cardinals - Blog

Pregame notes on Soto, Turner, Kieboom, more (6:30 p.m. start expected)

May 02, 2019, 11:00am

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Juan Soto is ready to go today against the Cardinals in the series finale after being a late scratch last night prior to game three due to back spasms. "He's in the lineup. He's good to go," Martinez said. "It's good to have him back in there. He said he didn't feel anything really. I think he just cramped up. We don't want to take a chance." Martinez said the training staff was concerned it was something worse when Soto was hurt during batting...

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Game 30 lineups: Nats vs. Cards (Soto scratched again)

May 02, 2019, 5:13am

Nationals

Game 30 lineups: Nats vs. Cards (Soto scratched again)

The Nationals look to salvage the final game of their four-game series with the Cardinals today before they set out on a rigorous 10-game, three-city road trip starting Friday in Philadelphia. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82 ERA) needs eight strikeouts to reach the 1,500-strikeout plateau. Strasburg is 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in six starts against St. Louis in his career with 43 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings. He has not faced the Cards since 2016. In his last two starts, Strasburg has...

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Soto scratched, Cards get to Scherzer in first (Nats fall 5-1)

May 01, 2019, 4:00pm

Nationals

Soto scratched, Cards get to Scherzer in first (Nats fall 5-1)

The Nationals scratched left fielder Juan Soto from the lineup with back spasms about an hour prior to first pitch against the Cardinals. Michael A. Taylor took over center field, Adam Eaton played left field and Victor Robles was in right field. The Cardinals did not waste any time getting on the board against Nationals ace Max Scherzer. After recording the first out, Scherzer allowed singles to Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong. Marcell Ozuna then dropped a double into right field after Robles...

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Eaton and Robles hit back-to-back homers (Nats lose 3-2)

April 30, 2019, 4:04pm

Nationals

Eaton and Robles hit back-to-back homers (Nats lose 3-2)

Nationals right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez is seeking his first win with his new team. After starting the season 0-3, SÃ¡nchez faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night. He was lights-out deceptive in the first three frames, allowing one hit and striking out six. In the bottom of the third, Adam Eaton and Victor Robles connected on back-to-back solo homer off of Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright. For Eaton it was on a first pitch and was his second homer of the season. Robles...

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Jennings wants to pitch every day; Fedde's key role still undecided

April 30, 2019, 2:16pm

Nationals

Jennings wants to pitch every day; Fedde's key role still undecided

With Anthony Rendon moving to the injured list, the Nationals purchased the contract of veteran southpaw reliever Dan Jennings from Double-A Harrisburg. Jennings had a 4-5 record with a 3.22 ERA in 72 appearances last season with Milwaukee. The Senators were in Reading, Pa., when Jennings was told he had to get to D.C. "After the game they told me, then it became a scramble to get here," Jennings said. "I took an Uber here from Reading. I think the guy was a little surprised when he picked...

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Corbin helps his own cause to start rally (Nats fall 6-3)

April 29, 2019, 3:59pm

Nationals

Corbin helps his own cause to start rally (Nats fall 6-3)

The Nationals got after Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha with three runs in the second inning. The rally was sparked by Wacha's counterpart, left-hander Patrick Corbin, who put together was of the most impressive at-bats of the season. With one out, Matt Adams singled to right field. One batter later, Brian Dozier singled. Yan Gomes walked to load the bases. Corbin battled back from an 0-2 count to get to a full count versus Wacha. He had to foul off four pitches to stay alive for nine...

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Opposite dugout: Red-hot Cardinals aim to continue playoff push

September 02, 2018, 12:04pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Red-hot Cardinals aim to continue playoff push

Manager: Mike Shildt (1st season) Record: 76-61 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: IF Matt Carpenter (.273 with 35 HR, 73 RBIs); 1B JosÃ© MartÃnez (.310 with 77 RBIs, 139 hits); C Yadier Molina (.271 with 108 hits); LF Marcell Ozuna (.273 with 133 hits); RHP Miles Mikolas (13-4, 2.96 ERA); RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.87 ERA); RHP Bud Norris (2.85 ERA, 28 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-1 Pitching probables: Sept. 3: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (16-6), 1:05 p.m.,...

