nationals

Game 89 lineups: Nats at Reds (Ross heads to DL)

July 13, 2017, 10:29am

CINCINNATI - The Nationals open the second half tonight with the first of four games against the Reds at Great American Ball Park in the second 2017 meeting between the teams. The Nationals have gone 38-42 against the Reds since moving from Montreal to D.C. before the 2005 campaign, and haven't won a season series against them since 2011, when they went 4-2. Since then, they're 16-17 against the Reds. Last season, Washington won two of three games on the shores of the Ohio River and dropped...

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Nationals release veteran closer Francisco RodrÃguez

July 14, 2017, 9:44am

Nationals

CINCINNATI - The Nationals' search for a dependable ninth-inning arm continues. It won't be veteran closer Francisco RodrÃguez, who was released this afternoon by the Nationals after five minor league outings. RodrÃguez was signed June 27 to a minor league contract, but allowed five runs (one earned) in five innings over five appearances (one start) for low Single-A Hagerstown, high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. He walked three and struck out two, posting a 1.40 WHIP and a...

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David Huzzard: How Nats can add relievers by adding to payroll

July 14, 2017, 12:39pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: How Nats can add relievers by adding to payroll

There are two ways to add players from outside the organization. That is by spending money or spending talent. Most trades are completed by spending talent, but there is a way to spend money and make a trade that might present the Nationals with the best option for improvement this deadline. The rumors have begun swirling, and according to one writer's source the Tigers have no interest in moving right-hander Justin Verlander and according to another writer's source they aren't shopping him...

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Nationals hope to return recharged after All-Star break

July 13, 2017, 7:42pm

Nationals

Rarely does anyone ever try to claim the All-Star break came at a bad time. Just about every team in baseball happily takes the four-day midsummer hiatus offered to the entire league, uses that time to rest up physically and mentally and then returns recharged for the second half of the season. The Nationals certainly fall in that category. They limped a bit into the All-Star break, having played 36 games in 38 days, going 19-17 over that span, while also sending five key players to the...

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Top second-half storylines for the Nationals

July 12, 2017, 12:48pm

Nationals

As the second half of the season arrives, we have a pretty good idea just what the 2017 Nationals are. This is perhaps the most talented team they've had during their now-six-year run of contention, with an imposing and deep lineup, dominant starters atop the rotation and an experienced and productive bench. This is also, of course, a team with one gigantic hole that could blow the entire thing up: a bullpen that desperately needs a midseason makeover. There's also reason to be concerned...

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SolÃs optioned to Syracuse, weekend rotation announced

July 13, 2017, 8:15am

Nationals

SolÃs optioned to Syracuse, weekend rotation announced

The Nationals will open the second half of their season Friday with at least one change to their roster. Struggling reliever Sammy SolÃs was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, the club announced today. A corresponding move will be made before Friday's second-half opener in Cincinnati. SolÃs' demotion comes less than two weeks after he was activated off the disabled list following a long rehab from nerve inflammation in his elbow. The left-hander, who had been out 2 1/2 months, surrendered a...

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Scherzer's impact on D.C. not limited to baseball

July 11, 2017, 4:18am

Nationals

Scherzer's impact on D.C. not limited to baseball

Nationals right-handed Max Scherzer gets his second All-Star Game start tonight in Miami. The Nats' top starter has had another outstanding first half as he leads the club in their pursuit of a second straight division title. But his effect on the Nationals in a philanthropic role in our nation's capital region is also very strong and dates back to his first season with the club. Back in 2015 around Christmas time, Erica Scherzer, Max's wife, heard about an unfortunate break-in at a local...

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Scherzer works clean first inning, AL beats NL All-Stars 2-1 in 10

July 11, 2017, 8:42pm

Nationals

Scherzer works clean first inning, AL beats NL All-Stars 2-1 in 10

The 88th All-Star Game was a showcase for the top notch pitching in the major leagues this season. Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer started the game in impressive fashion. He held the American League to one hit with two strikeouts in the first inning. The other highlight was the live on-air interview between FOX broadcasters and Bryce Harper during the game. The American League defeated the National League 2-1 in 10 innings. Robinson CanÃ³ was named the MVP. His home run in the 10th off of...

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Nationals' first-half report card

July 11, 2017, 9:13pm

Nationals

Hope everybody enjoyed the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game the last two nights. One proved to be quite an exciting event. The other proved to be kind of a boring event. But it was nonetheless something to see four Nationals starting for the National League, especially when the camera would pan to the right side of the field and the screen would be awash with curly Ws. Now that the festivities are over, though, it's time for the actual break part of the All-Star break. There are no games on...

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Taking a look at what's ahead in the second half

July 11, 2017, 5:23pm

Nationals Orioles

Taking a look at what's ahead in the second half

As the season resumes, the Milwaukee Brewers are baseball's biggest surprise team with the Minnesota Twins a close second, 2 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the American League Central. The Dodgers were the first team to win 60 games and have the best record in baseball at 61-29. The Astros were the second team with 60 wins and have the best record in the American League at 60-29. The Phillies are the worst team (22 wins). The Mets, Mariners and Giants are the three biggest disappointments, each...

