nationals

Scherzer done in by one solo homer, elevated pitch count

July 04, 2016, 8:55pm

Max Scherzer pitched quite well yesterday. Who wouldn't be satisfied with one run and four hits allowed over six innings? But when your teammates are shut out, as the Nationals were by Brewers rookie Junior Guerra and two relievers, that one run allowed by Scherzer looks much more significant. And the manner in which it scored - via Martin Maldonado's solo homer in the top of the fifth - loomed large, given Scherzer's season-long struggles keeping the ball in the park. "There was a solo...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman max scherzer milwaukee brewers nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Steve Mears: What moves does Rizzo have in mind for Nats?

July 05, 2016, 6:28am

Nationals

Steve Mears: What moves does Rizzo have in mind for Nats?

The trade deadline is on Aug. 1 this year and that is 26 days away. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo seems poised to make some moves, and all teams in first place will make some moves. What we do not know is what Mike Rizzo has in mind for his top two prospects, Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner. "(Giolito) threw 137 innings last year total," Rizzo said. "We will build off that. We have a protocol in place that we'll stick to and adhere to. We have had it mapped out since spring training,...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger lucas giolito mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz steve mears trea turner

Baker and Revere on Taylor being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

July 04, 2016, 11:20am

Nationals

Baker and Revere on Taylor being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

Following Monday's 1-0 loss to the Brewers, Nationals manager Dusty Baker discussed the decision to option outfielder Michael A. Taylor to Triple-A Syracuse. Right-hander Jonathan Papelbon was activated prior to Monday's game, so the team decided to send the outfielder to the Chiefs. Taylor was batting .225 in the first 60 games of the season and has struck out 64 times. In the last seven games, he has gone 2-for-22 (.091) with 10 strikeouts. Baker said it is never an easy decision to send a...

Comments

Tags:

ben revere byron kerr dusty baker michael taylor nationals frontstory_nationals3

Counsell takes blame for lineup gaffe, Baker recalls his own

July 04, 2016, 11:54am

Nationals

Counsell takes blame for lineup gaffe, Baker recalls his own

It doesn't happen often - only 39 times in the last six decades of Major League Baseball - and so when it does, it draws plenty of attention and leaves one dugout looking for a corner to go hide and the other giddy for having caught the opposition's mistake. Really, are there many more embarrassing mistakes for a big league manager than seeing his team bat out of order? It happened today at Nationals Park, and the reactions were exactly what you would expect. Craig Counsell and the Brewers...

Comments

Tags:

craig counsell dusty baker mark zuckerman milwaukee brewers nationals nationals pastime ryan braun featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Scherzer allows homer, Nats go quietly in 1-0 loss to Brewers

July 04, 2016, 10:00am

Nationals

Scherzer allows homer, Nats go quietly in 1-0 loss to Brewers

Right-hander Max Scherzer's trend of of pitching well but allowing at least one homer continued again Monday in his start against the Brewers. Martin Maldonado hit a solo homer to lead off the fifth inning to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. That was all the Brewers needed in a 1-0 win over the Nationals that snapped their four-game skid. Scherzer (9-6) ended up with the hard luck loss by allowing only one run over six innings on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Scherzer threw 114...

Comments

Tags:

brewers byron kerr martin maldonado max scherzer nationals ryan braun wilson ramos frontstory_nationals3

Brewers caught batting out of order (Nationals lose 1-0)

July 04, 2016, 8:12am

Nationals

Ryan Braun singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the first inning off Max Scherzer in this morning's Independence Day game at Nationals Park. Except in doing so, he actually charged teammate Jonathan Lucroy with an unassisted putout to the catcher. As if 11 a.m. baseball isn't weird enough, the Brewers turned today's game even more bizarre when they batted out of order in the top of the first, costing themselves a hit, not to mention some of their dignity. When Braun, the third...

