nationals

Trea Turner uses speed to create runs as Nats get home win

June 09, 2017, 3:53am

When some of his usual starters are not in the lineup, Nationals manager Dusty Baker likes to see his club manufacture runs to ignite the offense. Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon had a day of rest for Thursday's makeup matchup against the Orioles. And really, Zimmerman said it this week: In order to be successful against playoff teams, which would be teams like the Dodgers and the Orioles, who are above .500, they can't just home run their way through each game and win. They...

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Opposite dugout: Closer crashing, but Rangers still have the horses to make a run

June 08, 2017, 8:37pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Closer crashing, but Rangers still have the horses to make a run

Manager: Jeff Banister (3rd year) Record: 27-32 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: SS Elvis Andrus (.302/.345/.466, 15 doubles, 14 stolen bases), RF Nomar Mazara (.288/.352/.462, 38 RBIs), 3B Joey Gallo (.200/.300/.516, 17 home runs), LF Delino DeShields (.289/.352/.352, 10 stolen bases), RHP Matt Bush (2.49 ERA, six saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-2 in 2014) Pitching probables: June 9: RHP Andrew Cashner vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN2June 10: LHP MartÃn PÃ©rez...

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Ross calm in striking out the Orioles in 6-1 bounceback win

June 08, 2017, 7:28pm

Nationals Orioles

Ross calm in striking out the Orioles in 6-1 bounceback win

Joe Ross had put together a couple of rough starts heading into Thursday's makeup game at home against the Orioles. The right-hander flew home before the team did Wednesday, arriving at noon local time in D.C. He got his rest and came out focused in a solid 6-1 victory over the Orioles. Michael A. Taylor and Stephen Drew combined for three hits and four RBIs, and Trea Turner went 3-for-4 with two runs and matching a club record with three stolen bases as the Nationals evened the season series...

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David Huzzard: Looking ahead to free agency after 2018 season

June 08, 2017, 6:33pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Looking ahead to free agency after 2018 season

There is a lot of talk about where Bryce Harper will land when he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season. There is also a lot of discussion of who else is available and if a Golden State Warriors-like super team could be formed in Major League Baseball. It is perfectly possible. Daniel Murphy and Harper are scheduled to be free agents from the Nats, Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson will both be free agents at third base, Charlie Blackmon and Adam Jones will join Harper as available...

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Opposite dugout: Orioles start eight-game road trip with makeup in D.C.

June 07, 2017, 10:16pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Orioles start eight-game road trip with makeup in D.C.

Manager: Buck Showalter (8th season) Record: 31-26 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Jonathan Schoop (.292 with 10 HR, 31 RBIs), RF Mark Trumbo (.264 with 8 HR, 29 RBIs), CF Adam Jones (.259 with 11 HR, 28 RBIs), RHP Alec Asher (2-3, 3.62 ERA), RHP Brad Brach (3.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 11 saves), RHP Mychal Givens (2.70 ERA, 10 holds) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: June 8: RHP Alec Asher vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASN Inside the Orioles: Before the Orioles head up to New...

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Taylor's double highlights big first inning (Nats win 6-1)

June 08, 2017, 3:43pm

Nationals

Taylor's double highlights big first inning (Nats win 6-1)

A very positive first inning for the Nationals, fresh off their very positive road trip to California. Joe Ross induced a pair of infield grounders and earned a called third strike, allowing one single to dispatch the Orioles in the first inning. The offense then took it to Orioles starter Alec Asher. Trea Turner walked and stole two bases. Bryce Harper singled him home to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. Adam Lind singled. Stephen Drew then lined a single to score Harper for a 2-0 lead. Michael A....

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Game 59 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles (updated)

June 08, 2017, 9:17am

Nationals

Game 59 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles (updated)

The Nationals return home from a successful nine-game West Coast road swing through San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles with a 7-2 record. But instead of the scheduled off-day, they've got a makeup game against the Orioles, the result of a postponement from May 11. Technically, this will be their third series against the Orioles this season - the second season in a row that has happened thanks to inclement weather. The two-game series at Camden Yards from May 8-9 counts as one series and...

