nationals

Baker confirms Strasburg will start Wednesday night

September 06, 2016, 8:01pm

Nationals manager Dusty Baker made it official after Tuesday's 9-7 win over Atlanta: Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will return from the disabled list to start Wednesday's final game of the series against the Braves. Strasburg has not pitched since Aug. 17 in Denver, when he allowed nine runs on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings. Strasburg has been on the disabled list since Aug. 21 with right elbow soreness. But Baker said before Tuesday night's game that Strasburg has looked good in his...

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Game 138 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Giolito, Difo recalled)

September 06, 2016, 11:07am

Nationals

Game 138 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Giolito, Difo recalled)

It hasn't drawn a lot of attention, but Gio Gonzalez has been pretty darn consistent over the last month and a half, righting a season that had threatened to go off the rails. In nine starts since the All-Star break, the left-hander is 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Six of those have been quality starts. And in five of his last starts, he has issued zero or one walk. The Nationals certainly hope Gonzalez will keep this up through the final stretch, beginning tonight when he takes the mound against the...

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Nats rally on Rendon's grand slam (Nats win 9-7)

September 06, 2016, 3:45pm

Nationals

Nats rally on Rendon's grand slam (Nats win 9-7)

The Braves were able to connect off left-hander Gio Gonzalez quickly in the first inning. Ender Inciarte singled and then scored on an Adonis Garcia double that rolled all the way to the right-field wall. Two batters later, a Matt Kemp grounder scored Garcia for a 2-0 Braves lead. The Braves added a run in the second on one of the rarest plays in baseball. Former Vanderbilt star Dansby Swanson slammed a pitch off of the right-center field wall and the ball ricocheted past center fielder Trea...

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Nationals still mum on Wednesday night's starter

September 06, 2016, 1:37pm

Nationals

The Nationals are remaining mum about the identity of Wednesday night's starting pitcher, though Dusty Baker hasn't ruled out the possibility of Stephen Strasburg coming off the disabled list to face the Braves. Strasburg appeared lined up to make that start, his first since landing on the DL with a sore elbow on Aug. 21. But the right-hander threw off the bullpen mound at Nationals Park this afternoon, and that's not typically what a pitcher would do the day before he starts. Baker didn't...

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Is Max Scherzer on schedule to pitch first game of postseason?

September 06, 2016, 3:20am

Nationals

Is Max Scherzer on schedule to pitch first game of postseason?

Right-hander Max Scherzer was moved from his scheduled start of Sunday night against the second-place Mets to Monday afternoon against the last-place Braves. Many felt it might have been a better choice to keep Scherzer where he was against the team that had a better chance of catching the Nationals or securing a wild card spot. Scherzer went out and delivered anyway, going seven innings and allowing two runs in the Nationals' 6-4 victory over Atlanta. The loss snapped the Braves' win streak...

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Zimmerman named Nats' nominee for Roberto Clemente Award; Rodriguez Seat 21 honoree

September 06, 2016, 12:42pm

Nationals

Zimmerman named Nats' nominee for Roberto Clemente Award; Rodriguez Seat 21 honoree

Major League Baseball today announced that Ryan Zimmerman was named the Washington Nationals' 2016 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, the most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB. The Roberto Clemente Award is the annual recognition of a player from each MLB Club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. Each Club nominates one current...

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MASN booth returning to Fairgrounds

September 06, 2016, 8:19am

Nationals

September baseball is here! As we head down the stretch, we want to hook you up with the latest MASN Nats swag! If you're heading to the Nats game Sunday, make sure to swing by the Fairgrounds first and find the MASN tent. We're be slinging FREE Nats giveaway items out before the game! Text "NATSPARK" to 29292 when you get to the booth, and you'll be automatically entered to win! No matter what, you'll walk away with a free prize courtesy of MASN! (You have to be at the park in order to...

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Turner, Heisey guide Scherzer past Braves 6-4

September 05, 2016, 4:11pm

Nationals

Turner, Heisey guide Scherzer past Braves 6-4

Manager Dusty Baker rested five starters on Monday and the Nationals went out and scored more runs than they have in their past eight games. The Nationals dropped the Braves 6-4, thanks to the offense of Trea Turner and Chris Heisey and the pitching of Max Scherzer. Turner went 3-for-4 with a double, two-run homer and three RBIs, and Heisey blasted a three-run shot, as the Nats snapped a two-game skid, winning the first of 10 games in a row at Nats Park. The bench that stepped up: Heisey, Jose...

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Steve Mears: Lack of pitching depth has put Nats in a tough spot

September 06, 2016, 6:04am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Lack of pitching depth has put Nats in a tough spot

The Nationals' formula to success begins with great starting pitching. "You can never have enough starting pitching," general manager Mike Rizzo said in spring training. The Nationals had signed Bronson Arroyo in the offseason, and it was looking like Arroyo could make the 2016 team, allowing Rizzo to stash Joe Ross in Triple-A. The best-laid plans don't always work out, as Arroyo was injured in spring, and the Nationals' depth looked like a pick 'em from Taylor Jordan, Taylor Hill and...

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As season hits home stretch, answers to some pressing questions around the majors

September 06, 2016, 5:20am

Nationals Orioles

As season hits home stretch, answers to some pressing questions around the majors

With less than a month to go in the baseball season, here are the most-asked questions about September: Q: Which 2015 World Series team - the Royals or the Mets - has the best chance to return to the Fall Classic? A: Both are long shots to return to the World Series, but of the two, Kansas City has a better chance because of a deeper rotation and an airtight bullpen. The Mets, who had the fourth-best run production in the National League during August, have had rotation issues and their two...

