nationals

Underachieving Cubs come to town for rare big series with Nats

June 25, 2017, 8:51pm

The nature of the Nationals' schedule so far in 2017 - and the overall state of both the National League East Division and the National League as a whole - has left this team in an unusual position: They haven't played very many games the average observer would consider to have been "big." The 10 head-to-head contests with the Mets to date may have drawn some extra attention, but at the time they've played the Nats have led their expected division rivals by a minimum of 3 1/2 games and a...

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Marty Niland: Cubs-Nats series is loaded with history

June 26, 2017, 5:22am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Cubs-Nats series is loaded with history

If a date with the World Series champions and a potential postseason preview won't give Nationals fans enough to talk about this week, the Nats' series with the Cubs will offer plenty of history. The two teams, as well as mangers Joe Maddon of the Cubs and Dusty Baker of the Nationals, have a more than bit of a past between and among them, and we only have to go back to last season to start. The Nationals were coming off a blistering 16-7 April and had won three of their first four in May...

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Opposite dugout: Defending champion Cubs still out of sorts

June 25, 2017, 6:10pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Defending champion Cubs still out of sorts

Manager: Joe Maddon (3rd season)Record: 38-37 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Kris Bryant (.263 with 16 HR, 31 RBIs); 1B Anthony Rizzo (.261 with 17 HR, 48 RBIs); SS Addison Russell (.232 with 53 hits); RHP Jake Arrieta (7-5, 4.36 ERA); LHP Jon Lester (5-4, 3.83 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (5-2 in 2016) Pitching probables: Monday, June 26: RHP Eddie Butler vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNTuesday, June 27: RHP Jake Arrieta vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m.,...

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As ERA balloons to 5.15, Roark tries to find the positives

June 25, 2017, 2:01pm

Nationals

As ERA balloons to 5.15, Roark tries to find the positives

This is what it has come to for Tanner Roark, who at this stage of a frustrating season has to try to find the positives, even in a start in which he gave up five runs in the top of the first and dug his team into an insurmountable hole. "I'll build off this one and keep chugging along," the right-hander said. For Roark, this was better than previous outings. That five-run first, awful results notwithstanding, featured a flurry of well-placed, soft-contact ground balls that eluded Nationals...

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Nats unable to cash in on limited chances Sunday in 6-2 loss

June 25, 2017, 1:49pm

Nationals

Nats unable to cash in on limited chances Sunday in 6-2 loss

The 5-0 deficit in the first inning was a difficult predicament for the Nationals, but they faced a similar situation Friday night and found a way to make another comeback. This time, the Nats ultimately got as close as 6-2 against the Reds, but were never able to put together the big rally needed to come back from the early hole, as they have 19 times this season. Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run shot in the fourth to get the Nats on the board. But that turned out to be the only offense they...

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Reds jump on Roark early, Nationals never rally in 6-2 loss

June 25, 2017, 12:42pm

Nationals

They already had won the first two games of this weekend's series - one via dramatic comeback, one via complete blowout - so the Nationals essentially were playing the bonus round against the Reds this afternoon. Then Tanner Roark got shelled in the top of the first, and today's game became less about trying to get extra credit and more about just trying to survive and keep everybody in one piece before the Cubs get to town Monday. Roark was roughed up for the third straight time he's taken...

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Game 75 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

June 25, 2017, 6:39am

Nationals

The Nationals go for a series sweep today, having already beaten the Reds twice (a 10-inning thriller on Friday, then an 18-3 rout on Saturday) this weekend. They'll attempt to do so with several regulars getting a rest, including Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters. That's nothing new, of course, and with this series in the bag and the Cubs coming to town tomorrow for a big four-game set, it's understandable that Dusty Baker would want to ease off the gas pedal a bit today. Not that the...

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More from Turner and Ross on their big Saturday

June 25, 2017, 3:40am

Nationals

More from Turner and Ross on their big Saturday

More on the amazing game for Trea Turner on Saturday when the Nats blasted the Reds 18-3: Turner went 5-for-5 with a walk, setting a new career high by reaching base six times. The last time a Nationals player pulled off that feat in one game was on April 30, when Anthony Rendon did it against the Mets. The four runs Turner scored also matched a career high. "As he goes, we go," said manager Dusty Baker. "A lot of things happen when Trea gets on base. He was on base all six times, went...

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News and notes before today's series finale

June 25, 2017, 8:51am

Nationals

News and notes before today's series finale

Some pregame news and notes before the Nationals and Reds wrap up their series ... * It got lost in the shuffle of Friday night's extra-inning comeback win, but Daniel Murphy reached a nice career milestone: his 100th home run. That number may not carry a whole lot of weight in today's game, but what's most impressive in Murphy's case is that nearly half of those homers have come in the last two calendar years. Yes, Murphy has hit 48 home runs since July 2015, a span of 1,163 plate...

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Turner, Taylor go for career highs in 18-3 rout

June 24, 2017, 4:30pm

Nationals

Turner, Taylor go for career highs in 18-3 rout

Trea Turner and Michael A. Taylor reached career highs in hits, and Joe Ross pitched seven solid innings as the Nationals crushed the Reds 18-3 before a sellout 40,139 at Nats Park. Turner went 5-for-5 with five singles, four runs, and a walk and two RBIs, setting a career high in hits. After some rough patches early in June, Turner has raised his average to .275. "I feel better," Turner said. "I feel like it starting to come around. I feel more comfortable. Found some holes today. I felt...

