite dugout: Astros look to stay one of majors' hottest teams with Birds in town

May 29, 2014, 4:48am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Astros look to stay one of majors' hottest teams with Birds in town

Manager: Bo Porter, second year Record: 22-32 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF George Springer (.269/.361/.510, 9 HR, 27 RBIs); 2B Jose Altuve (.317/.361/.430, 20 XBH, 17 RBIs, 17 SB); LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP); RHP Scott Feldman (3-2, 3.02 ERA) Season series vs. O's: 1-2, 12 runs scored, 11 runs allowed Pitching probables May 29: Brad Peacock vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 8 p.m., MASN HD May 30: Brett Oberholtzer vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD May 31: Dallas Keuchel vs....

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David Huzzard: An early look at the Nats as sellers

May 29, 2014, 4:37am

Nationals

David Huzzard: An early look at the Nats as sellers

The trade deadline is a little over two months away, and as with anything in baseball when there is a deadline, nothing will happen until it is upon us. With the Nationals two games under .500 and falling further out of the playoff race every day, the question of if the Nats are going to be sellers at the trade deadline should be asked, and if they are a seller, who could go? The most obvious candidates to be traded are the veterans in the last year of guaranteed club control: Adam LaRoche,...

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Zach Wilt: Building on the core with Samardzija is the right move

May 29, 2014, 4:20am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Building on the core with Samardzija is the right move

For years, I wanted to see the Orioles stockpile their farm system and build a winner through their homegrown talent. I understood that they would never outbid the teams in major media markets for big-name free agents and truthfully, there was something more satisfying about the thought of beating those teams with guys that have come through the system. In 2012, the O's snapped their 14-year losing streak and made the postseason for the first time since 1997. You remember, it was a magical...