Mark Zuckerman

Game 46 lineups: Nats vs. Padres (Collins joins bullpen)

May 21, 2018, 11:05am

The Nationals said Juan Soto would play. And play he will. The 19-year-old slugging sensation is making his first MLB start this evening, batting sixth and playing left field even against Padres left-hander Robbie Erlin. Davey Martinez held the kid out of Sunday's lineup against another lefty, Alex Wood, but the book on Soto is that he can handle left-handed pitching, so he's about to get his first taste of it tonight. Soto slots into a Nationals lineup ravaged by injuries, batting behind...

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More on Doolittle, Scherzer and Soto

May 19, 2018, 9:40pm

Nationals

Whew, that turned out to be some eventful Saturday at Nationals Park. Most of what transpired both on and off the field was not positive, but the night-capping news that Juan Soto is getting called up today to make his major league debut at 19 at least was a small ray of sunshine on an otherwise dismal day. We covered all the news elsewhere, but here are some other key moments and observations that might have slipped through the cracks ... * On the fateful two-run double that propelled the...

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Kendrick out for year with ruptured Achilles, Soto to be promoted

May 19, 2018, 8:43pm

Nationals

Kendrick out for year with ruptured Achilles, Soto to be promoted

Howie Kendrick, the Nationals and everybody inside the ballpark who watched the veteran left fielder crumple to the ground and grab his lower right leg this afternoon knew this probably was a serious injury. By the end of the night, they all knew just how serious: Kendrick needs season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. That diagnosis was announced by manager Davey Martinez minutes after Sean Doolittle blew his first save of the season, leaving the Nationals scarred from a 5-4...

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Nats' furious rally wasted after Doolittle blows first save (updated)

May 19, 2018, 7:32pm

Nationals

Nats' furious rally wasted after Doolittle blows first save (updated)

They got the gutsiest effort of the season from Max Scherzer. They got a furious, four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to give themselves a lead for the first time tonight. But the Nationals could not get the final three outs from Sean Doolittle before giving the lead back to the Dodgers. And because of all that, the Nats trudged off the field at Nationals Park this evening having suffered one of their most agonizing losses of the season, a 5-4 defeat to cap a doubleheader sweep at the...

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Kendrick goes on 10-day DL with Achilles injury (Nats lose 5-4)

May 19, 2018, 4:22pm

Nationals

Kendrick goes on 10-day DL with Achilles injury (Nats lose 5-4)

Though they're still waiting for a final diagnosis, the Nationals decided not to wait any longer and placed Howie Kendrick on the 10-day disabled list and promote right-hander Jefry Rodriguez from Double-A Harrisburg in time for the second game of today's doubleheader against the Dodgers. Kendrick, who was injured after making what appeared to be a routine catch at the base of the left field wall in the top of the eighth of this afternoon's opener, was already en route to get an MRI before...

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Game 44 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

May 19, 2018, 2:30pm

Nationals

And we're back, for the nightcap of today's doubleheader against the Dodgers. The Nationals didn't get much going at the plate in the opener against Ross Stripling, and now they'll have to try to get back on track tonight against Rich Hill, with Howie Kendrick no longer available. Kendrick suffered what looked like a serious right lower leg injury in the top of the eighth this afternoon, and though there's no immediate diagnosis - he was headed to get an MRI before the game ended - Davey...

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Kendrick suffers apparent serious right leg injury (updated)

May 19, 2018, 12:58pm

Nationals

Kendrick suffers apparent serious right leg injury (updated)

The Nationals' already thin outfield lost another key player today when Howie Kendrick appeared to suffer a significant right lower leg injury making a catch in the top of the eighth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers. Kendrick retreated to the wall to catch what otherwise was a routine fly ball by Los Angeles first baseman Max Muncy, then threw the ball toward the infield as Justin Turner tagged up from third and scored. Kendrick immediately went down to the ground...

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Wieters' return to D.C., Murphy's return to spring games delayed

May 18, 2018, 1:55pm

Nationals

Wieters' return to D.C., Murphy's return to spring games delayed

This week's terrible weather in Washington hasn't just prevented the Nationals from playing baseball, it has prevented them from seeing Matt Wieters in person in the wake of his major hamstring surgery. Wieters, who had the surgery Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas, was unable to make it back to town today due to flight delays caused by the storms that have limited the Nationals to 5 1/2 innings of baseball over the last five days. Because of that, team doctors have yet to meet with the veteran...

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Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

May 18, 2018, 11:35am

Nationals

To answer your question before you even ask it: No, I don't know if tonight's game is going to be played, delayed or postponed. The forecast obviously looks terrible. As it continues to look Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening. As always, when I know, you'll know. If by some chance they're able to play, it'll be Max Scherzer on the mound for the Nationals. Scherzer was supposed to start Wednesday night against the Yankees on normal rest. Now he's on an extra two days' rest. Is that a...

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Nats have some time to make catching decisions

May 17, 2018, 11:38am

Nationals

Nats have some time to make catching decisions

The immediate reaction to Thursday's news of Matt Wieters' hamstring surgery was to wonder how quickly Mike Rizzo will be on the phone in search of another catcher. Those phone calls undoubtedly will occur, but don't count on any major moves being made within a matter of days. In all likelihood, the Nationals won't be in a position to acquire a catcher until later this summer. That's partly just a fact of the way the baseball industry works. Significant trades are tough to pull off in May...