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Zimmerman helps Ross with early offense (Nats cruise 18-3)

June 24, 2017, 12:36pm

Nationals

Zimmerman helps Ross with early offense (Nats cruise 18-3)

The Nationals got the offense going against right-hander Homer Bailey, who is making his first start of the season. He had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow in February. Trea Turner led off the bottom of the first with a single and Brian Goodwin walked. After Bryce Harper struck out swinging, Ryan Zimmerman delivered a two-run double to make it 2-0 Nats. Daniel Murphy lined out to first base and Anthony Rendon was safe at first on a fielding error by Scooter Gennett. Matt...

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Baker updates Taylor, Kelley, Glover and day game record

June 24, 2017, 10:40am

Nationals

Baker updates Taylor, Kelley, Glover and day game record

Nationals manager Dusty Baker has Michael A. Taylor back in the starting lineup for Saturday's late afternoon tilt with the Reds. It will mark Taylor's first start since June 20. He has missed the last few games due to an undisclosed injury. Taylor pinch-hit and struckout late in Friday's series opener against the Reds. "He's doing better," Baker said. "He's in there today. We decided it was better to keep him out and he hit yesterday in the cage. Much to my surprise I didn't know he...

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Strasburg struggles in humid conditions, Nats come back to win

June 23, 2017, 8:31pm

Nationals

Strasburg struggles in humid conditions, Nats come back to win

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was unable to get off to a good start Friday. He struggled in the first inning, allowing four runs on five hits as the Reds raced out to a 4-0 lead. The Nationals eventually came all the way back and stunned Cincinnati 6-5 in 10 innings. As Strasburg watched the comeback, he had a chance to reflect on the rough beginning. "Tough one. Obviously first inning was not great but I can try to go as long as I can and as hard as I can and they picked me up," Strasburg...

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More on the bullpen, Difo's debut in center and Storen's return

June 23, 2017, 8:47pm

Nationals

More on the bullpen, Difo's debut in center and Storen's return

There were no shortage of noteworthy developments in last night's 6-5 10-inning win. We've already addressed a few of them - the game-winning rally, Brian Goodwin's two-homer night, Stephen Strasburg's struggles in the humidity - but let's run through some more items of interest before turning the page to today's game ... * The Nationals bullpen was good. Really good. Like, five scoreless innings good. When Strasburg was pulled after five innings and 95 pitches, the notion that the Nats'...

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With two-out rally, Nationals find a way to walk off Reds

June 23, 2017, 8:23pm

Nationals

It takes a certain kind of mentality to bat second in the big leagues, where the job often is less about producing yourself and more about making sure the big boppers behind you get the best opportunities to produce with runners on base. That feeling is only magnified when the guy batting second is a rookie with 130 career plate appearances and the guys batting third, fourth and fifth are All-Stars and MVP candidates. Brian Goodwin has learned this in the last few weeks, a stretch during which...

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With consistent at-bats, Goodwin displaying power stroke

June 23, 2017, 8:13pm

Nationals

With consistent at-bats, Goodwin displaying power stroke

Brian Goodwin went 3-for-4 with two homers and two walks as the Nationals dropped the Reds 6-5 in 10 innings. His biggest hit might have been the single with two outs in the 10th that got Trea Turner to third base to continue what turned out to be the game-deciding inning. Bryce Harper followed with a RBI single to win it for the Nats, who notched their 19th comeback win of the season. Goodwin's two solo shots came in the first and seventh innings of his first multi-homer game in the majors....

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Harper's clutch hit propels Nats to 6-5 win in 10 innings

June 23, 2017, 7:01pm

Nationals

Harper's clutch hit propels Nats to 6-5 win in 10 innings

The Nationals waited 10 innings to produce their first hit with a man in scoring position all night. The wait was worth it. Bryce Harper's laser of a single to the warning track in right field brought home Trea Turner from third base and gave the Nationals a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Reds to cap a night that included plenty of frustrating moments but ended in jubilation for the home team. The Nationals had been 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position throughout the game, squandering...

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Difo starts as Taylor continues to nurse undisclosed injury

June 23, 2017, 1:53pm

Nationals

Difo starts as Taylor continues to nurse undisclosed injury

Wilmer Difo will make his first start in center field tonight in the series opener against the Reds, due to the undisclosed injury to Michael A. Taylor. As in Miami, manager Dusty Baker did not give any further details as to why Taylor is out of the lineup again. "I told you the other day he was hurting," Baker said. "He feels better today. Just didn't feel it was worth a chance in him going back to where he was. We will see. They'll work on him during the course of the game. Might be able...

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SolÃs close to returning from DL, Werth and Glover need more time

June 23, 2017, 2:10pm

Nationals

SolÃs close to returning from DL, Werth and Glover need more time

The Nationals hoped they'd have Jayson Werth and Koda Glover back by now. Turns out the player closest to returning from the disabled list is Sammy SolÃs. SolÃs has made four rehab appearances for Triple-A Syracuse, including back-to-back games earlier this week, and appears to be on the verge of rejoining the Nationals bullpen. "Sammy Solis is getting close," manager Dusty Baker said this afternoon. "He's getting very close." The left-hander has been on the DL since April 19 with...

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Game 73 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

June 23, 2017, 11:10am

Nationals

And we're back on South Capitol Street, where the Nationals return home for the better part of the last stretch of the season's first half. They are scheduled to play each of the next 17 days before the All-Star break, but 14 of those games will take place right here at Nationals Park, a welcome relief. It begins tonight with the opener of a weekend series against the rebuilding Reds, who come in having lost 11 of 12. Cincinnati actually has a good lineup and a decent bullpen, but its...