nationals

September keys for the Nats as the home stretch arrives

September 01, 2016, 12:24pm

And so September has arrived at last and the baseball season has reached the home stretch. If it feels like this has been a long time coming ... well, it has. Think about how much has happened since the Nationals left Viera for the final time and came north to open what most hoped - but weren't certain - would be a promising season. Things have turned out almost as well as the Nationals could have hoped. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Tanner Roark are among the best pitching trios in...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker joe ross mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman stephen drew stephen strasburg bryce harper daniel murphy featured_sidebar lucas giolito marc rzepczynski mark melancon max scherzer reynaldo lopez sammy solis tanner roark frontstory_nationals1

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)

September 02, 2016, 11:16am

Nationals

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)

NEW YORK - The Nationals will have their first set of September reinforcements at their disposal for tonight's series opener against the Mets, including a pair of well-known veterans getting a shot at redemption. The club promoted seven players to the big league roster this afternoon: left-handers Sean Burnett and Matt Grace; right-handers Mat Latos, Trevor Gott and Rafael Martin; catcher Pedro Severino; and outfielder Brian Goodwin. Needing to clear two spots on the 40-man roster so Burnett...

Comments

Tags:

joe ross mark zuckerman mat latos matt den dekker matt grace nationals nationals pastime pedro severino rafael martin sean burnett trevor gott featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Nationals add seven players to active roster

September 02, 2016, 10:44am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals added seven players to the active roster on Friday as September's roster expansion period began. The Nationals recalled catcher Pedro Severino, outfielder Brian Goodwin, right-handed pitchers Trevor Gott and Rafael Martin, and left-handed pitcher Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse. Additionally, Washington selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett and right-handed pitcher Mat Latos from Triple-A Syracuse. Outfielder Matt den Dekker was designated for...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Opposite dugout: Mets in search of wild card berth

September 01, 2016, 5:06pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Mets in search of wild card berth

Manager: Terry Collins (6th season) Record: 69-65 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.297 with 27 HR, 68 RBIs), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.272 with 113 hits), RHP Bartolo Colon (12-7, 3.35 ERA), RHP Noah Syndergaard (12-7, 2.55 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (2.60 ERA with 44 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-9 Pitching probables: Sept. 2: RHP A.J. Cole vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard, 7:10 p.m., MASN2Sept. 3: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Robert Gsellman, 7:10 p.m., MASN2Sept. 4: RHP Max...

Comments

Tags:

brian eller mets nationals nationals buzz opposite dugout frontstory_nationals3

Late-summer acquisitions have boosted bullpen

September 01, 2016, 4:34am

Nationals

Late-summer acquisitions have boosted bullpen

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals entered late July with a bullpen that, while successful in the big picture, featured some significant question marks. Did they need a new closer? Did they need more reliable left-handed help? Did they need a burst of energy from another young arm? One month later, as the calendar now shifts from August to September, the Nationals bullpen has been tweaked. General manager Mike Rizzo addressed all three of those issues, and the results (so far) have been...

Comments

Tags:

bullpen koda glover marc rzepczynski mark melancon mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

David Huzzard: Nats almost assured of NL East crown, but need postseason success

September 01, 2016, 4:45am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats almost assured of NL East crown, but need postseason success

When the Nats are good, they are good in the same way. And as September begins, the Nats all but have the National League East locked up, just like they did in 2014. And while 2012 was much closer, the Nats had the division lead for more than half the season. It has been since May that the Nationals haven't had sole possession of first place. They can't be called wire-to-wire winners, though it is close, but is it too early to say the Nats have the division won? Yes and no. It is close to...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Nats finish toughest portion of schedule with series sweep

August 31, 2016, 7:34pm

Nationals

Nats finish toughest portion of schedule with series sweep

PHILADELPHIA - It won't go down as their best 20-game stretch of the season, but it didn't need to be that. The Nationals simply needed to make it through the toughest three weeks of the 2016 campaign in one piece and not squander what they'd already built up over the previous four months. So in that regard, the Nationals' 11-9 record over the last 20 days - capped off by tonight's 2-1 victory over the Phillies - turned out to be an important development for a team that looked gassed at...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Turner gets rare day off, now prepares for home stretch

August 31, 2016, 2:18pm

Nationals

Turner gets rare day off, now prepares for home stretch

PHILADELPHIA - When Trea Turner led off for the Nationals on July 30 in San Francisco, little did he know it would be more than a month before he would get his next day off. Not that the rookie is complaining about all the playing time he has been getting ever since. "No, I usually never have (days off), because even when I don't start I usually pinch-hit or pinch-run, at least in Triple-A I did a lot," he said. "I don't know what the case is today, but I don't ever really count on a day...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Werth becomes team's fifth 20-homer hitter (Nats win 2-1)

August 31, 2016, 3:39pm

Nationals

Werth becomes team's fifth 20-homer hitter (Nats win 2-1)

PHILADELPHIA - Thanks to yet another Jayson Werth home run at Citizens Bank Park, the Nationals have themselves yet another 20-homer guy on the roster. Werth launched a titanic blast to straightaway center field in the top of the first tonight, sending Phillies left-hander Adam Morgan's pitch over the batter's eye and into a camera well. The drive, which measured 453 feet according to Statcast, was Werth's fourth homer in his last six games and his 20th of the season. That means the...

Comments

Tags:

home runs jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies frontstory_nationals1

Ramos' clutch hit lifts Nationals to 2-1 win, sweep in Philly

August 31, 2016, 5:58pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Gio Gonzalez turned in one of his best starts of the season, Jayson Werth homered once again at Citizens Bank Park and Wilson Ramos delivered yet another clutch hit to lead the Nationals to a 2-1 victory tonight and a series sweep over the Phillies. Ramos' two-out RBI single to right in the top of the seventh broke a 1-1 deadlock and gave the Nationals the lead for good, the latest big hit in a big spot from the All-Star catcher. After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ramos...

