Mark Zuckerman

Nats outslug Phillies 11-10, reduce magic number to three

September 08, 2017, 6:31pm

Max Scherzer didn't look quite like his normal self in his return from a bruised calf, but the Nationals lineup made sure that didn't matter with another well-rounded offensive explosion to move this team one step closer to a division title. Michael A. Taylor's four-hit night that included an inside-the-park grand slam - more on that shortly - highlighted the Nationals' 11-10, too-close-for-comfort win over the Phillies and gave Scherzer the win on a night when the ace didn't look his...

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Scherzer battles command problems early (Nats win 11-10)

September 08, 2017, 4:07pm

Nationals

Scherzer battles command problems early (Nats win 11-10)

Max Scherzer didn't look much like himself in the first inning tonight against the Phillies. Whether it has anything to do with the fact he took a comebacker off his left calf the last time he pitches remains to be learned. Whatever the case, Scherzer battled through an uncharacteristically ragged top of the first. He issued three walks in the inning, one of them on four pitches, and also served up a three-run homer to Nick Williams that gave Philadelphia an early 3-0 lead. The Nationals have...

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After scary chest injury, grateful Sanchez returns to Nats

September 08, 2017, 1:52pm

Nationals

After scary chest injury, grateful Sanchez returns to Nats

AdriÃ¡n Sanchez last appeared on the field at Nationals Park on Aug. 26, an appearance notable for two reasons. No. 1: He delivered a key RBI single off Mets closer Jeurys Familia in the bottom of the eighth, eliciting a standing ovation from the home crowd. No. 2: A few minutes later, he was removed from the game because he was still feeling the effects of getting hit by a pitch square on the chest, a frightening moment that preceded the RBI single and gave the fans reason to offer that...

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Game 141 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 08, 2017, 11:11am

Nationals

When last we saw Max Scherzer on the mound, he was hobbling around Miller Park, capable of pitching but not running after he took a comebacker off his left calf. That was six days ago, and tonight Scherzer will be back on the mound, insisting he's fine after getting treatment and throwing twice during the week in Miami with no issues. Scherzer returns for what could turn out to be a huge weekend for the Nationals. Their four-game winning streak, combined with the Marlins' five-game losing...

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Doolittle ready for extra workload that awaits him in October

September 06, 2017, 9:03pm

Nationals

Doolittle ready for extra workload that awaits him in October

MIAMI - From the moment the trade was consummated on July 16, Dusty Baker has known he needs to be careful about using Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson too much. Both relievers, acquired from the Athletics in the same deal, have dealt with significant arm injuries in recent years. And so both have to monitor their workloads in an attempt to keep them healthy. "Some of them have histories or being injured," Baker said. "That's what I'm trying to avoid. You can't afford to have them go down...

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Nats sweep Marlins again, move closer to another division title

September 06, 2017, 6:13pm

Nationals

Nats sweep Marlins again, move closer to another division title

MIAMI - The Nationals have known for some time they are going to win the National League East, and most likely by a wide margin. The only question was when it would become official. Well, by beating the Marlins six times in the last 10 days, they have managed to push up the clinching date by a whole lot. Tonight's 8-1 thumping at Marlins Park capped off the Nationals' second series sweep of their closest division competitor in less than two weeks. A Miami club that thought it was clawing its...

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Hurricane on players' minds as series concludes (Nats win 8-1)

September 06, 2017, 4:13pm

Nationals

Hurricane on players' minds as series concludes (Nats win 8-1)

MIAMI - They're playing a ballgame tonight at Marlins Park, but there aren't many fans here, even fewer than the typical sparse gathering. Which is understandable, given the way most everyone's mind is preoccupied with the fast-approaching Hurricane Irma and making preparations now either to board up homes or get out of town. Those in uniform are understandably paying close attention, as well, diverting at least some of their focus from the game. Several Nationals players are from or live in...

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Scherzer will start Friday; Glover getting second opinion

September 06, 2017, 2:26pm

Nationals

Scherzer will start Friday; Glover getting second opinion

MIAMI - Max Scherzer is cleared to start Friday night as scheduled for the Nationals. The odds of Koda Glover returning to pitch for the Nats this season, however, appear to have dwindled. Scherzer was able to throw a bullpen session this afternoon with no ill effects from his bruised left calf, and the Nationals have officially listed him as Friday's starter against the Phillies. "He's getting treatment and getting his leg worked on and stuff," manager Dusty Baker said. "So, yeah, as of...

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Game 139 lineups: Nats at Marlins

September 06, 2017, 11:44am

Nationals

MIAMI - The vast majority of the attention in South Florida is fixated not on baseball but on Hurricane Irma. The outer bands of storm aren't expected to arrive here until Saturday, with the bulk of the storm arriving Sunday, but already folks are making preparations, with some evacuations underway and huge lines at gas stations leading to major traffic jams. (I speak from experience on that last one.) But there is a ballgame to be played tonight, and so the Nationals and Marlins will close...

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Given opportunity to catch, Severino steps up and produces

September 06, 2017, 4:43am

Nationals

Given opportunity to catch, Severino steps up and produces

MIAMI - Pedro Severino made his major league debut nearly two years ago, so this isn't anything new for him. The young Nationals catcher, though, hasn't been given a whole lot of opportunities to play at this level (with the notable exception of his two starts in last year's National League Division Series after Wilson Ramos tore his ACL). No matter what, Severino has tried to make himself ready if and when the call comes. "They gave me opportunity last year, and in 2015 I (didn't) play a...

