nationals

Marty Niland: Nats bench gaining valuable experience for postseason

August 06, 2017, 6:15pm

The dog days of August are proving to be a grind for the Nationals, playing .500 ball in their past 10 games. But while they endure this rough patch of injuries and a sometimes sputtering offense, they are laying valuable groundwork for the postseason. Let's face it, with a 13-game lead in the National League East and none of the other teams playing even .500 ball, it's extremely likely the Nats will win their fourth division title in six seasons. While this might be the most exciting team...

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Wieters' grand slam caps Nationals' furious rally in 9-4 victory

August 06, 2017, 1:25pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - They trailed much of the afternoon, unable to string together much against Jon Lester and unable to keep Willson Contreras in the park. But the Nationals knew they still had a chance if they could: 1) keep the game close, 2) get Lester out and get into the Cubs bullpen and 3) get to their own new bullpen trio. Wouldn't you know they managed to do all three, and thanks to that - with a huge assist from Matt Wieters' biggest blast of the season - the Nationals walked out of Wrigley...

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For Jageler and Brown, a week to remember in the booth

August 06, 2017, 8:56am

Nationals

For Jageler and Brown, a week to remember in the booth

CHICAGO - Dave Jageler has spent the last 11 1/2 years broadcasting Nationals games in vivid detail on the radio, so there is a natural comfort level he has found along the way. A comfort level he hasn't fully felt over the last week as he has continued to broadcast Nationals games, just in the entirely different medium of television. "I've done over 2,000 games on the radio," Jageler said. "You just do it. It's your routine. It's every day. And this is so different because I've done it...

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Fedde putting away hitters early in second start (Nats win 9-4)

August 06, 2017, 11:19am

Nationals

Fedde putting away hitters early in second start (Nats win 9-4)

CHICAGO - Erick Fedde has come out throwing strikes again. And so far, that has produced better results for the Nationals rookie than in his first career start. Taking the mound seven days after he was roughed up by the Rockies for seven runs in four innings, Fedde retired the first five Cubs batters he faced today, three via strikeout. The bottom of Chicago's lineup strung together three straight two-out singles to produce the afternoon's first run, but the rookie right-hander bounced back...

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Game 109 lineups: Nats at Cubs

August 06, 2017, 7:38am

Nationals

CHICAGO - It's a big day at Wrigley Field, if you care about things like head-to-head records against big-name opponents. The Nationals and Cubs have not only split this weekend's series so far, they've also split the season series. Yes, each team has won three games. And so today's finale will settle that score. (And if, by some chance, the two teams wound up tied at the end of the season, that would determine home-field advantage for a theoretical playoff series.) Given the stakes, the...

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Wieters explains what led to his third career ejection

August 05, 2017, 7:22pm

Nationals

Wieters explains what led to his third career ejection

CHICAGO - Matt Wieters, by his own admission, isn't the type to argue with umpires very much. Certainly not to the extent he risks ejection. But every once in a while, the Nationals catcher feels like he needs to make a point. Usually when it comes to balls and strikes. And so when he felt it was necessary in the bottom of the sixth Saturday afternoon, he let plate umpire Chad Whitson know it. And then was forced to watch the rest of the Nationals' 7-4 loss to the Cubs from the clubhouse. It...

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Nationals had action late but were done in by earlier mistakes

August 05, 2017, 3:21pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - That the Nationals "had action" - as Dusty Baker likes to call it - several times late in today's 7-4 loss to the Cubs speaks to their ability to rarely be out of a ballgame, even one that felt like an uphill climb from the outset. Then again, with a couple of well-placed pitches in a couple of key situations earlier, the Nationals might not have found themselves trying to finish off a comeback but instead a wire-to-wire victory. In the end, the Nats' attempted rallies against the...

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Rough first inning dooms Nationals in 7-4 loss to Cubs

August 05, 2017, 1:36pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - A disastrous first inning from Edwin Jackson left the Nationals trying to climb their way out of a significant hole nearly from the get-go this afternoon at Wrigley Field. But every time they made some progress and nearly got their heads back up to ground level, the Cubs pushed them back down the hole and made them start all over again. The end result: a 7-4 loss on a long and often frustrating afternoon at the Friendly Confines, setting up a rubber match Sunday afternoon, not only to...

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Scherzer on track for Monday, Strasburg still unclear (Nats lose 7-4)

August 05, 2017, 9:44am

Nationals

Scherzer on track for Monday, Strasburg still unclear (Nats lose 7-4)

CHICAGO - As the Nationals cobble together their rotation for the rest of the weekend, they can take solace knowing they should head into next week with the situation much more stable. Max Scherzer, who hasn't pitched since departing with neck spasms before the second inning Tuesday night in Miami, threw off the bullpen mound at Wrigley Field this morning and is preparing to start Monday against the Marlins in Washington. Gio GonzÃ¡lez, who officially was placed on the paternity leave list...

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Game 108 lineups: Nats at Cubs

August 05, 2017, 7:10am

Nationals

CHICAGO - It is a spectacular summer day on the North Side, with not a cloud in the sky, a nice cool breeze blowing from the northwest and temperatures climbing into the upper 70s by the time the Nationals and Cubs take the field for the second game of their weekend series. The Nats originally had Gio Gonzalez penciled in for this start, but he has officially been placed on the paternity leave list and is back in D.C. for the birth of his second child. Erick Fedde has officially been recalled...

