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Nats bounce back from shaky start to beat Marlins 6-4

April 05, 2017, 6:11pm

Tanner Roark looked awfully rusty early in his first start of the season, but the right-hander settled down nicely and then watched as his Nationals teammates went to work against the Marlins pitching staff en route to their second win of the season. Behind Roark's quality start and a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth, the Nats beat Miami 6-4 tonight and improved to a perfect 2-0 on the young baseball campaign. Bryce Harper followed up his opening day heroics with a pair of RBI hits,...

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Roark looks rusty in first start of season (Nats win 6-4)

April 05, 2017, 4:06pm

Nationals

Roark looks rusty in first start of season (Nats win 6-4)

Tanner Roark didn't get a lot of work this spring, and unfortunately he looks like it in his first start of the season. Roark labored through his first two innings against the Marlins, walking two batters and hitting two others. He also was charged with a wild pitch that advanced a pair of runners into scoring position. Luckily, the Nationals right-hander has been able to keep the damage to a minimum so far, allowing two runs on Marcel Ozuna's bases-loaded single in the top of the first but...

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As manager, Baker not afraid to delegate responsibility

April 05, 2017, 2:13pm

Nationals

As manager, Baker not afraid to delegate responsibility

Some managers like to have a say in everything that happens to their baseball team. Whether it's on the field, in the clubhouse or even in the front office. Some managers also like to be the spokesperson for everything that happens in the baseball game, and the game-changing decisions that can decide a win from a loss. So is the Nationals' Dusty Baker a controlling manager? Does he have to check off on everything that happens? Does he veto each decision? Baker says he puts together a coaching...

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How Baker and Maddux manage late-inning bullpen usage

April 05, 2017, 2:26pm

Nationals

How Baker and Maddux manage late-inning bullpen usage

For all the attention, ink and pixels devoted this spring to the question of who would be pitching the ninth inning for the Nationals in 2017, Dusty Baker knew all along that was a short-sighted take on the situation. "I'm always stressing to our guys: Let's win the seventh, eighth and ninth, if necessary," the manager said. "Which we did the other day." Indeed, the Nationals' opening day victory over the Marlins was made possible by their performance in the game's final three innings,...

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Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

April 05, 2017, 11:04am

Nationals

The hoopla of opening day is over. The frustration of the day-off-after-opening-day is over. Now we begin the grind of the baseball season, Game 2 of 162. For the Nationals, there is good news before they take the field tonight against the Marlins: Anthony Rendon is in the lineup, his left calf feeling better a full nine days after he fouled a ball off it in Florida. Not that there was ever serious concern about him, but as we've seen, until a guy is actually in the lineup, you just never know...

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Minor leaguer Burriss receives 50-game suspension

April 04, 2017, 1:28pm

Nationals

Minor leaguer Burriss receives 50-game suspension

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that eight minor league players have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, including Nationals minor league second baseman Emmanuel Burriss. Burriss received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse. He is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League according to the Major League Baseball...

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Nats' $162 million opening day payroll ranks ninth in majors

April 04, 2017, 6:49pm

Nationals

Nats' $162 million opening day payroll ranks ninth in majors

The Nationals' opening day payroll was up 16 percent from last season and ranks ninth among all Major League Baseball clubs, according to figures compiled by USA Today. The players who made the Nats' opening day 25-man roster or disabled list have a combined salary of $162,742,157. That ranks ninth in the majors, behind the Dodgers, Tigers, Rangers, Giants, Mets, Red Sox, Yankees and Cubs. The Nationals' average salary of nearly $6.3 million ranks fifth in the sport, while their median...

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Luke Erickson: The arc of a minor league season

April 05, 2017, 6:02am

Nationals

Luke Erickson: The arc of a minor league season

Greetings from the "New Kid on the Block" at MASNsports.com! Well, except I'm not new, I'm not a kid, and my wife is the one from South Boston. What I am is a minor celebrity in the "Natmosphere," as I've been covering the Nationals' farm system for eight seasons at NationalsProspects.com, with the help of some volunteers and some gratuitous use of bulldogs. Tomorrow is opening day for Washington's four full-season affiliates - low Single-A Hagerstown, high Single-A Potomac, Double-A...

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Nats minor league rosters announced; Lannan update

April 04, 2017, 10:18am

Nationals

Nats minor league rosters announced; Lannan update

Here is the full rosters for each of the Nationals' affiliates, announced by their respective clubs today. Left-hander John Lannan continues to work on his transition to a sidearm delivery at the Palm Beach facility. When ready, he could get into games at an affiliate on a future date. TRIPLE-A SYRACUSE CHIEFS Pitchers Joe Ross A.J. Cole Austin Voth Jacob Turner Taylor Hill Matt Albers Michael Broadway Neal Cotts Dustin Antolin Trevor Gott Matt Grace Rafael Martin Austin...

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District 34 podcast: Recapping Nats' opening day win

April 04, 2017, 9:45am

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Recapping Nats' opening day win

What an exciting opening day at Nats Park on Monday! The new baseball season got off on the right foot for the Nationals as they beat the Marlins 4-2 in front of a sellout home crowd. This opening day had everything a Nats fan could want: fantastic pregame ceremonies, strong starting pitching, home runs, efficient bullpen work and of course a Nationals victory. And an eventful opening day means we have a lot to talk about on the District 34 podcast to get you through the first off-day of the...

