Strasburg tosses second career shutout, Nats sweep Marlins

Strasburg tosses second career shutout, Nats sweep Marlins
Even at his very best, Stephen Strasburg rarely in his career has earned the designation of "workhorse." The typical Strasburg gem usually ends after seven innings, maybe eight, his pitch count well into triple digits, the Nationals choosing not to risk pushing their star right-hander too far. There have been a couple of instances, though, when Strasburg gave his team no choice but to let him go for it. And perhaps never more so than this afternoon on South Capitol Street. With maybe the best...
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Not yet cleared to run, Harper facing tight time frame to return

Not yet cleared to run, Harper facing tight time frame to return
It's been 18 days since Bryce Harper slipped on first base, hurtled awkwardly to the ground and had to be helped back to the dugout at Nationals Park. Eighteen days later, Harper is up and about, walking without a particularly noticeable limp. Which doesn't mean the star outfielder is anywhere close to returning to the Nationals lineup. Harper revealed today that in addition to the significant bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee, he also strained his calf during the Aug. 12 play...
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Game 132 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

Game 132 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
It never entirely feels like Stephen Strasburg is out of the woods from a previous injury, and there will always be those who hold their breath every time the right-hander throws a pitch. But based on what we've seen in two starts since his return from his latest elbow injury, he sure does look like he's 100 percent. Strasburg has been real sharp in both outings, holding the Padres and Astros to a combined two runs on seven hits in 12 innings, striking out 15 while walking only two. The...
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Albers, Rendon try to balance baseball with families in Houston

Albers, Rendon try to balance baseball with families in Houston
For 21 hours each of the last several days, Matt Albers and Anthony Rendon's minds have been on Houston, on their families and their friends trying to survive through the worst flooding incident their hometown has ever experienced. And then for three hours each day, the two Nationals try everything they can to block out the more important matters at home and concentrate all their attention on their jobs. It's no easy task. "It's definitely a challenge," Rendon said after Tuesday night's...
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With Turner back, Nats lineup enjoys another big night

With Turner back, Nats lineup enjoys another big night
The sight of Jayson Werth in the lineup Monday night elicited plenty of smiles from the rest of the Nationals. The sight of Trea Turner in the lineup tonight elicited plenty more. The sight of Bryce Harper in the lineup - whenever that day comes - will elicit the biggest smiles of them all and leave this first-place club feeling as good about itself as it has all year long. "It's just good to slowly start getting our opening day lineup back," Anthony Rendon said following tonight's 8-3 win...
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Nationals trounce Marlins again, reduce magic number to 18

Nationals trounce Marlins again, reduce magic number to 18
Their ace and their veteran outfielder returned Monday night, leading to victory. Their leadoff man and shortstop returned tonight, contributing to victory. The Nationals are looking more and more whole these days, and not surprisingly, the results are reflecting that. With Trea Turner back atop the lineup tonight after a two-month absence, the Nats finally solved pesky Marlins right-hander Vance Worley and put up their second straight big night at the plate. And thanks to another quality start...
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Turner ready to play daily, Difo ready for new role (we're underway)

Turner ready to play daily, Difo ready for new role (we're underway)
Trea Turner could have stayed on rehab in the minors, taking more at-bats in a low-pressure situation and finding his groove before returning to the Nationals lineup. But his fractured right wrist has healed, his body feels equipped to play every day at the big league level and he believes he's ready to return after a stint on the disabled list of exactly 60 days. "That's the one thing I wanted to do: I wanted to get back here as fast as I could, because I wanted to get those at-bats against...
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Game 131 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

Game 131 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
The Nationals got a major boost last night from a pair of key players returning from injury, with Max Scherzer dealing on the mound and Jayson Werth homering at the plate. Tonight, they'll get another boost with the return of Trea Turner from the disabled list. Turner, who has been out exactly 60 days since taking a fastball off his right wrist, is finally good to go. He played in seven rehab games with Single-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse, and though he was only 2-for-21 with one walk and...
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Nats bullpen works overtime to salvage doubleheader split

Nats bullpen works overtime to salvage doubleheader split
Dusty Baker spent the season's first half needing to piece together the final innings of games with a hodgepodge of relievers, seeking anyone available who reasonably could succeed in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. That issue finally was resolved in late July with the acquisitions of Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle, presenting Baker at last with stability at the back end of his bullpen ... for a couple of weeks. Madson's placement on the disabled list with a sprained...
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Roark piling up strikeouts (and pitches) early (Nats win 5-4)

Roark piling up strikeouts (and pitches) early (Nats win 5-4)
Tanner Roark is piling up strikeouts early in tonight's second half of a day-night doubleheader. Unfortunately, he's also piling up pitches at a rate that could end his night before the Nationals want it to end. Through three scoreless innings against the Mets, Roark already has five strikeouts. The right-hander has allowed only two of the 11 Mets batters he has faced to reach base. But with deep counts against many of those batters, his pitch count already sits at 60. Roark has had good...
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Jackson on pinch-running and making final out at the plate

