nationals

Solis hits "roadblock," but new lefties stepping up in Nats bullpen

September 09, 2016, 2:12pm

It has been one of the bigger questions facing the Nationals all season: Which left-handed reliever (or relievers) can they trust when crunch-time arrives? The answer to that question has changed several times in five months. Felipe Rivero and Oliver Perez were the primary left-handers in the Nationals bullpen back in April, but then Sammy Solis emerged as manager Dusty Baker's top southpaw as May turned to June and July. Then Rivero was traded to the Pirates in the Mark Melancon deal and...

Comments

Tags:

bullpen marc rzepczynski mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime sammy solis sean burnett dusty baker featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 141 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 09, 2016, 10:55am

Nationals

On the heels of a bit of a clunker last night, the Nationals are back to work tonight against the Phillies. Tanner Roark, whose role within the rotation has become a bit more important in the last 48 hours, gets the start and will look to rediscover the consistency he displayed for most of the season before a couple of hiccups in recent weeks. Rookie right-hander Jake Thompson starts for the Phillies, one of three pitchers starting in this series who was acquired as part of the Cole Hamels...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies tanner roark frontstory_nationals3

Friday morning Q&A from D.C.

September 08, 2016, 7:25pm

Nationals

Just when it looked like the Nationals' slow-and-steady march to the National League East title was going to proceed unabated, an all-too-familiar sight potentially altered the remainder of this season in dramatic fashion. We've seen Stephen Strasburg wince after throwing pitches before. And we've seen him leave games due to injury after only a few innings. But not since that awful August 2010 night in Philadelphia had we seen him depart like this, with legitimate reason to worry he might...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime q&a featured_sidebar stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Nationals can only shrug off rare loss to Philly

September 08, 2016, 7:16pm

Nationals

If the Nationals are fortunate enough to have reason to create a 2016 Year-in-Review video, tonight's 4-1 loss to the Phillies most certainly won't merit even a passing reference. Perhaps the most notable thing about this game was the mere fact that the Nationals lost to the Phillies. That hadn't happened since April 28, after which the Nats won nine consecutive matchups with their rebuilding division foes. "I didn't know it, but after the game somebody told me we had beaten them nine in a...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole daniel murphy dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar phillies stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Nats bats can't find holes during 4-1 loss to Phillies

September 08, 2016, 5:53pm

Nationals

Nats bats can't find holes during 4-1 loss to Phillies

They hit the ball hard all night. But hard contact doesn't guarantee base hits, only a better chance of base hits. And the Nationals were guaranteed nothing tonight against the Phillies and handed a 4-1 loss despite a sustained barrage of line drives that found just about every fielder wearing a glove. Rookie right-hander Alec Asher tossed two-hit ball over six innings, earning his first career win despite zero strikeouts. A trio of Phillies relievers finished things off, handing the Nationals...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole bryce harper daniel murphy mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Now in spotlight, Cole gives up pair of homers (Nationals lose 4-1)

September 08, 2016, 4:22pm

Nationals

With Stephen Strasburg shelved again for at least a while and perhaps the rest of the season, A.J. Cole suddenly finds himself in an unlikely spotlight. The Nationals need someone to fill these starting slots while Strasburg is out with a strained flexor mass in his right elbow and Joe Ross is still rehabbing from shoulder inflammation. And right now, Cole is the man getting the opportunity. In order to keep himself out there, though, the 24-year-old right-hander is going to have to avoid the...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies daniel murphy joe ross lucas giolito reynaldo lopez stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg has flexor mass strain, ligament is "good"

September 08, 2016, 1:09pm

Nationals

Strasburg has flexor mass strain, ligament is "good"

An MRI taken of Stephen Strasburg's elbow today revealed what Nationals officials described as a best-case scenario given the circumstances, though an injury that still might prevent the right-hander from returning to pitch this season. Strasburg has "a little strain in his flexor mass," according to Nationals head athletic trainer Paul Lessard, who added the pitcher's elbow ligament is "good." The club isn't offering a timetable for Strasburg to return, but the immediate plan is for the...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker injuries mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg aj cole featured_sidebar gio gonzalez joe ross lucas giolito max scherzer reynaldo lopez tanner roark frontstory_nationals3

