nationals

Burnett making serious case for inclusion in Nats bullpen

March 17, 2016, 7:14pm

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals had no idea what to expect when they signed Sean Burnett to a minor league contract in November. As much as they hoped they'd get the guy who established himself as one of baseball's best left-handed relievers during his first stint with the organization from 2009-12, reality suggested it was a long shot. Burnett, after all, had appeared in only 16 major league games since departing from Washington more than three years ago, none since May 27, 2014, when elbow pain...

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Heisey hopes walk-off homer is spark toward spot on bench

March 17, 2016, 1:54pm

Nationals

Heisey hopes walk-off homer is spark toward spot on bench

VIERA, Fla. - Today's game was perhaps the wildest the Nationals have played so far this spring, a back-and-forth affair with the Braves that included six home runs on an afternoon when the wind wasn't even blowing that hard at Space Coast Stadium. It was the last of those six homers - Chris Heisey's three-run, walk-off shot to left in the bottom of the ninth - that secured the Nationals' 9-7 victory and left them an impressive 11-3-2 in Grapefruit League play. Heisey, who took right-hander...

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Longtime nemesis Freeman terrorizes Strasburg, Nats (Heisey walks off Braves)

March 17, 2016, 11:27am

Nationals

Longtime nemesis Freeman terrorizes Strasburg, Nats (Heisey walks off Braves)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 9, Braves (ss) 7 Recap: Chris Heisey hit a walk-off three-run home run in the ninth to give the Naitonals the victory in a game that featured six total homers. Freddie Freeman, making the road trip as part of the Braves' split-squad team, did his usual damage against Nationals pitching, homering twice with three RBI and a walk before departing after five innings. The first homer came against Stephen Strasburg, who was dominant at times but had to battle...

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Arroyo admits career could be over due to rotator cuff tear

March 17, 2016, 8:58am

Nationals

Arroyo admits career could be over due to rotator cuff tear

VIERA, Fla. - Bronson Arroyo says his rotator cuff is "significantly torn" and though he'll wait a few days for doctors to compare the latest MRI of his shoulder with one from 2014, the 39-year-old right-hander admits he may be forced into retirement. "We'll see if it might be something we could calm down and maybe try to rehab, but it's probably going to be a long shot at this point," Arroyo said this afternoon. "We're just going to take a couple days to really look at it, let them...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves (ss) in Viera

March 17, 2016, 6:27am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves (ss) in Viera

VIERA, Fla. - Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. To celebrate the occasion, the Nationals today are wearing Kelly green caps and special white jerseys with green trim. Dusty Baker said they also were serving cabbage in the clubhouse. Really getting into the spirit. Anyways, today's game features the vast majority of the Nats' regular lineup, with only first base (Clint Robinson) and shortstop (Trea Turner) perhaps occupied by someone who won't be there on April 4. Ryan Zimmerman, who made...

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Taylor homers, Espinosa hits and bullpen dominates

March 16, 2016, 7:45pm

Nationals

Taylor homers, Espinosa hits and bullpen dominates

VIERA, Fla. - Bronson Arroyo's potentially career-ending shoulder injury, Blake Treinen's strong performance in place of Arroyo and Ryan Zimmerman's spring debut at first base all drew the most attention yesterday at Nationals camp, but there were some other developments worth mentioning before we move on to today's game against the Braves and an official announcement of Arroyo's status ... * Michael A. Taylor delivered the biggest hit in the Nats' 4-2 victory over the Marlins: a...

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Third baseman Drew Ward focuses on hand position and swing path

March 17, 2016, 8:05am

Nationals

Third baseman Drew Ward focuses on hand position and swing path

Third baseman Drew Ward could be fixing to have a Tyler Moore-, Steven Souza Jr.-, Matt Skole-type of offensive year in the minors. The 21-year-old has a big bat, the ability to hit for power. If he begins in high Single-A Potomac, he will get a chance to dominate at the plate and practice his fielding skills every day. He would love to cut down on the 118 strikeouts in 115 games. He had 19 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 49 RBIs. "He did really well at GCL and Hagerstown (in 2013 and...

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Arroyo's career could be finished due to reported shoulder tear

March 16, 2016, 4:34pm

Nationals

Arroyo's career could be finished due to reported shoulder tear

VIERA, Fla. - Bronson Arroyo, one of baseball's most reliable and durable pitchers for more than a decade, may well have seen his career come to an abrupt end due to a shoulder tear suffered during the past week at Nationals camp. Arroyo, who has been attempting a comeback from 2014 elbow ligament replacement surgery, has a torn labrum in his shoulder, according to MLB Network's Peter Gammons. Nationals officials couldn't immediately confirm the report, but the right-hander was due to be...

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No problems for Zimmerman in first game at first base

March 16, 2016, 12:51pm

Nationals

No problems for Zimmerman in first game at first base

JUPITER, Fla. - It really wasn't much to get excited about, certainly not in Ryan Zimmerman's mind. All he did was play five innings at first base this afternoon in the Nationals' 4-2 Grapefruit League victory over the Marlins, albeit for the first time this spring. Big deal? "No, it was just kind of the timetable we mapped out," Zimmerman said. "It was just: Get out there and go. I'll be ready to play some more after this." From a purely literal standpoint, what Zimmerman did today...

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Treinen impresses in emergency starting role (Nats win 4-2)

March 16, 2016, 11:08am

Nationals

Treinen impresses in emergency starting role (Nats win 4-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 4, Marlins 2 Recap: With scheduled starter Bronson Arroyo a late scratch due to shoulder soreness, the Nationals had to adjust on the fly this afternoon. Blake Treinen was up to the task, stepping in as emergency starter and cruising through two scoreless innings. Matt Belisle and Felipe Rivero took over from there, combining to retire all nine batters they faced out of the bullpen. The Nationals got a three-run homer from Michael A. Taylor, his second...