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Opposite dugout: Surging Cardinals have sights set on postseason spot

August 12, 2018, 1:42pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Surging Cardinals have sights set on postseason spot

Manager: Mike Shildt (1st season) Record: 63-55 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 3B Matt Carpenter (.277 \ with 32 HR, 65 RBIs); C Yadier Molina (.290 \ with 53 RBIs, 95 hits); 1B JosÃ© MartÃnez (.299 with 114 hits); LF Marcell Ozuna (.272 with 122 hits, 62 RBIs); RHP Miles Mikolas (12-3, 2.74 ERA); RHP Jack Flaherty (6-6, 3.22 ERA); RHP Bud Norris (2.85 ERA, 22 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: Aug. 13: LHP Tommy Milone (1-1) vs. RHP...

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Brewers look to compete with Cubs in NL Central and return to postseason

March 19, 2018, 11:33am

Nationals

Brewers look to compete with Cubs in NL Central and return to postseason

The Cubs have a revamped rotation to go with a lineup that features Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, two hitters that are potential National League MVP candidates. Their biggest competition in the NL Central could be the Brewers, who had 86 victories last season and have a legitimate shot to make the postseason for the first time since 2011. But the Cardinals, who had 100, 86 and 83 wins in each of the last three seasons, are trying to avoid being left out of the postseason for the third...

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Opposite dugout: Cards in unfamiliar territory looking up at NL Central leaders

June 28, 2017, 6:30pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Cards in unfamiliar territory looking up at NL Central leaders

Manager: Mike Matheny (6th season) Record: 37-41 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Jedd Gyorko (.298 with 12 HR, 39 RBIs), 1B Matt Carpenter (14 HR, 40 RBIs), CF Tommy Pham (.284 with 9 HR, 25 RBIs), C Yadier Molina (9 HR, 31 RIs), RHP Mike Leake (5-6, 3.12 ERA), RHP Carlos MartÃnez (6-6, 2.88 ERA), RHP Seung Hwan Oh (16 saves, 3.75 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: June 30: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Mike Leake, 8:15 p.m., MASN2 July 1: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP...

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Opposite dugout: Underachieving Cardinals still a threat in NL Central

June 16, 2017, 5:23am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Underachieving Cardinals still a threat in NL Central

Manager: Mike Matheny (6th season) Record: 30-35 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 3B Jedd Gyorko (.295/.344/.490 with 8 HR, 27 RBIs), 1B Matt Carpenter (.244/.365/.475 with 12 HR, 36 RBIs), CF Dexter Fowler (10 HR, 28 RBIs), RHP Carlos MartÃnez (5-5, 2.95 ERA), RHP Lance Lynn (5-3, 2.69 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (2-1 in 2014) Pitching probables: June 16: RHP Carlos MartÃnez vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 June 17: RHP Adam Wainwright vs. LHP Wade Miley, 4:05...

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Scherzer unable to have his usual changeup command in 6-1 loss

April 12, 2017, 4:39pm

Nationals

Scherzer unable to have his usual changeup command in 6-1 loss

The Nationals could not solve Mike Leake in the series finale, and that was part of a 6-1 loss to the Cardinals. Right-hander Max Scherzer had an up-and-down start. While he struck out 10 hitters, command of his changeup caused issues, as the Cardinals put up a run in the first and two more in the fifth to salvage Game 3 of the series. "It's never fun taking a loss," Scherzer said. "Any time that happens, you always reflect on the things you could be better at. The wild pitches, sometimes...

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Murphy raking Cards, Gonzalez solid (Nationals win 8-3)

April 11, 2017, 4:02pm

Nationals

The Cardinals were able to generate offense against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez in their first at-bat. Dexter Fowler doubled to deep left. Aledmys Diaz popped out to Ryan Zimmerman. But when Zimmerman exchanged the ball out of his glove, he dropped it. Fowler raced to third base. Yadier Molina then provided a sac fly RBI to center field, and Fowler scored. The Cardinals lead 1-0. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn has not allowed a Nationals base hit in the first two frames. Gonzalez battled...

