nationals

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

September 08, 2016, 4:22pm

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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Trea Turner builds off of inside-the-park experience

September 07, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

Trea Turner builds off of inside-the-park experience

Center fielder Trea Turner faced another play he hasn't seen before in his new position in Tuesday's 9-7 comeback win over the Braves. In the top of the second inning, Dansby Swanson's drive over Turner's head ricocheted violently high off the right-center field wall and rolled 50 feet away from him. Swanson was able to run all the way home with his first career homer, an inside-the-park job. The Braves led 3-0. Initially, the drive took Turner a bit by surprise. "Two strikes, fastball up...

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Nationals reinstate RHP Stephen Strasburg and INF Stephen Drew

September 07, 2016, 11:23am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg and returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Stephen Drew from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Strasburg, who will start on Wednesday night vs. the Atlanta Braves, missed 16 games with right elbow soreness in his most recent disabled list stint. The right-hander, who missed 17 games in June with an upper back...

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Charlie Fliegel: Is this the most talented Nationals team ever?

September 07, 2016, 6:51am

Nationals

As the Nationals sit atop the National League East with the second best record in all of baseball, I got to thinking about how this team might compare to other Nats teams. So, I took a look at the best seasons (by WAR, averaging the Fangraphs and Baseball Reference numbers) to see where the guys on this team stack up. Now, there isn't a ton of history here, so being the best at a position ever for the Nats really means being the best in a decade, but that's still something. Let's start with...

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Contributions abound in come-from-behind win by Nationals

September 06, 2016, 8:26pm

Nationals

It's generally not a manager's preference to summon his bullpen two batters into the fourth inning. Nor is that generally a surefire path to victory. Let's just say Dusty Baker and the Nationals were feeling fortunate to emerge from tonight's nailbiter against the Braves with a 9-7 come-from-behind victory that did not come easily for the home team. "You got to believe and think it, and everyone on the bench was believing it," Baker said. "The power of positive thinking goes a long way,...

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Rendon, bullpen save the day as Nationals rally to 9-7 victory

September 06, 2016, 6:44pm

Nationals

They weathered a laborious (and brief) start from Gio Gonzalez, used Anthony Rendon's grand slam to get back in the game, rode their expanded bullpen through a string of scoreless innings and then watched as their lineup sealed the deal late. Suffice it to say that the Nationals' 9-7 victory over the Braves tonight had a little bit of everything. Tied in the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals took the lead for good when Atlanta catcher Tyler Flowers airmailed a throw to third base on Ben...