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After 7-2 West Coast trip, no break for jet-lagged Nationals

June 07, 2017, 9:40pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - They left Washington 11 days ago, embarking on one of the longest West Coast trips they've ever experienced, taking a full tour of California and playing nine games against three opponents before heading home. Along the way, they saw their biggest star get into a brawl, get a four-game suspension, have that suspension reduced to three games on appeal and endure his first slump of the year. They saw their ace toss a complete game in San Francisco, then strike out 14 batters in...

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Baker on recoveries of Werth, Blanton and SolÃs

June 08, 2017, 1:21pm

Nationals

Baker on recoveries of Werth, Blanton and SolÃs

Left fielder Jayson Werth remains on the 10-day disabled list with a bruised left foot, and Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that he didn't expect the veteran's recovery to move at a rapid pace given the nature and placement of his injury. "It's not going to be quick," Baker said before the Nats hosted the Orioles in a makeup of the rained-out May 11 game. "Anybody that's ever hurt their toe, it heals the slowest. The circulation there, it looks ugly. We're not planning on...

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Nationals lament mistakes that prevented a sweep in L.A.

June 07, 2017, 3:29pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - If you're going to beat Clayton Kershaw, you're going to need somebody to come up with a big hit off the planet's best pitcher. The Nationals got that today in the form of Ryan Zimmerman's leadoff homer in the top of the second. And you're going to need your own pitcher step up with an elite performance to match, or even best, Kershaw. The Nationals got that today in the form of Stephen Strasburg's dominant start. And you're going to need to do all the little things right,...

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Opposite dugout: Nats return home from 7-2 road trip to start homestand with makeup game

June 07, 2017, 9:43pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Nats return home from 7-2 road trip to start homestand with makeup game

Manager: Dusty Baker (2nd season) Record: 37-21 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.362/.407/.696 with 17 HR, 49 RBIs), RF Bryce Harper (.316/.427/.626 with 15 HR, 45 RBIs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.336/.386/.558 with 10 HR, 41 RBIs), RHP Joe Ross (2-2, 7.34 ERA), RHP Matt Albers (1.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 5 holds) Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2 Pitching probables: June 8: RHP Alec Asher vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Inside the Nationals: The Nationals return home from a 7-2 West...

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Strasburg ties record, Zimmerman homers again (Nats lose 2-1)

June 07, 2017, 12:03pm

Nationals

Strasburg ties record, Zimmerman homers again (Nats lose 2-1)

LOS ANGELES - Stephen Strasburg has reached an impressive career milestone. Ryan Zimmerman is well on his way to surpassing one of his own. Strasburg completed his 1,000th career inning pitched early in today's game against the Dodgers, and his strikeout of Corey Seager in the bottom of the first helped him match a major league record. With 1,666 strikeouts, Strasburg tied Kerry Wood for the most strikeouts by any big league starter in his first 1,000 innings. It's been a winding path for...

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Nationals drop finale of anticipated series vs. Dodgers 2-1

June 07, 2017, 1:55pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - Stephen Strasburg vs. Clayton Kershaw lived up to the hype. But as Nationals fans surely know by now, these games against the Dodgers almost always come down to some key moments late against the respective teams' bullpens. And in the finale of a fantastic, tightly contested series at Chavez Ravine, it was the Dodgers bullpen that stepped up to get the outs necessary to deal the Nationals a 2-1 loss. After Kershaw was surprisingly pulled following seven dominant innings, the...

