Giants manager Bruce Bochy had nothing but compliments for the Nationals in his Thursday afternoon media session. But that's what you'd expect from a wise veteran manager who is more interested in preparing his club for the National League Division Series than lighting a fire under the opposition.
"They have the best record in the National League," Bochy said of the Nats. "You know, they have such a balanced club, starting pitching, bullpen, their lineup. You know, they have been tough on...
Wilson Ramos may play in his first postseason game tomorrow, and could catch right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who will be making his playoff debut in the opening game of the best-of-five National League Division Series.
October inexperience aside, Ramos had an interesting response when he was asked this afternoon whether Strasburg was mature enough the the marquee assignment.
"That's a good question, because it's not easy starting the first game of the playoffs," said Ramos, who missed the...
Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of MLB, announced that Ian Desmond was named the Washington Nationals' 2014 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Desmond is one of the 30 Club finalists for the annual Award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.
During the pregame ceremony...
Like many Orioles fans, Karl Breslaw had today's date circled on his calendar. He was awaiting the delivery of his postseason tickets, coveted ducats that would allow him to view his beloved Birds in the American League Division Series, maybe the American League Championship Series and, hopefully, their first World Series since 1983.
There's only one problem: Breslaw briefly ignored the sound of the package being tossed onto his porch by a FedEx driver. And there were almost disastrous...
Is deposed Nationals closer Rafael Soriano pitching himself off the playoff roster for the National League Division Series?
Two weeks ago, when Soriano was removed from ninth-inning duties after a terrible stretch since the All-Star break, I'd have told you no (in fact, I wrote that in response to several regular commenters on our blogs). The reasons were simple: Soriano had a track record, the Nationals are a veteran-laden club and first-year manager Matt Williams is a players' skipper who...
There were a few tense minutes while Marlins hitters were crushing balls with authority in the ninth inning, but Rafael Soriano worked his way around a leadoff pinch-hit double by Reed Johnson and finished off a 2-1 Nationals win Sunday afternoon with his 32nd save.
The Nats end their final regular season road trip with a 9-2 record and have upped the win count to 91. Not too shabby.
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg worked seven shutout innings today, picking up his 13th win. He had to deal with...
We're through three innings of scoreless baseball at Marlins Park.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg has looked strong, even though he's battled an inconsistent strike zone by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber. Strasburg has allowed one hit, walked two, struck out three and benefited from a pair of double plays.
The Nats have three singles off right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who has walked none and fanned three.
Update: Finally, a run ... make that a pair.
Jose Lobaton led off the fifth with a...
Nationals manager Matt Williams says Ryan Zimmerman will start in left field, then move on to first base and third base sometime next week as he resumes meaningful games for the first time since July 22, when a right hamstring injury sent him to the disabled list for 55 games.
The goal: to get Zimmerman back up to speed over the regular season's final nine games, especially at the plate, so that he will be able to contribute during the postseason.
Williams chose left field as Zimmerman's...
Ryan Zimmerman is back from the disabled list after missing 55 games with a right hamstring strain. He's ready to do whatever he can to contribute to the Nationals over the last nine days of the regular season.
What, exactly, that will be remains to be seen.
"I won't be 100 percent until next year, but I'm good enough, I think, to contribute," he told reporters at Marlins Stadium on Saturday afternoon. "It's nice of them to clinch the division so early. Obviously, winning games is so...
Adam LaRoche has his 25th home run of the season and the Nationals have a 2-0 first-inning lead over the Marlins.
Jayson Werth drew a two-out walk off Miami righty Tom Koehler and LaRoche crushed a 3-2 fastball into the upper deck in right field.
Ian Desmond then tripled, but was stranded at third when Bryce Harper skied out to right.
MASN cameras showed Ryan Zimmerman in the Nationals dugout in the first inning, proof that he's arrived from fall instructional league in Viera, Fla., and is...
