Mark Zuckerman

After dominant road trip, Nationals slog through 2-5 homestand

June 14, 2017, 4:24pm

They came home one week ago, flying high after a 7-2 trip through California, and then, despite the lack of an off-day to recuperate, blew out the Orioles in a makeup game. What wasn't there to like about the Nationals at that moment? All along, though, Dusty Baker knew this was going to be an especially difficult stretch of the season for his team. Because of that makeup game, the Nationals found themselves needing to play 20 games in 20 days, never a manager's preference. So Baker couldn't...

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Nationals ransacked by Braves 13-2 in series finale

June 14, 2017, 3:23pm

Nationals

On the heels of one of their best West Coast trips ever, the Nationals laid an egg over the last week at home. With an uninspired 13-2 loss to the Braves this afternoon, the Nats ended their homestand on a sour note. They finished 2-5 against Baltimore, Texas and Atlanta, leaving their 7-2 trip through California a distant memory. Today's series finale might have been the low point of the week. It didn't involve a late bullpen meltdown like some previous losses, but it was a fairly lifeless...

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Today's draftees include Baker's son, Cousins' cousin (Nats lose 13-2)

June 14, 2017, 12:25pm

Nationals

Today's draftees include Baker's son, Cousins' cousin (Nats lose 13-2)

On the final day of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals took a couple of kids with awfully recognizable last names. The Nationals drafted both Darren Baker (Dusty's son) and Jake Cousins (Kirk's cousin) amid their flurry of third-day picks that spanned 30 rounds. Darren Baker, 18, is an infielder who hit .396 with a .476 on-base percentage at Jesuit High School in suburban Sacramento, Calif. He has already committed to play for the University of California and is expected to...

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Baker makes plea for bullpen help, discusses Alexandria shooting

June 14, 2017, 11:25am

Nationals

Baker makes plea for bullpen help, discusses Alexandria shooting

Dusty Baker is tired of talking about his bullpen. But every time the subject comes up, the Nationals manager finds new ways to express his opinion and perhaps drop even more hints at the front office to address the club's biggest - only? - glaring hole. "They've all struggled," Baker said of a bullpen that enters play today with a 5.02 ERA (second-worst in the majors) and .808 opponent OPS (tied for worst in the majors). "Which one would you pick out to replace? Cause I hear people from...

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Game 65 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

June 14, 2017, 8:32am

Nationals

The Nationals and Braves wrap up their series later this afternoon (weather permitting) and that means we get the latest round of Bryce Harper versus Julio Teheran. Harper owns no pitcher in baseball like he owns Teheran. In his career, he's 15-for-33 with seven homers, 17 RBIs and a 1.720 OPS against the Braves right-hander. This season? He's 2-for-2 with two homers, five RBIs and a 5.000 OPS. Yeah, probably worth tuning in at least for those head-to-head encounters. Tanner Roark gets the...

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On Murphy's big night in the field and dispute with Porter

June 14, 2017, 4:14am

Nationals

On Murphy's big night in the field and dispute with Porter

Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and two RBIs during the Nationals' 10-5 victory over the Braves on Tuesday night, but he might've had an even greater impact on the proceedings in the field than at the plate. And in spite of a bizarre confrontation with an umpire in the top of the second inning. Murphy fielded six grounders hit his way during the game, turning two of them into above-average double plays. That included a first-inning 4-6-3 on a hot shot by Nick Markakis in...

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With pair of homers, Zimmerman etches name into franchise lore

June 13, 2017, 7:54pm

Nationals

With pair of homers, Zimmerman etches name into franchise lore

It's an odd existence this franchise has lived, what with 36 years spent north of the border in Montreal followed by the last 13 years in Washington, but by Major League Baseball's definition the Expos and Nationals count as one franchise. Whether fans in either city want to embrace that definition or not, there's no denying the talent that has worn this franchise's various uniforms, from Andre Dawson to Tim Raines to Gary Carter to Larry Walker to Vladimir Guerrero to Alfonso Soriano to...

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Zimmerman's homers, bullpen's zeroes give Nats 10-5 victory

June 13, 2017, 6:22pm

Nationals

Zimmerman's homers, bullpen's zeroes give Nats 10-5 victory

Ryan Zimmerman returned to the lineup with a pair of big blasts. And the Nationals bullpen preserved a late lead for the first time on this homestand, helping snap a four-game losing streak. Zimmerman's two home runs off R.A. Dickey paced the Nationals' offensive barrage during tonight's 10-5 victory over the Braves, one that avoided the kind of relief meltdown that became commonplace in previous nights. Enny Romero pitched two scoreless frames after Zimmerman's second blast gave the Nats...

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Zimmerman returns to lineup after three-day break

June 13, 2017, 2:00pm

Nationals

Zimmerman returns to lineup after three-day break

There have been times in recent years when the loss of Ryan Zimmerman for three games wouldn't have had a dramatic effect on the Nationals, given the veteran's well-documented struggles at the plate. Right now, though, every game Zimmerman misses is a big deal for the Nats, who understandably are thrilled to have their cleanup hitter and MVP candidate back in the lineup for tonight's game against the Braves. Zimmerman sat out the last three days after tweaking his back, though he admittedly...

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Game 64 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

June 13, 2017, 11:06am

Nationals

It's an absolute scorcher here at Nationals Park today. And if last night was any indication, the ball should be flying out of the park again. The Nationals will have to hope that unlike last night, they can hit more balls out than they give up. So the challenge is on Joe Ross to duplicate his performance from over the weekend against the Orioles, when he struck out 12 batters. He pitched well against the Braves earlier this season, so perhaps this is a good matchup for the erratic...

