Mark Zuckerman

What's next for Lopez and Giolito?

July 19, 2016, 8:33pm

Reynaldo Lopez revealed both weaknesses (a very hittable fastball) and strengths (a very unhittable curveball and changeup) in his major league debut last night, enough to leave the Nationals plenty intrigued to see more of the 22-year-old. "He's young, this is the big leagues, and you're facing big-league hitters," manager Dusty Baker said after Lopez gave up six runs and 10 hits but struck out nine in 4 2/3 innings. "But he's very bright. Just gotta tighten up a few things. I think...

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After initial onslaught, Lopez salvages first career start

July 19, 2016, 8:11pm

Nationals

After initial onslaught, Lopez salvages first career start

Reynaldo Lopez did not necessarily expect to find himself standing on the mound at Nationals Park this evening, a sellout crowd of 38,747 buzzing about the opener of a series against the high-profile Dodgers, but the 22-year-old found himself here because of the eye-popping repertoire of pitches he has shown off in the minors. That repertoire is headlined by a fastball that has reached triple digits before and on this night consistently sat in the 97-98 mph range. Minor league hitters were...

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Lopez roughed up early in MLB debut (Nats lose 8-4)

July 19, 2016, 4:20pm

Nationals

Lopez roughed up early in MLB debut (Nats lose 8-4)

Dusty Baker had never seen Reynaldo Lopez in person before the 22-year-old right-hander took the mound tonight for his major league debut, only reports on one of the Nationals' top pitching prospects. And what did those reports on Lopez say? "The reports are that he can get away with more because he's throwing almost 100," Baker said this afternoon. "That's exactly what the reports are. He might not have to be ... as fine when you're throwing hard like that." Reality hasn't exactly...

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What Ross' recovery timetable means for Giolito and Lopez

July 19, 2016, 1:44pm

Nationals

What Ross' recovery timetable means for Giolito and Lopez

Joe Ross threw 35 pitches during a simulated game today, an encouraging step for the injured Nationals right-hander, who should be ready next to make a minor league rehab start. Ross, out since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation, came out of today's session with live hitters reporting no issues. "Joe, he looked very good today," manager Dusty Baker said. "I think he threw 35 pitches or something like that, consecutive pitches. So that's a pretty good sign. He had good velocity, good...

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Game 94 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

July 19, 2016, 11:11am

Nationals

It may not garner as much attention as Lucas Giolito's major league debut a couple of weeks ago, but Reynaldo Lopez's first career start tonight for the Nationals is nearly as significant a development. The 22-year-old right-hander is one of the organization's top pitching prospects and has rocketed his up the farm system in the last year, going from Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg and then briefly to Triple-A Syracuse before earning this final promotion. Lopez also is the first...

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Balancing talent with chemistry as the trade deadline approaches

July 18, 2016, 8:40pm

Nationals

Balancing talent with chemistry as the trade deadline approaches

The Nationals own a 5 1/2-game lead in the National League East and the third-best record in the NL. They have the lowest ERA in the majors, have hit the most homers in the NL and boast the best fielding percentage in baseball. Yet the biggest question facing general manager Mike Rizzo these days is a simple one: Could he make his team even better before the non-waiver trade deadline, now looming in the not-too-distant future on Aug. 1? (The deadline was pushed back this year from the...

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Trea Turner explains his key baserunning blunder

July 17, 2016, 8:02pm

Nationals

Trea Turner explains his key baserunning blunder

When Trea Turner singled to left field in the fourth inning of Friday night's game, the Nationals rookie couldn't help but notice the lackadaisical manner in which the Pirates' Starling Marte got the ball back to the infield. Turner made a mental note, wondering if another opportunity would arrive later in the weekend to use that knowledge to his advantage. "The base hit I had the other day, I saw the left fielder ... take his time," Turner said. "When you hit the ball to left field, the...

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An emotional high in ninth, a demoralizing low in 18th

July 17, 2016, 5:17pm

Nationals

An emotional high in ninth, a demoralizing low in 18th

It was about as uplifting a moment as the Nationals have experienced all season, their injured All-Star infielder coming up to bat with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and in his first at-bat in five days sending a game-tying homer down the right field line that earned him a curtain call from the crowd of 32,775. Daniel Murphy's dramatic home run represented the kind of moment teams look back at months from now as a highlight of a season that perhaps ends with an even more memorable...

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Tuesday's starter vs. Dodgers still TBA (Nats lose 2-1 in 18)

July 17, 2016, 10:06am

Nationals

Tuesday's starter vs. Dodgers still TBA (Nats lose 2-1 in 18)

The Nationals don't need to add a fifth starter to their rotation until next weekend, but it appears they'll go ahead and make a move in time for Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers. For now, the club is listing Tuesday's starter as "TBA," with Gio Gonzalez pitching Wednesday night and Stephen Strasburg pitching Thursday afternoon. The Nationals have options for this starting job. Joe Ross will be eligible to come off the disabled list after missing the last two weeks with right...

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Murphy out for third straight day, Rendon scratched with flu

July 17, 2016, 8:36am

Nationals

Murphy out for third straight day, Rendon scratched with flu

The Nationals suddenly find themselves with a serious dearth of healthy infielders. Daniel Murphy is out of the lineup for the third straight day with a sore hamstring suffered in Tuesday's All-Star Game. Anthony Rendon was a late scratch due to flu-like symptoms. Add in Ryan Zimmerman, who has been on the disabled list since July 7 with a strained ribcage muscle, and the Nationals are taking the field for today's series finale against the Pirates without three of their regular starting...

