Series finale vs. Mets postponed, no makeup announced

Series finale vs. Mets postponed, no makeup announced
The Nationals' series finale against the Mets was postponed when heavy rain converged upon the District shortly before scheduled first pitch and didn't show signs of letting up anytime soon. No makeup date was immediately announced. The two clubs do share a common off-day on Sept. 11, which falls in the middle of a 10-game homestand for the Nationals and the start of a nine-game road trip for the Mets. Otherwise, the teams are scheduled to meet once more in Washington this season: Aug....
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Harper gets day off; Baker explains (start delayed)

Harper gets day off; Baker explains (start delayed)
Bryce Harper is not starting tonight's series finale against the Mets. That may disappoint fans who have tickets to this game, but there could've been even more disappointed fans Tuesday because Dusty Baker initially planned to sit Harper for the Nationals' Independence Day game. "It was planned," Baker said. "I was planning on doing it yesterday, but we talked about it and he loves playing on the Fourth of July. It's like his birthday, he said. So I told him I'll give you the next day...
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Game 85 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 85 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
The Nationals are going for a sweep of the Mets tonight, but in order to pull that off they'll need not only to beat Jacob deGrom but to do it without Bryce Harper in their lineup. Harper is getting a rare day off, only his second this season for a reason not involving minor injury or suspension. We'll find out shortly from Dusty Baker if there's anything else going on, but Harper certainly is deserving of getting a breather if that's all it is. Brian Goodwin takes over in right field, with...
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Wednesday morning Nats Q&A

Wednesday morning Nats Q&A
Hope everybody out there had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. I'm curious how Nationals fans feel about the annual 11:05 a.m. game. Seems like it's pretty popular, because it allows folks to both go to the game (or cover it) and still have plenty of time in the afternoon/evening for Fourth of July festivities. The Nats certainly had fun yesterday in trouncing the Mets 11-4. Joe Ross not only got his customary run support, but he pitched one of his best games of the season. And, of...
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With extra pitch and extra stamina, Ross enjoying a resurgence

With extra pitch and extra stamina, Ross enjoying a resurgence
It has happened quietly, and it hasn't garnered the kind of attention afforded other members of the Nationals rotation ... or the members of their lineup who seem to explode for double-digit runs every time he takes the mound. But one of the most encouraging developments of the last month, from the Nationals' perspective, has been the re-emergence of Joe Ross as something more than a No. 5 starter. It's still a work-in-progress, and the right-hander still needs to show this over a longer...
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Nats provide Ross with big support again in 11-4 win over Mets

Nats provide Ross with big support again in 11-4 win over Mets
Nobody brings out the best from the Nationals lineup like Joe Ross. Even though he doesn't throw a single pitch to any of its members. With Ross on the mound, the Nationals seem to turn what already is one of the most potent offensive groups in the majors into something otherworldy. And it happened again today, even with Dusty Baker sitting a bunch of his regulars for the early Independence Day game on South Capitol Street. A lineup anchored around Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and lesser names...
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Early Fourth of July fireworks at Nationals Park (Nats win 11-4)

Early Fourth of July fireworks at Nationals Park (Nats win 11-4)
The big show is later tonight on the National Mall, but there already have been some early fireworks on South Capitol Street today. (Sorry, I believe I was legally obligated to make that hacky joke.) The Mets have launched two home runs off Joe Ross, including José Reyes' shot down the right field line on the day's third pitch. The Nationals have scored a pair of runs themselves, but took the more traditional tact of manufacturing those. Reyes pounced on Ross' 0-2 fastball, sending it...
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Werth rehabbing in West Palm Beach, will join affiliate soon

Werth rehabbing in West Palm Beach, will join affiliate soon
Jayson Werth has progressed in his recovery from a badly bruised foot, heading to West Palm Beach, Fla., to work out with the Nationals' Gulf Coast League club. Werth has been out since fouling a pitch off the inside of his left foot June 3 in Oakland, unable to even put weight on the foot for several weeks. He finally was able to start baseball activities last week, playing catch and jogging before games at Nationals Park. Now he's working out at the Nationals' spring training complex, and...
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Game 84 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 84 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
Good morning to you from the nation's capital, where the Nationals and Mets will celebrate the national pastime with the traditional 11:05 a.m. Independence Day ballgame. The early start time always catches visiting teams and media by surprise, but I've always found this to be a cool tradition, and I sense fans like it as well. What better way to spend your Fourth of July than with baseball early and plenty of time afterward for barbeques and fireworks? The Nats and Mets will be a bit...
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On Harper's homers, Taylor's table-setting and the Mets

On Harper's homers, Taylor's table-setting and the Mets
ST. LOUIS - More thoughts on Sunday night's 7-2 Nationals victory at Busch Stadium before heading home ... * Does any major league hitter enjoy playing on the big stage more than Bryce Harper? We've seen Harper go bonkers on opening day. We've seen him come through on Independence Day. We've seen him launch towering home runs in the postseason. And we saw him show off in front of a national television audience Sunday night. Harper homered in each of his first two at-bats, twice connecting...
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With another gem on big stage, Scherzer earns elite praise

