nationals

Nationals' bats finally come alive in 7-4 victory over Indians

August 10, 2016, 3:00pm

On a blistering hot afternoon when they needed production from their erratic and injury-depleted lineup, the Nationals got just what they ordered. Jayson Werth's three-run homer highlighted the Nats' best offensive performance of this homestand, propelling them to a 7-4 victory over the Indians and a split of their brief, two-game interleague series. Werth homered, doubled and walked, extending his league-best streak of consecutive games reaching base to 40. Daniel Murphy, Wilson Ramos and...

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Rediscovering his old approach, Werth produces for Nats again

August 10, 2016, 4:43pm

Nationals

Rediscovering his old approach, Werth produces for Nats again

Jayson Werth long ago figured out what kind of hitter he was. He may have the physique of a slugger, but deep down he's a table-setter, a guy who's at his best when he works the count, takes his walks, prolongs at-bats and ultimately does whatever he needs to do to get on base. At various points along the way, managers and hitting coaches have suggested to Werth that he try a more aggressive approach, that he try to drive the ball more and not let himself get into bad counts. That, though,...

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The latest on Harper's injury and the domino effect it has

August 10, 2016, 11:00am

Nationals

The latest on Harper's injury and the domino effect it has

The Nationals hoped Bryce Harper would be back in the lineup by now, not forced to sit out three straight games with a stiff neck. But with the slumping slugger still less than 100 percent healthy, and with another day off for the club following today's series finale with the Indians, there didn't appear to be much reason to push Harper back into action quite yet. "We have an off-day tomorrow, which is a blessing, so why should we risk going backwards today if we've got tomorrow off and we...

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Ball flying on scorching afternoon in D.C. (Nationals win 7-4)

August 10, 2016, 1:22pm

Nationals

The heat index was 102 degrees when the Nationals took the field at 4:05 p.m. today for their series finale against the Indians. Is it any surprise the ball is flying out of the park? Jayson Werth and Francisco Lindor each have clubbed home runs in the game's first three innings, with a couple other doubles off the wall by the Indians, who have rallied to leave things tied 4-4 on a scorching hot day in the District. Werth launched a three-run homer into the left field bullpen in the bottom of...

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Game 113 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

August 10, 2016, 9:32am

Nationals

It's going to be a scorcher this afternoon when the Nationals and Indians wrap up their brief, two-game series with a late-afternoon start on South Capitol Street. Temperatures are going to top 90 degrees, and the humidity is off the charts, as well. So if you've got tickets, take all the necessary precautions. After losing 3-1 last night, the Nationals will try to rediscover their lost offensive production, though they'll again have to do it with a depleted lineup. Bryce Harper is out for...

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Offensive production has gone silent during homestand

August 09, 2016, 7:52pm

Nationals

Offensive production has gone silent during homestand

When the Nationals returned home from a long road trip last week, they did so hoping for a sustained surge of offense that began during a three-game sweep in Arizona. Turns out that series against the Diamondbacks (and their weak pitching staff) wasn't the beginning of anything, except a return to the offensive struggles that have plagued the Nats more routinely this season. They did score five runs Friday night in a win over the Giants. But they've proceeded to score one run in each of three...

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"Little things" cost Scherzer in latest no-hit bid

August 09, 2016, 7:29pm

Nationals

"Little things" cost Scherzer in latest no-hit bid

It has become somewhat commonplace in these parts, and so folks tend not to get overexcited when it happens. Make no mistake, though, Dusty Baker knew what was going on with Max Scherzer, just as every one of the 30,978 spectators at Nationals Park knew it. "Everybody was thinking it. You were thinking it," Baker said of Scherzer's no-hit bid against the Indians. "Because he knows how to close out those games. Then it went from a no-hitter to a loss in a matter of time, and we couldn't...

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Revere making plays to stay on field; update on Ramos

August 10, 2016, 6:17am

Nationals

Revere making plays to stay on field; update on Ramos

It hasn't been the smoothest season at the plate for center fielder Ben Revere, and he would be the first to acknowledge it. The oblique injury to begin the season sidetracked what he was hoping would be a quick start. Unfortunately, Revere has struggled for consistency at the plate. His .212 average is way down from what he has been able to do every season since 2012: .294, .305, .306, (.298 with the Phillies, .319 with the Blue Jays). His career on-base percentage is .322, but this year it...

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Charlie Fliegel: Nationals may be most balanced team in National League

August 10, 2016, 5:06am

Nationals

With 50 games left in the season and the playoffs approaching, if you want to worry about the Nationals, you can certainly find something. They scored a total of three runs in their last three games, and they are getting no production out of first base, or, since May, Bryce Harper. Their bullpen looked shaky when their closer was injured and when he came back and couldn't produce, although it seems like they've remedied this. However, the Nats remain atop the division, with the second-best...

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Scherzer loses no-hitter, then 3-1 game to Cleveland

August 09, 2016, 6:00pm

Nationals

Scherzer loses no-hitter, then 3-1 game to Cleveland

Max Scherzer made yet another run at history on the mound, but a quick flurry of events in the top of the seventh combined with a lack of run support from his teammates left the right-hander and the Nationals to stew over a 3-1 loss to the Indians on a night that appeared to be headed for a much happier conclusion. Scherzer held Cleveland hitless into the seventh in his latest attempt at a third career no-hitter before things fell apart. Francisco Lindor's one-out single up the middle broke up...

