lineups - Blog

Game 40 lineups: Nats at Pirates

May 18, 2017, 6:07am

PITTSBURGH - We've got an early getaway day here at PNC Park, with a 12:35 p.m. first pitch on what is going to be a very warm afternoon along the banks of the Allegheny River. The Nationals will be looking to win this series, taking two of three from the Pirates before heading down to Atlanta for a weekend series with the Braves. It's Tanner Roark on the mound, looking to bounce back from a bit of a ragged start against the Phillies. The biggest thing holding Roark back so far this season...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime pittsburgh pirates tanner roark frontstory_nationals1

Game 39 lineups: Nats at Pirates

May 17, 2017, 11:37am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals look to make it two in a row against the Pirates tonight, though they'll face a stiffer challenge than they did last night, with Jacob Turner on the mound facing Gerrit Cole. Turner makes his second start of the season, his eighth overall appearance. The right-hander has been mostly effective, but he hasn't been stretched out since his six-inning start at Coors Field on April 24, so it's unclear how far he can go tonight. And once he departs, we'll see who's...

Comments

Tags:

jacob turner lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime pittsburgh pirates frontstory_nationals3

Game 38 lineups: Nats at Pirates

May 16, 2017, 11:28am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - Hello from beautiful PNC Park, where the sun is shining and it's going to be very toasty the next three days as the Nationals and Pirates square off. The stakes aren't quite as high for this series as that other series between teams from Washington and Pittsburgh the last couple weeks, but these are important games for the Nats, who are hoping to avoid the kind of late-inning fiascos that were an issue pretty much every single night last week. Stephen Strasburg is on the mound...

Comments

Tags:

daniel murphy lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime pirates stephen strasburg wilmer difo frontstory_nationals2

Game 37 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

May 14, 2017, 2:00pm

Nationals

On the heels of another in a growing list of soul-crushing losses suffered so far this season, the Nationals are right back out on the field tonight for the second half of their doubleheader with the Phillies, hoping to salvage one game and win the weekend series. The good news: Max Scherzer is on the mound. To ask for a complete game would be to ask for too much. But to ask for at least seven innings, with the possibility of more if his pitch count isn't bad, is perfectly reasonable right...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies frontstory_nationals3

Game 36 lineups: Phillies at Nats Game 1 (Werth update)

May 14, 2017, 4:19am

Nationals

Game 36 lineups: Phillies at Nats Game 1 (Werth update)

Still basking in the glow of another Bryce Harper walk-off gem against Philadelphia, the Nationals and Phillies embark on a day-night doubleheader on Mother's Day in the nation's capital. The two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth Saturday night was Harper's second walk-off this season against the Phillies and fifth of his career. Game 1 features left-hander Gio Gonzalez against right-hander Jeremey Hellickson. Manager Dusty Baker has elected to rest left fielder Jayson Werth, who has dealt...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr gio gonzalez jayson werth nationals adam lind lineups matt grace phillies ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Game 35 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

May 13, 2017, 12:51pm

Nationals

This turned into a busier Saturday than initially expected, what with the surprise announcement that the Nationals and Bryce Harper have agreed to terms on a contract for 2018, buying out his final year of arbitration for $21.625 million. That agreement, general manager Mike Rizzo said, should give Harper some comfort and peace of mind as he takes the field every day for the rest of this season. That begins tonight when Harper and the Nationals host the Phillies in a series opener that was...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies tanner roark frontstory_nationals1

Game 35 lineups: Phillies at Nats

May 12, 2017, 7:36am

Nationals Orioles

Right-hander Tanner Roark seeks his fourth win in the season as he faces off against the Phillies Friday night. He will be opposed by former Nationals fourth round selection right-hander Nick Pivetta (0-2, 5.40 ERA). Thursday's game against the Orioles was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up June 8. The weather forecast tonight appears to show a good chance of precipitation at scheduled game time. Stay tuned to my Twitter handle (@masnkerr) for updates. Left fielder...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr nationals orioles tanner roark frontfeatured_nationals lineups

Game 35 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

May 11, 2017, 11:10am

Nationals Orioles

To answer the question you all want answered: I have no idea. It's been raining all day. It's supposed to continue raining through most of the night. The tarp is covering the infield. But no word yet about the status of tonight's series finale between the Nationals and Orioles. As always, stay tuned. As soon as we know anything, you'll know it. Promise. If they play, it'll be A.J. Cole on the mound for the Nationals, trying to keep this potent Orioles lineup in check and give his own...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole baltimore orioles lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals2

Game 34 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

May 10, 2017, 11:23am

Nationals Orioles

After a couple of frustrating losses in Baltimore, the Nationals now come home for the second half of this year's Battle of the Beltways, hoping to at least salvage a four-game split of the season series with the Orioles (which would match the best they've done against their interleague rivals for the last decade). Stephen Strasburg gets the start tonight, hoping to do what Max Scherzer did last night during a dominant performance. And then Dusty Baker can only hope his lineup scores enough...

Comments

Tags:

baltimore orioles jayson werth lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Game 33 lineups: Nats at Orioles

May 09, 2017, 11:36am

Nationals Orioles

BALTIMORE - Not that they're in any kind of serious trouble right now, but the Nationals have lost two in a row and certainly would prefer not to extend that streak to three (not to mention drop both games they'll be playing at Camden Yards this season). So there's just a hint of pressure on them tonight to beat the Orioles. The good news: Max Scherzer is on the mound, and he was electric last time out against a tough Diamondbacks lineup. The two-time Cy Young Award winner also has had...