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Baker on resting five regulars, plus updates on Drew, Solis and Ross

September 05, 2016, 11:26am

Nationals

Baker on resting five regulars, plus updates on Drew, Solis and Ross

After a 5-1 loss at the New York Mets last night and an early-morning arrival back in D.C. today, Nationals manager Dusty Baker decided to give five regulars the day off. Baker said he wanted to rest six players today but couldn't because of the depth problem at third base. "Well, five regulars out, I'd have Anthony Rendon out, too, if I had a guy that could play third," Baker said. "Because of ESPN, who I like a lot, that game last night messed us up today because it was already scheduled...

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Scherzer, Turner spark Nationals to 6-4 win over Braves

September 05, 2016, 12:35pm

Nationals

Despite residing in last place in the National League East, the Braves have won six in a row and continued to hit the ball well to start the series against the Nationals. In the second, Nick Markakis singled with one away. Following a walk to Anthony Recker, Jace Peterson laced a double down the left field line to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. But Max Scherzer retaliated by getting Gordon Beckham on a called third strike, a 96 mph four-seam fastball. Scherzer then induced a weak grounder to first...

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Game 137 lineups: Braves at Nationals

September 05, 2016, 5:50am

Nationals

The Nationals finally come home after being on the road for most of the latter stages of August. Even with a series loss in New York, the Nationals still maintain an 8 1/2-game lead over the Mets for first place in the National League East with 25 regular seasons games remaining. The Nationals still are 39-18 against NL East opponents. That is the most wins in the major leagues by any team against its own division. The Nationals are 11-2 against the Braves, tied for the most wins against a...

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Opposite dugout: Braves have been owned by Nationals this season

September 02, 2016, 12:52pm

Nationals

Manager: Brian Snitker (1st season) Record: 54-83 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.294/.396/.563 with 29 HR, 79 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.291), RF Nick Markakis (.264, 75 RBIs), LF Matt Kemp (24 HR, 58 RBIs), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.31 ERA), RHP Jim Johnson (3.08 ERA, 15 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-11 Pitching probables: Sept. 5: RHP Ryan Weber vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 4:05 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 6: RHP Williams Perez vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 7:...

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Nats frustrated by weekend woes with men on base

September 04, 2016, 9:51pm

Nationals

Nats frustrated by weekend woes with men on base

NEW YORK - The Nationals, in the big picture, have not been particularly bad at hitting with runners in scoring position this season. They rank fifth in the National League in that category, ahead of fellow contenders like the Cubs, Giants, Dodgers and Mets. But it does seem like when they go cold in those situations, they go ice cold. And it doesn't get any colder than the last two nights at Citi Field, when the Nationals went a combined 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position, losing a...

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Lopez still learning what it takes to beat big league lineups

September 04, 2016, 8:32pm

Nationals

Lopez still learning what it takes to beat big league lineups

NEW YORK - Reynaldo Lopez has made six big league starts. Two of them have ended in victories for both the rookie right-hander and the Nationals. Each of those, however, came against the Braves, owners of the worst record in the National League and earlier today officially eliminated from the race for a division title. Lopez's four other starts all have come against teams contending for postseason berths: the Dodgers, Giants, Orioles and Mets. And the results in those four games have been...

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Marty Niland: Looking back on a classic Nats extra-inning win

September 04, 2016, 8:15pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Looking back on a classic Nats extra-inning win

The Nationals are headed for the National League East championship with a possible division series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently three games up on the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. It a little more than two years ago, as the Nats were rolling toward their most recent division title, that they clashed with the Dodgers in perhaps the two teams' most memorable regular season contest, an 8-5 Nationals victory in 14 innings. The five-hour, 31-minute marathon at...

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Nationals drop second straight (plus series) to Mets 5-1

September 04, 2016, 7:07pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - Reynaldo Lopez still doesn't look quite ready for the big stage. The Nationals lineup, meanwhile, looked lost with runners in scoring position this weekend. Lopez labored again tonight against a quality opponent, lasting only four innings in a nationally televised Sunday night game against the Mets. Fellow rookie right-hander Seth Lugo had no such stage fright in mowing down the Nationals over seven strong innings en route to New York's 5-1 victory at Citi Field. With a chance to...

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Rookie starters being tested on Sunday night (Nationals lose 5-1)

September 04, 2016, 5:28pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - The Nationals and Mets already were looking at a late night with an 8:08 p.m. start on Sunday Night Baseball and then travel to Washington and Cincinnati, respectively, for Labor Day matinee games. The way both lineups have made Reynaldo Lopez and Seth Lugo work early, they're going to be even sleepier than initially feared when they get to the park Monday. Lopez and Lugo have been put to the test in this nationally televised matchup of dueling rookies. Lopez needed 25 pitches a...

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Strasburg on track to return Wednesday vs. Braves

September 04, 2016, 3:20pm

Nationals

Strasburg on track to return Wednesday vs. Braves

NEW YORK - Stephen Strasburg is on track to rejoin the Nationals rotation Wednesday night, though the rehabbing right-hander hasn't been 100 percent cleared for that assignment yet. Strasburg threw off the bullpen mound at Citi Field this afternoon, his fourth such session in the last week, and reported no issues. That lines him up to pitch Wednesday, which appears to be the Nationals' plan for now, barring any setbacks. "Possibly," manager Dusty Baker said when asked if Strasburg would...