nationals

Opposite dugout: Diamondbacks have surprised early with productive offense

April 29, 2017, 7:09am

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...

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The amazing April for Ryan Zimmerman

April 30, 2017, 4:20am

Nationals

The Nationals dropped another game to the Mets after finishing their long road trip 9-1. Even with these two losses to the Mets, they are 3-2 against their division rivals in a span of two weekends. In Saturday's5-3 loss to the Mets, Ryan Zimmerman ended up providing all the RBIs for the Nats. He was 3-for-4 with a solo homer. He has 11 home runs in April. That matches his career high for a month. He also hit 11 in September 2013. He has now hit a home run in five of his last six games and...

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Eaton prepares for long rehab: "I'm going to win another battle"

April 30, 2017, 8:46am

Nationals

Eaton prepares for long rehab: "I'm going to win another battle"

Adam Eaton sat at his locker inside the clubhouse at Nationals Park, his left leg wrapped and braced, a set of crutches beside him on the floor, a Capitals cap tugged low over his eyes as he tried not to turn too emotional talking about the injury he suffered Friday night and the long and unfamiliar rehab he now faces. "I've never had an injury like this," he said. "Never had legit six months ahead of me that's going to be an absolute test. But just like anything else in my life, I'm...

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Rendon leads record-setting explosion in Nats' 23-5 victory

April 30, 2017, 1:11pm

Nationals

Rendon leads record-setting explosion in Nats' 23-5 victory

As much as they know they'll miss Adam Eaton the rest of this long season, the Nationals also know they're blessed to have one of baseball's deepest lineups, one capable of putting up big numbers even without the services of their injured center fielder. And if anyone doubted that, they needed only watch today's 23-5 victory in which the Nats lineup put a sledgehammer to every Mets pitcher who had the unfortunate task of standing on the mound. (Including one guy who isn't even normally a...

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Nationals' fears confirmed: Eaton has torn ACL

April 29, 2017, 4:38pm

Nationals

Though they didn't know for sure when it occurred Friday night, the Nationals feared from the outset Adam Eaton suffered a serious left leg injury when he awkwardly landed on first base and went tumbling to the ground in pain. Tonight those fears were realized when the Nats learned Eaton has a torn ACL in his left knee, a season-ending injury. The diagnosis, first reported by FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, was confirmed by a club source. Eaton will have surgery in the coming days and likely faces...

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Too many homers help Mets down Nats 5-3

April 29, 2017, 1:37pm

Nationals

The Mets' homers were the difference Saturday, as they beat the Nationals 5-3 to take the series. Michael Conforto hit a pair of homers, Jose Reyes connected in the ninth inning, and the Mets used five relievers to keep the Nationals at bay for their second win in a row in the weekend series. It was the first series loss at home for the Nats against the Mets since last May. Manager Dusty Baker said the critical round-trippers for the Mets, especially a two-run shot by Conforto off of starter...

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No MRI result yet on Eaton; notes on Bautista, Taylor, Harper

April 29, 2017, 8:32am

Nationals

No MRI result yet on Eaton; notes on Bautista, Taylor, Harper

Nationals manager Dusty Baker did not have a complete medical update during his pregame press conference on the extent of the injury suffered by center fielder Adam Eaton at the end of last night's 7-5 loss to the Mets. "Nothing yet. Had to be driven home, naturally, last night," Baker said. "We're waiting from the MRI because it's not that easy, not that many people working on Saturdays. Hopefully, it's not as serious as it looks." The injury was listed as a left knee strain. Does that...