Pete Kerzel

Williams short and sweet after Nats' 2-1 victory

March 15, 2014, 12:44pm

JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams' postgame comments after a 2-1 victory over the Marlins were short and sweet. But that's what you get when two staff aces face off and the game takes only 2:45, which is pretty quick by spring training standards. Did Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg look like he was in midseason form? "He was good. It was a good matchup today. ... Those two guys going at it. We were able to scratch one and give him a little bit of room. Pitched well -...

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Hearing from Strasburg and Zimmerman

March 15, 2014, 12:28pm

Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg feels great, and says his mechanics are just about "locked in." Ryan Zimmerman is feeling better, but the Nationals third baseman isn't so sure about manager Matt Williams' proclamation that he'll be ready to play the field Sunday. Those contrasting diagnoses were the takeaways from the Nats' 2-1 win over the Marlins this afternoon. Strasburg threw four scoreless innings - matching Jordan Zimmermann for the longest outing by a Nationals pitcher this...

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Nats, Strasburg grab 2-0 lead over Marlins (Nats win 2-1)

March 15, 2014, 10:02am

Nationals

Nats, Strasburg grab 2-0 lead over Marlins (Nats win 2-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 2, Marlins 1 Recap: Stephen Strasburg worked four shutout innings, matching Jordan Zimmermann for the longest outing by a Nationals pitcher this spring. Strasburg allowed two hits, walked one and fanned four. Need to know: Nationals manager Matt Williams will use the off-day Tuesday to set his rotation, but it's no guarantee that Strasburg will start the March 31 season opener in New York against the Mets. That honor could go to Zimmermann. On deck:...

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Injuries improve Roark's chances of breaking camp with Nats

March 15, 2014, 9:44am

Nationals

Injuries improve Roark's chances of breaking camp with Nats

VIERA, Fla. - With each day Ryan Mattheus and Ross Ohlendorf remain sidelined, Tanner Roark chances of breaking camp with the Nationals - once thought to be a long shot - improve a little more. Mattheus, a right-handed reliever, and Ohlendorf, the righty who employs the old-school windup and was mentioned as a possibility for either the bullpen or the competition for the fifth starter's spot, have spent most of spring training watching other pitchers make an impression. Manager Matt Williams...

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News and notes on replay, Desmond, Harper and Fister

March 15, 2014, 8:06am

Nationals

News and notes on replay, Desmond, Harper and Fister

JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Williams will manage the Nationals for the home portion of Sunday's split-squad games, when Justin Verlander and the Tigers roar into Space Coast Stadium. Triple-A Syracuse skipper Billy Gardner will manager the other split-squad game versus the Astros in Kissimmee. Williams and the Nats' major league staff will be in Viera because it's the team's second game with replay this spring - and the game's on MASN HD beginning at 1 p.m., to boot. But in order to get...

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For Zimmerman, it'll be third first and first second

March 15, 2014, 7:48am

Nationals

For Zimmerman, it'll be third first and first second

JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Williams has just over two weeks left in spring training to make good on his offseason promise to get third baseman Ryan Zimmerman in a game at first base. But Zimmerman hasn't played since Monday, and has been troubled by right shoulder and general soreness in recent days, minor maladies that have stunted Williams' plan to increase the infielder's positional resume in a game situation. Zimmerman is listed as the designated hitter for today's game against the Marlins...

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Strasburg on mound, regulars aplenty make trip to face Fish (plus Marlins lineup)

March 15, 2014, 4:47am

Nationals

Strasburg on mound, regulars aplenty make trip to face Fish (plus Marlins lineup)

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg takes the hill against the Marlins today at 1:05 p.m. in Jupiter, and he'll have a lot of regulars behind him at Roger Dean Stadium. Both Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman return to action, but only Harper will play in the field. Zimmerman, who has been battling general soreness, is listed as the designated hitter. Here is the Nationals lineup for today's game: 2B Anthony Rendon SS Danny Espinosa DH Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper C Wilson Ramos 1B Adam...

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Unorthodox delivery is Gonzalez's first step toward reclaiming bullpen role

March 14, 2014, 5:27pm

Nationals

Unorthodox delivery is Gonzalez's first step toward reclaiming bullpen role

VIERA, Fla. - It's hard to believe any pitching coach or manager would look at the sheer force behind the unorthodox delivery employed by Nationals lefty reliever Michael Gonzalez and whisper to a young hurler, "Just do what he does." That's because what Gonzalez does is so unusual, such a tangle of arms and legs in perpetual and powerful motion, that it hardly seems possible that it's successful. But there was Gonzalez on Friday in his first Grapefruit League game of the spring, taking...

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Williams on Jordan and Ayala after 12-6 loss

March 14, 2014, 1:47pm

Nationals

Williams on Jordan and Ayala after 12-6 loss

LAKELAND, Fla. - Starting pitcher Taylor Jordan struggled with his command and said he wasn't helped by an umpire's strike zone that forced him to elevate pitches. The result was three-inning outing and four runs allowed, not exactly the kind of production a guy challenging for the final spot in the Nationals rotation can hang his hat on. Reliever Luis Ayala looked like he was throwing batting practice, as the Tigers hung five runs on him in 2/3 of an inning, inflating his spring ERA after...

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Fister passes bullpen session, will be re-evaluated Saturday

March 14, 2014, 1:18pm

Nationals

Fister passes bullpen session, will be re-evaluated Saturday

LAKELAND, Fla. - On a day when he watched his mound staff get battered for 22 hits and 12 runs, Nationals manager Matt Williams got a dose of good pitching news. Right-hander Doug Fister, who has been sidelined since March 2 with inflammation in his pitching elbow, threw a bullpen session without any problems this morning in Viera. While the Nationals will wait to see how Fister feels tomorrow before plotting out next steps, this morning's bullpen represented a step in the right direction for...