Game 140 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 08, 2016, 11:04am

Nationals

There is a healthy amount of anticipation and concern at Nationals Park this afternoon, as everyone awaits an update on Stephen Strasburg's elbow. Dusty Baker is scheduled to meet with reporters at 4 p.m., though I'd offer one word of caution: It's possible the Nats won't provide a definitive diagnosis this afternoon, especially if the MRI results need to be viewed by outside doctors (which would not be unusual at all). Regardless of any Strasburg news or non-news, the Nationals open a...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

District 34 podcast: Stephen Strasburg suffers elbow injury in return from DL

September 08, 2016, 9:12am

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Stephen Strasburg suffers elbow injury in return from DL

First of all, we have some breaking news: District 34 is now on iTunes! You can subscribe through the iTunes store to have immediate access to new episodes as soon as they're available! Thanks to all our listeners, and we hope you continue to follow us for all your latest Nationals news and talk. So please subscribe, rate and review District 34 on iTunes and spread the word! Now back to baseball ... Wednesday's series finale saw the return of Stephen Strasburg to the mound at Nats Park after...

Comments

Tags:

aj cole bobby blanco byron kerr district 34 dusty baker featured_sidebar lucas giolito nationals nationals buzz podcast reynaldo lopez stephen strasburg wilson ramos frontstory_nationals2

Five straight winning seasons is no small feat for Nationals

September 08, 2016, 6:09am

Nationals

Lost amid the chaos that was last night's game, from Stephen Strasburg's injury to an 11-inning contest that didn't end until 12:41 a.m., was this little nugget: The Nationals, by virtue of their 5-4 victory over the Braves, earned their 82nd win of the year. Yes, that clinches a winning record in 2016. And it means this franchise has now had five consecutive winning seasons. This may not seem all that important at the moment, and it's easy to say this means nothing at all for a franchise...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

MRI scheduled after Strasburg felt "pinch in the back of his elbow"

September 07, 2016, 9:56pm

Nationals

MRI scheduled after Strasburg felt "pinch in the back of his elbow"

Stephen Strasburg "felt a pinch in the back of his elbow" and will undergo an MRI on Thursday morning to determine the extent to which the Nationals right-hander is injured, manager Dusty Baker said. Speaking at nearly 1 a.m., about 15 minutes after his team wrapped up a 5-4 11-inning, rain-delayed victory over the Braves, and about four hours after Strasburg departed in the top of the third with that elbow injury, Baker expressed both clear concern about his pitcher's health while also...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker injuries mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Opposite dugout: Phillies still have part to play in playoff push

September 07, 2016, 3:17pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies still have part to play in playoff push

Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 62-77 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.278 with 13 HR, 42 RBIs, 20 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (22 HR, 73 RBIs), SS Freddy Galvis (16 HR, 58 RBIs), RHP Jerad Eickhoff (10-13, 3.86 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (3.39 ERA with 35 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-11 Pitching probables: Sept. 8: RHP Alec Asher vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 9: RHP Jake Thompson vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 10: RHP Jerad Eickhoff vs....

Comments

Tags:

bobby blanco nationals nationals buzz opposite dugout phillies frontstory_nationals2

David Huzzard: With Strasburg in doubt, young arms must step up

September 08, 2016, 4:55am

Nationals

David Huzzard: With Strasburg in doubt, young arms must step up

Some time last season, the Washington Nationals became just another D.C. sports team to me. This doesn't mean I'm no longer a huge Nationals fan or that I'm not going to buy a 2016 division champs t-shirt, because I am and I will. It means that I watch Nationals games in much the same way as I do Wizards or Capitals games; with mild disinterest and a bonus when the team wins. Most of the time I just fall asleep before the game is over. For most of their existence the Nationals were the one...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz stephen strasburg

Giolito, Ramos and others find way to beat Braves after Strasburg leaves early

September 07, 2016, 9:36pm

Nationals

Giolito, Ramos and others find way to beat Braves after Strasburg leaves early

On a night when the Nationals lost right-hander Stephen Strasburg to a possible elbow injury, the club rallied to beat the Braves 5-4 in 11 innings, completing a three-game sweep. With the bases loaded in the 11th, Wilson Ramos dropped a run-scoring single off of reliever Brandon Cunniff over left fielder Jace Peterson's outstretched glove to win it. Jayson Werth scored from third and the Nationals had won their 14th game out of 16 against Atlanta this season. Over the past 35 games against...

