nationals

Trea Turner suffers apparent leg injury (Nats trounced 17-3)

April 08, 2017, 3:34pm

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals avoided significant injuries to prominent players throughout the spring and entered the season as healthy as any team in baseball, but that run of good fortune may have come to an abrupt end. Trea Turner had to come out of tonight's game against the Phillies in the top of the first inning after suffering an apparent hamstring injury running the bases, a potentially major blow to a club that intends to rely on its dynamic leadoff hitter and shortstop heavily this...

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Disastrous first inning sends Nationals on way to 17-3 loss

April 08, 2017, 6:21pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - In the annals of worst innings in club history, this had to rank at the top. The Nationals gave up 12 runs to the Phillies in the first, and that might not even have been the worst thing to happen to them in the frame. As disastrous as that 12-spot was, with Jeremy Guthrie taking the brunt of the pounding, and as ugly as the Nationals' eventual 17-3 loss was, the larger concern in the big picture was the sight of Trea Turner departing in the top of the first inning with an...

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Taylor optioned to Triple-A, Ross struggles in Syracuse debut

April 08, 2017, 2:09pm

Nationals

Taylor optioned to Triple-A, Ross struggles in Syracuse debut

PHILADELPHIA - Needing to clear a roster spot for Jeremy Guthrie before tonight's game, the Nationals optioned Michael A. Taylor to Triple-A Syracuse, electing to keep an extra infielder on their bench instead of an outfielder. The decision essentially boiled down to demoting either Taylor or Wilmer Difo, who both made the opening day roster when the Nationals decided to carry a six-man bench. Neither player, however, has appeared in any of the team's first four games. Manager Dusty Baker...

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Saturday morning notes and quotes

April 07, 2017, 7:36pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Some more tidbits and reactions from yesterday's 7-6 win over the Phillies, and some other assorted thoughts to tide you over this Saturday morning until the Nationals arrive back at Citizens Bank Park for tonight's game... * Daniel Murphy isn't quite feeling right at the plate yet. We can say that because the Nationals second baseman is swinging and missing more than is typical (he already has three strikeouts in four games, this from a guy who struck out only 57 times in 142...

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Game 5 lineups: Nats at Phillies

April 08, 2017, 11:35am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - If you asked anybody on the first day of spring training to name the Nationals' No. 5 starter to open the season, I don't think you would have found many people who would have replied: Jeremy Guthrie. Yet when the Nats take the field this evening at Citizens Bank Park, the man on the mound will be none other than the right-hander celebrating his 38th birthday in most surprising fashion. The lack of need of a permanent fifth starter until later this month is what prompted this...

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Nats select contract of right-hander Jeremy Guthrie

April 08, 2017, 12:07pm

Nationals

Nats select contract of right-hander Jeremy Guthrie

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie on Saturday and optioned outfielder Michael A. Taylor to Triple-A Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Guthrie, who is celebrating his 38th birthday, gets the start Saturday night vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The start will mark Guthrie's first since the 2015 season when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals. A...

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The good, and the not-so-good, from a Nationals victory

April 07, 2017, 4:31pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Four games into his team's season, Dusty Baker hasn't had a whole lot of opportunity to relax and enjoy managing a first place club. His Nationals may be 3-1, but all four games have been tense, down-to-the-wire affairs, perhaps none more than today's contest at Citizens Bank Park. It didn't have to be that way. The Nats led by seven runs after five innings and were well on their way to giving Baker some well-deserved R&R. And then ... well, that seven-run lead somehow...

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Nats go deep early, hang on late for 7-6 win over Phillies

April 07, 2017, 2:44pm

Nationals

Nats go deep early, hang on late for 7-6 win over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Jayson Werth all launched multi-run homers, and Max Scherzer dominated the Phillies once again at Citizens Bank Park. But what should've been an easy Nationals victory this afternoon instead turned into near-disaster before Blake Treinen hung on for dear life to wrap up a 7-6 victory. An announced crowd of 45,121 braved wind chills in the 30s for the Phillies' home opener, only to suffer through a shellacking for five innings at the hands of the...

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Nats early offense: lots of homers, not a lot of two-out hits

April 07, 2017, 9:53am

Nationals

Nats early offense: lots of homers, not a lot of two-out hits

PHILADELPHIA - The good news about the Nationals lineup so far this season: They've hit six home runs in three games, third-most in the majors. The bad news about the Nationals lineup so far this season: They've scored 13 total runs in those three games, tied for 12th in the majors. That's in only three games, of course, so be careful not to read too much into it. But manager Dusty Baker already is harping on the importance of hitting with runners in scoring position, a skill he believes is...

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Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Phillies could pose a pesky problem

April 05, 2017, 6:16pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Phillies could pose a pesky problem

Manager: Pete Mackanin (4th season) Record: 1-2 Last 10 games: 1-2 Who to watch: 3B Maikel Franco (25 HR, 88 RBIs), 2B CÃ©sar HernÃ¡ndez (.294/.371/.393 with 17 SB), CF OdÃºbel Herrera (.296 with 15 HR, 25 SB), 1B Tommy Joseph (21 HR), SS Freddy Galvis (21 HR), RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 3.71 ERA), RHP Jeanmar GÃ³mez (43 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (5-14 in 2016) Pitching probables: April 7: RHP Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (8-6, 4.12...