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Ayala roughed up, hearing from Jordan (Nats lose 12-6)

March 14, 2014, 11:07am

Nationals

Ayala roughed up, hearing from Jordan (Nats lose 12-6)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Tigers 12, Nationals 6 Recap: Detroit scored four runs in the third inning off starter Taylor Jordan and came back with five more in the fourth against reliever Luis Ayala, who got only two outs. Tyler Moore and Scott Hairston homered for the Nats. Need to know: Today's contest is the first of three games between the Nats and Tigers in a four-day span, one of those little Grapefruit League scheduling quirks. A trip to Jupiter tomorrow never looked so good. ...

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Jordan gets the best of Cabrera (Moore cuts lead to 4-3)

March 14, 2014, 9:35am

Nationals

Jordan gets the best of Cabrera (Moore cuts lead to 4-3)

LAKELAND, Fla. - Joker Marchant Stadium is one of the Grapefruit League's gems. From its retro styling on the ediface to the variety of smells (from barbecue to burgers to grilled corn on the cob) permeating the concourse to the ever-present olde English D-clad fans, the place just oozes baseball. The fans are some of the most knowledgeable around, too, and right now, they're none too pleased after watching Miguel Cabrera - yes, the former Triple Crown winner and one of the game's greatest...

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Williams awaiting report on Fister's bullpen session

March 14, 2014, 7:30am

Nationals

Williams awaiting report on Fister's bullpen session

LAKELAND, Fla. - Right-hander Doug Fister, who has been sidelined since March 2 with inflammation in his pitching elbow, threw a bullpen session this morning in Viera, Fla., one day after feeling tightness in the affected arm following three consecutive days of throwing. Nationals manager Matt Williams was awaiting the arrival of pitching coach Steve McCatty with a report on Fister's progress, but continued to preach that the team wasn't as concerned with Fister missing a couple of spring...

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Nationals-Tigers lineups

March 14, 2014, 6:39am

Nationals

LAKELAND, Fla. - Greetings from Joker Marchant Stadium, where the Nationals will face the Tigers at 1:05 p.m. today. Actually, they'll be playing one another three out of the next four days, but we're concentrating on today. Taylor Jordan gets the start for the Nationals today, with Luis Ayala, Michael Gonzalez, Drew Storen and Blake Treinen also available to pitch. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Nate McLouth DH Scott Hairston C Jose Lobaton 1B Tyler Moore LF Jeff...

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Orioles agree to one-year deals with 19 players, renew Machado's contract

March 11, 2014, 8:11am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with 19 players on one-year contracts: Right-handed pitchers: Brad Brach, Kevin Gausman, Miguel Gonzalez, Steve Johnson, Josh Stinson and Chris Tillman. Left-handed pitchers: Mike Belfiore, Zach Britton and T.J. McFarland. Catchers: Steve Clevenger, Johnny Monell and Michael Ohlman. Infielders: Michael Almanzar, Ryan Flaherty, Jonathan Schoop and Jemile Weeks. Outfielders: David Lough and Henry Urrutia. Additionally, the club has...

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Nats meet with Palm Beach County about spring training site

March 08, 2014, 8:19am

Nationals

Nats meet with Palm Beach County about spring training site

Officials from Palm Beach County met Thursday with representatives of the Nationals and Astros about relocating their spring training headquarters there. The presentation made to the two clubs - who now train in the Florida cities of Viera and Kissimmee, respectively - outlines 10 potential sites from Vero Beach to Boca Raton where they could move and share a facility, according to this story in the Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach County has focused on sites of at least 100 acres in hopes of...

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MASNsports.com welcomes Nationals guest bloggers for 2014 season

March 06, 2014, 6:34am

Nationals

When the Nationals open their 2014 season at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., on Monday, March 31, MASNsports.com will kick off another season of contributions from guest bloggers on our site. The Nationals blogosphere is one of the most active in the major leagues, offering fans with Natitude the opportunity to read interesting takes on all things curly and W. This strong community was one of the reasons MASNsports.com initiated the introduction of guest bloggers in 2011, and the partnership...

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Orioles guest bloggers returning to MASNsports.com for 2014 season

March 06, 2014, 6:19am

Orioles

Baseball's back - well, almost - and so are the guest bloggers that have been a staple at MASNsports.com since 2011. Starting with March 31, the date of the Orioles' home and season opener at Camden Yards, a different guest blogger will share their opinions each weekday. There are a host of fan blogs that follow the Orioles, and welcoming guest bloggers to our pages is a way for MASNsports.com to both offer a platform for their distinctive voices and supplement our beat writers' work with a...

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Today's Rays-Orioles game canceled by rain

March 06, 2014, 5:37am

Orioles

Today's Orioles-Rays game at Ed Smith Stadium has been canceled due to rain. There will be no makeup date. Fans holding paid tickets for today's game may exchange their tickets for any of the remaining Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium, subject to availability, or obtain a refund. Additionally, today's OriolesREACH Food Drive to benefit All Faiths Food Bank has been rescheduled for the Thursday, March 27 game at 7:05 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay. On non-game days, tickets may be exchanged at...

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Orioles reschedule Tag Day until March 15

March 05, 2014, 11:19am

Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles announced today that Tag Day, originally scheduled for this Saturday, March 8, will be postponed due to snow and ice in the ballpark seating bowl. A make-up date is scheduled for next Saturday, March 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Tag Day gives fans interested in purchasing either a full or partial Season Plan for the 2014 season the opportunity to "try out" their seats before they buy. Available seats will be tagged with pennants, and...