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Dominant Strasburg just trying to stay on mound into October

September 05, 2017, 7:27pm

Nationals

Dominant Strasburg just trying to stay on mound into October

MIAMI - Stephen Strasburg has faced 134 batters over his last six starts. Only two of those batters have driven in runs. Way back on July 17 in Cincinnati, Eugenio SuÃ¡rez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second against Strasburg. And then Aug. 19 in San Diego, Yangervis Solarte belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. But that's it. Those are the only three runs Strasburg has surrendered in his last 36 innings. And he hasn't surrendered any in his last 26 innings,...

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Strasburg's latest gem leads Nationals to 2-1 win over Marlins

September 05, 2017, 6:02pm

Nationals

MIAMI - Stephen Strasburg once again dominated an opposing lineup. And once again appeared to deal with a cramp in his right calf, cutting short a start that could've turned into another gem. Strasburg tossed six scoreless innings, extending his now club-record streak of consecutive zeros to 26, before departing with a recurrence of the leg cramp that knocked him out of a start in Houston two weeks ago. No matter, because the Nationals bullpen closed out a 2-1 victory over the Marlins to move...

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Scherzer throws, expects to make next start (Nats win 2-0)

September 05, 2017, 3:28pm

Nationals

Scherzer throws, expects to make next start (Nats win 2-0)

MIAMI - Max Scherzer says he's on track to make his next scheduled start. Scherzer, who had to leave Saturday night's start in Milwaukee with a bruised left calf, was able to throw pitches off flat ground this afternoon with no issues. That was his first such attempt since getting hurt on the comebacker from Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw. Scherzer said he now plans to throw a regular bullpen session Wednesday afternoon, which would put him in line to start this weekend against the...

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Harper plays light catch, first baseball activity since injury

September 05, 2017, 2:00pm

Nationals

Harper plays light catch, first baseball activity since injury

MIAMI - It wasn't all that much - a 10-minute light game of catch in shallow right field - and there are plenty more significant hurdles Bryce Harper will need to cross before he is close to returning to the Nationals lineup. But given the violent leg injury he appeared to sustain 3 1/2 weeks ago, even this minor step was an important accomplishment for the recovering Nationals star. "It's very encouraging," manager Dusty Baker said. "You see him doing light baseball activities, you know...

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Game 138 lineups: Nats at Marlins

September 05, 2017, 11:39am

Nationals

MIAMI - The Nationals may not be firing on all cylinders right now, but they're getting the job done for the most part. Especially in the games that matter most toward their clinching of another division title. They've now won four in a row against the Marlins over the last week-plus, reducing their magic number to 10, and tonight they'll have a chance to bring that number down to eight. It's Stephen Strasburg on the mound, facing the same Marlins lineup he shut out six days ago. Actually,...

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No rust for Madson in first two games back from injury

September 05, 2017, 4:23am

Nationals

No rust for Madson in first two games back from injury

MIAMI - Ryan Madson was pretty sure all would be fine when he returned from a sprained right index finger over the weekend, but even the veteran reliever wasn't totally positive that would be the case. How confident was he that he'd be back to normal? "Uh, probably 80 percent," he said. "Once I got out there and threw in a game in Milwaukee, I felt a lot better. Things got better throughout that inning. And then today warming up, I felt a lot better than the first time. I feel like I'm...

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Nationals lineup comes back to life in 7-2 win over Marlins

September 04, 2017, 6:21pm

Nationals

MIAMI - They spent four days at hitter-friendly Miller Park swinging through high fastballs and low breaking balls, unable to generate offense when they needed it. Then the Nationals arrived at cavernous Marlins Park tonight and proceeded to rediscover their lost ability for offensive explosions. Behind big performances from Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon, the Nationals broke out of their funk and cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Marlins that moved them another step closer to another...

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Scherzer still recovering from bruised calf (Nats win 7-2)

September 04, 2017, 4:25pm

Nationals

Scherzer still recovering from bruised calf (Nats win 7-2)

MIAMI - Max Scherzer isn't concerned about his left calf in the grand scheme of things, but at this point it's uncertain whether the Nationals ace will be able to make his next start on schedule or need to wait a few more days to return to the mound. Scherzer, who took a line drive off his lower left leg Saturday night in Milwaukee, was still walking with a slight limp this afternoon at Marlins Park. He took the field, with glove in hand, along with his teammates for batting practice but...

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Fedde shut down for rest of '17 with flexor strain in forearm

September 04, 2017, 2:16pm

Nationals

Fedde shut down for rest of '17 with flexor strain in forearm

MIAMI - The injury Erick Fedde is now dealing with - a strained flexor mass in his forearm - wouldn't typically require a long layoff. But given the situation both the Nationals and Fedde are in right now, at this stage of the season, the club has decided to not to send its top pitching prospect back to the mound until next spring. "We shut him down in an abundance of caution," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's a guy that would've probably missed a start or two. But he's been...

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Game 137 lineups: Nats at Marlins (Fedde to DL)

September 04, 2017, 11:28am

Nationals

Game 137 lineups: Nats at Marlins (Fedde to DL)

MIAMI - Hello from Marlins Park, which is hosting the Nationals for the third time in 11 weeks. (Actually, for the club's All-Stars, the fourth time in 11 weeks. And yes, that's a lot of trips here in a short period of time.) This much I can report: Jeffrey Loria is still the owner. Giancarlo Stanton is still hitting bombs. And the Home Run Thingamabob still stands behind the fence in left-center field. After a frustrating weekend series in Milwaukee that featured only eight runs scored in...