Comments

Tags:

baltimore orioles lineups mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals2

Game 32 lineups: Nats at Orioles

May 08, 2017, 11:09am

Nationals Orioles

BALTIMORE - The Nationals and Orioles don't typically play each other this early in the season. It's usually quite warm and muggy when the Nats make their annual trek to Camden Yards, and it most definitely is not warm nor muggy today. But no matter the temperature, this always remains a great place to hit, and so the majors' most productive lineup should be licking its chops at the prospect of taking some hacks here for the next two nights. The Nationals have Bryce Harper back in the lineup...

Comments

Tags:

baltimore orioles bryce harper gio gonzalez lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner frontstory_nationals1

Orioles and White Sox lineups

May 05, 2017, 12:04pm

Orioles

After reaching base five times in last night's game, Seth Smith remains atop the Orioles lineup for tonight's opener of a weekend series against the White Sox. Hyun Soo Kim is starting in left field. Former Orioles pitcher Miguel GonzÃ¡lez pitches for the White Sox, opposing left-hander Wade Miley. In case you're counting, there are three GarcÃas in the starting lineup for the White Sox. AvasaÃl GarcÃa is serving as the designated hitter, Willy GarcÃa is playing left field and...

Comments

Tags:

hyun soo kim lineups orioles school of roch seth smith wade miley frontstory_orioles2

Game 31 lineups: Nats at Phillies

May 07, 2017, 7:47am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have gotten off to some good starts in recent years (think 2012, 2014, 2016) but they've never gotten off to a start as good as this one. Yes, at 21-9 the Nats have produced their best record through 30 games not only in club history but in franchise history (that includes the Expos years). That they've been able to do this in spite of the bullpen issues, the fifth starter issues and the Adam Eaton injury should serve as some significant evidence just how good...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies ryan zimmerman tanner roark frontstory_nationals3

Game 29 lineups: Nats at Phillies

May 05, 2017, 11:30am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - As was the case in Washington, it poured in Philadelphia this morning. But as is the case in D.C., the rain has mostly cleared out now and so the Nationals and Phillies shouldn't have much trouble getting the opener of their weekend series in tonight at Citizens Bank Park. If and when they play, Stephen Strasburg will be on the mound for the Nats in a ballpark in which he has enjoyed an awful lot of success. Strasburg has 1.64 ERA in seven career starts here, including seven...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Game 28 lineups: Diamondbacks at Nats

May 04, 2017, 5:49am

Nationals

The Nationals are seeking their fourth home series victory today on Weather Day at Nats Park. National League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer faces his former club, looking for his fourth win of the season. He arrives 3-2 with a 2.94 ERA. Scherzer pitched in Arizona in 2008-09. Right-hander Braden Shipley makes his first start of 2017 for the Diamondbacks, called up from the minors. He is 4-5 with a 5.27 ERA in 11 career starts (13 games). Shipley is a 2013 first-round selection out of...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr max scherzer nationals ryan zimmerman arizona diamondbacks lineups jose lobaton matt wieters frontstory_nationals3

Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

May 03, 2017, 11:29am

Nationals

As impressive as Ryan Zimmerman was in April, there was no bigger surprise on the Nationals roster in the season's first month than Gio Gonzalez. After a ragged 2016, Gonzalez burst onto the scene to begin this year, going 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA in five starts. Now we find out if the lefty can keep it going and not fall back into the same traps that befell him last season after a strong start. He'll face a tough challenge tonight in the Diamondbacks, who, as we saw last night, can grind out...

Comments

Tags:

arizona diamondbacks lineups mark zuckerman matt wieters nationals nationals pastime

Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

May 02, 2017, 11:03am

Nationals

After the most impressive offensive week and month in their history, the Nationals start anew tonight when they host the Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series. This is a good Arizona club that comes to town with the National League's second-ranked offense and second-ranked pitching staff. One of those pitchers is Taijuan Walker, who takes the mound tonight. The young right-hander and former top Mariners prospect has opened the season 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA, having struck out 33...

Comments

Tags:

arizona diamondbacks lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime tanner roark frontfeatured_nationals

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (updated)

April 30, 2017, 6:27am

Nationals

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (updated)

The tide has turned for the Nationals, who in the last 48 hours have not only lost Adam Eaton to a season-ending ACL tear but also have lost two straight to the previously collapsing Mets. Now they need a win today just to avoid a three-game sweep. They'll be asking Joe Ross to bounce back from a ragged start in Colorado in which the right-hander lost velocity and appeared to lose stamina earlier than normal. Was that the thin Coors Field air or cause for concern? We'll perhaps get a better...

Comments

Tags:

joe ross lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets jayson werth michael a. taylor

Game 23 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

April 28, 2017, 11:11am

Nationals

When the Nationals last played in D.C., Blake Treinen was the closer, Trea Turner was on the disabled list, Joe Ross was in the minors, the Capitals and Maple Leafs were only two games into their first-round playoff series, the Wizards hadn't opened their playoff run yet and the Nats needed Bryce Harper's walk-off homer to avoid falling to .500. So, basically, nothing has really changed since then, right? Who knew the Nationals' 10-game road trip through Atlanta, New York and Colorado would...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime new york mets frontstory_nationals3

Game 22 lineups: Nats at Rockies

April 27, 2017, 8:05am

Nationals

DENVER - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes to the hill on a getaway day here at Coors Field. The Nationals have an opportunity to go 9-1 on this 10-game road trip with a win today. It is also Science Day here at Coors Field, with thousands of school children coming through the gates three hours and 40 minutes before first pitch. There is, however, a good chance of precipitation. Snow is in the forecast this weekend in Denver. The Nationals' 15-6 record is tied for their best start in franchise...