nationals

More on Taylor's production and Romero's zeros

June 27, 2017, 8:17pm

More from Tuesday night's 6-1 victory over the Cubs ... * There may be no more pleasant development for the Nationals this season than the development of Michael A. Taylor into a more disciplined, more productive hitter, and it was on display again in this game. Taylor was a major contributor to the win, using his legs to swipe two bases and induce a bad throw by catcher Miguel Montero to score a run in the fourth, then using his bat to drive a two-run double to right-center in the fifth. That...

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Luke Erickson: A look at the Potomac Nationals at the half

June 27, 2017, 8:14pm

Nationals

While Bill Parcells is wildly overrated as a coach, his maxim of "You are what your record says you are," is spot-on, and applies to the Potomac Nationals this year. The P-Nats almost finished .500 in the first half, falling two games short at 33-37, and haven't been above the break-even mark since May 13. Simply put, they're not quite good enough to win consistently. This is not to say there haven't been bright spots. Victor Robles is the Nationals' No. 1 prospect in the organization and...

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Even without "A" stuff, Scherzer still delivers impressive 6-1 win

June 27, 2017, 7:20pm

Nationals

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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Nats turn to speed-contact combo to score runs in latest victory

June 27, 2017, 7:45pm

Nationals

Nats turn to speed-contact combo to score runs in latest victory

Any breakdown of the Nationals lineup - the majors' most productive through the season's first half - usually focuses on the power potential up and down the order, the depth of quality that allows this team to score runs in bunches via a string of extra-base hits. The Nationals are, believe it or not, more multi-dimensional than that, though. They do have one of the fastest leadoff men in baseball, not to mention speed in several other lineup slots and several hitters capable of grinding out...

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Scherzer tops Arrieta as Nats run their way to 6-1 win over Cubs

June 27, 2017, 6:13pm

Nationals

Scherzer tops Arrieta as Nats run their way to 6-1 win over Cubs

The latest marquee pitching showdown of the season saw the Nationals' Cy Young Award winner show up with an awfully effective performance. The Cubs' Cy Young? He looked awfully pedestrian. Max Scherzer tossed six innings of one-run ball, retired the last 10 batters he faced and also contributed to the Nationals' offensive onslaught against Jake Arrieta, who was knocked out before recording an out in the fifth inning during the Nats' 6-1 victory. Scherzer's streak of double-digit strikeout...

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Scherzer and Arrieta allow early runs (Nats win 6-1)

June 27, 2017, 3:36pm

Nationals

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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Middle of Nats order connecting in critical RISP moments

June 27, 2017, 1:28pm

Nationals

Middle of Nats order connecting in critical RISP moments

Through 76 games, the Nationals have four players on track to reach 100 RBIs this season: Ryan Zimmerman (59), Bryce Harper (56), Daniel Murphy (54) and Anthony Rendon (47). The Nationals also have an opportunity to have five players be close to a .400 on-base percentage: Harper (.423), Rendon (.395), Murphy (.392), Adam Lind (.390) and Zimmerman (.384). Manager Dusty Baker was asked what's more important in a season: .400 OBP or 100 RBIs? "Which is more important chicken or the egg?" Baker...

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Updates on Werth, Glover, Kelley, SolÃs and Heisey

June 27, 2017, 2:27pm

Nationals

Updates on Werth, Glover, Kelley, SolÃs and Heisey

Your daily injury updates from the Nationals clubhouse, with several recovering players making progress and others still in a holding pattern as the season's first half nears its conclusion ... * Jayson Werth participated in some portions of pregame workouts today with his teammates, the first time the veteran outfielder has done that since going on the disabled list more than three weeks ago. Werth, out since June 4 with a bone bruise in his left foot, stretched with teammates prior to...

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Game 77 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

June 27, 2017, 11:08am

Nationals

Rarely do you get truly elite pitching matchups like this, with the last two National League Cy Young Award winners squaring off in a game between two very good teams. So let's appreciate Max Scherzer vs. Jake Arrieta for what it is. And then, if you're the Nationals, hope Scherzer has yet another gem in him while Arrieta shows up hittable (as he has been more this year than in the past). Scherzer is on a remarkable run right now; over his last six starts he has an 0.94 ERA and 69 strikeouts...