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Zimmerman is a "completely different" All-Star eight years later

July 10, 2017, 9:21pm

Nationals

Zimmerman is a "completely different" All-Star eight years later

It wasn't exactly a joyous occasion for Ryan Zimmerman. Sure, he was excited to be an All-Star for the first time in his career, but his trip to St. Louis for the 2009 Midsummer Classic coincided with several developments that were not to be celebrated. Only five days earlier, Zimmerman's grandmother Ilene had died, forcing him to leave the Nationals and head to North Carolina for her funeral. He rejoined the club in Houston in time for the club's first-half finale - a 5-0 loss, the lone...

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Despite rough stretch, Nationals in strong position at the break

July 09, 2017, 8:45pm

Nationals

When the Nationals convened at Oakland Coliseum way back on June 2, having just enjoyed a lovely day off in the Bay Area, they knew they were about to begin a particularly difficult and prolonged stretch that would take them right up to the All-Star break. Staring at the Nats at that moment were 20 games in 20 days, then after one day off, another 17 games in 17 games before they at last could enjoy a breather. It was daunting, but this also was a team that not only was playing well but was...

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Scherzer chosen to start for NL in All-Star Game (with NL lineup)

July 10, 2017, 10:47am

Nationals

Scherzer chosen to start for NL in All-Star Game (with NL lineup)

To no one's surprise, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was this afternoon named as the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Miami. NL manager Joe Maddon of the Cubs made the announcement Monday afternoon in a press conference televised live on MLB Network. Maddon said he'd have chosen Scherzer over Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw even if Kershaw hadn't taken himself out of the running for the assignment by pitching a complete game in a 5-2 win...

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Grace and Romero shine for bullpen to end first half

July 10, 2017, 4:39am

Nationals

Grace and Romero shine for bullpen to end first half

The bullpen was called upon to keep the Nationals in the game Sunday and it did its job. Starter Joe Ross was held to just 3 1/3 innings, leaving with what manager Dusty Baker described as "triceps tenderness." Left-hander Matt Grace followed, and along with four other relievers, held the Braves to two runs the rest of the way, a span of 5 2/3 frames. Grace ended up finishing 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and only one earned run (two runs overall) with one walk and one strikeout. It was...

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"Triceps tenderness" ends Ross' afternoon early

July 09, 2017, 2:45pm

Nationals

"Triceps tenderness" ends Ross' afternoon early

The diminished velocity was noticeable from the outset, with the radar gun at Nationals Park consistently flashing "89" or "88" on Joe Ross' fastballs, with only an occasional "90" or "91" sprinkled in there. But because Ross coasted through his first two innings against the Braves with little trouble, there wasn't much reason for those inside the home dugout to start asking questions. It was the top of the third when the Nationals began to have some concerns about Ross' health, when...

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Rendon's patience pays dividends (Ross leaves early; Nats win 10-5)

July 09, 2017, 10:18am

Nationals

Rendon's patience pays dividends (Ross leaves early; Nats win 10-5)

The Nationals went after Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb in the bottom of the first inning. Newcomb had trouble finding the strike zone early as Brian Goodwin and Wilmer Difo were walked. Bryce Harper followed with a single to left field that loaded the bases. Goodwin stopped at third base despite a wave home sign from third base coach Bobby Henley, respecting Matt Kemp's arm. The move proved wise because Ryan Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to right field scored Goodwin. Later, Anthony Rendon...

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Nats overcome early Ross departure to beat Braves 10-5

July 09, 2017, 1:07pm

Nationals

Nats overcome early Ross departure to beat Braves 10-5

For the second straight afternoon, the Nationals lost a starting pitcher by the fourth inning. This time, they still managed to find a way to win. Despite the early departure of Joe Ross, pulled in the top of the fourth with his velocity diminished, the Nationals rode a wave of clutch hits and solid relief work to a 10-5 victory over the Braves to close out the first half of the season on a high note. Matt Wieters drove in three runs, Anthony Rendon drove in two, Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Heisey...

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Game 88 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

July 09, 2017, 6:38am

Nationals

The final day of the first half of the 2017 season has arrived, and while it may feel like this day has come quickly, it also comes at the end of a particularly difficult portion of the schedule for the Nationals. They had 37 games scheduled in the last 38 days - one of those was Wednesday night's game that was postponed - and during this time they've seen Jayson Werth, Trea Turner, Michael A. Taylor, Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley all land on the disabled list. The Nationals' record during...

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Roark's relief appearance a small silver lining

July 09, 2017, 8:27am

Nationals

Roark's relief appearance a small silver lining

If you're searching for silver linings from Saturday's 13-0 drubbing at the hands of the Braves - an admittedly difficult proposition - how about Tanner Roark's relief appearance? It may not have done anything to help put the Nationals in position to win the game, but on a personal level it was a positive development for Roark, who needed one in the worst way. The end result - three runs allowed in five innings - wasn't especially notable, but Roark looked (and felt) like a much different...

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After disastrous relief appearance, SolÃs back to square one

July 08, 2017, 8:32pm

Nationals

After disastrous relief appearance, SolÃs back to square one

Saturday's game was already out of hand before Sammy SolÃs ever took the mound at Nationals Park. The Braves held a 9-0 lead after eight innings, so this was supposed to be nothing more than an opportunity for SolÃs to get some work in and further distance himself from a long stint on the disabled list. And then over the course of one agonizing inning of (to be honest) meaningless baseball, SolÃs wound up creating more questions about his status and what the Nationals should do with...