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Edwin Jackson's explanation for his longevity: "Everyone always needs pitching"

June 07, 2017, 3:19pm

Nationals Orioles

Edwin Jackson's explanation for his longevity: "Everyone always needs pitching"

As pitcher Edwin Jackson prepared to settle in to the Orioles clubhouse, a reporter asked him about the role with his the team. The role doesn't matter. "I've done a little bit of everything,'' Jackson says. Talk about an understatement. The Orioles are Jackson's fourth American League team and 12th big league team, one short of the record held by pitcher Octavio Dotel. The two were teammates with the World Series champion Cardinals in 2011. Jackson is 33. Dotel was 38 when he reached his...

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Baker wants Glover to learn from emotional showdown with Puig

June 07, 2017, 10:25am

Nationals

Baker wants Glover to learn from emotional showdown with Puig

LOS ANGELES - Dusty Baker admittedly didn't see what happened at the end of Tuesday night's game because he had turned to shake hands with his coaches after the Nationals finished off a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers. Once he had a chance to watch the video and hear from others about the post-strike three encounter between Koda Glover and Yasiel Puig, the Nats manager had some more perspective. "My take is: There's a lot of testosterone out there," Baker said. "It happens sometimes. Puig,...

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With eventful save in L.A., Glover keeps growing into closer role

June 06, 2017, 10:42pm

Nationals

With eventful save in L.A., Glover keeps growing into closer role

LOS ANGELES - Dusty Baker keeps saying the only way for a closer to get experience is to, well, get experience. You don't know how any young reliever is going to handle the pressure of the ninth inning until he starts pitching it. And you don't know how he's going to handle the extra pressure of a ninth inning on the road against an elite opponent until he gives it a try. So consider Tuesday night a significant experience for Koda Glover, and a positive one at that. Handed a 2-1 lead in the...

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Game 58 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

June 07, 2017, 8:41am

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - When this long road trip through the state of California began 10 days ago, would you have taken a 7-1 record with a chance to sweep the Dodgers in today's finale? I think so. Today's game, quite frankly, is gravy for the Nationals, who already took the first two in this series and now face Clayton Kershaw in a Wednesday matinee at Chavez Ravine. A win would be fantastic, but nobody should be complaining too much if they don't pull this one off. Stephen Strasburg certainly...

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Nats ride Scherzer's 14 strikeouts to 2-1 victory over Dodgers (updated)

June 06, 2017, 9:08pm

Nationals

Nats ride Scherzer's 14 strikeouts to 2-1 victory over Dodgers (updated)

LOS ANGELES - The running joke around the Nationals is that anytime Max Scherzer takes the mound, you better watch because something special is probably going to happen. Thing is, it's not a joke. It's real. And these days, Scherzer is spectacular. Or as teammate Koda Glover described it: "He's a stud." The Nationals ace added another memorable performance to his ever-growing resume tonight, striking out 14 Dodgers in only seven innings, 11 of them in the game's first 3 2/3 innings. And...

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Luke Erickson: Is too much attention being paid to Tebow?

June 05, 2017, 6:56am

Nationals

Luke Erickson: Is too much attention being paid to Tebow?

A lot of attention was paid this past weekend to the 29-year-old left fielder for the visiting Columbia Fireflies in a four-game series at the Nationals' Single-A Hagerstown affiliate, a matchup of the third-place team in the Southern Division against the first-place team in the Northern Division. From a baseball perspective, this is puzzling. After Sunday's game, he had 16 RBIs and 16 walks, 53 strikeouts and 53 total bases in 47 games. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) is .629 - roughly 60...

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Glover ready to pitch tonight, Ross to start Thursday

June 06, 2017, 5:30pm

Nationals

Glover ready to pitch tonight, Ross to start Thursday

LOS ANGELES - When Koda Glover was unavailable to pitch Monday night against the Dodgers due to the fact he was - in manager Dusty Baker's words - "a little sore," it might have raised a few eyebrows among Nationals fans. It doesn't appear you have anything to be worried about, though. Glover's arm was indeed sore, and he informed the coaching staff shortly before gametime he needed the night off. But the rookie reliever said it was simply a case of his arm not being ready to come back and...