nationals

Tuesday's starter vs. Dodgers still TBA (Nats lose 2-1 in 18)

July 17, 2016, 10:06am

The Nationals don't need to add a fifth starter to their rotation until next weekend, but it appears they'll go ahead and make a move in time for Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers. For now, the club is listing Tuesday's starter as "TBA," with Gio Gonzalez pitching Wednesday night and Stephen Strasburg pitching Thursday afternoon. The Nationals have options for this starting job. Joe Ross will be eligible to come off the disabled list after missing the last two weeks with right...

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With little fanfare, Roark still dominating for Nationals

July 16, 2016, 8:24pm

Nationals

It doesn't take long to figure out whether Stephen Strasburg or Max Scherzer have good stuff on any given night they take the mound. One inning of work often provides enough evidence to suggest either right-hander is primed for a big game. With Tanner Roark, the signs are less acute. Roark might retire the side in the top of the first, as he did tonight in the Nationals' 6-0 victory over the Pirates. And he might even do it on eight pitches, as he did tonight. But unlike his counterparts in...

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Back in comfortable starting role, Drew delivers three doubles in Nats' win

July 16, 2016, 7:59pm

Nationals

Back in comfortable starting role, Drew delivers three doubles in Nats' win

Manager Dusty Baker gave veteran Stephen Drew the chance to start Saturday. Protecting Daniel Murphy and his sore hamstring for one additional day, Baker placed Drew at second base in Saturday's game against Pittsburgh. It marked Drew's 49th appearance in the club's first 92 games. In the role that he was used to for so long in his career, starting and playing an entire game, Drew delivered with three doubles and two runs scored in the Nationals' series-clinching 6-0 victory over the...

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Now 20 games over .500, Nats open up seven-game lead

July 16, 2016, 8:37pm

Nationals

Now 20 games over .500, Nats open up seven-game lead

Dusty Baker wanted the Nationals to finish the first half of the season strong. They did that. He wanted them to open the second half of the season strong. They've done that so far. And he wanted them to get to 20 games over .500, which they did last night after beating the Pirates 6-0. Clearly, these guys take their manager's challenges to heart. "That was our goal, to be 20-over," Baker said. "We were knocking on it a couple of times and we went backwards. Also, I challenged the team to...

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Game 93 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Rendon scratched)

July 17, 2016, 6:36am

Nationals

Game 93 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Rendon scratched)

It's going to be a scorcher this afternoon when the Nationals and Pirates take the field for their series finale, but at least it's going to be dry after last night's rain-delayed affair. The Nats are going for the sweep, not to mention a six-game winning streak sandwiched around the All-Star break. For the third straight day, they won't have Daniel Murphy in their lineup. Dusty Baker had indicated Murphy would likely be starting today at first base, and he both jogged and took batting...

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Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0

July 16, 2016, 6:54pm

Nationals

Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0

The same script repeated itself in the first two games of the series between the Nationals and Pirates at Nationals Park. A Nats starter went at least eight innings. The Nats scored at least five runs, including a homer. The Pirates committed defensive mistakes. The Nats won the series Saturday night in a rain-delayed 6-0 defeat of Pittsburgh. Tanner Roark (9-5) went eight innings plus two batters, allowing five hits. Blake Treinen notched three outs in the ninth. The Nats have won five in a...

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Aggressive Nationals match 2015 steals total (Nats win 6-0)

July 16, 2016, 5:16pm

Nationals

The Nationals entered the season saying they were going to be more aggressive on the bases. And they have backed it up. With two stolen bases in the first two innings of tonight's game, the Nats now have successfully swiped 57 bases this year. That already matches their entire total from 2015, even though they're playing only their 92nd game tonight. And the Nationals' first steal of this game made a difference. Jayson Werth, who drew a one-out walk off Gerrit Cole in the bottom of the...

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Murphy good to go, but Baker holding him out (first pitch at 8:15 p.m.)

July 16, 2016, 2:06pm

Nationals

Murphy good to go, but Baker holding him out (first pitch at 8:15 p.m.)

Daniel Murphy is out of the Nationals lineup for the second straight night, but the veteran infielder is available to come off the bench and likely will start Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. Murphy, who is dealing with a sore left hamstring, actually told Dusty Baker he was well enough to start tonight, but the manager elected to take a more cautious route and hold off for another day. "It's just from my experience - my own personal experience and experience as a coach and...

