Nats acquire Twins closer Kintzler for Single-A lefty

Nats acquire Twins closer Kintzler for Single-A lefty
MIAMI - The Nationals have pulled off a deadline deal for the Twins' Brandon Kintzler, adding another late-inning arm to their reconfigured bullpen for the season's final two months, according to a source familiar with the trade. In exchange for Kintzler, who converted 28-of-32 save opportunities with a 2.78 ERA this year, the Nationals are sending Single-A left-handed Tyler Watson to Minnesota, according to the source. Whether Kintzler takes over ninth-inning duties for the Nationals remains...

Game 104 lineups: Nats at Marlins

Game 104 lineups: Nats at Marlins
MIAMI - It has been pouring most of the day here in South Florida, with a tropical storm sweeping through much of the state. Fortunately, the roof at Marlins Park is closed (and hasn't sprung a leak) so the Nationals and Marlins are good to go for tonight's series opener. Gio Gonzalez takes the mound, making yet another start in his hometown. It's the left-hander's 14th career start in Miami, and he has been excellent (7-3, 2.19 ERA). Right-hander José Ureña starts for the Marlins....

Nationals acquire right-hander Brandon Kintzler

Nationals acquire right-hander Brandon Kintzler
The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Minor League left-handed pitcher Tyler Watson and international bonus pool money. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Jimmy Cordero has been designated for assignment. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kintzler, 32, is in his seventh Major League season and his second with the Twins. A career 12-13 with a 3.24 ERA in 271...

Nats still discussing relievers on trade deadline day

Nats still discussing relievers on trade deadline day
MIAMI - It's officially July 31, and that means we're now talking about the non-wiaver trade deadline in terms of hours instead of days. The final countdown to 4 p.m. Eastern time has begun. The Nationals, like all 30 clubs, will be engaged in conversations all day, seeing if there's a last-minute deal to be made. But let's be honest: They've probably already made their biggest trade of the summer. The Ryan Madson-Sean Doolittle deal, which was finalized 15 days ago, may not have...

Lind, Goodwin and Difo highlight a complete Nats offense

Lind, Goodwin and Difo highlight a complete Nats offense
The Nationals offense, especially their 3-4-5-6 hitters, has set the tone for a high scoring band of brothers that makes most National League starters uncomfortable. However, with Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman out of the starting lineup in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Sunday, runs were certain to be at a premium. Rockies starter Jon Gray threw a perfect game for four innings. It was the second time in the series the Nats had gone without a hit or a baserunner for at...

Marty Niland: D.C. needs sports stars like Howard and Zimmerman

Marty Niland: D.C. needs sports stars like Howard and Zimmerman
Sunday was a day Nationals fans should long remember. On that sunny afternoon, they got to celebrate a baseball milestone along with two men who became stars at times when their teams and fans needed it. In the third inning of the Nats' 10-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Ryan Zimmerman sent a fly ball over the right field fence and into the Nats bullpen for his 238th career homer, surpassing Frank Howard for the most ever hit by a player in a Washington uniform. Zimmerman later hit a solo shot...

Opposite dugout: Marlins sellers at the deadline, giving up on 2017

Opposite dugout: Marlins sellers at the deadline, giving up on 2017
Manager: Don Mattingly (2nd season) Record: 49-54 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Giancarlo Stanton (33 HR, 73 RBIs), LF Marcell Ozuna (.312/.371/.558), 2B Dee Gordon (.297 average, 38 SBs), C J.T. Realmuto (.311 average), RHP José Ureña (4.04 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3 Pitching probables: July 31: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP José Ureña, 7:10 p.m., MASN August 1: RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP Chris O'Grady, 7:10 p.m., MASNAugust 2: TBA vs. RHP Vance Worley, 7:10 p.m.,...

Edwin Jackson provides boost again as Nats prevent series sweep

Edwin Jackson provides boost again as Nats prevent series sweep
The Nationals got another major boost from veteran Edwin Jackson. After signing June 16, Jackson returned to pitching for the Nats July 18 in a 4-3 win at Anaheim. He went seven innings that night and surrendered only two runs on three hits. Then came an 8-0 setback against Milwaukee in which he gave up seven runs (three earned) in five innings for the loss. Sunday night the Nats desperately needed innings after the bullpen had been taxed in Game 1 of a doubleheader when manager Dusty Baker had...

Zimmerman sets D.C. home run record (Nats lose 10-6)

Zimmerman sets D.C. home run record (Nats lose 10-6)
Ryan Zimmerman now stands alone as the greatest home run hitter in Washington baseball history. With a three-run, opposite-field shot in the bottom of the third this afternoon, Zimmerman recorded his 238th home run with the Nationals, surpassing Frank Howard's record for a D.C. major league ballplayer. Zimmerman, the Nationals' first draft pick in 2005 and the longest tenured member of the organization, set the mark in his 1,501st career game. Howard, who clubbed 382 homers in a 16-year...

Fedde takes loss in tough assignment debut vs. Rockies

Fedde takes loss in tough assignment debut vs. Rockies
In a perfect world, the Nationals wouldn't have sent Erick Fedde to the mound to make his major league debut in this particular situation. A Sunday doubleheader, with the league's second-most productive lineup on the other side of the field? That's not exactly putting a guy in the best possible position to succeed. "If we had to pick a first time out for him, we probably wouldn't have picked Colorado," manager Dusty Baker said. "That's just how it was." Yes, the Nationals didn't have...