Ryan Zimmerman cleared another hurdle today playing in the fall instructional league in Viera, Fla. He played seven innings in left field, got eight at-bats and hit a home run.
The report was so positive that the Nationals will have Zimmerman, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring since July 23, scrap the planned final day of his rehabilitation in Florida and instead rejoin the major league team in Miami.
He could be activated as soon as tomorrow, manager Matt...
Ever since its debut on the Diamond Vision scoreboard at Camden Yards on Friday, we've gotten a lot of requests for the "We Won't Stop" music video, the Orioles' thank you to their faithful fans that also serves as the team's anthem heading into the postseason.
You've asked repeatedly for it. On Twitter. In the comments sections of our blogs. During our Facebook chats.
During the wild celebration after Tuesday night's clincher, more than a few fans asked me when we'd be posting the...
The Washington Nationals released the following statement this evening after clinching the NL East Division Championship:
"We are so proud of this organization," said Ted Lerner, Managing Principal Owner of the Washington Nationals. "Watching them clinch their second NL East Division Championship in three years means so much to our fans, our city and our family. Mike Rizzo and Matt Williams should be commended for building and leading a championship club. Tonight, we celebrate this...
The Nationals have drawn first blood in tonight's game against the Braves.
In the third, Wilson Ramos drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt by Stephen Strasburg and scored on Denard Span's two-out double to right.
It's 1-0 Nationals heading to the bottom of the third.
Update: Left fielder Bryce Harper is out of the game in the top of the fourth. Nate Schierholtz came on as a pinch-hitter and fanned for the inning's final out. Schierholtz has also taken over in left. No word yet...
Ryan Zimmerman has reported to the Nationals' fall instructional league camp in Viera, Fla., and was scheduled to undergo a full workout today.
The next step in Zimmerman's rehabilitation from the right hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined since July 23 will be three innings in the field in a simulated game Tuesday. Because instructional league games have not begun, the Nationals will schedule simulated contests to accommodate Zimmerman until fall play begins.
For starters, Zimmerman...
The Washington Nationals announced today that tickets for potential Postseason National League Division Series games at Nationals Park will go on sale to the general public on Monday, September 22 at 10 a.m. A maximum of four tickets for each game may be purchased either online at nationals.com/postseason or by calling 888.632.NATS(6287) on a first come, first served basis. Tickets will be unavailable for purchase at the box office.
In addition, the Nationals Park Box Office will sell a...
Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann isn't dominating. He's had to work out of trouble in two of three innings today. But he's through three frames against the Mets and the game is still a scoreless tie.
After a 1-2-3 first, Zimmermann allowed a one-out triple to Wilmer Flores, who got a break when center fielder Denard Span dove and missed his drive to left-center. But Flores was stranded at third when Curtis Granderson flied out to short left and Anthony Recker fanned to end the...
Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nationals in this afternoon's finale of a four-game series against the Mets. A win gets the Nats the series victory, and the right-hander hasn't lost since July 11, going 5-0 in the 10 starts since. Against the Mets this season, Zimmermann is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA and the Nats have won all three of his starts.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon is 10-for-15 in this series with five runs, a double, two homers and five RBIs. He had three hits in each of the first...
The magic number for the Nationals to clinch their second National League East title in three seasons sits at six entering today's finale of a four-game series with the Mets at Citi Field. It would be nice if they could clinch at home - remember the raucous celebration in 2012? - but it's looking more and more like you'll need to make plane and hotel reservations for either Atlanta or Miami in order to take part in the festivities.
If you're thinking it'll happen at Turner Field, be...
We now know what plans the Nationals have for Ryan Zimmerman.
Manager Matt Williams told reporters before Saturday's game at Citi Field that Zimmerman, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 23 with a right hamstring strain, will report to Viera, Fla., on Monday for a workout with the team's fall instructional league squad.
After Monday's workout, Zimmerman will begin a carefully monitored progression in instructional league games. He will play three innings in his first game,...