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Game 93 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Rendon scratched)

July 17, 2016, 6:36am

Nationals

Game 93 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Rendon scratched)

It's going to be a scorcher this afternoon when the Nationals and Pirates take the field for their series finale, but at least it's going to be dry after last night's rain-delayed affair. The Nats are going for the sweep, not to mention a six-game winning streak sandwiched around the All-Star break. For the third straight day, they won't have Daniel Murphy in their lineup. Dusty Baker had indicated Murphy would likely be starting today at first base, and he both jogged and took batting...

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Now 20 games over .500, Nats open up seven-game lead

July 16, 2016, 8:37pm

Nationals

Now 20 games over .500, Nats open up seven-game lead

Dusty Baker wanted the Nationals to finish the first half of the season strong. They did that. He wanted them to open the second half of the season strong. They've done that so far. And he wanted them to get to 20 games over .500, which they did last night after beating the Pirates 6-0. Clearly, these guys take their manager's challenges to heart. "That was our goal, to be 20-over," Baker said. "We were knocking on it a couple of times and we went backwards. Also, I challenged the team to...

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With little fanfare, Roark still dominating for Nationals

July 16, 2016, 8:24pm

Nationals

It doesn't take long to figure out whether Stephen Strasburg or Max Scherzer have good stuff on any given night they take the mound. One inning of work often provides enough evidence to suggest either right-hander is primed for a big game. With Tanner Roark, the signs are less acute. Roark might retire the side in the top of the first, as he did tonight in the Nationals' 6-0 victory over the Pirates. And he might even do it on eight pitches, as he did tonight. But unlike his counterparts in...

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Aggressive Nationals match 2015 steals total (Nats win 6-0)

July 16, 2016, 5:16pm

Nationals

The Nationals entered the season saying they were going to be more aggressive on the bases. And they have backed it up. With two stolen bases in the first two innings of tonight's game, the Nats now have successfully swiped 57 bases this year. That already matches their entire total from 2015, even though they're playing only their 92nd game tonight. And the Nationals' first steal of this game made a difference. Jayson Werth, who drew a one-out walk off Gerrit Cole in the bottom of the...

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Murphy good to go, but Baker holding him out (first pitch at 8:15 p.m.)

July 16, 2016, 2:06pm

Nationals

Murphy good to go, but Baker holding him out (first pitch at 8:15 p.m.)

Daniel Murphy is out of the Nationals lineup for the second straight night, but the veteran infielder is available to come off the bench and likely will start Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. Murphy, who is dealing with a sore left hamstring, actually told Dusty Baker he was well enough to start tonight, but the manager elected to take a more cautious route and hold off for another day. "It's just from my experience - my own personal experience and experience as a coach and...

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Game 92 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

July 16, 2016, 11:13am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg set the tone last night with a dominant start to open the season's second half. Does Tanner Roark have one in himself tonight against the Pirates? Roark was given this assignment in part to keep him as close to on-schedule as possible. He hasn't started a game since July 6, but he did pitch 2 1/3 perfect innings in relief Sunday afternoon in New York, not a bad tune-up at all. The Nationals lineup faces a challenge tonight in Gerrit Cole, the Pittsburgh ace who returns from...

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Taylor, Robinson make most of starting opportunity

July 15, 2016, 8:26pm

Nationals

Taylor, Robinson make most of starting opportunity

Michael A. Taylor was supposed to bat seventh, not second. Clint Robinson wasn't supposed to be batting anything, unless the situation called for a pinch-hitter late in last night's game. Funny how these things work sometimes, because wouldn't you know the two biggest offensive stars of the Nationals' 5-1 victory over the Pirates happened to be named Michael A. Taylor and Clint Robinson? Robinson recorded two hits against left-hander Francisco Liriano and drove in the Nationals' first run...

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Opening second half in style, Strasburg improves to 13-0

July 15, 2016, 7:46pm

Nationals

Opening second half in style, Strasburg improves to 13-0

In explaining why he was choosing not to pitch in the only All-Star Game that will take place in his hometown during his active career, Stephen Strasburg emphasized how it was more important for him to pitch not in an exhibition game in San Diego but in as many big games as possible for the Nationals the remainder of this season. "In my head, I want to make up for the two starts I missed (while on the disabled list)," the right-hander said last weekend in New York. "So hopefully I'll start...

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Strasburg dominating early once again (Nationals win 5-1)

July 15, 2016, 4:04pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg skipped the All-Star Game so he could put all of his efforts into pitching tonight's second-half opener. So far, the right-hander is putting that extra preparation to good use. Strasburg has tossed four scoreless innings so far against the Pirates, allowing only one batter to reach base (via walk). It's the third straight start in which he hasn't allowed a hit through his first four innings on the mound. Francisco Liriano has been nearly as sharp himself, retiring the first...

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Late scratch of Murphy foils Baker's plan for altered lineup

July 15, 2016, 2:06pm

Nationals

Late scratch of Murphy foils Baker's plan for altered lineup

Dusty Baker thought he had figured out his preferred lineup when the Nationals are facing a left-handed starter, one that included Trea Turner leading off, Michael A. Taylor in center field and Daniel Murphy shifting to first base. But then Murphy had to be scratched from the lineup for tonight's second-half opener against the Pirates, and Baker's master plan had to be thrown out the window. Murphy was scratched due to "general leg soreness," according to the Nationals. Club officials...