Nationals agree to terms with infielder Brock Holt (updated)

Nationals agree to terms with infielder Brock Holt (updated)
Manager Davey Martinez confirmed that the Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran infielder Brock Holt. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter can play almost every infield spot and in the outfield, bringing nine seasons of big league experience to the club. To make room for Holt on the 28-man roster, the Nats optioned left-hander Ben Braymer to the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals transferred infielder Starlin Castro (broken right...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

How Scherzer, Strasburg and Hudson held Brewers to three runs

How Scherzer, Strasburg and Hudson held Brewers to three runs
The Nationals made a miraculous comeback Tuesday night to beat the Brewers 4-3 in the National League wild card game. Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg combined for eight innings, allowing only three runs. Then Daniel Hudson worked the ninth and found a way to record three outs for the save. But it did not start off well for Scherzer, who made the start. The right-hander allowed two early homers in the first two innings. Before he could get comfortable, the ace of the staff was down 3-0 after...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Brewers' strategy derailed in eighth when Hader struggles with his location

Brewers' strategy derailed in eighth when Hader struggles with his location
For seven innings Tuesday, the Brewers' bullpen game was working to near perfection. Then, the eighth inning arrived. Brewers closer Josh Hader couldn't find the strike zone and the Nationals scored three runs to beat Milwaukee 4-3 in the National League wild card game at frenzied Nats Park. With one out, Hader hit pinch-hitter Michael A. Taylor with a pitch. Then pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman hit a broken-bat single to center, with Taylor going to third. Anthony Rendon walked to load the...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Early homers haunt Scherzer (Nats win 4-3)

Early homers haunt Scherzer (Nats win 4-3)
The Brewers struck quickly against Nationals starter Max Scherzer in tonight's National League wild card game. After a leadoff walk to Trent Grisham, Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run shot that bounced off the top of the right field wall at the Nats bullpen. That was his first homer of the postseason after 28 homers in the regular season. The Brewers led 2-0. Right-hander Brandon Woodruff used a 100 mph fastball to strikeout Adam Eaton swinging for the second out of the first. The longballs...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Soto's and Robles' all-around play takes center stage in postseason

Soto's and Robles' all-around play takes center stage in postseason
Nationals center fielder Victor Robles was on the 2017 National League Divisional Series roster and played in two games against the Cubs, scoring a run in Game 2 and going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in Game 5. But Tuesday's National League wild card game against the Brewers will be his first postseason start. "It's the same game," Robles said via team translator Octavio Martinez. "Trying to maintain and contain my excitement inside and not let it get to me. I got out there any way I can to...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Brewers sizzle down stretch, but injuries could hamper deep run in postseason

Brewers sizzle down stretch, but injuries could hamper deep run in postseason
The Brewers won a playoff spot without the injured Christian Yelich, a 44-home run guy that was a candidate to repeat as the National League MVP. Now, they'll come to D.C. on Tuesday night to take on the Nationals in the wild card game with a former NL MVP, left fielder Ryan Braun, battling a strained left calf. It could be that the Brewers will be without center fielder Lorenzo Cain, slowed by a sprained left ankle. Cain hit .306 in September. The Brewers could go from a power-hitting team to...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Late injuries slow Brewers' amazing September surge

Late injuries slow Brewers' amazing September surge
The Brewers arrive in D.C. not at 100 percent. They're already missing their best hitter, Christian Yelich, who is out for the season. Now outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Ryan Braun are hurting from their series in Denver against the Rockies. But even with a sweep at the hands of the Rockies yesterday, the Brewers still finished September on an incredible run, going 20-7. On Sept. 5 they were 7 1/2 games in back of the Cardinals in the National League Central, but then came within one game of...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Some key points entering regular season's final week of play

Some key points entering regular season's final week of play
Baseball's final week of the regular season has arrived. Here's what we know: The Brewers haven't missed National League MVP candidate Christian Yelich: The Brewers are 10-2 since Yelich was sidelined with a knee injury. They are 17-4 during September, a repeat performance of last season when they won 20 games in the final month to make the postseason. The Brewers, who have the tiebreaker to get home field in case of a wild card tie with Washington, have scored 32 runs in their last four...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Wild card race in NL shaping up to be a down-to-the-wire affair

Wild card race in NL shaping up to be a down-to-the-wire affair
Last week at this time, the Nationals were looking forward to a series in Atlanta and weighing the possibilities of becoming a legitimate contender in the National League East. It didn't happen. The Braves won three of four games, leaving the Nationals virtually no chance to win the division. And now they are left with making a one-game wild card playoff game, something Nationals manager Davey Martinez said isn't the ideal situation. "Anything can happen,'' he said about a wild card...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Game 123 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 123 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
The Nationals close out a weekend series with the Brewers this afternoon, hoping resurgent right-hander Erick Fedde can deliver another strong outing and a series victory over the Brewers. Fedde's start - and his ability to give the Nats some length - takes on additional importance after Saturday night's 15-14 loss to the Brewers in 14 innings. The bullpen had to cover 10 innings after righty Aníbal Sánchez went only four frames, and it's possible the Nationals will make a move before...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Corbin went back to his slider for key outs in Nats' 2-1 win

Corbin went back to his slider for key outs in Nats' 2-1 win
It was not a pitch-efficient type game for Patrick Corbin Friday night against Milwaukee, but that did not seem to bother him one bit. Neither did getting behind in counts or watching Brewers hitters take so many pitches. In the end, the Nationals southpaw went to his best pitch to get him out of jams again and again. The slider is his signature pitch, and it helped Corbin rack up four inning-ending strikeouts when he needed them most. With Corbin and the bullpen on point and Anthony Rendon...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Rendon helps get offense going, Corbin battles (Nats win 2-1)

