nationals

Roark still felt strong despite career-high 125 pitches

May 02, 2017, 8:14pm

Right-hander Tanner Roark found a way to go six innings for the Nationals, something his manager Dusty Baker was hoping for his workhorse to do. But it was difficult for Roark, even though he wouldn't admit it. Roark finished with a career-high 125 pitches. Baker needed his starter to go six innings because there were arms in his bullpen that needed rest. Roark left with his club down 4-3 in a game they eventually would lose to the Diamondbacks 6-3. "We had Ollie PÃ©rez. He got up twice,"...

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Uninspired Nationals slog through "kind of a downer day"

May 02, 2017, 8:14pm

Nationals

The game lasted 3 hours, 48 minutes. It felt like it took even longer for the Nationals to slog their way through an uninspired 6-3 loss to the Diamondbacks that bore virtually no resemblance to the high-energy, high-drama games they had played nearly every night in April. "It was kind of a downer day," manager Dusty Baker conceded. "I don't know why, but it seems like we don't bounce back with a lot of life after an off-day. 'Cause an off-day kind of just sits on you after that long...

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Nationals drop series opener to Diamondbacks 6-3

May 02, 2017, 6:53pm

Nationals

The Nationals aren't going to score 23 runs every night, and it's not going out on a limb to say so. But neither are they going to score six or seven runs every night, which is what they averaged in April. There are going to be nights like this one, when the lineup produces a couple of clutch hits but misses several opportunities for more. And on those nights, the Nats are going to have to rely on their pitching staff to win games. The staff couldn't deliver in tonight's series opener...

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Updates on Glover, Drew, Wieters and Baker's thoughts on Jones incident in Boston

May 02, 2017, 2:11pm

Nationals Orioles

Updates on Glover, Drew, Wieters and Baker's thoughts on Jones incident in Boston

Manager Dusty Baker had some updates on the progress of a few players who are currently on the disabled list. Right-hander Koda Glover (left hip impingement) has been on the disabled list since April 26. Baker had some good news for his young reliever. "Koda said he's feeling better," Baker said. "Again, I don't ask them every day how they're feeling. But I can sometimes tell by the look on their face, or when they start smiling, or if they're still kind of down about it. But Koda's a...

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Baker on Ross demotion: "Joe wasn't Joe"

May 02, 2017, 2:07pm

Nationals

Baker on Ross demotion: "Joe wasn't Joe"

Asked today why the Nationals made the decision to demote Joe Ross to the minors, Dusty Baker offered up a simple answer at first. "Joe wasn't Joe," the manager said. "That was it in a nutshell." There are different theories trying to explain why Ross hasn't looked like his normal self the last two times he has taken the mound. Is there a physical problem? Ross insisted to team officials there isn't. Is there a mechanical glitch that has caused him to lose his consistent arm slot? Could...

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Ross optioned to Syracuse, Cole returns to major league staff

May 02, 2017, 8:25am

Nationals

Ross optioned to Syracuse, Cole returns to major league staff

The Nationals have optioned Joe Ross to Triple-A Syracuse, a move that comes as a surprise but underscores the organization's concerns with how the right-hander has performed in limited action so far this season. Ross was formally demoted Monday, but the club didn't announce the move until today. Right-hander A.J. Cole was recalled from Syracuse to fill the roster spot, though he will need to serve a three-game suspension before he's eligible to pitch. The demotion comes in the wake of...

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Opposite dugout: Diamondbacks have surprised early with productive offense

April 29, 2017, 7:09am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Diamondbacks have surprised early with productive offense

Manager: Torey Lovullo (1st season) Record: 16-11 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF David Peralta (.326 with 3 HR, 7 RBIs), SS Chris Owings (.311 with 4 HR, 19 RBIs), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.315 with 4 HR, 19 RBIs), LF Yasmany TomÃ¡s (5 HR, 20 RBIs), 3B Jake Lamb (5 HR, 21 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 3.19 ERA), LHP Robbie Ray (2-1, 39 Ks) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2016) Pitching probables: May 2: RHP Taijuan Walker vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 May 3: LHP...

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Baker would love to get versatile Drew back in the lineup

May 02, 2017, 3:27am

Nationals

Baker would love to get versatile Drew back in the lineup

The headlines have been dominated by the loss of Nationals center fielder Adam Eaton the last couple of days. But another important part of this club's success has been on the sidelines for a few weeks now and manager Dusty Baker would love to get him back in the lineup. Infielder Stephen Drew has been nursing a right hamstring strain since April 12. He has missed 17 games while on the disabled list. Without Drew, Baker has had to juggle his infield lineup and has not been able to give players...

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Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

May 02, 2017, 11:03am

Nationals

After the most impressive offensive week and month in their history, the Nationals start anew tonight when they host the Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series. This is a good Arizona club that comes to town with the National League's second-ranked offense and second-ranked pitching staff. One of those pitchers is Taijuan Walker, who takes the mound tonight. The young right-hander and former top Mariners prospect has opened the season 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA, having struck out 33...