Jackson on pinch-running and making final out at the plate
Edwin Jackson has been asked to pinch-run enough times before - 13 times in his career, four times since joining the Nationals last month - that by now he knows when to anticipate it. And he knows to be prepared to be thrown into a meaningful game situation. "I like doing it," the veteran pitcher said. "I like being a part of the game. And fortunately, the situations I'm in are normally like those type of situations, where the game is on the line. Either you're trying to tie the game or...
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Game 129 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 129 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
And we're back for the nightcap of today's doubleheader (the Nationals' third Sunday doubleheader in five weeks, for those joining us late). The Nats need a win over the Mets tonight to avoid a Sunday sweep, to salvage a four-game split of the weekend series and to avoid seeing their lead in the division drop to 11 games before the red-hot Marlins arrive Monday for what has turned into a bigger series than expected. It'll be Tanner Roark on the mound for the Nationals, sporting a 3.14 ERA...
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Late Mets homer dooms Nats in 6-5 loss to open doubleheader

Late Mets homer dooms Nats in 6-5 loss to open doubleheader
The Nationals opened their latest Sunday doubleheader with a concerning start from their top pitching prospect, an uplifting rally from their makeshift lineup, a game-deciding home run hit off a veteran reliever who has allowed too many of those this season and then a crazy play to end the game. The end result: a 6-5 loss to the Mets that didn't have very many satisfying moments and left the Nationals needing to bounce back in tonight's game to salvage a doubleheader split. Amed Rosario's...
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Sanchez discharged from hospital, Bautista called up

Sanchez discharged from hospital, Bautista called up
Adrian Sanchez appears to have avoided serious injury or health issues after getting hit in the chest by a fastball during Saturday's game. Sanchez received a CT scan at a local hospital and was kept overnight to monitor his breathing. He was discharged this morning and is "doing well," according to a Nationals spokeswoman. The 27-year-old infielder remains on the active roster, though he wasn't seen in the clubhouse this morning while reporters were present, and he's not in the lineup for...
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Game 128 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 128 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
Who's ready for the third Sunday day-night doubleheader at Nationals Park in five weeks? (Don't all jump at once.) The Nationals have gotten used to this by now, having already played two against the Rockies on July 30, then two against the Giants on Aug. 13. Now they'll play two against the Mets, with the regularly scheduled opener at 1:35 p.m. and then the makeup for an earlier rainout at 8:08 p.m. Erick Fedde is getting called up from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as the official 26th man...
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Zimmerman dealing with sore shoulder, won't play again today

Zimmerman dealing with sore shoulder, won't play again today
A Nationals lineup already reeling from injuries is without yet another key bat for at least one more day: Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman was unavailable to bat during Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Mets and won't be in the lineup again this afternoon for the second game of the series after injuring his left shoulder sliding into the plate during Thursday night's win in Houston, manager Dusty Baker revealed. "I think he hurt his arm or shoulder, really couldn't swing, on his headfirst slide...
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Nats' makeshift lineup can't complete late rally in 4-2 loss to Mets

Nats' makeshift lineup can't complete late rally in 4-2 loss to Mets
With a makeshift lineup, a fill-in starter and an ace on the mound opposite them, the Nationals entered tonight's series opener against the Mets in a less-than-advantageous position. Sometimes, those seemingly lopsided matchups flip the opposite way and produce memorable and unlikely outcomes. Not this time. This one went according to script. Despite a few dramatic moments late when a last-ditch comeback nearly happened. Despite an effective pitching performance from A.J. Cole, filling in for...
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Late flight, quick turnaround force lineup changes (Nats lose 4-2)

Late flight, quick turnaround force lineup changes (Nats lose 4-2)
It was 4:20 p.m., 2 hours and 45 minutes away from first pitch, and Dusty Baker was still in street clothes. A decent number of Baker's players had yet to arrive in the clubhouse, with reporting time pushed all the way back to 4:45 p.m., much later than normal. Batting practice? That was canceled. Such were the accommodations the Nationals had to make after a 4:30 a.m. arrival from Houston following Thursday night's game, with the opener of this weekend's series against the Mets looming at...
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Scherzer throws in bullpen, appears good to return Sunday

Scherzer throws in bullpen, appears good to return Sunday
Max Scherzer appears to be good to go Sunday against the Mets. Scherzer threw off the bullpen mound at Nationals Park this afternoon, the final step he said was necessary to be able to start a game two days later. The Nationals ace was in full uniform as he threw his bullpen session with pitching coach Mike Maddux alongside, standard practice for all members of the rotation in their between-starts routine. He didn't stop to take questions from reporters as he walked down the dugout steps and...
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Game 126 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 126 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
The Nationals are back home this weekend after a long, eventful (and still successful) road trip through San Diego and Houston. If things went according to plan, Max Scherzer would have been taking the mound tonight to face the Mets. Things didn't go according to plan, though, and Scherzer has been slower to heal from his second neck injury in a month, now hoping to be ready to go Sunday at the earliest. So in his place tonight will be A.J. Cole, who makes his fifth big league start of the...
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