Comments

Tags:

craig counsell jonathan lucroy mark zuckerman max scherzer milwaukee brewers nationals nationals pastime ryan braun frontstory_nationals2

Opposite dugout: June swoon changed Brewers' fortunes quickly

July 02, 2016, 4:09pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: June swoon changed Brewers' fortunes quickly

Manager: Craig Counsell (2nd season) Record: 35-46 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: LF Ryan Braun (.323/.383/.546 with 13 HR, 44 RBIs), SS Jonathan Villar (.296/.382/.422 with 30 RBIs, 26 SB), C Jonathan Lucroy (.300 with 10 HR, 39 RBIs), 1B Chris Carter 920 HR,49 RBIs), RHP Junior Guerra (5-1, 3.25 ERA), RHP Jeremy Jeffress (2.60 ERA, 21 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: July 4: RHP Junior Guerra vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 11:05 a.m., MASN July 5: RHP Zach Davies vs. RHP...

Comments

Tags:

brewers nationals nationals buzz opposite dugout pete kerzel

Espinosa caps off record-breaking series in a big way

July 04, 2016, 2:47am

Nationals

Espinosa caps off record-breaking series in a big way

Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa had a series. I mean, he really had a series. Espinosa capped off a four-game run for the ages with two homers, two singles and six RBIs in Sunday's 12-1 dispatch of the Reds. The 15 RBIs are tied for third-most in a four-game series in Major League Baseball history. It is already a franchise record. His week to remember almost assuredly will result in a National League Player of the Week honor. Over the last seven days, he has hit .423 with five homers and...

Comments

Tags:

danny espinosa nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Papelbon activated, Taylor surprisingly demoted to Syracuse

July 04, 2016, 6:44am

Nationals

Papelbon activated, Taylor surprisingly demoted to Syracuse

Jonathan Papelbon is back in the Nationals bullpen, but the identity of the player removed from the roster to clear a spot for the veteran closer was a surprise: Michael A. Taylor. The Nationals chose to option Taylor to Triple-A Syracuse before this morning's Independence Day game against the Brewers, activating Papelbon off the disabled list and giving them - for the moment - a 13-man pitching staff and a short bench. Papelbon had been out since June 12 with a strained right ribcage muscle,...

Comments

Tags:

jonathan papelbon mark zuckerman michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime syracuse featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Game 84 lineups: Brewers at Nats

July 04, 2016, 3:08am

Nationals

The Nationals now have 50 wins after taking care of the Reds in three of four games. Even with the Mets sweeping the National League-best Cubs in four games, the Nationals still maintain a five game lead in the NL East. Right-hander Max Scherzer gets the rare morning call with his first Independence Day start with the Nationals. Scherzer is 9-5 with a 3.30 ERA. He has a 1-1 record with a 2.89 ERA in five appearance (four starts) against the Brewers. He has 39 strikeouts in 28 innings against...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr danny espinosa lineups max scherzer nationals stephen drew frontstory_nationals1

Nationals activate Papelbon from DL, option Taylor to Triple-A

July 04, 2016, 6:39am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Jonathan Papelbon on Monday, and optioned outfielder Michael A. Taylor to Triple-A Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Papelbon, 35, returns to the Nationals after missing 19 games with a right intercostal strain. The veteran closer appeared in three rehab games with Single-A Potomac (June 27) and Double-A Harrisburg (July 1 & 2)....

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

How to fix what has become a boring All-Star Game

July 04, 2016, 6:35am

Nationals Orioles

How to fix what has become a boring All-Star Game

The American League and National League All-Star teams will be announced Tuesday, and of course, there's a steady stream of second-guessing about how the rosters are selected for an exhibition that determines World Series home field advantage. Here's what needs to be done: Cut rosters from 34 to 26 players, meaning each team can select an extra pitcher beyond the regular season 25-man roster, which is what teams do for split doubleheaders. Then, play an actual game. It would be a throwback....

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper daniel murphy danny espinosa frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 manny machado mark trumbo nationals orioles

Marty Niland: Espinosa providing fireworks for Nationals

July 04, 2016, 5:24am

Nationals

Friday's postgame fireworks were canceled due to extra innings, and rain might well wash out many of the Washington area's July 4 pyrotechnics this year, but Danny Espinosa has been making the Nationals offense explode for the past few weeks. It's hard to say whether the Nats shortstop is the most productive No. 8 hitter in team history, but it's safe to say not many players have put together a series, a week or even a month like the man who wears No. 8 for the Nats. Espinosa burned the...

