Mark Zuckerman

A Saturday night at the ballpark unlike any other

July 17, 2021, 10:09pm

It happened a split second after Kyle Finnegan struck out Wil Myers to end the top of the sixth. As the Nationals started to make their way off the field at the conclusion of a frustrating half-inning that saw their 5-4 deficit to the Padres balloon into an 8-4 deficit, the shots could clearly be heard. There were maybe five or six of them in rapid succession, emanating from our left as we looked down from the press box high above Nationals Park. We looked at each other, asked "Did you hear...

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Game suspended after three shot outside Nats Park (updated)

July 17, 2021, 6:16pm

Nationals

Game suspended after three shot outside Nats Park (updated)

The Nationals' game against the Padres tonight came to an abrupt halt after a shooting took place outside Nationals Park following the top of the sixth inning. Moments after Kyle Finnegan struck out Wil Myers to end the half-inning around 9:30 p.m., with the Padres leading 8-4, a series of approximately five or six gunshots could be heard emanating from behind the third base stands. Within a minute or so, a group of fans could be seen racing along the main concourse toward the center field...

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Rehab for Strasburg, Ross slowed by discomfort

July 17, 2021, 1:40pm

Nationals

Rehab for Strasburg, Ross slowed by discomfort

Stephen Strasburg's return from a neck injury has been slowed after the right-hander felt discomfort after facing live hitters last week prior to the Nationals' game in San Francisco. Strasburg made it through his July 9 simulated game against teammates at Oracle Park without any significant issues, manager Davey Martinez said, but the problem in his neck cropped up after the fact. "After talking to him, the conversation was it just didn't feel right," Martinez said today during his...

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Game 91 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

July 17, 2021, 11:22am

Nationals

You couldn't have drawn up a worse script for the first day coming out of the All-Star break from the Nationals' perspective that what transpired before and during Friday night's 24-8 loss to the Padres. So on some level, you have to be confident tonight has to be better, right? First and foremost, though, the Nats desperately need a quality start after Erick Fedde retired only four batters on Friday. That task falls on Patrick Corbin, who simply needs to be better in the second half than he...

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Rivera thrown into fire as latest catcher to join Nats

July 16, 2021, 11:16pm

Nationals

Rivera thrown into fire as latest catcher to join Nats

RenÃ© Rivera has played for 10 different major league clubs over 13 seasons, none of them for more than a total of 130 games, so it's not exactly unusual for the veteran catcher to find himself scrambling to get to know a new team on the fly. Still, what Rivera experienced Friday night hours after signing with the Nationals - catching a 4-hour, 15-minute marathon on a sweltering night, and watching the Padres beat his new club 24-8 - could hardly be considered ordinary for even the...

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Nats ransacked by Padres in second-half opener (updated)

July 16, 2021, 7:21pm

Nationals

Nats ransacked by Padres in second-half opener (updated)

Had this performance come last weekend, with the Nationals on fumes at the end of a brutal stretch heading into the All-Star break, it might've been understandable. Annoying, but understandable, given the circumstances. But for this to happen in the first game out of the break? With everyone refreshed and ready to go again? That isn't going to sit well with anyone employed by the Nationals who had to watch tonight's 24-8 beatdown at the hands of the Padres, a game that featured all kinds of...

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Nats change tune on Castro after domestic violence allegation

July 16, 2021, 2:33pm

Nationals

Nats change tune on Castro after domestic violence allegation

When Starlin Castro needed to leave the club for two days last month to deal with what was referred to as a "family matter," Nationals manager Davey Martinez did not hesitate to throw his full support behind the veteran infielder. "I 100 percent support him," Martinez said June 16 during a Zoom session with reporters. "We all support him here with the Nationals." This afternoon, after Castro had been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball, which is investigating an...

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Game 90 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

July 16, 2021, 1:21pm

Nationals

And we're back. The second half of the season gets underway tonight on South Capitol Street, and before Erick Fedde throws the first pitch, there's already been plenty of news. For those who didn't see it earlier: Starlin Castro has been placed on administrative leave while Major League Baseball investigates an allegation of domestic violence. Jordy Mercer has been activated off the 10-day injured list and will start at third base tonight against the Padres. Also, the Nationals signed...

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Castro goes on administrative leave, Nats add catcher Rivera

July 16, 2021, 11:31am

Nationals

Castro goes on administrative leave, Nats add catcher Rivera

Major League Baseball placed Starlin Castro on administrative leave this afternoon while the league investigates an allegation that the Nationals third baseman committed domestic violence. In a brief release announcing the transaction, MLB said Castro has been placed on leave "under the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy." Per the policy, the initial period of administrative leave may last up to seven days, though an extension is allowed. MLB said it...

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After limping into break, rested Nats need to start thriving

July 15, 2021, 7:25pm

Nationals

After limping into break, rested Nats need to start thriving

The Nationals closed out the season's first half with their toughest two-week stretch to date: 14 games in 14 days, all of them against contenders. The goal at the time: Survive and reach the All-Star break in one piece. How'd they do? Things started off swimmingly with three straight wins over the Mets and Rays. Then Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber got hurt just as the Nats were about to face the National League West's three top teams, and they proceeded to lose nine of 11, limping into the...

