nationals

Opposite dugout: Dodgers, Kershaw have rough postseason history of their own

October 06, 2016, 12:33pm

Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season) Record: 91-71 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.308/.365/.512 with 26 HR, 72 RBIs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.285/.349/.435 with 18 HR, 90 RBIs), 3B Justin Turner (.275/.339/.439 with 27 HR, 90 RBIs), LHP Clayton Kerhsaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (1.83 ERA with 47 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 5-1 Pitching probables: Oct. 7: LHP Clayton Kerhsaw vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 5:30 p.m., FS1 Oct. 8: LHP Rich Hill vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 4 p.m.,...

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Nationals announce 2016 NLDS roster

October 07, 2016, 6:54am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced their 2016 National League Division Series roster on Friday, in advance of the series' opening game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. President of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals' NLDS roster is comprised of 11 pitchers (seven right-handed pitchers, four left-handed pitchers), two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. The Nationals will mix veteran experience with youthful exuberance as...

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Scherzer vs. Kershaw: "I don't expect for it to be a blowout"

October 06, 2016, 1:57pm

Nationals

Scherzer vs. Kershaw: "I don't expect for it to be a blowout"

Sometimes a postseason series matchup doesn't have to be hyped up any more than with a simple mention of last names. Schilling vs. Clemens. Halladay vs. Carpenter. Bumgarner vs. Syndergaard. And now ... Scherzer vs. Kershaw. It would be difficult to conjure up a better pitching showdown for Game 1 of the National League Division Series than the one that will be on display later this afternoon at Nationals Park. Clayton Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner, an MVP and just put together...

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Werth believes experience carries weight for his club in NLDS

October 07, 2016, 3:56am

Nationals

Werth believes experience carries weight for his club in NLDS

Left fielder Jayson Werth is making his eighth playoff appearance today. He brings a wealth of knowledge of how to perform well in important moments. In 2008 and 2009, he appeared in the World Series. He brings experience to a Nationals club that has good amount of guys that made it to the postseason in 2012 and 2014 and he knows that experience is worth something. "This is my team. We've been through it," Werth said. "This is our third trip to the postseason. We're battle-tested, we're...

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Difo makes roster, three lefties in 'pen, no Game 2 starter yet

October 06, 2016, 11:58am

Nationals

Difo makes roster, three lefties in 'pen, no Game 2 starter yet

The Nationals' roster for the National League Division Series will include Wilmer Difo on the bench and three lefties in the bullpen. It probably won't include both Clint Robinson and Ben Revere, though, with room only for one of those reserves. Dusty Baker revealed some aspects of his club's roster for the NLDS against the Dodgers during today's news conference at Nationals Park, but the manager couldn't reveal everything. Baker also acknowledged some decisions have yet to be made,...

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Nats have many factors to weigh on final NLDS roster decisions

October 05, 2016, 9:05pm

Nationals

Nats have many factors to weigh on final NLDS roster decisions

The Nationals have until 10 a.m. Friday to submit and announce their roster for the National League Division Series. Don't be surprised if they take every last minute available to them before finalizing which 25 players will take the field against the Dodgers. These decisions are easier said than done, and Dusty Baker, Mike Rizzo and everyone else involved in the process have some legitimately tough decisions to make. "Do you keep some veterans?" Baker asked rhetorically on Wednesday. "Do...

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Baker confirms Pedro Severino will start at catcher in NLDS Game 1

October 06, 2016, 10:54am

Nationals

Baker confirms Pedro Severino will start at catcher in NLDS Game 1

Nationals manager Dusty Baker set his battery for Game 1 of the National League Division Series with the announcement today that rookie Pedro Severino will catch Max Scherzer in Friday's opener. "OK, No. 1, Severino is catching tomorrow," Baker said "He's pretty good against left-handed pitchers. I don't think he's seen one quite like this in (Clayton) Kershaw before. He's worked with our guys and (Jose) Lobaton is a little bit injured, and that's one reason why he's not catching...

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District 34 podcast: Previewing the Nationals-Dodgers NLDS showdown

October 06, 2016, 10:07am

Nationals

Playoff baseball is back in Washington, D.C.! The Nationals and Dodgers will kick off their National League Division Series tomorrow at Nats Park with a Game 1 showdown between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. Daniel Murphy has had success in the postseason. Bryce Harper always seems to shine brightest on a big stage. Anthony Rendon has made huge contributions during the playoffs. And Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman always seem to come up clutch when needed. For our playoff preview episode of...

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Pedro Severino ready to embrace next challenge of NLDS

October 06, 2016, 4:09am

Nationals

Pedro Severino ready to embrace next challenge of NLDS

Nationals 23-year-old catcher Pedro Severino started playing baseball in the infield until a coach recommended he become a catcher. That's where Severino realized how good he was at throwing runners out and how he enjoyed the moment so much. During the Marlins series to end the season, Severino threw a runner out at second base and could be seen on MASN cameras nodding his head several times in agreement when the runner was called out. "When I was 14 years old I was third baseman," Severino...

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Dusty Baker reflects on the time he was traded to the Dodgers

October 05, 2016, 11:54am

Nationals

Dusty Baker reflects on the time he was traded to the Dodgers

The Nationals face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series starting Friday. Inevitably, the matchup will bring back memories for manager Dusty Baker about his time as a player with the club. Baker played for the Dodgers from 1976-1983. He was traded to the Dodgers from the Atlanta Braves, where he started his big league career in 1968. Baker was asked what he felt about getting traded to the Dodgers. It turned out to be another one of the all-time great Baker...