Comments

Tags:

danny espinosa guest blogger guestblogger marty niland nationals nationals buzz

Ross admits feeling discomfort in shoulder

July 03, 2016, 2:07pm

Nationals

Ross admits feeling discomfort in shoulder

Manager Dusty Baker said the Nationals decided to place right-hander Joe Ross on the disabled list when they got the results of an MRI on his right shoulder after Saturday's loss to the Reds. "He had some inflammation," Baker said. "We were limiting his innings in the first place. We wanted to make sure Joe is gonna be ready toward the end of the season and we didn't have to shut him down like (Stephen) Strasburg, because this guy can come up big in postseason." Ross watched as his...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker joe ross nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg tosses 6 2/3 no-hit innings (Nats win 12-1)

July 03, 2016, 10:20am

Nationals

Strasburg tosses 6 2/3 no-hit innings (Nats win 12-1)

Wilson Ramos continues to make the case for his first-ever All-Star selection with a first pitch solo home run off of lefty John Lamb in the bottom of the second in the series finale between the Nats and the Reds on Sunday. His 13th homer of the season lifted the Nats to a 1-0 lead. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg walked two batters in a 25-pitch first frame, but got out of it unscathed and then worked a 1-2-3 second inning. After three innings, the Nats lead the Reds 1-0. Update: Lamb walked...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals stephen strasburg wilson ramos bryce harper chris heisey daniel murphy danny espinosa dusty baker jayson werth stephen drew frontstory_nationals3

Game 83 lineups: Reds at Nats

July 03, 2016, 5:32am

Nationals

On a night when the Nationals could not get much going offensively, they still forced the Reds into extra innings. The Nats mustered just three hits in a 9-4, 10-inning loss. The bullpen allowed five runs in that final frame, helped along by two errors, one a rare fielding miscue from Bryce Harper. Harper, similar to when Ryan Zimmerman said "everyone just needs to calm down" back in April, stressed that the bullpen is fine. "Sometimes it just happens like that and it's just part of the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr john lamb nationals reds stephen strasburg bryce harper featured_sidebar

Strasburg and Baker on decision to end no-hit bid in seventh

July 03, 2016, 1:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg and Baker on decision to end no-hit bid in seventh

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg had to labor, but certainly displayed the toughness and grit that have been hallmarks of his amazing start to the 2016 season in the Nationals' 12-1 dismantling of the Reds on Sunday. Strasburg no-hit the Reds through 6 2/3 innings, allowing no runs with four walks and five strikeouts. He fired 109 pitches, 70 for strikes, in his first start since June 15. He had been recovering from an upper back strain. Danny Espinosa slammed two of the Nationals' season-high...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr danny espinosa dusty baker nationals stephen strasburg anthony rendon featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Joe Ross to disabled list with right shoulder inflammation

July 03, 2016, 9:39am

Nationals

Joe Ross to disabled list with right shoulder inflammation

The Nationals activated right-hander Stephen Strasburg from the disabled list to start today's series finale against the Reds. He had been on the shelf with an upper back strain since June 16. Right-hander Joe Ross has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Ross went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, with no walks and two strikeouts in Saturday's matchup against the Reds. Ross has seen his velocity dip, especially to his sinker, which went from...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr joe ross lucas giolito nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1

Velocity drop for Ross not big concern following rough start

July 02, 2016, 8:21pm

Nationals

Velocity drop for Ross not big concern following rough start

Bookend pitching difficulties doomed the Nats on Saturday night. Starter Joe Ross struggled early and the bullpen could not slow the Reds in extra innings. Cincinnati dropped the Nationals 9-4 in 10 innings to end their winning streak at six games. The concern after the game was the velocity drop for Ross on his fastball. According to Brooks Baseball, his sinker averages around 93.4 mph. In this game, it was averaging only 91.8 mph. Manager Dusty Baker did not think this meant that Ross was...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker joe ross nationals sammy solis featured_sidebar

Baker confirms Strasburg to return and start Sunday

July 02, 2016, 7:38pm

Nationals

Baker confirms Strasburg to return and start Sunday

Following Saturday's 9-4 loss in 10 innings to the Reds, Nationals manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Stephen Strasburg would return from the disabled list to start on Sunday in the series finale. "We're getting one of our main men, Stras, back tomorrow," Baker said. "He can put us back in sync for the remainder of first half." Strasburg has been on the disabled list retroactive to June 16 with an upper back strain. He missed starts in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Although not officially...