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Baker and Drew on an ideal bench: Nats appear to have all the elements

July 16, 2016, 1:55pm

Nationals

Baker and Drew on an ideal bench: Nats appear to have all the elements

Stephen Drew and Clint Robinson are starting tonight. Drew is essentially subbing for second baseman Daniel Murphy, who is out with a hamstring problem, and Robinson for first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the disabled list with a rib cage strain. Both Drew and Robinson have done quite well for a bench that has been strong since the beginning of the season. Drew has seven homers and 16 RBIs, while Robinson has added five homers and 19 RBIs. Chris Heisey, Jose Lobaton, Trea Turner and...

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Game 92 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

July 16, 2016, 11:13am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg set the tone last night with a dominant start to open the season's second half. Does Tanner Roark have one in himself tonight against the Pirates? Roark was given this assignment in part to keep him as close to on-schedule as possible. He hasn't started a game since July 6, but he did pitch 2 1/3 perfect innings in relief Sunday afternoon in New York, not a bad tune-up at all. The Nationals lineup faces a challenge tonight in Gerrit Cole, the Pittsburgh ace who returns from...

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Murphy confirms left hamstring "soreness," Baker says "day-to-day"

July 15, 2016, 7:03pm

Nationals

Murphy confirms left hamstring "soreness," Baker says "day-to-day"

Nationals first baseman Daniel Murphy was in the original lineup a few hours prior to Friday's opener against the Pirates. But about an hour before first pitch, the veteran was scratched due to "general leg soreness." Clint Robinson was inserted in the lineup, batting eighth and replacing Murphy. "Murph told me before BP, 'Stay ready, might be in there,' " Robinson said. "(Bench coach) Chris Speier told me during BP that I was in there. That's really all there was to it." The...

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Opposite dugout: Recent surge has stoked Pirates' postseason chances

July 14, 2016, 11:56am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Recent surge has stoked Pirates' postseason chances

Manager: Clint Hurdle (6th season) Record: 46-43 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: LF Starling Marte (.316/.363/.460 with 30 SB), RF Gregory Polanco (.287 with 12 HR, 50 RBIs), CF Andrew McCutchen (14 HR, 38 RBIs), RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.23 ERA, 27 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (3-4 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 15: LHP Francisco Liriano vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 16: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN...

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Taylor, Robinson make most of starting opportunity

July 15, 2016, 8:26pm

Nationals

Taylor, Robinson make most of starting opportunity

Michael A. Taylor was supposed to bat seventh, not second. Clint Robinson wasn't supposed to be batting anything, unless the situation called for a pinch-hitter late in last night's game. Funny how these things work sometimes, because wouldn't you know the two biggest offensive stars of the Nationals' 5-1 victory over the Pirates happened to be named Michael A. Taylor and Clint Robinson? Robinson recorded two hits against left-hander Francisco Liriano and drove in the Nationals' first run...

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Opening second half in style, Strasburg improves to 13-0

July 15, 2016, 7:46pm

Nationals

Opening second half in style, Strasburg improves to 13-0

In explaining why he was choosing not to pitch in the only All-Star Game that will take place in his hometown during his active career, Stephen Strasburg emphasized how it was more important for him to pitch not in an exhibition game in San Diego but in as many big games as possible for the Nationals the remainder of this season. "In my head, I want to make up for the two starts I missed (while on the disabled list)," the right-hander said last weekend in New York. "So hopefully I'll start...

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Strasburg goes to 13-0 with eight strong in win over Pirates

July 15, 2016, 5:51pm

Nationals

Strasburg goes to 13-0 with eight strong in win over Pirates

It turns out the rest might have worked out perfectly for Stephen Strasburg. Or maybe he didn't really need it at all. Strasburg twirled eight innings and allowed only one run, becoming the first National League starting pitcher since 1912 to start a season 13-0. The Nationals dropped the Pirates 5-1. Selected to the All-Star Game in his hometown of San Diego, Strasburg sat out of the game to rest and get ready for the second half. Earlier this season, he had been on the disabled list for 17...

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Strasburg dominating early once again (Nationals win 5-1)

July 15, 2016, 4:04pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg skipped the All-Star Game so he could put all of his efforts into pitching tonight's second-half opener. So far, the right-hander is putting that extra preparation to good use. Strasburg has tossed four scoreless innings so far against the Pirates, allowing only one batter to reach base (via walk). It's the third straight start in which he hasn't allowed a hit through his first four innings on the mound. Francisco Liriano has been nearly as sharp himself, retiring the first...

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Baker updates on Zimmerman and Ross

July 15, 2016, 1:14pm

Nationals

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...