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Nats add live BP to workout, Murphy passes running test

October 05, 2016, 12:27pm

Nationals

Nats add live BP to workout, Murphy passes running test

The Nationals added another element to today's pre-playoffs workout: live batting practice. And Daniel Murphy added more elements to his personal workout in an attempt to return from injury and start Game 1 of the National League Division Series: hard running in both the outfield and on the bases. By all accounts, both went according to plan, leaving everybody as ready as they could reasonably expect to be at this point for Friday's series opener against the Dodgers. All of the Nationals'...

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Spotlight will shine on Nationals lefties during NLDS

October 04, 2016, 9:50pm

Nationals

The Dodgers do many things well. They pitch well. They hit for power. They play good defense. There is, however, one thing they really don't do well: hit left-handed pitchers. No team in baseball was less productive against lefties than the Dodgers, whose .213 batting average was 21 points worse than anybody else in the majors, and whose .622 OPS was 55 points worse than anybody else in the sport. And so the spotlight will shine brightly on few during the National League Division Series more...

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Trea Turner the difference maker Nats have been searching for

October 05, 2016, 3:01am

Nationals

Trea Turner the difference maker Nats have been searching for

In any professional sports matchup, to separate two evenly matched teams you need a difference maker, an elite talent that is a cut above or brings something to the table the other team can't match. In football, it's a tall wide receiver or a pass rusher that is too fast for a quarterback. In baseball, it can be a guy who has the bat, the speed and the glove that can change a game. Early in 2016, the Nationals were not finding that in their leadoff spot until they converted their would be...

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Nats have experience, but new blood could spell difference this postseason

October 04, 2016, 11:55am

Nationals

Nats have experience, but new blood could spell difference this postseason

The Nationals have a good blend of experience and youth, and are hoping that will be the blend that will carry them to the next round of the postseason. It is a goal that the Nats have been unable to reach in their last two playoff appearances. "I think the experience helps from '12 and '14," said president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. "We got two more playoff experiences under our belt. It doesn't feel any different to me. I'm fired up for playoff action. "You...

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Murphy on track for Game 1, Scherzer officially named starter

October 04, 2016, 11:39am

Nationals

Murphy on track for Game 1, Scherzer officially named starter

For most of the Nationals roster, which still stands at 40 for now until final decisions are made before Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday, today's workout was an exercise in the routine and mundane. Pitchers fielded bunts. Infielders took grounders. Everybody took batting practice. For Daniel Murphy, more was at stake. The Nationals second baseman and MVP candidate hasn't done anything other than pinch-hit since straining a buttocks muscle 2 1/2 weeks ago, but today he...

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Turner earns another NL Rookie of the Month honor

October 03, 2016, 12:04pm

Nationals

Turner earns another NL Rookie of the Month honor

Trea Turner's odds of winning National League Rookie of the Year are nearly nonexistent, not because of his performance, but because he spent less than half of the season in the big leagues while Corey Seager played the entire year for the Dodgers and posted dynamic numbers across the board. Turner, though, can take solace knowing he clearly was the league's best rookie through the season's final two months. Having previously won NL Rookie of the Month honors for August, Turner today was...

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Revisiting those opening day media predictions

October 03, 2016, 10:47am

Nationals

Revisiting those opening day media predictions

As sportswriters, the most important thing we ask of the athletes and coaches we cover is accountability. It's easy to do interviews after you hit a game-winning homer. It's not nearly as easy to do them after you give up a game-winning homer. But it's part of the job, and so we ask them to stand up and take the heat when they lose. But it would be entirely unfair of us to ask those we cover to be accountable for their mistakes if we are not willing to be accountable for our own mistakes. Of...

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Trea Turner again named NL Rookie of the Month

October 03, 2016, 11:34am

Nationals

Trea Turner again named NL Rookie of the Month

Posting a .339 batting average with five doubles, two triples, eight home runs, eight walks, 18 RBI and 15 stolen bases in the final month of his rookie regular season, Nationals infielder/outfielder Trea Turner earned his second consecutive National League Rookie of the Month award. The honor, which comes on the heels of Turner taking home the award for August as well, was announced by Major League Baseball on Monday afternoon. Turner finished the regular season hitting .342 with 14 doubles,...

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A look back at the importance of 95 wins in 2016

October 03, 2016, 5:46pm

Nationals

A look back at the importance of 95 wins in 2016

The Nationals won the National League East for the third time in the past five seasons and now prepare for a matchup with the Dodgers on Friday. Their 95 wins tied the Rangers for second-best in the major leagues behind the Cubs' 103 victories. In 2012, the Nationals won 98 games. In 2014, they tallied 96 victories. It is the fifth time in 21 years manager Dusty Baker's illustrious career that one of his teams reached at least 95 wins. Baker said all season that his monthly goal was 15 wins a...

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Starting times for NLDS Games 1 and 2 announced

October 03, 2016, 11:40am

Nationals

Starting times for NLDS Games 1 and 2 announced

The Nationals and Dodgers will be battling not only aces on the mound, but possibly late-afternoon shadows and the emergence of the Sun Monster when they open the National League Division Series with a pair of contests later this week. Game 1 of the best-of-five series will start at 5:38 p.m. Friday, Major League Baseball announced today. First pitch for Game 2 is slated for 4:08 p.m. Saturday. Starting times for the remainder of the series (Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles and a potential Game 5...