Comments

Tags:

gio gonzalez jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies wilson ramos frontfeatured_nationals

Marathon stretch finally ending for weary Nationals

August 30, 2016, 7:58pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - It began way back on Aug. 12, with a weekend series against the Braves at Nationals Park. Bryce Harper was still on the bench, nursing a nagging neck injury. Ryan Zimmerman was still on the disabled list, a full week away from returning to the active roster. Stephen Strasburg was healthy. Trea Turner was hitting only .286. Jayson Werth still had six games left in his streak of consecutive games reaching base. Marc Rzepczynski was an Oakland Athletic. Koda Glover was a Syracuse...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 133 lineups: Nats at Phillies

August 31, 2016, 11:36am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The end of the Nationals' stretch of 20 games in 20 days has arrived, with one more game to play tonight against the Phillies before they'll enjoy their first off-day since Aug. 11. This has been a long, difficult stretch for many players, perhaps none more so than Trea Turner, who has started 29 consecutive games. That streak ends tonight, though, with Turner given a well-deserved night off. It'll be Michael A. Taylor getting the start in center field and leading off, with...

Comments

Tags:

gio gonzalez lineups mark zuckerman michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies trea turner frontstory_nationals1

Voth, Stevenson highlight Nats prospects invited to Arizona Fall League

August 31, 2016, 1:01pm

Nationals

Voth, Stevenson highlight Nats prospects invited to Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League announced rosters for the offseason league where top prospects play games in October and November. The Nationals have six prospects who have been invited to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs. Right-handed pitchers Austin Voth and Ryan Brinley will join left-hander Nick Lee on the team. The Nationals appear to have one more pitching slot available to be named at a later date. The spot could be offered to right-hander Erick Fedde. Infielders Osvaldo Abreu and Drew Ward...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stevenson austin voth byron kerr afl drew ward erick fedde frontstory_nationals2 glendale desert dogs nick lee osvaldo abreu ryan brinley sam narron t.d. swinford nationals nationals farm report

Scherzer makes everyone dream of something special again

August 30, 2016, 7:22pm

Nationals

Scherzer makes everyone dream of something special again

PHILADELPHIA - This is what it has come to, what Max Scherzer has done to our longstanding sense of baseball and how typically not to get too excited too soon about the possibility of history. Two innings into tonight's 3-2 Nationals victory at Citizens Bank Park, only two measly innings into this one, you couldn't help but think to yourself: Scherzer might just throw a no-hitter. That's not the kind of thought you're supposed to have after two innings. Or, if you do, you're supposed to...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dusty baker mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Charlie Fliegel: Time for Nats to start thinking ahead

August 31, 2016, 6:07am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Time for Nats to start thinking ahead

As September arrives, the National League East race is looking more like a stroll. The Nationals still want to win enough games to keep home field advantage in the National League Division Series. But they are afforded the ability to rest some players, keeping them fresh for October. And that gives them ample opportunity to try and address some roster questions before the postseason begins. So here are a few. What is the bridge to the closer? Getting to Mark Melancon hasn't been challenging,...

Comments

Tags:

charlie fliegel guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Nationals ride another Scherzer gem to 3-2 victory in Philly

August 30, 2016, 5:50pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Stop us if you've heard this one before: Max Scherzer carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning tonight at Citizens Bank Park, only to have it broken up on a double down the right field line by Freddy Galvis. It happened last summer. And it happened again tonight, with the pesky Phillies shortstop spoiling another one of Scherzer's attempts to make history with the same kind of hit in the same inning. Of more importance to Scherzer, the Nationals won both times, including...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper mark melancon mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies wilson ramos frontstory_nationals3

Scherzer's strikeout total continues to soar (Nationals win 3-2)

August 30, 2016, 4:03pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - There's still a long way to go, and who knows what could happen between now and season's end. But if Max Scherzer can keep doing what he's been doing up to this point, he's going to wind up in some elite company. Especially in the strikeout department. Scherzer entered tonight's game against the Phillies with a league-leading 227 strikeouts in 182 innings. And after striking out six more batters in the first three innings, he now has left himself on pace to end the regular...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies frontstory_nationals3

Rehab updates on Drew and Strasburg

August 30, 2016, 2:11pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have understood all along that Stephen Drew's recovery from an inner ear ailment would have no set timetable. The veteran infielder would simply start to feel well enough at some point to resume playing. By all accounts, he's nearing that point. Drew has ramped up his baseball activities over the last two days, taking batting practice and fielding grounders with the rest of his Nationals teammates. His mood and energy level also have been noticeably different to...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies stephen drew stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 132 lineups: Nats at Phillies

August 30, 2016, 11:31am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Max Scherzer has faced the Phillies seven times over the last two years. In those seven starts, he's 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 10 walks. Needless to say, the Nationals have fair reason to expect more good things tonight when Scherzer takes the mound at Citizens Bank Park. Dusty Baker has his entire regular lineup out there for the second game of this series. That includes Ryan Zimmerman, who sat out last night's game after working extensively in the cage earlier in...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Robinson making the most of his rare opportunities

August 30, 2016, 4:47am

Nationals

Robinson making the most of his rare opportunities

PHILADELPHIA - Dusty Baker constantly talks about how hard it is for players to be productive off the bench in the big leagues, how the lack of consistent at-bats makes it difficult to find a rhythm, even when there are rare opportunities to start games and step to the plate four or five times in one night. Which perhaps makes Clint Robinson's performance of late all the more impressive. Robinson hasn't seen a whole lot of action lately, not with the Nationals trying to give Ryan Zimmerman as...