Rendon helps get offense going, Corbin battles (Nats win 2-1)
Left-hander Patrick Corbin did a nice job of fighting out of a major jam in the top of the third. The Brewers got on the board first with a solo homer well over the center field wall from shortstop Orlando Arcia. Pitcher Adrian Houser came up next and singled for his first major league base hit. Lorenzo Cain also singled. With two men on, Corbin struck out Keston Hiura and Christian Yelich. On the Yelich strikeout, Cain stole second base. After Ryan Braun was walked to load the bases, Corbin...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Nats not afraid to increase Fedde's workload in new role

Nats not afraid to increase Fedde's workload in new role
LOS ANGELES - Right-hander Erick Fedde is adjusting to his new role with the Nationals after being a starter for most of his first four-plus seasons in pro ball. Fedde, 26, started 67 of the 85 appearances he has made with the Nats in their minor league system since 2015. The 2014 first-round selection from Nevada-Las Vegas rehabbed from Tommy John surgery to get back to a regular starting role in 2016. After building through the minors, Fedde made three starts for the Nats in 2017, and then 11...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

World Series over, a world of speculation about free agents begins

World Series over, a world of speculation about free agents begins
Prepare yourself: The baseball offseason is here, and that means a never-ending stream of speculation about trades and free agent signings. John Schuerholz, former general manager of the Atlanta Braves, used to accuse reporters of blowing even the tiniest tidbit of conversation out of proportion. "Reporters take a kernel of popcorn and turn it into a large bag immediately," he said. In case you haven't heard, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are the two biggest names on the free agent market....
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Opposite dugout: Brewers trying to make room in crowded playoff race

Opposite dugout: Brewers trying to make room in crowded playoff race
Manager: Craig Counsell (4th season) Record: 75-60 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 1B Jesús Aguilar (.277 with 30 HR, 92 RBIs); 3B Travis Shaw (26 HR, 74 RBIs); CF Lorenzo Cain (.309 with 136 hits, 24 SB); OF Christian Yelich (.319 with 151 hits, 75 RBIs); RHP Jhoulys Chacín (13-5, 3.61 ERA); RHP Chase Anderson (9-7, 4.04 ERA); LHP Josh Hader (2.05 ERA, 10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 31: RHP Jhoulys Chacín (13-5) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (8-13); 7:05...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Martinez on Harper's homer, Roark on fixing his delivery

Martinez on Harper's homer, Roark on fixing his delivery
MILWAUKEE - Bryce Harper returned from his stomach bug to launch a three-run shot over the right field fence that got out of Miller Park in a hurry in the Nationals' 7-3 win over the Brewers on Wednesday. Manager Davey Martinez was impressed with the blast. "He's actually been pretty good," Martinez said. "He's working some good at-bats. To see him hit that ball, especially on a line, was awesome. Hopefully, he can continue swinging the bat like that. For him, it's just getting balls in...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Roark baffles Brewers with commanding sinker in 7-3 win

Roark baffles Brewers with commanding sinker in 7-3 win
MILWAUKEE - Nationals starter Tanner Roark has worked diligently the past two weeks to retool his mechanics on his sinking fastball. When Roark's sinker is on, every other pitch is better. He calls it his "bread and butter" pitch. When Roark can use and command the two-seam and four-seam fastballs in heavy doses, the opponent has little chance to guess at when he will go off-speed. It is an advantage that made Roark lethal in 2016 to the tune of 16 wins, and an advantage Roark has been...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Kintzler helps Roark rediscover confidence in his sinker

Kintzler helps Roark rediscover confidence in his sinker
MILWAUKEE - Right-hander Tanner Roark was at his wit's end. He wasn't getting outs like he used to. Losses were piling up. So Roark went back to video of his 2016 campaign. That was the season he posted a career-high 16 wins and a 2.83 ERA. He made a slight tweak to his mechanics. But results still did not turn his way. Roark kept studying. He came to the realization that he had strayed away from what made him effective: his sinking fastball. He was not finishing well on this pitch. "For me,...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Nats unable to hold early 4-0 lead, fall 5-4 in 10 innings at Milwaukee

Nats unable to hold early 4-0 lead, fall 5-4 in 10 innings at Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE - The Nationals raced out to a 4-0 lead early, but the Brewers chipped away, and eventually walked off with a 5-4, 10-inning shocker at Miller Park, to win the series. Tyler Saladino's bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left-center field off of left-hander Matt Grace (0-1) in the tenth scored Lorenzo Cain from third base. Juan Soto's throw was strong but curled back up the line for catcher Spencer Kieboom. Cain scored standing up before Kieboom could apply the tag. It was the Brewers'...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Martinez on Turner benching and Harper's sickness

Martinez on Turner benching and Harper's sickness
MILWAUKEE - Manager Davey Martinez planned to speak to shortstop Trea Turner during pregame Tuesday as the Nationals prepare for the Brewers. Martinez decided to bench Turner for tonight's game after the shortstop didn't run to first base on a bunt attempt in Monday's 6-1 loss. "I haven't talked to him yet but (the) conversation will be had," Martinez said. "Honestly, I really felt after yesterday he really needed a day off. He's available, but let him ponder about it and let's get him...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments