Mark Zuckerman

Madson, Romero return from DL to bolster Nationals bullpen

September 01, 2017, 3:27pm

MILWAUKEE - Ryan Madson is back on the Nationals active roster. Whether he's ready to pitch quite yet remains to be seen. Madson was one of five players added to the roster before tonight's game against the Brewers, joining fellow pitchers Enny Romero, Austin Adams and Erick Fedde, plus catcher Raudy Read as the club's first round of September call-ups. All technically are eligible to appear in games immediately, but Madson may need a bit more time. Out since Aug. 14 with a sprained index...

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Game 134 lineups: Nats at Brewers (Madson, Romero activated)

September 01, 2017, 12:42pm

Nationals

Game 134 lineups: Nats at Brewers (Madson, Romero activated)

MILWAUKEE - It's September at last, and not a moment too soon for a Nationals club that has been playing the waiting game for quite some time now, another division title all but wrapped up, a host of injured players slowly but surely returning to the active roster. There's still one more long month to go, but for the first time the finish line is now within reach. September also means expanded rosters, and the Nationals have added five players today: relievers Ryan Madson, Enny Romero (both...

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Turner shows off bat and legs with dynamic game in Milwaukee

August 31, 2017, 8:21pm

Nationals

Turner shows off bat and legs with dynamic game in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE - The Nationals' 6-3 loss to the Brewers on Thursday night really featured only one significant, positive development. But it was a big one. Trea Turner, in his third game back from the disabled list, put together a very Trea Turner kind of game. He went 3-for-4. He beat out a bunt single. He stretched another single into a double, then stole third base. He tripled off the right field wall. And he scored a pair of runs, almost entirely without the assistance of anyone else. "Oh...

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Nationals drop series opener to Brewers (updated)

August 31, 2017, 7:01pm

Nationals

MILWAUKEE - An uncharacteristically erratic start by Gio Gonzalez was too much for the Nationals to overcome tonight in a series-opening 6-3 loss to the Brewers. With Gonzalez surrendering five runs during six labored innings, the Nationals faced an uphill climb, one made even tougher with Milwaukee starter Zach Davies once again on his game. Davies, who shut out the Nats last month in D.C., went seven strong this time to lead his team to victory at home. "Boy, he's been tough on us,"...

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Baker may not stick with Werth as No. 2 hitter (Nats lose 6-3)

August 31, 2017, 5:21pm

Nationals

Baker may not stick with Werth as No. 2 hitter (Nats lose 6-3)

MILWAUKEE - The lineup Dusty Baker scribbled out for tonight's series opener against the Brewers was as close as he's going to get to his best-case lineup for the postseason. The only regular missing: Bryce Harper, who may or may not be back to 100 percent in time for October. Notable, then, was Baker's choice for No. 2 hitter: Jayson Werth. With Trea Turner back atop the lineup as well, the Nationals have their 1-2 combo together again. Baker may not, however, stick with that pairing down...

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First September call-ups coming; Scherzer to start Saturday

August 31, 2017, 3:27pm

Nationals

First September call-ups coming; Scherzer to start Saturday

MILWAUKEE - Major league clubs typically use their allotment of September call-ups to get a first look at prospects who may figure into the long-term plan, ensure depth at positions where it's needed and reward a few guys for great minor league seasons. The Nationals find themselves in a different situation as the calendar flips from August to September. They'll be expanding their roster not so much to get a look at young guys but to restock their roster with players who have been hurt and to...

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Game 133 lineups: Nats at Brewers

August 31, 2017, 12:30pm

Nationals

MILWAUKEE - Hello from Miller Park, where the roof is open and there's a hint of autumn weather in the air as August comes to an end. The Nationals open a four-game weekend series with the Brewers, who are trying to hang on in the National League Central race while also trying to track down the Rockies for the final wild card berth as an alternative. Gio Gonzalez gets the ball from Dusty Baker for tonight's opener. The lefty pitched well against Milwaukee last month in D.C., allowing two runs...

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Strasburg tosses second career shutout, Nats sweep Marlins

August 30, 2017, 2:42pm

Nationals

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

August 30, 2017, 11:36am

Nationals

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

August 30, 2017, 9:15am

Nationals

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

August 29, 2017, 8:37pm

Nationals

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

August 29, 2017, 8:10pm

Nationals

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

August 29, 2017, 6:42pm

Nationals

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)

August 29, 2017, 1:39pm

Nationals

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

August 29, 2017, 11:09am

Nationals

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

August 27, 2017, 8:28pm

Nationals

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)

August 27, 2017, 5:10pm

Nationals

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

August 27, 2017, 4:01pm

Nationals

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

August 27, 2017, 2:18pm

Nationals

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

August 27, 2017, 1:13pm

Nationals

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...