nationals

Baker updates on Zimmerman and Ross

July 15, 2016, 1:14pm

Manager Dusty Baker was asked about the status of right-hander Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (left ribcage strain) during pregame of the first game of the Pirates series. It was the first opportunity to get an update on the progress of the two players since the Mets game on July 10. "Zim's been taking treatment around the clock," Baker said. "Ross has been doing the same. Ross is going to toss tomorrow. He tossed some yesterday. He's getting...

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Late scratch of Murphy foils Baker's plan for altered lineup

July 15, 2016, 2:06pm

Nationals

Late scratch of Murphy foils Baker's plan for altered lineup

Dusty Baker thought he had figured out his preferred lineup when the Nationals are facing a left-handed starter, one that included Trea Turner leading off, Michael A. Taylor in center field and Daniel Murphy shifting to first base. But then Murphy had to be scratched from the lineup for tonight's second-half opener against the Pirates, and Baker's master plan had to be thrown out the window. Murphy was scratched due to "general leg soreness," according to the Nationals. Club officials...

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Game 91 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Murphy scratched)

July 15, 2016, 11:09am

Nationals

Game 91 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Murphy scratched)

And we're back. After a four-day break for All-Star festivities, the Nationals are back in action tonight, opening a nine-game homestand that begins this weekend with three against the Pirates. Stephen Strasburg sat out the Midsummer Classic in San Diego in part because he wanted to make sure he was fresh to start tonight's second-half opener. So this is a big start for the right-hander, who (by the way) is attempting to improve to 13-0 on the season. Erratic left-hander Francisco Liriano...

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Nats hope to open second half as strong as they closed first

July 14, 2016, 4:59pm

Nationals

Nats hope to open second half as strong as they closed first

Dusty Baker believes strongly in entering the All-Star break on a high note and coming out of the All-Star break on a high note, likening this portion of the schedule to the final minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half of a basketball game, when momentum swings often feel more pronounced. Baker's Nationals did their part in entering their four-day break on an upswing, winning 11 of their last 14 games, including 6-of-7 against the Mets. Now they'll see if they...

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Top storylines for the Nationals in the second half

July 13, 2016, 8:29pm

Nationals

The first half of the 2016 season was full of compelling storylines for the Nationals, most of them positive but not all. The end result: a 54-36 record and a six-game lead in the National League East at the All-Star break. Now the real work begins. The Nats have put themselves in position to win another division title, but in order to do that they've got several issues to address over the remainder of the regular season. Here, then, are five top storylines for the second half ... 1. Can Ryan...

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Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame announces 2016 class

July 14, 2016, 8:40am

Nationals

Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame announces 2016 class

Christine Brennan, Marco Etcheverry, Patrick Ewing, Frank Herzog, Earl Lloyd, Dexter Manley, Missy Meharg, Bob Milloy, Hymie Perlo, Phil Perlo and Harold Solomon will be honored during a pregame ceremony on July 17 at Nationals Park The 11 new members of the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame will be honored during a pregame ceremony on Sunday, July 17 at Nationals Park, before the Nationals play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The following inductees will be honored: * Christine Brennan - USA Today...

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Robles getting chance to display talent at high Single-A

July 14, 2016, 1:48am

Nationals

Robles getting chance to display talent at high Single-A

Center fielder Victor Robles out of the Dominican Republic has been promoted to high Single-A Potomac after dominating at the low Single-A level. While with Hagerstown, Robles hit .305 with nine doubles, six triples, five homers, 19 stolen bases and 30 RBIs in 64 games. He has hit .286 (4-for-14) with a homer and an RBI in his last three games with the P-Nats. In one game last Friday, he went 0-for-0 at the plate with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs after getting hit by a pitch three...

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Nationals' first-half report card

July 12, 2016, 8:18pm

Nationals

The Home Run Derby and All-Star Game have come and gone, but now we've got the long, two-day wait without any baseball until the second half of the season opens Friday night at Nationals Park. So we'll spend these two days looking back at what has transpired so far and looking ahead at what may transpire the rest of the way. Tomorrow, we'll break down the top storylines of the second half for the Nationals. First up today, though, we look back at the first half and hand out grades for the...

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Harper, Murphy, Scherzer all step up in All-Star Game

July 12, 2016, 7:33pm

Nationals

Harper, Murphy, Scherzer all step up in All-Star Game

All four of the Nationals' eligible players appeared in tonight's All-Star Game, and three of them did their part to try to help their league emerge victorious. The fourth, unfortunately, came up short in his one key at-bat, and the rest of the National League squad didn't have enough offense to overcome a tough American League team that took an early lead and held on to win 4-2 in San Diego. Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy combined for three hits, and Max Scherzer dominated during one inning...

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How Ramos' relationship with Nats made him an All-Star

July 11, 2016, 8:03pm

Nationals

How Ramos' relationship with Nats made him an All-Star

Any discussion of Wilson Ramos' offensive breakthrough this season naturally begins with the obvious: his eyes. Ramos had LASIK surgery in March after his annual spring training exam suggested his vision could be improved. And almost instantaneously, the 28-year-old catcher began seeing the ball like never before. Those sliders off the plate he used to flail helplessly at now are clear as day, so he just lets them go by, waiting instead for a pitch over the plate he can hit. But ask Ramos the...