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Game 8 lineups: Cards at Nats

April 11, 2017, 8:18am

Nationals

The Nationals returned home worrying about their bullpen. Turns out the Cardinals' bullpen issues are causing them a lot of difficulty. The Nats rolled past the Cardinals 14-6, propelled by a seven-run eighth inning. One big factor heading into tonight's game two is that the Cards had to use five relievers to try to slow the Nats onslaught. The Cards bullpen was taxed for four innings, eight hits, eight runs while walking four batters. Kevin Siegrist's ERA is 19.29. Jonathan Broxton's ERA...

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Opposite dugout: Cardinals need bounceback season from rotation to contend

April 08, 2017, 12:12pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Cardinals need bounceback season from rotation to contend

Manager: Mike Matheny (6th season) Record: 2-4 Last 10 games: 2-4 Who to watch: SS Aledmys DÃaz (.300/.369/.510 with 17 HR, 65 RBIs), C Yadier Molina (.307/.360/.427), RF Stephen Piscotty (22 HR, 85 RBIs), RHP Adam Wainwright (13-9 with 4.62 ERA), RHP Seung-Hwan Oh (1.92 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2016) Pitching probables: April 10: RHP Adam Wainwright vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN April 11: RHP Lance Lynn vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m.,...

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Examining the NL Central as the Cubs look to repeat as world champions

March 29, 2017, 7:26am

Nationals

Examining the NL Central as the Cubs look to repeat as world champions

The Chicago Cubs are defending a World Series title for the first time since 1909, and this year, they are one of the best teams in the National League. The favorite to win the NL Central? Without a doubt, it is the Cubs. The Cardinals have the best chance to challenge, but their rotation has questions. The Pirates could surprise, but their pitching is young. And the Reds and Brewers are rebuilding with little chance of a .500 record. For the record, the Cubs won 104 games in 1909 and lost the...

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Can the Cubs rotation help them start a dynasty?

February 08, 2017, 6:28am

Nationals

Can the Cubs rotation help them start a dynasty?

The Chicago Cubs, World Series champions for the first time since 1908, are the favorites to win the National League Central. The question is: Could the Cubs - and their youthful position-player roster - be baseball's answer to the NFL's New England Patriots, who won their fifth Super Bowl? The Reds and Brewers are rebuilding. The Pirates have taken a step back. The Cardinals are the only team with a chance to challenge the Cubs. Here's a look at the NL Central: Chicago: The Cubs, defending...

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Werth's grand slam puts exclamation point on Nats' 10-2 win

May 29, 2016, 12:36pm

Nationals

Werth's grand slam puts exclamation point on Nats' 10-2 win

Jayson Werth's most celebrated home run of his Nationals career came against the Cardinals to force Game 5 in the 2012 National League Divisional Series. Werth provided another memorable moment against the team from St. Louis on Sunday. Coming off the bench in the seventh, Werth hit his first pinch-hit grand slam to help the Nationals down the Cardinals 10-2. What a way to spend a day off. It was the Nationals' 30th victory of the season. The win got the Nats a split in the four-game series...

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Strasburg's changeup elevating his game to new heights

May 29, 2016, 2:07pm

Nationals

Strasburg's changeup elevating his game to new heights

Although Stephen Strasburg allowed a home run to Brandon Moss on a changeup, it's becoming a pitch that is another way for the right-hander to get hitters out. Strasburg arrived in the major leagues with a lethal fastball and it is still there. But it is his other pitches, like the curveball and now the changeup, that are becoming consistent out pitches that help elevate him to an elite category. "I think my ability to command my other pitches has really opened it up a little bit more,"...

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Benches warned after Garcia close call, but Nats understand it wasn't personal

May 27, 2016, 6:59pm

Nationals

Benches warned after Garcia close call, but Nats understand it wasn't personal

Left-hander Jaime Garcia went seven innings for the Cardinals in their 6-2 victory over the Nationals. He allowed only two runs, but he wasn't close to having his best command. That led to a few pitches that hit or came close to Nationals hitters. Daniel Murphy was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth inning. Then in the fifth, Garcia came close to hitting Ben Revere. Home plate umpire Alan Porter then warned Garcia and both benches, even though Nationals starter Max Scherzer had not been...