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Nationals "comfortable" Romero's maturity won't be an issue

June 12, 2017, 8:34pm

Nationals

In making Seth Romero their first-round draft pick this year, the Nationals know they're getting one of the most talented amateur left-handers out there, with an arm they believe is big league-ready right now. They also know they're getting perhaps the first-rounder with the biggest question mark attached to his name. In the end, general manager Mike Rizzo, vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline and the rest of the Nationals front office believe the immense talent Romero brings to...

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Nats take chance with first-round pick of expelled lefty Romero

June 12, 2017, 6:02pm

Nationals

Nats take chance with first-round pick of expelled lefty Romero

The Nationals have been willing to take risks with first-round draft picks in the past. They've never taken a risk quite like this, though. With their first pick in this year's First-Year Player Draft, the 25th overall selection, the Nationals selected University of Houston left-hander Seth Romero, a big left-hander with a big arm who could reach the big leagues quickly but has a major red flag attached to his name: He was kicked off his college team after twice being suspended for various...

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After 7-2 West Coast trip, no break for jet-lagged Nationals

June 07, 2017, 9:40pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - They left Washington 11 days ago, embarking on one of the longest West Coast trips they've ever experienced, taking a full tour of California and playing nine games against three opponents before heading home. Along the way, they saw their biggest star get into a brawl, get a four-game suspension, have that suspension reduced to three games on appeal and endure his first slump of the year. They saw their ace toss a complete game in San Francisco, then strike out 14 batters in...

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Nationals lament mistakes that prevented a sweep in L.A.

June 07, 2017, 3:29pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - If you're going to beat Clayton Kershaw, you're going to need somebody to come up with a big hit off the planet's best pitcher. The Nationals got that today in the form of Ryan Zimmerman's leadoff homer in the top of the second. And you're going to need your own pitcher step up with an elite performance to match, or even best, Kershaw. The Nationals got that today in the form of Stephen Strasburg's dominant start. And you're going to need to do all the little things right,...

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Nationals drop finale of anticipated series vs. Dodgers 2-1

June 07, 2017, 1:55pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - Stephen Strasburg vs. Clayton Kershaw lived up to the hype. But as Nationals fans surely know by now, these games against the Dodgers almost always come down to some key moments late against the respective teams' bullpens. And in the finale of a fantastic, tightly contested series at Chavez Ravine, it was the Dodgers bullpen that stepped up to get the outs necessary to deal the Nationals a 2-1 loss. After Kershaw was surprisingly pulled following seven dominant innings, the...

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Strasburg ties record, Zimmerman homers again (Nats lose 2-1)

June 07, 2017, 12:03pm

Nationals

Strasburg ties record, Zimmerman homers again (Nats lose 2-1)

LOS ANGELES - Stephen Strasburg has reached an impressive career milestone. Ryan Zimmerman is well on his way to surpassing one of his own. Strasburg completed his 1,000th career inning pitched early in today's game against the Dodgers, and his strikeout of Corey Seager in the bottom of the first helped him match a major league record. With 1,666 strikeouts, Strasburg tied Kerry Wood for the most strikeouts by any big league starter in his first 1,000 innings. It's been a winding path for...

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Baker wants Glover to learn from emotional showdown with Puig

June 07, 2017, 10:25am

Nationals

Baker wants Glover to learn from emotional showdown with Puig

LOS ANGELES - Dusty Baker admittedly didn't see what happened at the end of Tuesday night's game because he had turned to shake hands with his coaches after the Nationals finished off a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers. Once he had a chance to watch the video and hear from others about the post-strike three encounter between Koda Glover and Yasiel Puig, the Nats manager had some more perspective. "My take is: There's a lot of testosterone out there," Baker said. "It happens sometimes. Puig,...

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Game 58 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

June 07, 2017, 8:41am

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - When this long road trip through the state of California began 10 days ago, would you have taken a 7-1 record with a chance to sweep the Dodgers in today's finale? I think so. Today's game, quite frankly, is gravy for the Nationals, who already took the first two in this series and now face Clayton Kershaw in a Wednesday matinee at Chavez Ravine. A win would be fantastic, but nobody should be complaining too much if they don't pull this one off. Stephen Strasburg certainly...

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With eventful save in L.A., Glover keeps growing into closer role

June 06, 2017, 10:42pm

Nationals

With eventful save in L.A., Glover keeps growing into closer role

LOS ANGELES - Dusty Baker keeps saying the only way for a closer to get experience is to, well, get experience. You don't know how any young reliever is going to handle the pressure of the ninth inning until he starts pitching it. And you don't know how he's going to handle the extra pressure of a ninth inning on the road against an elite opponent until he gives it a try. So consider Tuesday night a significant experience for Koda Glover, and a positive one at that. Handed a 2-1 lead in the...

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Nats ride Scherzer's 14 strikeouts to 2-1 victory over Dodgers (updated)

June 06, 2017, 9:08pm

Nationals

Nats ride Scherzer's 14 strikeouts to 2-1 victory over Dodgers (updated)

LOS ANGELES - The running joke around the Nationals is that anytime Max Scherzer takes the mound, you better watch because something special is probably going to happen. Thing is, it's not a joke. It's real. And these days, Scherzer is spectacular. Or as teammate Koda Glover described it: "He's a stud." The Nationals ace added another memorable performance to his ever-growing resume tonight, striking out 14 Dodgers in only seven innings, 11 of them in the game's first 3 2/3 innings. And...