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District 34 podcast: Looking back and ahead at All-Star break

July 12, 2016, 11:01am

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Looking back and ahead at All-Star break

We're back! After a short absence, Byron Kerr and I are back for another episode of the District 34 podcast! The Nationals ended the first half of the season hot, winning 11 of 15 games before the break, including six of seven against the division rival Mets. The Nats have given themselves a comfortable six-game lead in the National League East over the Mets and Marlins, but they still have a long way to go in the second-half stretch. Before the break, we heard some comments from manager Dusty...

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Keister on Fedde's hot streak: "He's in a good place right now"

July 12, 2016, 4:36am

Nationals

Keister on Fedde's hot streak: "He's in a good place right now"

Right-hander Erick Fedde has been keeping opponents off the scoreboard recently, allowing one or less earned runs in each of his last six outings. On Friday in a 5-1 win over Carolina, Fedde twirled six innings, allowing three hits and one run with one walk and eight strikeouts. He has won five of his last six decisions. High Single-A Potomac manager Tripp Keister, appearing with me on Sunday's "Nats Insider" on 106.7 The Fan, likes the groove and tempo Fedde is pitching with heading to the...

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Roark dazzles in surprise relief appearance to close first half

July 10, 2016, 1:49pm

Nationals

Roark dazzles in surprise relief appearance to close first half

NEW YORK - Tanner Roark didn't know what to expect when he headed down to the bullpen early yesterday afternoon at Citi Field, other than to make sure he was ready in case he was needed to pitch the Nationals' first-half finale against the Mets. Only four days after throwing 99 pitches in a win over the Brewers, Roark knew he wouldn't be starting another game until next weekend at the earliest. So he made himself available to pitch in relief for this one, not sure if or when or how he would...

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With extra emphasis on Mets series, Nats finish first half strong

July 10, 2016, 1:28pm

Nationals

With extra emphasis on Mets series, Nats finish first half strong

NEW YORK - The situations weren't identical, they never are from one season to the next. Rosters change, injuries happen, guys who had good years come back with bad years and vice versa. But if nothing else, there was a sense of familiarity when the Nationals arrived in Queens on Thursday for the opener of a key July series against the team directly behind them in the National League East standings. They led the Mets by four games, with four games to play at Citi Field. Not quite one year ago...

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Nationals finish off big weekend with third straight win over Mets

July 10, 2016, 11:52am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy supplied the big blast once again, but this time it was Gio Gonzalez and a surprise member of the bullpen pitching the Nationals to victory over the Mets. Gonzalez held the depleted New York lineup in check for 5 2/3 innings before handing things off to none other than Tanner Roark, who in his first relief appearance of the season tossed another 2 1/3 innings of perfect ball to help lead the Nationals to a 3-2 win at Citi Field. Murphy's two-run homer in the top of the...

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Baker looks Scherzer in the eye, lets his starter finish

July 10, 2016, 7:14am

Nationals

Baker looks Scherzer in the eye, lets his starter finish

NEW YORK - When he saw Dusty Baker walking to the mound with two outs in the seventh inning last night, Max Scherzer assumed what all starting pitchers assume when their manager walks to the mound. "I thought he was going to take me out," the right-hander said. Baker, however, hadn't yet made up his mind. "When I went to the mound, I didn't know what exactly what I was going to do," the manager said. "Usually, I know what to do." Scherzer had just walked Alejandro De Aza, prolonging the...

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Murphy does it again, homers vs. Mets (Nats win 3-2)

July 10, 2016, 10:15am

Nationals

Murphy does it again, homers vs. Mets (Nats win 3-2)

If the Nationals are playing the Mets, Daniel Murphy must be driving in runs. It has been occurring with such regularity, astrophysicists are nearly ready to declare it a new law of the universe. When Murphy stepped to the plate in the top of the first this afternoon with a man on base, the question wasn't whether he would drive in the runner. It was how he would do it. How does a two-run homer off the second deck in right field at Citi Field sound to everyone? With that blast off left-hander...

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An appreciation for Strasburg's stunning first-half run

July 09, 2016, 8:06pm

Nationals

An appreciation for Strasburg's stunning first-half run

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg's first-half run is unprecedented in his career. The 12-0 start continues to be the best start of any season for the former No. 1 overall selection from San Diego State. He already has more wins than he had last season. In 2015, he went 11-7 in 23 starts. In 16 starts this season, he is 12-0. The day after he was announced as making the All-Star Game, Strasburg talked about his season to date. He spoke about how he is concentrating on his pitching and not letting...

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Game 90 lineups: Nats at Mets

July 10, 2016, 5:36am

Nationals

NEW YORK - And so we have reached the first-half finale of what has been a most interesting season so far for the Nationals. They are guaranteed to go into the All-Star break at least four games up in the National League East, possibly six if they can beat the Mets again this afternoon. It'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound for this one, and though he has been erratic for most of the last two months, he has dominated at Citi Field over his career (7-1, 1.53 ERA in 12 starts). Fellow left-hander...

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Nationals rave about Murphy's latest takedown of Mets

July 09, 2016, 7:56pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy will never admit it, but make no mistake how much he is enjoying tormenting a Mets organization that made no serious effort to re-sign him last winter despite his consistent track record and historic postseason performance that helped lead the franchise to its first pennant in 15 years. Murphy hides his emotions well, and he expertly refuses to take the bait whenever he's asked to comment on his individual exploits, let alone when he does it to his former team as he...