nationals

Harper returns to lineup, Heisey away following birth of child

September 30, 2016, 1:36pm

Bryce Harper wanted to return to the Nationals lineup Wednesday night. Dusty Baker made his young slugger wait two more days, just to be safe. Harper, who jammed his right thumb on an awkward slide into third base Sunday in Pittsburgh after the Pirates' Jung Ho Kang pretended to tag him even as the ball sailed wide, was dealing with swelling and some pain in the thumb for a few days. An X-ray, revealed no fractures, however, and doctors were confident the injury occurred in a different...

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Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

September 30, 2016, 10:49am

Nationals

The final weekend of the regular season has arrived, and so it is now, as Dusty Baker described it the other day: "Hero Time." That means it's time to play through nagging ailments and push yourself to do more than you might have during the vast majority of the season. In that vein, Bryce Harper is back in the lineup tonight. Harper had missed the last four games with a swollen right thumb suffered on that slide in Pittsburgh when Jung Ho Kang faked the tag. He said he was ready to play...

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Ross and Lopez demonstrate ability to sustain innings in win

September 29, 2016, 1:25pm

Nationals

Ross and Lopez demonstrate ability to sustain innings in win

Right-handers Joe Ross and Reynaldo Lopez provided answers to their ability to handle heavy workloads, which could be extrememly beneficial in next week's opening round of the postseason, helping the Nationals past the Diamondbacks 5-3. Ross and Lopez combined to throw 7 2/3 innings, holding the D-backs to three runs. Pedro Severino and Wilmer Difo homered and Michael A. Taylor had three hits and two RBIs as the Nationals earned their 93rd win of the season. The Nationals' magic number to...

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Nationals honor Jose Marmolejos, Reynaldo Lopez and Rafael Bautista

September 30, 2016, 7:00am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals named first baseman Jose Marmolejos their 2016 Minor League Player of the Year, right-handed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez their 2016 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and outfielder Rafael Bautista the recipient of the fourth-annual Bob Boone Award. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Vice President & Senior Advisor to the GM Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager & Vice President, Player Personnel Doug Harris and Director of...

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Baker: Harper, Murphy and Strasburg updates all positive

September 29, 2016, 10:31am

Nationals

Baker: Harper, Murphy and Strasburg updates all positive

Nationals manager Dusty Baker said second baseman Daniel Murphy (strained left buttocks) is make very good progress in his hopes to get back to close to 100 percent for the postseason. Baker said Murphy could even pinch-hit in one of the few regular season games remaining prior to the Dodgers series next week in the National League Division Series. And he plans to get Murphy into a practice game next week. "He's better. He's getting better big-time," Baker said. "I talked to him today,...

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Opposite dugout: In wake of tragedy, Marlins try to finish season on high note

September 29, 2016, 12:58pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: In wake of tragedy, Marlins try to finish season on high note

Manager: Don Mattingly (1st season) Record: 78-80 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Christian Yelich (.292 with 20 HR, 95 RBIs), CF Marcell Ozuna (.264 with 23 HR, 75 RBIs), RF Giancarlo Stanton (27 HR, 74 RBIs), RHP Tom Koehler (4-13, 4.15 ERA), RHP A.J. Ramos (2.86 ERA with 39 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 8-8 Pitching probables: Sept. 30: RHP Andrew Cashner vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Oct. 1: LHP Wei-Yin Chen vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 4:05 p.m., MASN2 Oct. 2: RHP Tom Koehler vs....

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Severino homers to start offense (Nats win 5-3)

September 29, 2016, 10:14am

Nationals

Severino homers to start offense (Nats win 5-3)

The Diamondbacks forced Joe Ross to have to make 32 pitches in a top of the first that spanned 16 minutes. But Ross worked around a 12-pitch leadoff walk to Jean Segura to keep Arizona off the board. The D-backs scored a run in the top of the third thanks to three singles. Jake Lamb delivered the run-scoring single to lift Arizona to the 1-0 lead. The Nationals came right back in the bottom of the third thanks to a Pedro Severino solo shot down the left field line. The home run, his second of...

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District 34 podcast: Injury updates heading into the postseason

September 29, 2016, 10:40am

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Injury updates heading into the postseason

Playoff baseball is back in D.C.! The Nationals are back in the postseason after clinching their third National League East division title in five years last weekend, and will face the Dodgers in the National League Division Series. That series starts next Friday, but where it will begin remains to be seen. The Nationals hold a two-game lead over the Dodgers heading into today's series finale against the Diamondbacks at Nats Park. Their magic number to clinch home field advantage for the NLDS...

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Ramos on knee injury and rehab: "All I can do is stay positive"

September 29, 2016, 9:01am

Nationals

Ramos on knee injury and rehab: "All I can do is stay positive"

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos spoke for the first time following the announcement that he is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Ramos said he has had a little bit of time to organize his thoughts and think about what is next after injuring his knee Monday night against the Diamondbacks. As with most ACL injury cases, team doctors will wait for the swelling to go down in the knee before proceeding with surgery. "I feel a little bit more relaxed," Ramos said through...

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Thursday morning Q&A from rainy D.C.

September 28, 2016, 8:00pm

Nationals

It was only five days ago when the Nationals were spraying champagne and beer all over each other in the clubhouse at PNC Park, celebrating their third division title in five years and looking ahead to what they hoped would be a deep October run. That feels like more than five days ago because a lot has happened since then, and most of it has not been good. Bryce Harper jammed his thumb Sunday in Pittsburgh and hasn't played since. Daniel Murphy still hasn't returned from his strained...

