nationals

Opposite dugout: Padres stuck in NL West cellar, may soon be sellers

June 15, 2016, 3:59pm

Manager: Andy Green (1st season) Record: 27-40 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Wil Myers (.281 with 14 HR, 39 RBIs), RF Matt Kemp (15 HR, 43 RBIs), CF Melvin Upton Jr. (9 HR, 30 RBIS, 13 SB), LHP Christian Freidrich (3-1, 2.12 ERA), LHP Drew Pomeranz (57, 2.88 ERA), RHP Fernando Rodney (13 saves, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 16: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Erik Johnson, 10:10 p.m., MASN2 June 17: RHP Joe Ross vs. LHP Christian...

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Cubs-Nationals series could be preview of NLCS

June 16, 2016, 5:15am

Nationals

The Nationals and Cubs, two of the best teams in baseball, finished playing their seventh and final game of the regular season Wednesday at Nationals Park. So, what happens now? Will they see each other again? If so, that means they'll meet with the pennant on the line. And, what did each team learn about the other? Nationals manager Dusty Baker says the Cubs will change by late in the season, but there are still nuggets that can be stored, just in case. Baker keeps notes and says he's gotten...

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Nats and Cubs trade early runs (Werth wins it again in 12th)

June 15, 2016, 12:32pm

Nationals

Nats and Cubs trade early runs (Werth wins it again in 12th)

The Cubs raced out quickly against Stephen Strasburg. Ben Zobrist slammed a solo homer on a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Strasburg then allowed a double to Jason Heyward on a drive that Ben Revere dove for but could not catch. Kris Bryant was called out on strikes. With Anthony Rizzo at the plate, Wilson Ramos caught Heyward attempting to steal third. Strasburg then struck out Rizzo. The Nationals counterpunched in the bottom of the first. Ben Revere led...

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Werth completes another walk-off win as Nats beat Cubs 5-4 in 12

June 15, 2016, 6:06pm

Nationals

Werth completes another walk-off win as Nats beat Cubs 5-4 in 12

There are 162 games in a regular season, but the Nationals are making a recent habit of "this win was better than that one" with each passing series victory. On a getaway Wednesday, the Nationals found a way to come back three separate times and shock the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in a 12-inning, four-hour and 17-minute heavyweight battle. The two of the three 40-win teams in the National League put together a thriller of a finale before a standing room only crowd of 42,000 at Nats Park. And those...

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District 34 podcast: Wrapping up Cubs series and previewing West Coast trip

June 15, 2016, 12:27pm

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Wrapping up Cubs series and previewing West Coast trip

We've got a quick episode for you today, as the Nationals finish their three-game series with the Cubs. Byron and I recorded the fourth episode of District 34 leading up to Stephen Strasburg's first pitch at Nats Park. During this brief episode, we wrap up this Cubs-Nats series ahead of the rubber match and look at Strasburg's start. He is the only undefeated starting pitcher left in Major League Baseball as he looks to improve his 10-0 record against the Cubs' Jason Hammel, who has never...

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Baker believes Strasburg's conditioning has improved

June 15, 2016, 11:28am

Nationals

Baker believes Strasburg's conditioning has improved

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is seeking his 11th win of the season today against the visiting Chicago Cubs. The win would also give the Nationals a series victory over the first-place Cubs. An 11th win would match Strasburg's win total from last season (11-7). Manager Dusty Baker didn't know Strasburg before this season, but has noticed a calmness with the way Strasburg goes about his business with each game. Baker believes one difference is that Strasburg is stronger physically this...

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Solis on late loss to Cubs: "It hurts"

June 14, 2016, 7:23pm

Nationals

The Nationals battled back to tie but were unable to take the lead late against the Cubs. Down 3-1, the Nats scored on a pair of sacrifice flies to tie the game heading to the ninth. After getting through the eighth, left-hander Sammy Solis ventured out to pitch the ninth. The Cubs opened with an Addison Russell walk. David Ross moved him up to second with a sac bunt. Rookie Albert Almora Jr. then broke the tie with a run-scoring double. The Cubs went on to win 4-3, handing Solis his second...

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Game 66 lineups: Cubs at Nats

June 15, 2016, 7:37am

Nationals

The Nationals and Cubs wrap up their regular season meetings today in D.C. The Cubs lead the season series 5-1, but the Nationals have the opportunity to win this three-game set with a victory today. The Cubs edged the Nationals 4-3 on Tuesday night. Center fielder Ben Revere knew it was going to be a battle. "It's just one of the games just got away from us," Revere said. "But hold our heads high, because we battled back, we got one more game to go, we win the series. Go on the road trip...

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Cubs-Nats games have proven tense, tight affairs so far

June 14, 2016, 8:07pm

Nationals

Cubs-Nats games have proven tense, tight affairs so far

There is a long way to go, a whole lot of baseball left to play and no way to know how things will shake out in the end. But there is at least a reasonable chance of the Nationals and Cubs seeing each other again in 2016, even after today's series finale on South Capitol Street. The owners of the NL's two best records after 2 1/2 months of baseball are well positioned to keep up their strong play and reach October. And then, it's quite possible they would square off at some point, once the...

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Charlie Fliegel: Nationals need to fill void at closer position

June 15, 2016, 4:40am

Nationals

It's one thing to lose a reliever, it's another to lose a closer. The Nationals' relatively effective closer, Jonathan Papelbon, went on the disabled list yesterday, and this is an issue for the team. Despite the fact that almost everyone in the bullpen has outperformed Papelbon, almost anyone else would have been easier to lose for 15 days (or more), because of the ripple effect of losing a closer. First, to finish off games, Dusty Baker and Mike Maddux will have to decide if they want to...