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Nationals second-half storylines

July 14, 2021, 8:49pm

Nationals

A roller coaster of a first half ended for the Nationals last weekend with a sweep in San Francisco, the final unexpected twist to 3 1/2 months of baseball that featured all kinds of unexpected twists. What, then, do the next 2 1/2 months have in store for this team? Can anyone truly say they know? You can make a compelling case for just about anything to happen to the Nats in the second half. Get healthy and surpass the Mets to win the National League East? Sure, that's possible. Completely...

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Nationals' first-half report card

July 13, 2021, 8:26pm

Nationals

This wasn't the best first half in Nationals history, nor was it the worst. It was arguably the most eventful they've ever had, a 3 1/2-month roller coaster ride that began with a shocking drop (the COVID-19 outbreak), slowly began to climb back up, then gave everyone a June thrill ride before hitting some major bumps in early July. The end result of all that was a 42-47 record at the All-Star break. Some years, that would leave the Nats out of contention and looking to sell at the trade...

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If Nats are going to make a run, stars must lead the way

July 12, 2021, 8:03pm

Nationals

If Nats are going to make a run, stars must lead the way

Seven major league clubs will have four or more players representing them tonight at Coors Field in the All-Star Game. Five of those clubs (the Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox and Astros) entered the break in possession of a postseason berth, and a sixth (the Blue Jays) owns a winning record. The seventh? That would be the Nationals, who despite climbing two games over the .500 mark two weeks ago, limped into the break having lost nine of 11 and now own a disappointing 42-47 record. And that...

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Nats go with high school shortstop House as No. 11 pick (updated)

July 11, 2021, 5:57pm

Nationals

Nats go with high school shortstop House as No. 11 pick (updated)

The Nationals veered off their typical course tonight and did not select a pitcher with their first pick of the First-Year Player Draft. But in making Brady House their choice at No. 11, they did go back to a familiar well they've tapped before when taking a position player. House, a high school shortstop from Georgia, is only the second position player the Nats have selected with their first draft pick since 2011. The other was Carter Kieboom, a high school shortstop from Georgia. The...

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Breaking down the breakdowns in shocking loss

July 08, 2021, 11:22pm

Nationals

Breaking down the breakdowns in shocking loss

There's still so much to process about Thursday night's 9-8 loss in San Diego, a Nationals loss that can't begin to be adequately explained merely through the final score. Let's try to delve into a few more aspects of this wackadoodle game at Petco Park, which at times defied explanation. ... * Max Scherzer's meltdown was as quick as it was shocking. It's not just that he gave up seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. It's that he gave up seven runs in the bottom of the fourth after...

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Scherzer, Nats turn eight-run lead into 9-8 loss (updated)

July 08, 2021, 9:00pm

Nationals

Scherzer, Nats turn eight-run lead into 9-8 loss (updated)

They led by eight runs after 3 1/2 innings, with Max Scherzer cruising and looking very much like he wanted to make a definitive statement about his exclusion from the All-Star Game roster for the first time since 2012. How that somehow turned into a one-run lead 10 batters into the worst nightmare of a fourth inning Scherzer or anyone else on the Nationals could ever have dreamed up, a nightmare that included the first grand slam by a relief pitcher in the major leagues since 1985, defied...

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Ross lands on IL but expected to return after break

July 08, 2021, 3:58pm

Nationals

Ross lands on IL but expected to return after break

The Nationals have been talking for months about the need to monitor Joe Ross' workload after the he opted out of the 2020 season. They weren't necessarily planning to give the right-hander time off right now in advance of the All-Star break, but when he reported tightness in his forearm following his between-starts bullpen session Wednesday, it was an easy decision for the club to take him off the active roster. Ross was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation before...

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Game 86 lineups: Nats at Padres

July 08, 2021, 2:13pm

Nationals

We talked about the daunting two-week stretch the Nationals were going to face heading into the All-Star break, with 14 games in 14 days against five contenders. Well, 10 games in they've managed to go 5-5 despite a swath of injuries and a four-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers last weekend. And tonight they have a chance to win three of four on the road from the Padres. That's not bad at all. It's a premier pitching matchup for the series finale at Petco Park, with All-Star Yu Darvish...

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Nats bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego (updated)

July 07, 2021, 9:45pm

Nationals

Nats bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego (updated)

There was the tone-setter, the three-run homer by Juan Soto in the top of the first that seemed to leave Petco Park in 1.3 seconds. There were the back-to-back, two-run singles by Josh Bell and Starlin Castro in the top of the second that kept the pressure on Padres starter Chris Paddack. And then there were the three additional runs the Nationals scored soon thereafter to extend their lead to a whopping 10 runs by the top of the fourth and ensure this would be a very good (albeit very long)...

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Could Nats get both Bell and Zimmerman in lineup?

July 07, 2021, 9:24pm

Nationals

Could Nats get both Bell and Zimmerman in lineup?

For much of the season to date, Nationals manager Davey Martinez's plan at first base was fairly simple. Josh Bell almost always started against right-handers and Ryan Zimmerman almost always started against lefties. At this point, though, with Bell on a prolonged surge at the plate and Zimmerman now slumping after an electric April and May, Martinez's decision on playing time isn't quite as clear cut. Take Tuesday night's game in San Diego, for example. The Padres were starting Ryan...