Comments

Tags:

braves byron kerr dusty baker lucas giolito nationals stephen strasburg wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Strasburg injured, but Nats rally to beat Braves 5-4 in 11

September 07, 2016, 8:19pm

Nationals

Strasburg injured, but Nats rally to beat Braves 5-4 in 11

The status of Stephen Strasburg's right arm - which is very much an open question at this moment - has far more significance to the remainder of the Nationals season than the outcome of tonight's series finale against the Braves. But the game wasn't called off after Strasburg walked off the mound in apparent pain two batters into the top of the third. They all still count, and right now the only thing the Nationals can do beyond hoping Strasburg isn't seriously injured is keep trying to win...

Comments

Tags:

atlanta braves daniel murphy lucas giolito mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg's return underway after rain delay (Nats win in 11th)

September 07, 2016, 3:31pm

Nationals

Strasburg's return underway after rain delay (Nats win in 11th)

Stephen Strasburg is going to have to wait a bit longer to make his return to the mound. The start of the Nationals' series finale against the Braves, featuring Strasburg's first start in three weeks, has been delayed by a line of thunderstorms that has been hovering near South Capitol Street for several hours but has yet to produce significant precipitation at Nationals Park. The grounds crew stood at the ready with the tarp for more than 30 minutes, but the threat of rain apparently was...

Comments

Tags:

atlanta braves mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1

After unexpected DL stint, for Drew "it's definitely time to go"

September 07, 2016, 1:56pm

Nationals

After unexpected DL stint, for Drew "it's definitely time to go"

When Stephen Drew came down with the flu shortly after the All-Star break, the veteran infielder couldn't have anticipated he wouldn't be able to make a full return to the Nationals for another seven weeks. Then again, how could anyone have anticipated that seemingly innocent illness would lead to an inner-ear condition that left Drew with extreme bouts of dizziness that resembled vertigo and made many daily routines, let alone anything that takes place on a baseball field, difficult to...

Comments

Tags:

injuries mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen drew featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg leaves in third inning with apparent injury

September 07, 2016, 5:14pm

Nationals

Strasburg leaves in third inning with apparent injury

What should have been among the most encouraging moments of the season's final month - Stephen Strasburg returning to the mound after a brief stint on the disabled list - instead turned into a potential nightmare scenario for the Nationals and their $175 million right-hander, who had to depart in the top of the third inning with an apparent injury that left the ballpark in stunned silence. Strasburg grimaced after throwing each of his last two pitches: a fastball to Braves pitcher Mike...

Comments

Tags:

atlanta braves injuries mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Game 139 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Strasburg, Drew return)

September 07, 2016, 10:54am

Nationals

Game 139 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Strasburg, Drew return)

With their lead in the National League East a comfortable 8 1/2 games and their magic number at 16, there is some, but not a ton, of drama left to the Nationals' season. While the actual end result of every game does matter most in the end, at this point you could argue there are more important individual matters still at stake over the final 24 games. And among the most important individual matters is the return of Stephen Strasburg, which begins tonight at Nationals Park. After a 16-day...

Comments

Tags:

atlanta braves lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen drew stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Harper joins 20-20 club for first time in big league career

September 07, 2016, 5:40am

Nationals

Harper joins 20-20 club for first time in big league career

To his already hefty list of accomplishments in a brief major league career, Bryce Harper can now add another achievement: He has joined the 20-20 club for the first time. With a successful swipe of second base during last night's 9-7 victory over the Braves, Harper notched his 20th steal of the season. He already had 23 homers, which makes him the newest member of the 20-20 club. Harper is one of seven big leaguers with at least 20 homers and 20 steals so far this season, joining Mike Trout,...