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Nats manufacture runs, but not enough to beat Cubs

June 14, 2016, 7:36pm

Nationals

Nats manufacture runs, but not enough to beat Cubs

More than two months into the season, the Nationals have established their ability to hit the ball out of the park. They lead the National League with 87 homers in 65 games. They have not yet, however, established their ability to manufacture runs. There have been glimpses, as there were tonight against the Cubs. But they haven't quite been able to get over that hump on a consistent basis. This 4-3 loss before a boisterous crowd of 41,955 - largest of the season to date - underscored the issue...

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Gonzalez laboring vs. Cubs lineup (Nats lose 4-3)

June 14, 2016, 4:23pm

Nationals

Gonzalez laboring vs. Cubs lineup (Nats lose 4-3)

Last time, it was the first inning that got Gio Gonzalez. This time, the damage has come in the third and fourth innings. Despite a promising start to his night, Gonzalez has run into trouble the second time around the Cubs lineup, giving up two runs in the top of the third and another in the top of the fourth to leave the Nationals in a 3-1 hole. It's a frustrating performance thus far for Gonzalez, who gave up three first-inning runs to the White Sox last week but then bounced back with six...

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Nationals host "Night Out" event at Tuesday's game, honor victims of Orlando tragedy

June 14, 2016, 3:26pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals hosted their 12th annual "Night Out" event during Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. The event is one of the largest LGBT nights in professional sports. The Nationals honored the victims of Sunday's shooting in Orlando. The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., sang "True Colors" and later the national anthem. There was also a flag unfurling on the pitcher's mound as well as recognition on the scoreboard. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Leslie...

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Cubs score late to drop Nats 4-3

June 14, 2016, 6:12pm

Nationals

In a tie game in the ninth inning, Jonathan Papelbon would usually be summoned. But with the closer on the disabled list with a intercostal strain, left-hander Sammy Solis battled through the eighth and ninth innings. With the score tied at 3-3 in the ninth, the Cubs used an Albert Almora Jr. RBI double to take a 4-3 lead. The Nats were unable to score a run in their last at-bats against Hector Rondon. The Cubs evened the series with the 4-3 victory. The Nationals had trouble solving Cubs...

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After initial reluctance, Papelbon agrees to first career DL stint

June 14, 2016, 1:56pm

Nationals

After initial reluctance, Papelbon agrees to first career DL stint

Jonathan Papelbon had never spent a day on the disabled list in his 12-year career, and he certainly didn't want to end that streak now after feeling a tug on his right side while throwing a warmup pitch before the top of the ninth of Sunday's game. But after meeting with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux late Monday night, Papelbon came to the realization a DL stint was in both his and the team's best interests. "I've taken a lot of...

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Baker hasn't decided who will close with Papelbon out

June 14, 2016, 1:14pm

Nationals

Baker hasn't decided who will close with Papelbon out

The Nationals placed right-hander Jonathan Papelbon on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Matt Belisle from his rehab assignment. Papelbon has a intercostal strain. Belisle was out with a right calf strain. Manager Dusty Baker must now decide who will be the closer until Papelbon returns. "I don't know yet," Baker said. "That's the same question you guys asked me: How are we going to get our bullpen leaving spring training and what roles our guys are going to have? This is...

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Papelbon lands on DL with intercostal strain, Belisle activated

June 14, 2016, 10:42am

Nationals

Papelbon lands on DL with intercostal strain, Belisle activated

The Nationals have placed closer Jonathan Papelbon on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain and activated fellow right-hander Matt Belisle off the DL to take his roster spot. It's not yet known how Papelbon, who had never before been on the DL during his 12-year career, suffered the injury. But the 35-year-old wasn't available to pitch during last night's 4-1 win over the Cubs, watching from the dugout as Shawn Kelley instead recorded the save. Manager Dusty Baker offered...

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Game 65 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

June 14, 2016, 10:54am

Nationals

The Nationals had plenty of reason to feel good about themselves last night after a 4-1 victory over the Cubs, one of their better wins of the season to date. But they arrived at the ballpark today to the news that they need to find a new closer for at least the next 15 days, with Jonathan Papelbon landing on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a right intercostal strain. We'll have to wait and see who Dusty Baker tabs as his ninth-inning guy for now, but it would be hard...

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Nationals on top thanks to largely mistake-free defense

June 14, 2016, 6:09am

Nationals

The starting pitching and offense get most, if not all, of the headlines when talking about the Nationals and their 40-24 start. But one team statistic that some might not have realized is how well the defense has played. The Nationals lead the major leagues in fielding percentage at .990. The Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants are next at .988. The 23 errors the Nationals have surrendered are by far the lowest in the majors. The next-closest are the White Sox (28) and Giants (29). On...

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With Papelbon "sore," Kelley steps in to close out win

June 13, 2016, 8:05pm

Nationals

With Papelbon "sore," Kelley steps in to close out win

When he returned to the dugout after striking out both batters he faced in the top of the eighth last night, Shawn Kelley had no idea he'd be returning to the mound for the top of the ninth. Until Dusty Baker approached him with a simple question. "He asked me how I felt, and I said I felt good," Kelley recalled. "He said: 'You're going back out.' That was pretty much the gist of it." So it was that one of the Nationals' most impressive wins of the season - 4-1 over the Cubs - was...