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Wieters expected to miss significant time after hamstring surgery

May 17, 2018, 9:01am

Nationals

Wieters expected to miss significant time after hamstring surgery

Matt Wieters had surgery Wednesday to repair his left hamstring, the Nationals announced today, a major procedure that figures to sideline the veteran catcher until at least late in the season, if not through the remainder of the season. The Nationals offered no timeline yet for Wieters' recovery, saying only that they "will provide more information when Matt returns to Washington, D.C. and is evaluated by our medical staff." Hamstring surgery, though, is a major procedure and typically only...

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Wednesday's games postponed, makeups on June 18

May 16, 2018, 12:17pm

Nationals

Wednesday's games postponed, makeups on June 18

So much for the Nationals and Yankees trying to play 1 1/3 games tonight. Despite hopes of completing the final three innings of Tuesday's suspended game at 5:05 p.m., then proceeding with their regularly scheduled game at 7:05 p.m., all baseball for the evening was postponed due to the forecast of continued rain throughout the rest of the day. According to a message posted on the scoreboard at Nationals Park and read by the public address announcer, the games will be made up on June 18, with...

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Game 43 resumed: Nats vs. Yankees

May 16, 2018, 10:04am

Nationals

It's a beautiful day for baseball ... let's play 1 1/3! Well, that's what the Nationals and Yankees will try to do. The forecast obviously isn't great, but they're preparing to resume last night's suspended game at 5:05 p.m. and then play the originally scheduled game at 7:05 p.m. Whether any or all of that happens remains to be seen. Stay tuned. A reminder regarding tickets: Only tickets for tonight's game will get you into the park today, beginning at 3 p.m. That ticket gets you into...

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Game suspended in sixth, to be resumed at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday

May 15, 2018, 6:11pm

Nationals

Game suspended in sixth, to be resumed at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday

The Nationals and Yankees traded blows for 5 1/2 innings tonight on South Capitol Street, all the while knowing a massive storm was approaching and was likely to prevent the full nine innings from being played. Sure enough, once the heavy stuff began falling in the middle of the sixth and never eased up, the game was officially suspended with the Nats and Yanks tied 3-3, forcing both clubs to return Wednesday and attempt to conclude this game before playing their regularly scheduled series...

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Eaton encouraged after surgery, wants to return in six weeks

May 15, 2018, 2:20pm

Nationals

Eaton encouraged after surgery, wants to return in six weeks

Adam Eaton has heard the reactions since he woke up from arthroscopic surgery Thursday in Green Bay and the baseball world was informed of the procedure he had to remove a flap of cartilage from his left ankle. Today, the Nationals outfielder sought to allay fears that came with that news by declaring his goal to return to the active roster in six weeks. "It's going to be soon," Eaton said, seated at his locker with his lower left leg in a cast that was due to be removed later in the day....

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Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Yankees

May 15, 2018, 11:28am

Nationals

Hello from South Capitol Street, where the Nationals are home for the next week-and-a-half, hosting a pair of marquee opponents (Yankees, Dodgers) and then the Padres. The matchups don't get much bigger than what's on tap the next two nights (weather permitting). No two teams in baseball are hotter right now than the Nats (who have won 13 of 15) and the Yanks (who have won 19 of 22). It'll be up to Gio Gonzalez to try to contain that ferocious New York lineup tonight, a lineup that is loaded...

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How the Nationals have won 13 of 15 and righted their ship

May 14, 2018, 9:04pm

Nationals

At the end of play on April 28, the Nationals didn't very much look like a legitimate contender. With an 11-16 record, they found themselves in fourth place in the National League East, a full six games back of the first-place Mets, a full 4 1/2 games back of the third-place Braves. Only three teams in the NL had worse records, and all were among the group of franchises known to be tanking this season: the Padres, Marlins and Reds. So what happened? Well, since then, all the Nationals have...

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Monday morning Q&A from 33,000 feet above America

May 13, 2018, 10:53pm

Nationals

Monday morning Q&A from 33,000 feet above America

So I'm flying home from Phoenix today, and what better way to pass the time than by chatting with all of you! (Who needs Netflix?) There's plenty to discuss at the end of an eventful road trip that included a 6-1 record, a bunch of injures, dominant pitching performances, surprising offensive performances and six trips by Nationals relievers on the Chase Field bullpen cart. My flight is scheduled to depart Sky Harbor International Airport at 11:15 a.m. EDT and land at Dulles International...

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After long winter, spring at home, Reynolds debuts with a bang

May 13, 2018, 8:48pm

Nationals

After long winter, spring at home, Reynolds debuts with a bang

PHOENIX - As he sat around his house in Charlotte, N.C., all winter - and well into the spring, for that matter - Mark Reynolds battled conflicting emotions. There certainly was a relaxing element to all this, with an opportunity to coach his kids, play golf and enjoy an actual spring break for the first time "since I probably was, like, 8," he said. And yet there was an obvious void for the 34-year-old, who had missed all those previous spring breaks because he was in Arizona or Florida...

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Reynolds powers Nats to 6-4 win, four-game sweep of D-backs

May 13, 2018, 7:16pm

Nationals

Reynolds powers Nats to 6-4 win, four-game sweep of D-backs

PHOENIX - For a month and a half now, the Nationals have overcome a host of injuries to regulars thanks to some unlikely performances from guys who they've been forced to add to their big league roster along the way. Mark Reynolds just joined that club tonight with a most impressive debut in a most familiar setting. Reynolds, the veteran slugger who played the first four seasons of his career with the Diamondbacks before embarking on a meandering journey that on Saturday featured a promotion...