Treinen hoping to build off of positive recent results

Treinen hoping to build off of positive recent results
The Nationals bullpen did their job Tuesday night, putting up three scoreless and hitless innings against the Cubs in a 6-1 win. Blake Treinen, alongside Enny Romero, Oliver Peréz and Matt Albers, walked one batter and struck out one batter on their way to getting the last nine outs of the game. Manager Dusty Baker assessed Treinen's scoreless eighth inning in which he struck out Javier Báez and collected a pair of outfield flyouts from pinch-hitter Addison Russell and Jeimer...
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Even without "A" stuff, Scherzer still delivers impressive 6-1 win

Even without "A" stuff, Scherzer still delivers impressive 6-1 win
Max Scherzer and the Nationals got exactly what they needed from their No. 1 starter - a quality start - in a game in which he didn't have to be "maxed" out. He allowed the Cubs just one run in the first inning, doing it all without his best stuff. Scherzer went six innings and used only 93 pitches as the Nats dropped the Cubs 6-1 to even the series at 1-1. Manager Dusty Baker said what might be even scarier for the rest of the league is that Scherzer didn't even have everything clicking...
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Scherzer and Arrieta allow early runs (Nats win 6-1)

Scherzer and Arrieta allow early runs (Nats win 6-1)
Nationals starter Max Scherzer hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch to begin the first inning. Following a called third strike to Tommy La Stella and a flyout by Ian Happ, Kris Bryant blasted a triple off the right-center field wall out-of-town scoreboard. Michael A. Taylor jumped a bit too far away from the wall and came up short on the catch attempt. Rizzo scored to lift the Cubs to a 1-0 lead. They have never trailed in the series. In the bottom of the first, Trea Turner notched an infield single...
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Gonzalez proud of his and his team's fight in 5-4 loss to Cubs

Gonzalez proud of his and his team's fight in 5-4 loss to Cubs
Despite a 5-4 loss to the Cubs, left-hander Gio Gonzalez put together another tremendous start. The Cubs enjoyed a leadoff homer by Willson Contreras and then nothing else against Gonzalez. He ended up allowing only one run on two hits over six innings with five walks (one intentional) and struck out eight. But in the end, with the Cubs turning a 1-0 lead into 5-0 before the Nationals made it 5-4 and had the winning run on second base, all Gonzalez could think about was the homer to Contreras...
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Gonzalez allows leadoff homer (Cubs win 5-4)

Gonzalez allows leadoff homer (Cubs win 5-4)
The Cubs struck first with a leadoff home run from catcher Willson Contreras. His eighth homer of the season came on a 3-1 pitch. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez then induced a couple of flyouts. Against Ian Happ, Gonzalez recorded the 1,500th strikeout of his career. The Nationals enjoyed a two-out single from Bryce Harper in the bottom of the first facing Eddie Butler. But Butler managed to get Ryan Zimmerman to ground out to end the threat. Gonzalez allowed a walk in the second, but got out of the...
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Werth "doing a lot better" as he deals with severe bone bruise

Werth "doing a lot better" as he deals with severe bone bruise
Left fielder Jayson Werth continues to make progress in his recovery from what is listed as a left foot contusion that has kept him on the shelf since June 4. Nationals manager Dusty Baker had a positive update on Werth during Monday's pregame media availability before the Nats faced off against the Cubs. Baker thinks a target date might be July 14 in Cincinnati for Werth's return to the field. "Well, he's doing good," Baker said. "He comes in to see me every day. He took a few swings...
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Marty Niland: Cubs-Nats series is loaded with history

Marty Niland: Cubs-Nats series is loaded with history
If a date with the World Series champions and a potential postseason preview won't give Nationals fans enough to talk about this week, the Nats' series with the Cubs will offer plenty of history. The two teams, as well as mangers Joe Maddon of the Cubs and Dusty Baker of the Nationals, have a more than bit of a past between and among them, and we only have to go back to last season to start. The Nationals were coming off a blistering 16-7 April and had won three of their first four in May...
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Opposite dugout: Defending champion Cubs still out of sorts

Opposite dugout: Defending champion Cubs still out of sorts
Manager: Joe Maddon (3rd season)Record: 38-37 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Kris Bryant (.263 with 16 HR, 31 RBIs); 1B Anthony Rizzo (.261 with 17 HR, 48 RBIs); SS Addison Russell (.232 with 53 hits); RHP Jake Arrieta (7-5, 4.36 ERA); LHP Jon Lester (5-4, 3.83 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (5-2 in 2016) Pitching probables: Monday, June 26: RHP Eddie Butler vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNTuesday, June 27: RHP Jake Arrieta vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m.,...
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Examining the NL Central as the Cubs look to repeat as world champions

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?