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Scherzer strikes out 200 for fifth straight year (Nats lose 3-1)

August 09, 2016, 4:03pm

Nationals

Scherzer strikes out 200 for fifth straight year (Nats lose 3-1)

Only a select few major league pitchers surpass the 200-strikeout mark each season. Max Scherzer just got there on Aug. 9, with nearly two more months to add to that total. Scherzer hit the magical 200-strikeout number tonight with a third-inning punch-out of Indians catcher Roberto Perez. It's the fifth straight season the Nationals right-hander has done it, a feat duplicated only by Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander, among active pitchers. This is Scherzer's 24th start...

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Harper sits again with stiff neck, return uncertain

August 09, 2016, 2:03pm

Nationals

Harper sits again with stiff neck, return uncertain

Bryce Harper's stiff neck, which forced him from the Nationals game three days ago, is still preventing the struggling slugger from playing tonight. Harper is out of the lineup for the Nationals' series opener against the Indians, a somewhat surprising development given the way he and the team downplayed the significance of the injury when it first became public Saturday night. "It's the same thing," manager Dusty Baker said. "We were hoping that these couple days (would help). A stiff...

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Baker wants Trea Turner to enjoy his play with the Nats, not overanalyze

August 09, 2016, 3:52pm

Nationals

Baker wants Trea Turner to enjoy his play with the Nats, not overanalyze

Manager Dusty Baker had a great response when asked a couple of questions about second baseman Trea Turner's outstanding play recently for the Nationals. Turner has displayed the ability to get on base and play good defense, mostly from a spot he is just learning in center field. Still, Baker doesn't want anyone to overanalyze Turner's success just yet. "Let's leave him alone for a while," Baker said, following a second question about Turner during pregame Tuesday. "Let's leave him...

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Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

August 09, 2016, 11:10am

Nationals

The Nationals are back to work tonight, hosting the Indians in the opener of a two-game interleague series, the second half of their head-to-head matchup that included two games in Cleveland a couple weeks ago. The two clubs split that series at Progressive Field, but only because of Jonathan Papelbon's blown save in the opener. Obviously, things have changed a bit since then. Max Scherzer, who did not pitch in that first series, takes the mound tonight and looks to continue his recent surge...

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Opposite dugout: Indians now clinging to lead in AL Central

August 08, 2016, 3:58pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Indians now clinging to lead in AL Central

Manager: Terry Francona (4th season) Record: 62-47 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: SS Francisco Lindor (.306/.356/.450 with 13 HR, 55 RBIs), 3B Jose Ramirez (.302 /.360/.428 with 44 RBIs), 1B Mike Napoli (28 HR, 79 RBIs), RHP Josh Tomlin (11-4, 3.81 ERA), RHP Cody Allen (2.49 ERA with 20 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 9: RHP Trevor Bauer vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 10: RHP Josh Tomlin vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 4:05 p.m., MASN Inside the Indians: The...

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Does Ramos deserve to be in NL MVP discussion?

August 08, 2016, 7:40pm

Nationals

Does Ramos deserve to be in NL MVP discussion?

We're just about getting to that point in the season when we can start seriously talking about the major awards, and the Nationals are almost certainly going to find themselves smack in the middle of these debates. Daniel Murphy is an obvious candidate for National League MVP, perhaps even the favorite with two months to go. Stephen Strasburg is a contender for the NL Cy Young Award, and Max Scherzer is making a strong push to join that conversation as well. And Dusty Baker's name definitely...

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Werth, Turner and Harper big for the Nats offense to be consistent

August 09, 2016, 7:35am

Nationals

Werth, Turner and Harper big for the Nats offense to be consistent

He maybe would like to have more hits during this run, but left fielder Jayson Werth being on base so many times is good for the offense. On Sunday with a walk in the first inning, Werth extended his on-base streak to a career-high 38 games. It extends the longest streak in Major League Baseball this season. Miami's outfielder Marcell Ozuna had a 36-game streak from April 21 to May 29. The longest Nationals streak of all-time was a 43-game on-base streak by first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from...

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Steve Mears: Looking at candidates for a fifth starter in D.C.

August 09, 2016, 8:43am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Looking at candidates for a fifth starter in D.C.

One week from today, the Washington Nationals will need a fifth starter for their rotation, and we found out that Joe Ross will not be ready to return to the rotation any time soon due to soreness in his throwing shoulder. To complicate matters, the location for this August 16th game is none other than Coors Field in Colorado, where even aces have been humbled by the altitude. To complicate matters further, the Nats will probably need this fifth starter for a while as the schedule does not have...

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17-year-old Juan Soto making good progress for GCL Nationals

August 08, 2016, 6:29am

Nationals

Another Dominican outfielder is off to a good start for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals. 17-year-old Juan Soto is hitting .325 with six doubles, two triples, four homers, two stolen bases and 20 RBIs in 30 games. On Aug. 1, Soto went 4-for-5 with a solo homer, three runs and three RBIs in a 11-10 loss to the GCL Cardinals. Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba said the organization is very happy with Soto's progress this season. "He is a corner outfielder with...

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Was Guzman-for-Roark the best trade of Rizzo's career?

August 07, 2016, 9:15pm

Nationals

Was Guzman-for-Roark the best trade of Rizzo's career?

That Tanner Roark has established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in baseball is remarkable enough, given the right-hander's path to this point: a 25th-round pick in the 2008 draft who didn't make his major league debut until he was nearly 27. That the Nationals acquired this elite pitcher and rotation anchor from the Rangers six years ago in exchange for the final 15 games of Cristian Guzman's career ... well, that's almost beyond comprehension. The Guzman-for-Roark trade...