nationals

Baker gives insight on how playoff rotation might work out

September 26, 2016, 3:32pm

Manager Dusty Baker knows his club will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series, which begins Oct 7. Looking ahead to how the Nationals will set up their rotation for the Dodgers, this week's pitching probables give some insight into how the NLDS will work out for Nats starters. Right-hander Tanner Roark started Monday night's opener against the Diamondbacks. The games notes list right-hander Max Scherzer for Tuesday, left-hander Gio Gonzalez for Wednesday and...

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Ramos tears ACL again, Nats try to replace All-Star catcher

September 27, 2016, 1:20pm

Nationals

Ramos tears ACL again, Nats try to replace All-Star catcher

The reaction among everyone in the Nationals dugout Monday night when Wilson Ramos crumpled to the ground and motioned for a trainer suggested an immediate recognition of the severity of what had just happened. Confirmation, though, came this afternoon when an MRI of Ramos' right knee indeed revealed a torn ACL, a crushing blow for the All-Star catcher, who suddenly will enter free agency coming off the second reconstructive surgery of his career, and for the Nationals, who suddenly have to...

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Game 157 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks (torn ACL for Ramos)

September 27, 2016, 10:53am

Nationals

Game 157 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks (torn ACL for Ramos)

We just got word just yet on Wilson Ramos' MRI, and it's not good: He has torn the ACL in his right knee and will have surgery sometime in the next week, ending his season (and potentially his Nationals career, since he's going to be a free agent). Plenty more coming on that, but in the meantime the club has called up Spencer Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg, giving them three healthy catchers (along with Jose Lobaton and Pedro Severino) and incredibly a full 40-man active roster. (Kieboom...

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X-rays on Harper's left thumb come back negative

September 26, 2016, 8:21pm

Nationals

X-rays on Harper's left thumb come back negative

Nationals manager Dusty Baker offered a bit of positive news late Monday night after announcing that catcher Wilson Ramos would have to undergo an MRI to check the status of an apparent right knee injury suffered in the sixth inning of Monday's 14-4 loss to the D-backs. X-rays on right fielder Bryce Harper's left thumb came back negative. Harper did not play in Monday's series opener because of the injury, which occurred on an awkward slide in Sunday's 10-7 win at Pittsburgh. "Bryce's...

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Nationals select C Spencer Kieboom

September 27, 2016, 12:40pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of catcher Spencer Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kieboom joins the Nationals for the first Major League assignment of his career. The 25-year-old is a career .264 hitter with a .344 on-base percentage and a .381 slugging percentage over the course of his five seasons in the Minor Leagues. This year, with Double-A Harrisburg, Kieboom hit...

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Steve Mears: "Next man up" and the postseason roster

September 27, 2016, 6:51am

Nationals

Steve Mears: "Next man up" and the postseason roster

The Nationals have been holding tryouts for the postseason roster, and last night, Dusty Baker made some calculated moves, some interesting moves and some moves out of necessity. The moves out of necessity were to replace Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy, as both are nursing injuries. Then Baker had to replace Wilson Ramos, who left the game with an apparent right knee injury. Baker went to Pedro Severino over Jose Lobaton in what Baker described after the game as "next man up." While you...

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Baker's challenge: balancing rest vs. home field advantage

September 26, 2016, 9:32pm

Nationals

Baker's challenge: balancing rest vs. home field advantage

Dusty Baker faces a tricky challenge over the next week. His Nationals have already clinched the National League East title, and some key regulars are dealing with nagging injuries and could use some rest. (And that was true even before Wilson Ramos suffered a potentially serious knee injury last night.) Yet his team needs a strong week to hold off the Dodgers and secure home field advantage for itsupcoming National League Division Series. How does a manager find the right balance? "One...

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Baker: Ramos, set for Tuesday MRI, "doesn't look too good"

September 26, 2016, 8:07pm

Nationals

Baker: Ramos, set for Tuesday MRI, "doesn't look too good"

Just two days after clinching their third National League East title in five seasons, the Nationals may have lost their starting catcher with only handful of games remaining. Wilson Ramos came down awkwardly on his right leg as he went after a high throw from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on a relay from right field in the top of the sixth. Ramos dropped the ball when he hit the ground and was crumpled in pain before head athletic trainer Paul Lessard came out to attend to him. Ramos left the...

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Diamondbacks win 14-4, Ramos injured

September 26, 2016, 3:57pm

Nationals

One of the many bright spots among the Nationals' September callups has been the play of right fielder Brian Goodwin. Coming into this week, Goodwin is batting .313 with three RBIs. Manager Dusty Baker said early last week how impressed he has been with Goodwin, and the former North Carolina Tar Heel has delivered at the plate and in the field in Monday's opener against the Diamondbacks. Facing right-hander Tanner Roark to lead off the game, Arizona's Jean Segura lined the first offering...

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Wilson Ramos goes down with apparent knee injury, leaves game

September 26, 2016, 5:57pm

Nationals

Wilson Ramos goes down with apparent knee injury, leaves game

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was injured when he collapsed on his right leg after leaping to take a throw from right field in the top of the sixth against the Diamondbacks on Monday night. Ramos appeared to injure his right knee on a relay throw from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. D-backs right fielder Yasmany Tomas doubled to score two runs on the play. The second run scored on a Zimmerman's high relay throw on a peg from right fielder Brian Goodwin. Ramos leaped to catch the throw, came...