Even with opponent's advance scouting, Difo continues to deliver

Even with opponent's advance scouting, Difo continues to deliver
Shortstop Wilmer Difo connected on the biggest hit of the game Saturday night for the Nationals in their 4-2 loss to the Rockies. His two-run single that dropped perfectly in front of left fielder Gerardo Parra helped to ignite a rally for the Nationals that in the end came up a bit short. But the base hit on the first offering from Rockies starter German Márquez was a signal that Difo is improving in his pitch recognition. His July has been outstanding. Difo has now hit safely in 16 of the...

Game 103 lineups: Rockies at Nats

Game 103 lineups: Rockies at Nats
An extended game one that turned into a difficult 10-6 loss for the Nationals to the Rockies means the first pitch Game 2 of today's doubleheader has been pushed back to 7:40 p.m. EDT. With the way Game 1 went for the Nationals pitching staff, the club hopes veteran Edwin Jackson can eat a good amount of innings before the club embarks on a week-long road trip through Miami and Chicago. Jackson arrives with a 1-1 record and a 4.76 ERA. He will be opposed by Rockies right-hander Jon Gray (3-1,...

Heisey released in latest round of roster maneuvering

Heisey released in latest round of roster maneuvering
A busy week of transactions continued this morning when the Nationals tweaked their roster for their doubleheader against the Rockies by officially promoting top pitching prospect Erick Fedde, releasing veteran outfielder Chris Heisey and making a necessary procedural move involving catcher Pedro Severino. Fedde's contract was purchased from Triple-A Syracuse, allowing the 24-year-old right-hander to start today's opener and make his major league debut. Because Fedde wasn't already on their...

Game 102 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies (Heisey released)

Game 102 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies (Heisey released)
It's a beautiful day for a ballgame. Let's play ... well, you know. Yes, it's a doubleheader day at Nationals Park, with the Nationals and Rockies meeting in their regularly scheduled contest at 1:35 p.m. and then making up Friday night's rainout at 7:05 p.m. And there's no shortage of interesting storylines to come. The big one for the opener, of course, is the debut of Erick Fedde, who gets promoted from Triple-A Syracuse and will be on a big league mound for the first time in a couple...

Rockies' Márquez too much for Nats this time in 4-2 setback

Rockies' Márquez too much for Nats this time in 4-2 setback
The Nationals faced off against a hot pitcher in German Márquez and lost to Colorado 4-2. There was a big chance for the Nats to get back in the game in the sixth with their newest hitter Howie Kendrick in the middle of the rally, but it fell a little bit short. Kendrick's pinch-hit double and a two-run single by Wilmer Difo were the highlights for the Nats, but the night belonged to Márquez and the Rockies bullpen. Márquez struck out a career-high 10 and did not allow a hit or a base...

Baker: Heisey, Raburn and Werth will head to West Palm Beach

Baker: Heisey, Raburn and Werth will head to West Palm Beach
Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Chris Heisey, Jayson Werth and Ryan Raburn will accompany the team to Florida when the Nationals begin their six-game road trip in Miami. All three will rehab at the club's West Palm Beach facility. "Raburn and Heisey could be ready pretty soon, not sure when exactly," Baker confirmed, but Werth is not close to running yet. "They backed him off from running because it's not quite healing as fast as we would've liked," he said. "We are hoping," Baker...

Game 101 lineups: Rockies at Nats

Game 101 lineups: Rockies at Nats
The Nationals are looking to get their three-game set with the Rockies underway tonight after a Friday night rainout. The pitching probables remain the same with right-hander Tanner Roark (8-6, 4.83 ERA) facing off against right-hander German Márquez (8-4, 4.20). Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that Roark is starting to get back to the way he was pitching when he pitched well last season. "I think Tanner is in baseball shape mentally and spiritually and physically," Baker said. "Because...

Nats get veteran Kendrick from Phillies for minor league pitcher

Nats get veteran Kendrick from Phillies for minor league pitcher
The Nationals added another veteran to their bench tonight, acquiring utilityman Howie Kendrick from the Phillies for minor league left-hander McKenzie Mills in a deal that will help alleviate recent injury concerns while providing manager Dusty Baker with more options later this season after his roster is closer to 100 percent healthy. Kendrick is hitting .340 with two homers, 16 RBIs, a .397 on-base percentage and .851 OPS this season, but the 34-year-old has played in only 39 games due to...

Baker and Rizzo react to trade for Kendrick; Drew sent to DL

Baker and Rizzo react to trade for Kendrick; Drew sent to DL
The Nationals activated infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick and placed infielder Stephen Drew on the 10-day disabled list with a left abdominal strain, retroactive to July 26. The team also announced they designated corner infielder Matt Skole for assignment clearing a 40-man roster spot for Kendrick. General manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said he had always respected the play of Kendrick and had hoped to someday add him to the club. "It came together quickly," Rizzo...

Strasburg has solid bullpen session plus notes on Werth and trade deadline

Strasburg has solid bullpen session plus notes on Werth and trade deadline
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg took a solid step forward in his recovery from a right elbow nerve impingement with a smooth bullpen session on Saturday, according to general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo. Right-hander Erick Fedde will be called up Sunday to make his major league debut as Strasburg takes at least one start off. "He threw a bullpen today and came through it very well," Rizzo said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow and feel it from...