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Cubs' strategy vs. Harper changes, results with Zimmerman remain

June 26, 2017, 10:37pm

Nationals

Cubs' strategy vs. Harper changes, results with Zimmerman remain

On Monday night, the Cubs pitched to Bryce Harper in the opener of their four-game series with the Nationals. Which may not sound like a big deal, until you recall how little they pitched to the young slugger one year ago when the two clubs met. Over the course of four agonizing days at Wrigley Field in May 2016, the Cubs walked Harper an astounding 13 times. That included six times in one game, with three of those walks handed out intentionally by manager Joe Maddon. The strategy was simple:...

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Gonzalez proud of his and his team's fight in 5-4 loss to Cubs

June 27, 2017, 4:23am

Nationals

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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Nats lament loose defense and late errors in 5-4 loss to Cubs

June 26, 2017, 8:11pm

Nationals

Nats lament loose defense and late errors in 5-4 loss to Cubs

The Nationals defense did not handle the itself well in the eighth and ninth innings on Monday in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs in the opener of a four-game series. With the game still in the balance and the home team down just 1-0, the run allowed in the eighth and the three runs in the ninth ultimately proved too much despite a furious rally. The Nats could not execute a key fundamental defensive play in the eighth when the Cubs pulled off a successful safety squeeze. Then in the ninth, a pair of...

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Nats experience range of emotions after comeback falls short

June 26, 2017, 8:29pm

Nationals

Nats experience range of emotions after comeback falls short

After seven innings tonight, the Nationals were headed toward a frustrating-but-acceptable loss to a very good opponent, unable to do anything at the plate and perhaps destined for a 1-0 defeat. After 8 1/2 innings, the Nationals were headed toward an aggravating, now-less-acceptable loss, letting the Cubs open up a 5-0 lead via a flurry of defensive miscues and fundamental execution by the visitors. But after nine innings, how exactly were the Nationals supposed to feel about this game now?...

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Late rally not enough for Nats, who fall 5-4 to Cubs

June 26, 2017, 7:02pm

Nationals

Late rally not enough for Nats, who fall 5-4 to Cubs

No matter the Cubs' current record, no matter what issues the defending champs are dealing with right now, the Nationals know they're facing a real challenge this week. And if anyone didn't realize it before tonight's series opener on South Capitol Street, they certainly know it now. Behind stellar pitching and the kind of fundamental execution the home team lacked, the Cubs won tonight's game 5-4, sending their legion of their fans that invaded Nationals Park home happy and nearly sending...

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Nats working to finalize minor league deal with Francisco RodrÃguez

June 26, 2017, 1:37pm

Nationals

Nats working to finalize minor league deal with Francisco RodrÃguez

The Nationals are finalizing a minor league deal with Francisco RodrÃguez, hoping the veteran closer might resurrect himself after a horrible start to his season in Detroit that got him released last week. The deal isn't done yet, but a club source said it is expected to be completed soon. At that point, RodrÃguez would report to Triple-A Syracuse and attempt to right his wayward ship in a low-pressure environment. RodrÃguez, 35, owns 437 saves and a 2.86 ERA over 16 big league...

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Werth "doing a lot better" as he deals with severe bone bruise

June 26, 2017, 2:02pm

Nationals

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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Gonzalez allows leadoff homer (Cubs win 5-4)

June 26, 2017, 3:34pm

Nationals

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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Trio of Nats continue to lead in final days of All-Star voting

June 26, 2017, 9:09am

Nationals

Trio of Nats continue to lead in final days of All-Star voting

They'll have to wait along with everyone else until All-Star roster are fully announced Sunday night, but based on voting results throughout the last two months, the Nationals sure look like they're going to be well-represented in Miami. The final ballot update was released this afternoon by Major League Baseball, and Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman continue to lead their respective positions in voting, leaving each in position to earn the starting nod for the National...

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Taylor working to be selective in his swings

June 26, 2017, 5:13am

Nationals

Taylor working to be selective in his swings

When Adam Eaton went down with a season-ending injury, there was some concern that Michael A. Taylor would not be able to hit for average and contribute offensively the way the Nationals needed him to. No need for that concern now. Taylor is hitting .273 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs in his first 62 games of the season. On Sunday, he hit his third homer in the past two games, a two-run shot, which accounted for all the offense for the Nats in a 6-2 loss to the Reds. It marked the third time this...

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Game 76 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

June 26, 2017, 11:02am

Nationals

There is a distinct big-game vibe here at Nationals Park, with the Cubs in town for the first of a four-game series that promises to bring big crowds, plenty of media and (hopefully) some compelling baseball to South Capitol Street. The opener sees Gio Gonzalez on the mound for the Nationals, looking to continue his resurgent first half and improve to 8-1. The left-hander has been brilliant at pitching his way out of jams all season, highlighted by his .107 opponents' batting average with...