With another gem on big stage, Scherzer earns elite praise
ST. LOUIS - Dusty Baker, in his five decades in baseball, has seen enough pitchers to be able to compile a short list of the very best of the best. He rattled off some of the names that came to mind tonight: Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, J.R. Richard, Clayton Kershaw. And Max Scherzer, who a bit earlier had wrapped up yet another of his utterly dominant starts, shutting out the Cardinals over seven innings to carry the Nationals to a 7-2 victory on Sunday Night Baseball. "Guys like...
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All-Stars Scherzer and Harper carry Nationals to 7-2 victory

All-Stars Scherzer and Harper carry Nationals to 7-2 victory
ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer are the Nationals' two brightest stars, and on the day each earned the fifth All-Star selection of his career, each shone bright on the national stage. Harper clobbered two early home runs and Scherzer tossed seven scoreless innings to carry the Nationals to a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals in tonight's nationally televised ballgame and avoid a weekend sweep at Busch Stadium. It was a classic performance on the big stage for both All-Stars, with...
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Harper homers twice, Scherzer piles up strikeouts (Nats win 7-2)

Harper homers twice, Scherzer piles up strikeouts (Nats win 7-2)
ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper learned this afternoon he had received the most All-Star votes of any player in baseball, and now tonight is showing everybody why that was the case. Max Scherzer learned this afternoon he had received his fifth consecutive All-Star selection, and now tonight he is showing everybody why he deserves to start the Midsummer Classic. Harper has homered in each of his first two at-bats, providing the largest chunk of offense needed to supply the Nationals an early 5-0 lead...
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Nationals get five All-Stars, club record three starters

Nationals get five All-Stars, club record three starters
ST. LOUIS - There was a time, not all that long ago, when the thought of the Nationals having three players voted into the starting lineup of the All-Star Game was laughable. Even when they had talented players, the Nationals never had the kind of fan base in D.C. or the overall recognition of baseball fans around the world to merit the kind of overwhelming support needed to win All-Star voting. So pause for a moment right now and appreciate this fact: Three members (at least) of the National...
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Game 82 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

Game 82 lineups: Nats at Cardinals
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals need a win tonight to avoid getting swept by the Cardinals and dropping their sixth game in the last eight days. The good news: They have Max Scherzer on the mound. The bad news: They'll be facing Carlos Martínez, with something less than their "A" lineup. Scherzer brings his league-best 2.06 ERA, 0.783 WHIP and 151 strikeouts to his hometown, looking to carry his dominant success from June into July. He has pitched quite well against the Cardinals during his...
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More on Saturday's agonizing loss in St. Louis

More on Saturday's agonizing loss in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS - The focus of Saturday night's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals wound up being the final at-bat of the game, when Adrian Sanchez was rung up by Manny Gonzalez on a 3-2 pitch outside the strike zone to strand the bases loaded. But there's more worth dissecting from the game, so let's take a look back at some other developments ... * Gio Gonzalez pitched the best game of his season. Which is saying something, given how well the left-hander has pitched all season. Gonzalez was as sharp as...
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In long-awaited debut at-bat, Sanchez battles but gets burned

In long-awaited debut at-bat, Sanchez battles but gets burned
ST. LOUIS - Throughout a childhood spent learning the game in Venezuela, throughout a decade in the minors that included lengthy stops at every level of the Nationals farm system, throughout the better part of his first two nights as a major leaguer, Adrian Sanchez had ample time to think about the first at-bat of his career. Maybe it would come in a blowout. Maybe he'd actually get a chance to start a game. Maybe he'd be summoned to bat with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth inning...
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Nationals waste Gonzalez's gem, lose 2-1 to Cardinals

Nationals waste Gonzalez's gem, lose 2-1 to Cardinals
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals, owners of the majors' most productive lineup throughout the first half of the season, haven't exactly played the part so far this weekend. Held to one run in Friday night's blowout loss to the Cardinals, the Nationals did it again tonight. They avoided their first shutout of 2017 thanks to a two-out rally in the ninth, but they couldn't complete that rally and wound up wasting Gio Gonzalez's stellar start in a 2-1 loss at Busch Stadium. Gonzalez was brilliant,...
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Wacha outdueling Gonzalez early at Busch (Nats lose 2-1)

Wacha outdueling Gonzalez early at Busch (Nats lose 2-1)
ST. LOUIS - Gio Gonzalez is doing his part to put the Nationals in position to win (and perhaps earn himself a spot in the All-Star Game). But Michael Wacha is up to his usual tricks against the Nats, leaving Gonzalez in danger of yet another hard-luck loss. Wacha has tossed five scoreless innings to begin tonight's game at Busch Stadium, the Nationals having managed only three hits so far (none of them strung together). Anthony Rendon's double in the second and single in the fifth, and...
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Nats relieved to have Solís back; J. Turner is DFA

Nats relieved to have Solís back; J. Turner is DFA
ST. LOUIS - When Sammy Solís landed on the disabled list way back on April 19 with what he was told was some minor inflammation in his elbow, he assumed he'd be back pitching for the Nationals within two weeks. Then two weeks became two months, Solís forced to shut down for a period of time and then start a throwing program over from scratch after learning he actually had nerve irritation in his elbow. So forgive the left-hander for putting a wide smile on display this afternoon as he...
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