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First month of 2017 season has given us plenty of questions

May 01, 2017, 2:00pm

Nationals Orioles

First month of 2017 season has given us plenty of questions

April is in the books. Now, it's time to ask questions about what the first month means. Here are answers the most frequently-asked questions: Question: The Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman is blazing. Does he have a chance to win the National League Triple Crown? Answer: It's a long season, but if Zimmerman keeps hitting as he as done the first month - .420-11-29 - then he'll have a chance. And, his top competition would be his teammate, Bryce Harper, who hit .391-9-26 during the first month....

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After impressive April, what does May have in store for Nats?

May 01, 2017, 9:13pm

Nationals

After impressive April, what does May have in store for Nats?

Though they were far from perfect - hello, bullpen! - the Nationals did just wrap up an overwhelmingly successful opening month to the season. At 17-8, they own the best record in the majors and the second-best 25-game start to any season in club history. (Only last year's 18-7 team got off to a better start.) They lead the majors in just about every offensive category of significance, and their rotation continues to be a force. (Though their starters officially rank 16th in the majors with a...

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Nationals recall Cole from Triple-A Syracuse, option Ross

May 02, 2017, 8:33am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and optioned right-handed pitcher Joe Ross to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cole, 25, will be placed on the suspended list as he serves a three-game suspension from Major League Baseball, which resulted from his ejection on Sept. 25, 2016 at Pittsburgh. Cole served the first two games of his five-game suspension at the...

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Zimmerman named NL Player of the Week

May 01, 2017, 11:31am

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman was named National League Player of the Week this afternoon. That's a nice little honor, but it probably will be overshadowed shortly, as Zimmerman is likely to be named NL Player of the Month as well. Zimmerman earned the weekly award after a torrid seven days to cap off his brilliant month. The Nationals first baseman went 13-for-26 with two doubles, five homers, 13 RBIs, 11 runs and a 1.654 OPS. And he didn't even get as many at-bats as he could have to pad his stats;...

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Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman named National League Player of the Week

May 01, 2017, 12:36pm

Nationals

Following a week in which he hit .500 (13-for-26) with two doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI, one walk and 11 runs scored, Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Zimmerman hit safely in all six games he played, including four multi-hit efforts. He also scored at least one run in every game, and drove in multiple runs in five of the six games. He recorded the 17th multi-home run...

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While lineup soars, bullpen continues to concern Nationals

April 30, 2017, 8:46pm

Nationals

The Nationals lineup, in case you hadn't heard, is really good. As the calendar shifts from April to May, the Nats as a team lead the majors in runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. And on an individual level, either Ryan Zimmerman or Bryce Harper now leads the majors in runs, hits, home runs, RBIs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. What's not to like about this team? Well, besides the...

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Ross allowing too many home runs in first three starts

May 01, 2017, 3:16am

Nationals

Ross allowing too many home runs in first three starts

With the unusual conditions in Denver, a start where your breaking ball doesn't break and your velocity is a tick off might be brushed aside. But when you can't go six or seven innings for the second straight start, is that cause for concern? Right-hander Joe Ross was held back at Triple-A Syracuse a couple of weeks before a fifth starter was needed in the Nationals rotation. Was that strategy simply meant to lessen Ross' work load? Or was it also a red flag concerning where his stamina is...

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Reactions from Anthony Rendon's record-setting day

April 30, 2017, 2:39pm

Nationals

Reactions from Anthony Rendon's record-setting day

The Nationals rolled the Mets in the series finale, setting franchise and even some major league records in a 23-5 shellacking. If the news that center fielder Adam Eaton is likely done for the season with a torn ACL seemed to affect the Nationals in Saturday's loss, there was no carryover into Sunday. Not by a long shot. And with Eaton out, which player in the lineup was most likely to and had the best opportunity to step up and take over the offense that was missed without the quick center...

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A record-shattering performance to cap a remarkable month

April 30, 2017, 3:16pm

Nationals

A record-shattering performance to cap a remarkable month

There are so many numbers to put out there right now, so many records matched or broken the Nationals had to include an entire section of them in their postgame notes following today's 23-5 demolition of the Mets. Here, though, is perhaps the most important number to take away from an awe-inspiring afternoon on South Capitol Street: 77. That's the number of runs the Nationals have scored in the last seven days. Yes, four of those games were played in the thin air of Coors Field. But the first...

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Syndergaard leaves game in second (Nats win 23-5)

April 30, 2017, 10:17am

Nationals

Syndergaard leaves game in second (Nats win 23-5)

The Nationals brought the hammer down in the first inning against Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. Batting around, the Nats scored five runs on five hits with RBI singles from Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, Michael A. Taylor and Joe Ross. Rendon's single scored two runs. Bryce Harper was walked and scored. The Mets intentionally walked Matt Wieters only to surrender a clean single to Ross into left field. Zimmerman now has at least one RBI in six of his last eight at-bats. The Mets scored...

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Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (updated)

April 30, 2017, 6:27am

Nationals

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (updated)

The tide has turned for the Nationals, who in the last 48 hours have not only lost Adam Eaton to a season-ending ACL tear but also have lost two straight to the previously collapsing Mets. Now they need a win today just to avoid a three-game sweep. They'll be asking Joe Ross to bounce back from a ragged start in Colorado in which the right-hander lost velocity and appeared to lose stamina earlier than normal. Was that the thin Coors Field air or cause for concern? We'll perhaps get a better...