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Tuesday morning Nats Q&A

April 04, 2017, 8:04am

Nationals

So, how did everybody out there enjoy opening day? On the field, you certainly couldn't have many complaints about the Nationals' performance in a 4-2 victory over the Marlins. In the stands, it sounds like there were some unfortunate issues with concessions and the distribution of the ballpark giveaway. On the air ... well, I can't speak to that since I was covering the game from the press box with my own eyes, but hopefully everything was smooth in that regard. Since today is an off-day -...

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Strasburg does his part with another effective opener

April 03, 2017, 2:43pm

Nationals

Strasburg does his part with another effective opener

Stephen Strasburg was still in the first base dugout at Nationals Park during the bottom of the seventh Monday afternoon, having only completed his work a few minutes earlier, when he watched with glee as Adam Lind's pinch-hit homer sailed over the fence, turning a 2-1 deficit to the Marlins into a 3-2 lead. Until that moment, Strasburg was staring at a hard-luck loss next to his name, his first in four opening day starts. And then in the blink of an eye, he was suddenly in line to take the...

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Nats new lineup with Turner and Eaton delivers in first game

April 04, 2017, 2:41am

Nationals

Nats new lineup with Turner and Eaton delivers in first game

Monday was the first regular season game with the Nationals' new lineup in place. It was highlighted by the addition of Adam Eaton and Trea Turner at the top of the order. Offensively, the duo combined to go 2-for-6 with two doubles, two walks, two stolen bases and a run scored. Turner appreciated what Eaton was able to do, especially the two walks. "It was awesome," Turner said. "If I wasn't on base, he was. He had some great at-bats today and I think that's what we need at the top of...

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Lind debuts with a D.C. curtain call: "You can't really beat it"

April 03, 2017, 2:05pm

Nationals

Lind debuts with a D.C. curtain call: "You can't really beat it"

One has been hitting big home runs in front of big crowds seemingly from the moment he reached the big leagues, especially on opening day. The other, despite 186 career home runs to his name, had never before taken a curtain call. Bryce Harper and Adam Lind don't share a whole lot in common, either in baseball pedigree or off-field personality, but they will forever share the two biggest moments on this opening day, the pair of late home runs that propelled the Nationals to a 4-2 victory over...

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Treinen lets his pitches do the talking for first save of season

April 03, 2017, 1:54pm

Nationals

Treinen lets his pitches do the talking for first save of season

The Nationals' 4-2 comeback win over the Marlins on Monday marked the first save for closer Blake Treinen. Treinen earned the save by getting the heart of the Miami lineup in 1-2-3 fashion. One of the biggest pitches in the ninth inning was a 3-2 slider to Justin Bour that struck out the home run hitter for the second out. Treinen then got Marcell Ozuna on a called third strike to end the game. Treinen, in his first year as a closer, joked that he most likely wouldn't have challenged a hitter...

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Nats, Marlins moving along in D.C. (Nats come back to win 4-2)

April 03, 2017, 10:02am

Nationals

Nats, Marlins moving along in D.C. (Nats come back to win 4-2)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg came out of the blocks looking strong on opening day 2017. Pitching out of the stretch, he did not allow the Marlins a hit through the first three innings, striking out two. Strasburg hit 98 mph in a 1-2-3 first frame. He also enjoyed a 1-2-3 second inning, inducing three straight infield groundouts. Shortstop Trea Turner doubled and center fielder Adam Eaton walked to begin the home half of the first. But the Marlins' Edinson Volquez struck out the side to end...

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Late homers by Harper, Lind propel Nats to 4-2 win in opener

April 03, 2017, 11:52am

Nationals

Late homers by Harper, Lind propel Nats to 4-2 win in opener

For five innings, the Nationals gave their opening day sellout crowd reason to get nervous about the long grind ahead. Despite countless opportunities to make a dent into Marlins starter Edinson Volquez, they simply could not produce a hit with a runner in scoring position, surely making fans (and manager Dusty Baker) cringe about the long-term prospects for this lineup. Turns out the Nats didn't need a big hit with men in scoring position. They just needed two big blasts off the Miami...

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Update on Rendon and the Nats' fifth starter options

April 03, 2017, 9:27am

Nationals

Update on Rendon and the Nats' fifth starter options

The Nationals enjoyed a particularly healthy spring, enough to leave manager Dusty Baker as encouraged as he's ever going to be heading into a season. But not healthy enough to field their full starting lineup on opening day. Anthony Rendon, who fouled a ball off his left calf one week ago in Florida, was held out of today's season opener against the Marlins. Baker described this more as a precautionary move than anything, not wanting to take any chances the first week of April. "He's doing...

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Baker's opening day lineup a reflection of opponent

April 03, 2017, 8:57am

Nationals

Baker's opening day lineup a reflection of opponent

After the Nationals acquired Adam Eaton in December, much of the talk was where the center fielder would bat in a stacked lineup. The Nationals already have shortstop Trea Turner, who is a prototypical leadoff hitter - able to get on base and create havoc by stealing bases or using his speed to go first to third. Turner is a right-handed hitter, Eaton bats from left. So hitting them one-two makes sense. It would seem that Eaton would hit first, then Turner to be followed by lefty-hitting Daniel...

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Game 1 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

April 03, 2017, 5:28am

Nationals

The day has come at last. The 2017 season is here, and it all gets underway this afternoon on South Capitol Street when the Nationals host the Marlins in Game 1 of 162 (or more). There will be plenty of pomp and circumstance leading up to first pitch at 1:05 p.m., from the introduction of both teams to the ceremonial first pitches thrown by one member of each of the five branches of the military to the national anthem by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet and flyover by the F/A-18E Super Hornets to...