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Harper and Murphy go deep, Scherzer cruising (Nats win 7-6)

April 07, 2017, 12:28pm

Nationals

Harper and Murphy go deep, Scherzer cruising (Nats win 7-6)

PHILADELPHIA - Earlier this afternoon, noting how five of his team's six home runs to start this season have come with nobody on base, Dusty Baker joked that "homers are fine, but multi-run homers are better." Members of the Nationals lineup must've been eavesdropping, because they're putting that practice to work in today's game against the Phillies. Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy each have launched two-run homers early, giving the Nats a 4-0 lead on a frigid opening day at Citizens Bank...

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Game 4 lineups: Nats at Phillies

April 07, 2017, 7:39am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Hello from Citizens Bank Park, where a couple of sleepy teams will take the field today for the home opener. The Nationals rolled into town around 1 a.m. following their twice-delayed 10-inning loss to the Marlins. The Phillies, meanwhile, flew in from Cincinnati last night following their loss to the Reds. So it'll be a quick turnaround for today's 3:05 p.m. first pitch. The Nationals will get a boost from the sight of Max Scherzer on the mound for the first time this season....

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Gonzalez continues consistent pitching into regular season with quality start

April 06, 2017, 7:15pm

Nationals

Gonzalez continues consistent pitching into regular season with quality start

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez put together a tremendous quality start (no decision) in a rain-delayed 4-3 10-inning loss to the Marlins Thursday night. Working with a quick tempo, Gonzalez got ahead of Marlins hitters all day, not allowing a run over six innings. He was able to scatter seven hits, striking out seven and showing tremendous command; his only walk was intentional in the sixth. Manager Dusty Baker was impressed with how Gonzalez was able to not allow the Marlins to ever...

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Hot start: Zimmerman treating April like it's August

April 07, 2017, 4:56am

Nationals

Hot start: Zimmerman treating April like it's August

Ryan Zimmerman is doing it again. This time he reached down and drove a ball to the deepest part of the park - vintage of his walk-off home run against the Braves to win the inaugural game at Nats Park. Another line drive laser that went 402 feet, bounced off the grass on the berm in center field and was finally reviewed as a homer. Remember when he hit that home run in Game 2 against the Marlins to right-center? That's an indication he has his swing back to where it was. But this center field...

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After adjusted spring prep, Scherzer ready for season debut

April 06, 2017, 1:39pm

Nationals

After adjusted spring prep, Scherzer ready for season debut

PHILADELPHIA - You wouldn't think there's anything special about Max Scherzer taking the mound later today at Citizens Bank Park, his first start of the season. That's no real accomplishment, right? "It's a major accomplishment," Scherzer insisted. Well, yes, considering what it took to ensure the Nationals ace would be ready to pitch a big league game in the first week of the season. "You've got to remember, the first time I picked up a baseball was the first day of spring," he said....

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David Huzzard: The dilemma of picking MVP between Harper and Turner

April 06, 2017, 3:28pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: The dilemma of picking MVP between Harper and Turner

I have a bit of a dilemma. It isn't a bad dilemma. It is a situation Nationals fans would be agreeable to and one many would call me an overly bright-eyed optimist for predicting, and it is this: I can't decide who to pick for National League MVP, Bryce Harper or Trea Turner. From all indications, Harper is poised to have a season much like 2015 and Turner is ready to pick up where he left off in 2016. That makes it a hard choice. Is it the shortstop who is likely to hit 20 homers and steal...

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Nationals relievers cope with first blown lead of 2017

April 06, 2017, 7:00pm

Nationals

During the first week of the season, when everything is magnified, it's easy to fall into the trap of drawing long-term conclusions on both positive and negative developments. Two games into their season, the Nationals bullpen looked like a strength, their new closer up to the challenge. Three games into their season, that same bullpen looks like a weakness, the new closer unable to deliver when he really needs to deliver. Truth be told, neither answer is fair at this ridiculously early...

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Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)

April 06, 2017, 2:34pm

Nationals

Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)

Adam Eaton spent his first two days with the Nationals getting on base just about every chance he got. He opened his third day in D.C. showing everybody he also knows how to circle the bases. Eaton launched his first home run with his new team this afternoon, sending a solo shot over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field to give the Nats a quick 1-0 lead over the Marlins in their rain-delayed series finale. The center fielder, acquired from the White Sox over the winter for three...

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Bullpen struggles send Nats to first loss of season, 4-3 in 10

April 06, 2017, 5:54pm

Nationals

Bullpen struggles send Nats to first loss of season, 4-3 in 10

A marathon game that included more than two hours of rain delays, back-and-forth bullpen blow-ups and then extra innings ended with a first for the Nationals this season: a loss. Justin Bour's two-out double off Joe Blanton in the top of the 10th brought J.T. Realmuto all the way around from first to score the run that gave the Marlins a wild 4-3 victory at Nationals Park, a frustrating end to a frustratingly long day and night at the ballpark for the previously unbeaten home club. Despite...

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Scherzer on Roark, Baker on bullpen and minor league rainouts

April 06, 2017, 10:39am

Nationals

Scherzer on Roark, Baker on bullpen and minor league rainouts

Right-hander Max Scherzer is relieved that the knuckle injury he suffered at the end of last season is fully recovered and he is feeling 100 percent as he prepares to make his season debut tomorrow afternoon in Philadelphia. Wednesday night, starter Tanner Roark (1-0) got roughed up early but managed to pitch six innings in a 6-4 win over the Marlins. It was only the third start for Roark with the Nationals since March 5 because of his involvement in the World Baseball Classic and Friday's...