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Game 159 lineups: Diamondbacks at Nats

September 28, 2016, 5:20pm

Nationals

The Nationals hope to bounce back quickly with an early game today as they wrap up a four-game series against the Diamondbacks. Right-hander Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) faces off against former Nats prospect lefty Robbie Ray (8-14, 4.77). Ray, a 12th round selection by the Nationals in 2010, is making his first-ever start at Nats Park. This is the Nationals' final game against Arizona this season and have won 13 of the last 18 meetings. Bryce Harper (thumb) and Daniel Murphy (buttocks) have not...

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Gonzalez's difficult week ends with another loss

September 28, 2016, 7:51pm

Nationals

Gonzalez's difficult week ends with another loss

There is no way to truly know what emotions swirled through Gio Gonzalez's mind this evening when he took the mound at Nationals Park, only three days removed from learning his friend and fellow big league pitcher Jose Fernandez had been killed in a boating accident in Miami. Gonzalez, who will be leaving the club Thursday to attend Fernandez's funeral, has declined so far to speak about the accident. But those who have been around him these last few days, and anyone who saw him shed tears...

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David Huzzard: Nats need role players to step up

September 29, 2016, 5:09am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats need role players to step up

Wilson Ramos is lost for the postseason, Stephen Strasburg will miss the series against the Dodgers, and Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy are dealing with nagging injuries. To say the Nationals are entering the postseason not in their best shape is an understatement. In order to make a deep playoff run, the Nationals are going to need some guys to step up. This isn't uncommon for the postseason and the Nationals have been on the receiving end of it. Joe Panik and Pete Kozma are far from...

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Would Nats make up games on Monday? (Nats lose 3-0)

September 28, 2016, 2:51pm

Nationals

Would Nats make up games on Monday? (Nats lose 3-0)

The Nationals may well need to complete this week's series against the Diamondbacks in order to determine home field advantage for the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. And it may well require a return trip to D.C. from the Diamondbacks on Monday to get those games in. With rain already falling in the area and expected to continue well into Friday, the Nationals have delayed the start of tonight's game. Whether there's enough of a window to get any or all of it played...

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Nationals drop rain-shortened 3-0 game to Diamondbacks

September 28, 2016, 5:54pm

Nationals

Given the discouraging forecast - not only for tonight but for Thursday, as well - the Nationals had to feel fortunate to get five full innings in against the Diamondbacks this evening. If only the score at the end of those five innings didn't favor Arizona. The Nationals were left to suffer a 3-0 loss after the game was called in the top of the sixth with heavy rain falling at the ballpark. The rain-shortened loss leaves the Nationals with a 92-66 record, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers, who...

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Rendon's 19th homer sets up Scherzer's 19th win

September 27, 2016, 7:21pm

Nationals

Rendon's 19th homer sets up Scherzer's 19th win

Max Scherzer was cruising. After a shaky start to his night that included a leadoff homer in the first and a pair of doubles off the center field wall in the third, the Nationals ace had retired 11 of the last 13 Diamondbacks batters he'd faced, eight of them via strikeout. But with the Nats trailing by two runs in the bottom of the sixth and the pitcher's spot due up, Dusty Baker did what he had to do: He pulled Scherzer back and sent Wilmer Difo to the plate as a pinch-hitter, despite some...

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Solis impresses in return to big league mound

September 27, 2016, 7:46pm

Nationals

Solis impresses in return to big league mound

Sammy Solis hadn't faced a big league hitter in 43 days, so the left-hander was perhaps a bit jittery when he took the mound in the seventh inning at Nationals Park last night and promptly threw a first-pitch fastball to the Diamondbacks' Socrates Brito that sailed more than a foot over the top of the strike zone. "I would say a few butterflies in there," Solis admitted afterward. "But once I got past the first pitch, it was all good. Right back to the comfort zone of being on the...

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Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

September 28, 2016, 10:53am

Nationals

So, here are the answers to the two questions on everyone's mind right now: 1) It's going to rain this evening. Hard. And it's not supposed to stop until Friday morning. 2) According to a Major League Baseball official, any postponed games that could impact home field advantage for the National League Division Series must be played before the postseason begins. What that means: The Nationals, who currently lead the Dodgers by two games with five to play (but would lose a tiebreaker based on...

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Brian Goodwin making a name for himself with Nats

September 27, 2016, 5:11pm

Nationals

Brian Goodwin making a name for himself with Nats

Right fielder Brian Goodwin played in his 19th game with the Nationals this season Tuesday and has demonstrated a solid approach at the plate and exceptional defense in the outfield. The 25-year-old lefty, Goodwin is hitting .324 having played all three outfield spots after being called up in early September. Meanwhile, Trea Turner has supplanted Ben Revere in the leadoff spot and in center field. Goodwin has joined Turner on defense a few times in the Nats outfield. Revere has played in 100...

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Nationals won't work on NLDS rotation, roster til later in week

September 28, 2016, 1:33pm

Nationals

The Dodgers wasted no time revealing their planned rotation for the National League Division Series, announcing Tuesday afternoon that ace Clayton Kershaw will start Game 1 against the Nationals, with fellow left-hander Rich Hill in Game 2, right-hander Kenta Maeda in Game 3 and possibly rookie left-hander Julio Urias in Game 4. The Nationals, who clinched their berth in the NLDS a day before the club they'll be facing next week, won't be making such an announcement yet. "No, just cause they...