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Nats not worried about Harper's thumb, expect Murphy for NLDS

September 26, 2016, 2:11pm

Nationals

Nats not worried about Harper's thumb, expect Murphy for NLDS

The Nationals don't yet have test results on Bryce Harper's left thumb, but the sense around the club remains that the right fielder's injury isn't serious. Harper is out of the lineup for tonight's series opener against the Diamondbacks, and the Nationals may take the precautionary route and give him more time to heal before putting him back on the field, given the fact they've already clinched the National League East title. The 23-year-old admitted Sunday he initially was worried he...

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Solis returns, will look to get into games before postseason

September 26, 2016, 2:09pm

Nationals

Solis returns, will look to get into games before postseason

The Nationals announced that left-hander Sammy Solis has been activated from the disabled list. He had been out with left shoulder inflammation since Aug. 16. Solis makes the Nats roster total 39 active players. Catcher Spencer Kieboom is the only player on 40-man that is not currently on the active roster. Solis has been a solid contributor out of the 'pen this season, throws in the mid-90s and has ability to be a long reliever if the Nats need him to. But manager Dusty Baker has said as late...

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Game 156 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

September 26, 2016, 10:53am

Nationals

And so we have reached the final week of the regular season, and thus the final homestand of the regular season. Way back when, we probably figured these would be meaningful games, with the Nationals engaged in a tense pennant race down to the wire. In reality, their run to the National League East title was much easier than that, and they clinched Saturday night in Pittsburgh. There is, of course, still something on the line this week: Home field advantage for what is now officially an...

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On the Nats' resilient win in Pittsburgh, NLDS vs. Dodgers

September 25, 2016, 4:05pm

Nationals

On the Nats' resilient win in Pittsburgh, NLDS vs. Dodgers

PITTSBURGH - The events of the third inning - Jung Ho Kang's fake tag, Bryce Harper's awkward slide and injured left thumb as a result, A.J. Cole's fastball behind Kang's back and the benches-clearing skirmish that ensued - stole the spotlight yesterday at PNC Park. Perhaps lost in that, however, was a fairly remarkable 10-7 victory by the Nationals over the Pirates. Which shouldn't be lost. In the wake of their National League East clincher Saturday night, Dusty Baker rested most of his...

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Matt Skole earns minor league Gold Glove

September 26, 2016, 8:29am

Nationals

Matt Skole earns minor league Gold Glove

The Nationals announced that Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Matt Skole has been named a minor league Gold Glove winner for 2016. Skole recorded just one error in 874 chances for a .999 fielding percentage. The 27-year-old Skole, a 2011 fifth-round selection out of Georgia Tech, has worked his way up the organizational ladder after hitting a road block in 2013. On a freak play at first base, Skole injured his elbow and had to undergo Tommy John and missed the entire season. Skole, a...

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Relive Nats Clinchmas through GIFs, videos and photos

September 26, 2016, 1:10pm

Nationals

Relive Nats Clinchmas through GIFs, videos and photos

The Nationals have returned home as National League East champions! Before the team takes on the Diamondbacks, let's take a look back at Saturday night's party in Pittsburgh. The Nats headed into Saturday's game with the magic number at two. Needing a win and a Mets loss, the Nats jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth inning at PNC Park and didn't look back. After wrapping up the win, the Nats retreated to the clubhouse, happy about the win but still needing a Mets loss to be able to pop...

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Harper day-to-day, Nationals upset with Kang's fake tag

September 25, 2016, 3:25pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - As he slid awkwardly into third base, jamming his left thumb in the process, Bryce Harper immediately thought the worst. He tore the ligament in that same thumb on a similar play two years ago, and if he had just done it again, Harper knew that was the end of his season. No playoffs in 2016. All because of a fake tag by Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang, who never even had the ball on the key third-inning play during what wound up a 10-7 Nationals victory at PNC Park. "The first...

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Nats instructional league schedule opens today

September 26, 2016, 5:30am

Nationals

Nats instructional league schedule opens today

The Nationals instructional league roster heads to the field today to begin their schedule. The roster includes prospects like Erick Fedde, Victor Robles, Juan Soto and Dane Dunning. The Nats face off against the Tigers at 1 p.m. from the Disney Complex in Orlando. Here is a look at the instructional league schedule for the Nats: Sept. 26: Tigers (@ Disney) Sept. 27: @Braves Sept. 28: Camp Day (10 a.m. start) Sept. 29: @Astros Sept. 30: Braves Oct. 1: Camp Day Oct. 2: OFF Oct. 3: Camp Day Oct....

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Marty Niland: Sunday's win showed this Nats team has moxie

September 26, 2016, 4:32am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Sunday's win showed this Nats team has moxie

If the injured, tired Washington Nationals were wondering where they might get that extra push for the postseason, they may have found it Sunday in Pittsburgh. A day after clinching the National League East and celebrating late into the night, the Nats were clearly a weary team. They wrapped up a nine-game, 10-day road trip, and approached the end of the 162-game grind with Stephen Strasburg out indefinitely, Daniel Murphy's status uncertain, and Ryan Zimmerman hurting after being hit by a...

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Opposite dugout: With nothing to lose, D-backs looking for payback against Nats

September 24, 2016, 5:47pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: With nothing to lose, D-backs looking for payback against Nats

Manager: Chip Hale (2nd season) Record: 64-91 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 2B Jean Segura (.314/.362/.482 with 17 HR, 60 RBIs), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.301/.414/.495 with 23 HR, 91 RBIs), RF Yasmany Tomas (29 HR, 75 RBIs), LHP Robbie Ray (8-13, 4.66 ERA), RHP Jake Barrett (3.49 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: Sept. 26: RHP Archie Bradley vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 27: RHP Zack Godley vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 28: RHP Shelby Miller...