Mark Zuckerman

Saturday morning odds and ends

June 01, 2018, 9:33pm

ATLANTA - Some odds and ends to get you going on this Saturday morning before the Nationals and Braves return for a 4:10 p.m. game at SunTrust Park ... * The bottom of the seventh last night, in which the Braves scored all four of their runs, obviously was the decisive inning of the game. How rare, though, was that outburst against Stephen Strasburg? Extremely. Though many longtime fans will recall how Strasburg used to struggle in Atlanta, the right-hander had completely reversed that...

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Strasburg's one mistake costs Nats on night Braves made none

June 01, 2018, 7:23pm

Nationals

Strasburg's one mistake costs Nats on night Braves made none

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg felt like he made only one mistake, a curveball down in the zone but over the plate to Dansby Swanson with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Then again, one mistake was all it took for the Nationals to drop tonight's game to the Braves, who rode a two-hit shutout from Mike Foltynewicz to a 4-0 victory and a second straight win to begin this weekend's National League East showdown. "We couldn't get nothing going," manager Davey Martinez said. "Our guy was...

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Four-run seventh dooms Nationals in 4-0 loss to Braves

June 01, 2018, 6:10pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - For six innings they dueled, Stephen Strasburg and Mike Foltynewicz posting up zero after zero, neither willing to give in on a muggy Friday night at SunTrust Park. Somebody, though, had to give in at some point. That somebody was Strasburg. And that point was the bottom of the seventh, the decisive frame that turned a brilliant pitchers' duel into a 4-0 Nationals loss to a young Braves team that can only feel emboldened after taking the first two games of this big weekend...

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Return of key players could impact lineup (Nats lose 4-0)

June 01, 2018, 2:35pm

Nationals

Return of key players could impact lineup (Nats lose 4-0)

ATLANTA - The Nationals outfield received a boost today with Brian Goodwin's return from the disabled list, and another boost is likely coming next week when Adam Eaton expects to return from his ankle surgery. All of which leaves Davey Martinez facing some questions about how he intends to divvy up playing time among, in theory, five outfielders with only three positions to fill. Goodwin was activated off the DL this afternoon, the injured left wrist that sidelined him more than seven weeks...

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Game 56 lineups: Nats at Braves (Goodwin activated)

June 01, 2018, 12:02pm

Nationals

Game 56 lineups: Nats at Braves (Goodwin activated)

ATLANTA - The threat of rain halted Nationals batting practice Thursday night but didn't impact the game. We may not be as fortunate tonight, with storms all around the area threatening to cause problems not only before tonight's scheduled 7:35 p.m. game but also the early portion of the game itself. As always, stay tuned. When they do play, the Nationals will send Stephen Strasburg to the mound. Strasburg was brilliant in his previous start against the Braves this season, tossing eight...

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Nationals recognize surprising Braves are for real

May 31, 2018, 9:08pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - The outcome of Thursday night's game wasn't going to make or break the Nationals' season. They were either going to increase their lead over the Braves to 1 1/2 games or cede first place in the division back to Atlanta and fall 1/2-game behind. Either way, it was only game No. 55 out of 162. And by the end of the weekend, they'll have played only 58 out of 162. There's a tremendous amount of baseball left to be played. So the Nationals weren't going to put too much emphasis on...

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Nationals drop opener to Braves 4-2, fall out of first place (updated)

May 31, 2018, 6:15pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - The mild-mannered crowd of 22,380 at this second-year ballpark in the suburbs didn't much convey it, but tonight's game between the Nationals and Braves was the biggest matchup of these division rivals in at least four years, with first place at stake. Then again, the visiting club that has ruled the National League East for the better part of six seasons now didn't exactly put on its best show in the opener of this four-game series. Despite two early runs that seemed to set the...

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Runs aplenty early on in big series opener (Nats lose 4-2)

May 31, 2018, 4:45pm

Nationals

Runs aplenty early on in big series opener (Nats lose 4-2)

ATLANTA - In the opener of their big weekend series with the Braves, the Nationals have played some small ball to get on the board. Atlanta, on the other hand, has piled up hits to take the lead. The Nats scored two runs in the first three innings with the benefit of only three hits, all singles. Rather, it was two walks, two stolen bases (one of them a double-steal) and two productive outs that helped make those two early runs possible. Back-to-back walks by Trea Turner and Bryce Harper put...

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Madson returns to roster, Goodwin appears to be next up

May 31, 2018, 2:52pm

Nationals

Madson returns to roster, Goodwin appears to be next up

ATLANTA - The Nationals are getting the first of their key injured players back tonight, with Ryan Madson activated off the disabled list. And more appear to be coming, with Brian Goodwin likely joining the club this weekend and Daniel Murphy and Matt Grace not too far behind. Madson was added back to the active roster in time for tonight's opener against the Braves, the strained right pectoral muscle that sidelined him for two weeks having healed. The veteran setup man was able to make it...

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Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves (Madson activated)

May 31, 2018, 11:42am

Nationals

Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves (Madson activated)

ATLANTA - And a very pleasant good afternoon to you from SunTrust Park, here in beautiful unincorporated Atlanta. The hometown Braves have been among the biggest surprises in baseball so far, with the youngest roster in the sport playing an exciting brand of ball and (until last night) holding first place in the National League East division. That changed last night when the Nationals finished off their sweep of the Orioles and the Braves lost to the Mets, but that doesn't make this weekend's...