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Murphy keeps hitting at Wrigley, and with runners on base

August 04, 2017, 5:58pm

Nationals

Murphy keeps hitting at Wrigley, and with runners on base

CHICAGO - Daniel Murphy likes to hit at Wrigley Field. That's something he has established over his entire career, and especially in the last few seasons. Murphy isn't alone in taking pleasure from stepping into the batter's box inside the Friendly Confines, which has been a hitter's haven since the iconic bleachers were constructed in 1937. But the Nationals second baseman goes beyond the norm here, as evidenced by his astounding numbers. Over the course of his career - including playoffs...

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Baker deploys new bullpen trio to finish off Cubs in series opener

August 04, 2017, 2:46pm

Nationals

Baker deploys new bullpen trio to finish off Cubs in series opener

CHICAGO - Tempting as it is to just hand the final three innings of a ballgame over to his new trio of experienced relievers, Dusty Baker also knows he can't overdo it on Aug. 4, in the first game of a weekend series against the defending World Series champs, with two fill-in starters taking the mound the next two afternoons. So Baker didn't hesitate to send Tanner Roark back to the mound for the bottom of the seventh today at Wrigley Field, with his Nationals leading the Cubs by three runs...

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Nationals find the right formula in 4-2 win over Cubs

August 04, 2017, 1:05pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - The Nationals' formula for beating the Cubs this afternoon? A couple of Daniel Murphy blasts. A quality start from Tanner Roark. And eight outs from their trio of new relievers. Dusty Baker couldn't have drawn it up much better. Murphy's two early homers gave the Nationals the lead, Roark then preserved it with 6 1/3 strong innings and then Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle combined to finish off an impressive 4-2 victory in the opener of this big weekend series...

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Taylor "looks good, he feels good" as he rehabs with P-Nats (updated)

August 04, 2017, 5:17am

Nationals

Taylor "looks good, he feels good" as he rehabs with P-Nats (updated)

Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor (oblique) continues his rehab tonight with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals at Winston-Salem. He is expected to start in center field. He took Thursday off. Taylor has hit in three games for the P-Nats, going 2-for-7 (.286) with two intentional walks, two strikeouts, two runs and a stolen base. Potomac manager Tripp Keister says there is a back story to the pair of intentional walks, which relates to the rivalry between Lynchburg and his club. The...

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Murphy homers to produce early lead at Wrigley (Nats win 4-2)

August 04, 2017, 11:38am

Nationals

Murphy homers to produce early lead at Wrigley (Nats win 4-2)

CHICAGO - With a rare opportunity to bat behind Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy delivered the big blow that gave the Nationals a quick lead this afternoon at Wrigley Field. Murphy, batting cleanup with Ryan Zimmerman getting a day off, launched a two-run homer in the top of the first, putting the Nationals up 2-0 on the Cubs in the opener of a big weekend series. Murphy's blast came on a 2-1 pitch from Kyle Hendricks, landing in the right field bleachers. Howie Kendrick, who singled to center two...

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Gonzalez going on paternity leave, Scherzer aiming to start Monday

August 04, 2017, 10:09am

Nationals

Gonzalez going on paternity leave, Scherzer aiming to start Monday

CHICAGO - The Nationals are going to have to piece together their rotation for the rest of the weekend at Wrigley Field, but they expect to have Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez back pitching for them once they return to Washington on Monday. Gonzalez, who was lined up to start Saturday against the Cubs, returned to Washington to be with his wife when she delivers the couple's second child. The left-hander will go on the paternity leave list, with Edwin Jackson now starting Saturday's...

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Opposite dugout: Cubs gaining momentum to start possible playoff preview with Nats

August 03, 2017, 8:05am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Cubs gaining momentum to start possible playoff preview with Nats

Manager: Joe Maddon (3rd season) Record: 57-50 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Kris Bryant (.274/.388/.511 with 20 HR, 47 RBIs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.263/.392/.523 with 26 HR, 70 RBIs), C Wilson Contreras (.276/.347/.508 with 18 HR, 65 RBIs), RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 3.80 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (2.43 ERA, 22 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-2 Pitching probables: Aug. 4: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Kyle Kendricks, 2:20 p.m., MASN Aug. 5: RHP Edwin Jackson vs. RHP John Lackey, 2:20 p.m., MASN...

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Potential NLDS preview on display this weekend at Wrigley

August 03, 2017, 6:47pm

Nationals

Potential NLDS preview on display this weekend at Wrigley

CHICAGO - The Nationals still have 56 games to play, the Cubs 55. More than one-third of the season remains. But we'd be lying to ourselves if we didn't point out that this weekend's series at Wrigley Field is very likely going to be a preview of the National League Division Series. The Nats have been running away with the NL East for months, leading the division by an average of 10 games since Memorial Day. The Cubs may only lead the Brewers by 1 1/2 games in the NL Central at the moment,...

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Game 107 lineups: Nats at Cubs

August 04, 2017, 7:13am

Nationals

CHICAGO - It's a cool, gray, windy day on the North Side, the kind of weather you don't normally expect in early August, but maybe in early October. So consider this another good test for the Nationals, who open a weekend series with the Cubs in a potential preview of this fall's National League Division Series. Tanner Roark gets the start, and the Wilmington, Ill., native surely will have plenty of friends and family in attendance. If recent history is any indication, look for a large...

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David Huzzard: Dusty Baker is better than some think

August 04, 2017, 5:47am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Dusty Baker is better than some think

My opinion on Dusty Baker started to change sometime before the Nationals hired him. His name came up often whenever a job opened up and he was mentioned often by broadcasters when Matt Williams was the manager of the Nats. My thought on Baker started to be why is a manager that has done nothing but win in his career so disliked by a certain segment of fans? I've read "The Book" and "Moneyball" and I visit FanGraphs.com on a near daily basis, but at some point when the results are so...