nationals

Behind Gonzalez's strong start, Nats cruise to 5-1 win over Giants

August 05, 2016, 5:31pm

Gio Gonzalez's midsummer surge continued tonight with perhaps the left-hander's best start of the season. Combine that with another productive night at the plate from the Nationals' lineup and the result was their fourth straight win, this one by a 5-1 margin over the Giants to open a long homestand. Gonzalez tossed seven innings of two-hit ball in his latest strong outing - he's now 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his last five starts - and was finally afforded the run support that eluded him in...

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Nats adjust weekend rotation, will stick with four starters

August 04, 2016, 8:39am

Nationals

Nats adjust weekend rotation, will stick with four starters

The Nationals have adjusted their rotation for the weekend, electing to bump everyone up a day, have them pitch on normal rest and skip over the fifth starter's spot for now. The club had initially left Friday night's starter against the Giants as "TBD" but now Gio Gonzalez will start the opener at Nationals Park, with Stephen Strasburg on Saturday and Tanner Roark on Sunday. All three will be pitching on normal four days' rest, thanks to today's day off-day for the team. With two more...

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District 34 podcast: Nationals' youth movement and another Giants showdown

August 04, 2016, 6:35am

Nationals

This week's episode of the District 34 podcast is full of good vibes. The Nationals are coming off a 6-3 road trip that included stops in Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona. While they split the series against the fellow division-leading Indians and Giants, they took care of business in Phoenix by sweeping the last-place Diamondbacks. The Nats finally had a successful West Coast swing, and it could not have come at a better time entering the dog days of August. They now stand 20 games above...

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Scherzer finishes strong, leads Nats to trip-ending sweep

August 03, 2016, 4:26pm

Nationals

Scherzer finishes strong, leads Nats to trip-ending sweep

PHOENIX - Max Scherzer doesn't like to evaluate his starts by what happens in the first inning, the second inning or just about any inning he takes the mound. For Scherzer, it's not about how he starts. It's about how he finishes. "I always say you can usually define your outing by the last 15 pitches that you throw," the right-hander said. "That's usually when the outing is decided, when you're going to either win or lose a ballgame. And today was a case of that." The final score - an...

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Thursday Q&A from 36,000 feet above America

August 03, 2016, 4:34pm

Nationals

Thursday Q&A from 36,000 feet above America

This turned into quite an eventful road trip for the Nationals. It began in Cleveland last week with a blown save by Jonathan Papelbon and a huge escape act by Blake Treinen the next night. It continued in San Francisco over the weekend with dominant performances by Tanner Roark and Max Scherzer, the official yanking of Papelbon from the closer's role, the acquisition of Mark Melancon as his replacement and a historic triple play that was necessary to escape a huge jam. And then it wrapped up...

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David Huzzard: Nationals aren't flashy, but keep on winning

August 04, 2016, 4:10am

Nationals

If you had asked me where the Nationals were in comparison to the rest of baseball, I'd have guessed they had the fourth or fifth best record in baseball. I knew they were behind the Cubs and figured there were a couple other teams ahead of them. So it surprised me when, leading up to the deadline, I kept hearing about how they had the second best record in baseball. The Nationals are a better team than we realize. I can't say exactly why that is, but I have some ideas. The first is no one...

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Behind Scherzer's arm and bat, Nats win 8-3 to sweep Arizona

August 03, 2016, 2:40pm

Nationals

Behind Scherzer's arm and bat, Nats win 8-3 to sweep Arizona

PHOENIX - He pitched eight strong innings, given a chance to stay on the mound longer than most modern starters might, given the situation. And he also delivered the two-run single that proved the margin of difference for most of the game. Needless to say, it was Max Scherzer's afternoon at Chase Field, and the rest of the Nationals just went along for the ride en route to an 8-3 victory over the Diamondbacks that completed a series sweep. Scherzer allowed just four hits and struck out 11 over...

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Ross won't return Friday, starter still TBD (Nats win 8-3)

August 03, 2016, 12:15pm

Nationals

Ross won't return Friday, starter still TBD (Nats win 8-3)

PHOENIX - The Nationals haven't announced who will start Friday night against the Giants, but it won't be Joe Ross. Manager Dusty Baker said today that Ross still needs to make another minor league rehab start before coming off the disabled list to face big league hitters. The time and place of that start is still being sorted out. "We're not sure yet," Baker said. "He'll probably go out and throw again. We'll see how he comes out of that. We need to get him some length and some quality...

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Murphy, Strasburg are latest Nationals to win monthly awards

August 03, 2016, 10:58am

Nationals

PHOENIX - Two more Nationals players added pieces of hardware to their growing shelves today when Daniel Murphy was named National League Player of the Month and Stephen Strasburg was named NL Pitcher of the Month for July. Murphy, who previously won NL Player of the Month honors in May, hit .372 with 12 doubles, six homers, 26 RBIs and a 1.144 OPS in July, compiling those numbers despite playing in only 24 games (he was out of the lineup for five games due to a lingering hamstring injury...

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Game 108 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks

August 03, 2016, 8:57am

Nationals

PHOENIX - The Nationals have already secured a winning road trip. Now they'll try to sweep the Diamondbacks and head home with a 6-3 record after their long and eventful swing through Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona. Max Scherzer takes the mound against the club that drafted him way back in 2006. He's been on quite a run lately: 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA in his last six starts. He may need to be in top form again today, because the Nationals are fielding a lineup that is lacking Ryan...