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With contributions from many, Nats have climbed back in NL East

May 29, 2018, 9:49pm

Nationals

With contributions from many, Nats have climbed back in NL East

BALTIMORE - For a few minutes Tuesday night, the Nationals found themselves tied for first place in the National League East division. And with the Braves trailing the Mets late, the Nats were on the verge of taking over sole possession of the top spot in the division for the first time since the season's first week. A Mets bullpen collapse prevented that from happening, and so as they wake up this morning the Nationals still remain 1/2-game behind Atlanta. Not that anyone inside the clubhouse...

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Newcomers and old standbys deliver for Nats bullpen in win

May 29, 2018, 7:41pm

Nationals Orioles

Newcomers and old standbys deliver for Nats bullpen in win

BALTIMORE - As he watched his team squander opportunity after opportunity to tack on runs and give themselves something more than a 3-2 cushion this evening, Davey Martinez couldn't help but start worrying this was going to come back to haunt his Nationals before their game against the Orioles was complete. "You always think that when you have so many chances to score runs and you can't," the first-year manager said. "But the bullpen held their own today." Yes, they did. As they've been...

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Ex-Orioles give Nats lead, bullpen hangs on for 3-2 win

May 29, 2018, 6:20pm

Nationals Orioles

Ex-Orioles give Nats lead, bullpen hangs on for 3-2 win

BALTIMORE - A couple of ex-Orioles helped the Nationals take a 3-2 lead tonight at Camden Yards. A bunch of relievers then made sure that razor-thin lead held up the rest of the way. Behind five strong innings from Jeremy Hellickson, Mark Reynolds' latest homer and then four scoreless innings from their ever-changing bullpen, the Nationals eked out a one-run victory to earn their second straight win in this Battle of the Beltways series and fifth straight win overall. Hellickson and Reynolds,...

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Madson, Grace on track to return this weekend

May 29, 2018, 2:28pm

Nationals

Madson, Grace on track to return this weekend

BALTIMORE - The Nationals expect to get two key relievers back on their active roster this weekend. Ryan Madson and Matt Grace each have taken significant steps in recent days in their rehab from injuries, and each is on track to come off the disabled list for this weekend's series in Atlanta. Madson, out since May 17 with a right pectoral strain, threw off a mound earlier this week and reported no problems, convincing club officials he was on the verge of returning to the roster. "One more...

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Game 53 lineups: Nats at Orioles

May 29, 2018, 11:30am

Nationals Orioles

BALTIMORE - Jeremy Hellickson's two months as an Oriole late last summer were, to put it bluntly, not good. You can't sugarcoat a 6.97 ERA in 10 starts. Hellickson's first two months as a National, however, have been nothing short of brilliant. You can't describe a 2.13 ERA in seven starts any other way. Tonight, Hellickson gets a chance to show Baltimore how far he's come. Which isn't to say another dominant start is a given. This is a hitter's ballpark, and especially so with the...

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One week in, Soto showing he can make adjustments

May 28, 2018, 6:35pm

Nationals Orioles

One week in, Soto showing he can make adjustments

BALTIMORE - Anthony Rendon knows a thing or two about trying to thrive in the major leagues after getting rushed through the minor leagues. The Nationals third baseman accrued only 326 plate appearances over 79 minor league games in 2012 and early 2013 before getting his first promotion to Washington. It was a fast track, to be sure, but Rendon also had three seasons at Rice (an elite Division I program) on his resume and was nearly 23 when he made his debut for the Nationals. Which is why...

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Gonzalez morphing into one of MLB's most consistent starters

May 28, 2018, 1:34pm

Nationals Orioles

Gonzalez morphing into one of MLB's most consistent starters

BALTIMORE - For all his big-picture success in seven seasons with the Nationals, Gio Gonzalez is never going to earn praise for his consistency. The left-hander's erratic performance from start to start - sometimes even from inning to inning - can drive anyone mad. Here's a dirty little secret for anyone who still feels that way about Gonzalez, though: He has become one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons. Consistently good. Today's outing during the...

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Nats shut out O's 6-0 thanks to Gonzalez's gem, Rendon's blast

May 28, 2018, 11:55am

Nationals Orioles

Nats shut out O's 6-0 thanks to Gonzalez's gem, Rendon's blast

BALTIMORE - The Nationals lineup, which has been hit-or-miss throughout an injury-plagued season, showed up in full force today at Camden Yards. Gio Gonzalez, who has been outstanding from the get-go, also showed up. Together, they overwhelmed the Orioles during a 6-0 victory to kick off this year's version of the Battle of the Beltways. Gonzalez was brilliant in yet another impressive performance, tossing 7 2/3 scoreless innings and pitching his way out of the few jams he encountered along...

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Rendon's blast draws cheers from dugout, stands (Nats win 6-0)

May 28, 2018, 10:34am

Nationals Orioles

Rendon's blast draws cheers from dugout, stands (Nats win 6-0)

BALTIMORE - The Nationals had never faced Alex Cobb before today, and the first time through the lineup it looked that way. But once they had a chance to see the veteran right-hander up close and personal, the Nats turned things around in a hurry. Shut down by Cobb through the first two innings of today's game at Camden Yards, the Nationals came to life in the top of the third, with Anthony Rendon's three-run homer capping a big rally and giving the visitors a 3-0 lead in the opener of this...

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Martinez hoping Murphy will be activated "fairly soon"

May 28, 2018, 8:29am

Nationals

Martinez hoping Murphy will be activated "fairly soon"

BALTIMORE - After two months of waiting and waiting for positive injury news, the Nationals may be on the verge of getting one of their most important injured players back at long last. Daniel Murphy spent the last two days rehabbing for Double-A Harrisburg and emerged from it with his surgically repaired right knee in good shape. The Nationals aren't offering up any firm timetable for Murphy to make his long-awaited season debut, but manager Davey Martinez did suggest it won't be much longer...