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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Trade winds bring changes in Windy City baseball landscape

Trade winds bring changes in Windy City baseball landscape
The Cubs will defend their World Series title with a new closer next season. Instead of investing millions long-term for lefty free agent closer Aroldis Chapman and his 100 mph fastball, the Cubs acquired closer Wade Davis, a two-time All-Star, from the Royals for outfielder Jorge Soler on the third day of the winter meetings. Chapman and Kenley Jansen are the two free agent closers left on the market, but the Cubs couldn't fit either into their 2017 budget. Former Nationals closer Mark...
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Nats, Cubs didn't meet in playoffs, but will battle for BBWAA awards this week

Nats, Cubs didn't meet in playoffs, but will battle for BBWAA awards this week
The Nationals and Chicago Cubs didn't play in October as expected, but this week, representatives from the two teams will be at the center of the Baseball Writers' Association of America awards debate. The Cubs have finalists for three of the four BBWAA awards, including MVP, Cy Young and Manager of the Year. The Nats have finalists in all four BBWAA awards categories. Nationals starter Max Scherzer is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, but two Cubs pitchers - Kyle Hendricks and...
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One curse ends and one offseason begins after an epic Game 7

One curse ends and one offseason begins after an epic Game 7
There was a time when you could hardly score a run off the Cleveland Indians' pitching staff in this postseason. There was a time when Cleveland manager Terry Francona almost never lost a World Series game. But that all changed the last few days as the Chicago Cubs' 108-year curse ended last night. Or more accurately early this morning. The Cubs beat the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings to win Game 7 of the World Series. They became the sixth team that was behind 3-1 in the series to win the last...
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Cubs can break "Curse of the Billy Goat" with World Series win

Cubs can break "Curse of the Billy Goat" with World Series win
The Chicago Cubs are in the World Series for the first time since 1945. For perspective, consider that Jackie Robinson didn't break baseball's color barrier until 1947. The Cubs haven't won the World Series since consecutive titles in 1907 and 1908. For perspective, consider that the World Series was created in 1903. In 2004, baseball's most famous curse - the Curse of the Bambino - ended when the Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, their first title since 1918. Now, as the World...
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Previewing how the NL postseason landscape is shaping up

Previewing how the NL postseason landscape is shaping up
With less than a third of the season to go, the Nationals are putting it all together and sucking all the drama out of the race in the National League East. The Cubs, leaders in the NL Central who struggled before the All-Star break, have gotten their swagger back. The story line is different with the Giants, who lost their weekend series to the Nationals in D.C. and are having to do all they can to hold off the Dodgers in the NL West. They are 6-15 since the All-Star break, the worst record...
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Notes after the non-waiver trade deadline

Notes after the non-waiver trade deadline
The Cleveland Indians acquired a game-changing lefty, Andrew Miller, for their bullpen and an outfielder with a dependable bat, Brandon Guyer. The Texas Rangers picked up Jeremy Jeffress, Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy. So as the non-waiver trade deadline rumors end and the dust settles, the Rangers and Indians are the most improved teams in baseball. A couple of months after the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA championship, the Indians are set to make a...
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Cubs-Nationals series could be preview of NLCS

Cubs-Nationals series could be preview of NLCS
The Nationals and Cubs, two of the best teams in baseball, finished playing their seventh and final game of the regular season Wednesday at Nationals Park. So, what happens now? Will they see each other again? If so, that means they'll meet with the pennant on the line. And, what did each team learn about the other? Nationals manager Dusty Baker says the Cubs will change by late in the season, but there are still nuggets that can be stored, just in case. Baker keeps notes and says he's gotten...
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Notes on the bullpen, the bench, Baker and Werth

Notes on the bullpen, the bench, Baker and Werth
On Tuesday in a tie ball game, Nationals manager Dusty Baker went with left-hander Sammy Solis for the final two innings. Solis allowed an Albert Almora Jr., RBI double in the ninth to lead the Cubs past the Nationals 4-3. Then in the finale Wednesday, the Nats held a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the ninth. Kris Bryant led off with a double off of right-hander Matt Belisle, who was making his first appearance since being activated off of the disabled list. Anthony Rizzo followed with a...
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Werth completes another walk-off win as Nats beat Cubs 5-4 in 12

Werth completes another walk-off win as Nats beat Cubs 5-4 in 12
There are 162 games in a regular season, but the Nationals are making a recent habit of "this win was better than that one" with each passing series victory. On a getaway Wednesday, the Nationals found a way to come back three separate times and shock the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in a 12-inning, four-hour and 17-minute heavyweight battle. The two of the three 40-win teams in the National League put together a thriller of a finale before a standing room only crowd of 42,000 at Nats Park. And those...
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Nats and Cubs trade early runs (Werth wins it again in 12th)

Nats and Cubs trade early runs (Werth wins it again in 12th)
The Cubs raced out quickly against Stephen Strasburg. Ben Zobrist slammed a solo homer on a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Strasburg then allowed a double to Jason Heyward on a drive that Ben Revere dove for but could not catch. Kris Bryant was called out on strikes. With Anthony Rizzo at the plate, Wilson Ramos caught Heyward attempting to steal third. Strasburg then struck out Rizzo. The Nationals counterpunched in the bottom of the first. Ben Revere led...
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