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Rookies Turner, Difo step in and make big contributions in win

August 02, 2016, 10:35pm

Nationals

Rookies Turner, Difo step in and make big contributions in win

PHOENIX - When the Nationals took the field for batting practice Tuesday afternoon, Trea Turner was expecting to take grounders at second base, where he was scheduled to start. Wilmer Difo was already preparing mentally to come off the bench, perhaps in a key pinch-hitting situation or a double-switch. Then manager Dusty Baker passed along word that Bryce Harper was sick, battling a stomach virus that required IV fluids. So Turner was going to need to play center field, with Difo getting the...

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Nationals bats come alive again in 10-4 rout of Arizona

August 02, 2016, 10:12pm

Nationals

PHOENIX - Turns out Monday night's offensive explosion wasn't a complete aberration for the Nationals, because they nearly duplicated the feat tonight against the Diamondbacks. Wilson Ramos, Chris Heisey and Jayson Werth all clubbed home runs to lead another potent offensive attack, carrying the Nats to a 10-4 victory at Chase Field. Combined with their lopsided win in Monday's series opener, the Nationals have now outscored Arizona 24-5 over the last two nights, putting their offensive...

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All three affiliates split doubleheaders on Tuesday

August 03, 2016, 5:51am

Nationals

All three affiliates split doubleheaders on Tuesday

The triple play pulled off last Friday by the Nationals against the Giants was the first that involved the first baseman making the first two outs and then throwing to the third baseman to complete the inning (3-3-5). Ryan Zimmerman catching a line drive, tapping first, and then throwing to Anthony Rendon marked the first triple play in Nationals history. It was also the first triple play by a D.C.-based team since the 1968 Senators. The Expos last pulled off a triple play on September 3, 2002,...

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Charlie Fliegel: Veteran Werth still holds great value in Nats lineup

August 03, 2016, 3:07am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Veteran Werth still holds great value in Nats lineup

At the beginning of this season, there were doubts that Jayson Werth could be an effective hitter anymore. He looked lost for much of the previous year, he was entering his age 37 season, and a repeat of his .685 OPS could've easily sunk the Nationals' playoff chances. As this season began, he seemed to fulfill those expectations. He appeared pretty lost at the plate in April and May - he hit a few home runs, but he wasn't getting on base much at all. He only managed to post a .225/.280/.410...

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Harper scratched with illness, Zimmerman still out (Nats win 10-4)

August 02, 2016, 6:13pm

Nationals

Harper scratched with illness, Zimmerman still out (Nats win 10-4)

PHOENIX - The stomach bug that has been making its way around the Nationals clubhouse over the last two weeks appears to have gotten Bryce Harper now. Harper had to be scratched from tonight's lineup with an illness, the club announced about an hour before scheduled first pitch against the Diamondbacks. Harper was due to bat third and start in right field, hoping to pick up where he left off Monday night when he reached base three times during the Nationals' 14-1 victory at Chase Field. But...

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Having fun and in first place, Desmond fondly remembers Washington

August 02, 2016, 1:05pm

Nationals

Having fun and in first place, Desmond fondly remembers Washington

BALTIMORE - When Ian Desmond looks up into the center field bleachers at Camden Yards for the next three days, he's going to see something a little odd for a series between the Rangers and Orioles: curly W Nationals caps here and there, maybe a few bright, white No. 20 jerseys with his name stitched in red across the back. Ever since Desmond signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Rangers in late February, savvy Nats fans have had this series circled on their calendars because it gives...

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Williams turns page on Nationals, glad to be back in Arizona

August 02, 2016, 4:52pm

Nationals

PHOENIX - If there was such a thing as a perfect landing spot for Matt Williams after the disappointing and abrupt conclusion of his tenure as Nationals manager, this was it. Back in Arizona, where he has lived since his playing days, coaching third base for a Diamondbacks organization that has always valued his presence. "It's great," Williams said this afternoon, seated in the third base dugout at Chase Field. "I'm home. I've been here 30 years, and certainly I enjoy the community....

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Game 107 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks (Harper scratched)

August 02, 2016, 2:09pm

Nationals

Game 107 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks (Harper scratched)

PHOENIX - The Nationals lineup exploded for 14 runs on 19 hits (none of them homers) last night in their rout over the Diamondbacks. They certainly didn't wind up needing that much offense to win the series opener, but Dusty Baker wasn't concerned about that. "I know a lot of people say, 'Why don't you save some runs for tomorrow?' " the manager said. "But I hope that they memorize how to do that." We'll see if there's any carryover effect tonight against left-hander Robbie Ray, who...

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Why the Nationals believe their lineup is good enough as is

August 01, 2016, 10:43pm

Nationals

PHOENIX - The Nationals, believe it or not, have one of the league's better offenses. They're fourth in the National League with 497 runs scored. They're tied for third with a .427 slugging percentage, and their .752 OPS ranks fourth. They rank second only to the Cardinals with 139 home runs. So why all the dismay when this team didn't acquire another bat before Monday's trade deadline? It probably has something to do with the manner in which the Nationals score their runs. They rely on...

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Steve Mears: How can the Nats roster change after the non-waiver trade deadline?

August 02, 2016, 7:13am

Nationals

Steve Mears: How can the Nats roster change after the non-waiver trade deadline?

In-season trading hit a new high this year as teams made 48 trades from June 1 to the deadline yesterday. It broke last year's record of 43 trades. Trades are best judged in hindsight to analyze the real winners and losers in trades, and quality over quantity. For anyone wondering how MLB.com rated teams after the non-waiver trade deadline, their power rankings in the National League had the top five teams in this order: Cubs, Nationals, Giants, Dodgers and Cardinals. Yes, they ranked the...