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Arroyo's status uncertain after sore shoulder sidelines him

March 16, 2016, 8:24am

Nationals

Arroyo's status uncertain after sore shoulder sidelines him

JUPITER, Fla. - Bronson Arroyo's attempted comeback from Tommy John surgery hit a snag today when the 39-year-old right-hander was scratched from his scheduled spring training start with shoulder soreness. Arroyo was supposed to pitch four innings against the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium, but Nationals manager Dusty Baker said the veteran hurler reported soreness earlier in the week when he tried to throw in between starts. The club waited a couple of days to see if the soreness dissipated,...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter (Arroyo scratched from start)

March 16, 2016, 6:38am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter (Arroyo scratched from start)

JUPITER, Fla. - Hello from Roger Dean Stadium, where the Nationals seem to play every other day in March. They're back today to face the Marlins, with several regulars having made the drive down from Viera. That includes Ryan Zimmerman, who today makes his spring debut at first base. Zimmerman served as designated hitter twice earlier in the week and showed no ill effects of the plantar fasciitis that plagued him last season, so he's good to play in the field today for the first time. Bronson...

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Morning leftovers on Burnett, Murphy, Moore and Sizemore

March 16, 2016, 3:11am

Nationals

Morning leftovers on Burnett, Murphy, Moore and Sizemore

VIERA, Fla. - Some morning leftovers to chew on as the Nationals make the drive down to Jupiter for today's game against the Marlins ... * He's been under the radar a bit, but Sean Burnett continues to impress this spring and is making a serious case for himself three years after he last pitched out of the Nationals bullpen. Burnett tossed a scoreless inning yesterday in Kissimmee, his fourth scoreless appearance of the spring. He has faced 12 total batters, retiring 10 of them. And the only...

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Despite 0-for-17 spring, Danny Espinosa "not overly concerned"

March 15, 2016, 1:36pm

Nationals

Despite 0-for-17 spring, Danny Espinosa "not overly concerned"

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - It has been Danny Espinosa's nemesis for more than three seasons now, occasionally disappearing but almost always resurfacing to raise doubts about the Nationals infielder. And it is rearing its ugly head again this spring. Espinosa's left-handed swing, the one thing that has kept him from long-term success in the big leagues, remains an issue right now. After an 0-for-3 afternoon in the Nationals' 6-4 win over the Astros - to be fair, two of the outs came on bunts - he now...

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Gonzalez laments "boneheaded mistakes" in latest start (Nats win 6-4)

March 15, 2016, 11:41am

Nationals

Gonzalez laments "boneheaded mistakes" in latest start (Nats win 6-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 6, Astros 4 Recap: Gio Gonzalez was efficient for a couple innings but then started having trouble finding the strike zone, leading to four walks. That said, only one Houston batter crossed the plate against the lefty: Marwin Gonzalez, who homered to lead off the fourth. The Nationals already owned a 3-0 lead at that point, thanks to RBI doubles by Daniel Murphy and Michael A. Taylor in the top of the third. There were opportunities for more offense,...

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Zimmerman ready to play first base for first time this spring

March 15, 2016, 8:10am

Nationals

Zimmerman ready to play first base for first time this spring

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman will make his spring debut at first base Wednesday, an important milestone for the Nationals, who also are making sure they're exploring several backup options at the position in case they're needed. Zimmerman has been taking a slow approach to his preparation this spring, not wanting to aggravate the plantar fasciitis in his left foot that plagued him most of the 2015 season. Though he has taken grounders at first base and participated in most team defensive...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in Kissimmee

March 14, 2016, 1:10pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Hello everybody, and a pleasant good morning to you from central Florida. Glad to be back down here - after a short break - for the duration of the spring. Thanks to Pete Kerzel for holding down the fort in my absence. When last we spoke, the Nationals were only 2 1/2 weeks into camp, having played only four Grapefruit League games. Since then, they have begun to trim their roster, stretch out their starting pitchers and worked everyone into the lineup (including guys like...

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Baker bemoans 11 whiffs in 1-1 tie (plus roster moves)

March 14, 2016, 12:57pm

Nationals

Baker bemoans 11 whiffs in 1-1 tie (plus roster moves)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals struck out 11 times Monday against Astros pitching, including three whiffs in the final two innings with the potential go-ahead run in scoring position. That's too much fanning for manager Dusty Baker, who wants his team to make sure they're not overaggressive at the plate. "Boy, it's a little frustrating when you've got a chance to win over and over, and strikeouts have plagued us." In the eighth, with Reed Johnson on third after Stephen Drew's two-out...

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Correa makes Ross pay for mistake (Nats, Astros tie 1-1)

March 14, 2016, 10:55am

Nationals

Correa makes Ross pay for mistake (Nats, Astros tie 1-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 1, Astros 1 Recap: Joe Ross allowed only one run during his four-inning stint, a solo homer to Carlos Correa with two down in the first. The Nationals managed only one hit - a Brendan Ryan single in the third - off Houston's Dallas Keuchel's three innings. The Nats tied the game in the sixth when Reed Johnson was hit by a James Hoyt pitch with the bases loaded. The rally was stoked by Hoyt's wild pitch on a swinging third strike by Matt den Dekker, who...

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Hardly star struck, Baker says Harper's baseball knowledge is impressive

March 14, 2016, 6:14am

Nationals

Hardly star struck, Baker says Harper's baseball knowledge is impressive

VIERA, Fla. - In the few weeks he's been around Bryce Harper on a regular basis, new Nationals manager Dusty Baker has enjoyed getting to know the reigning National League MVP. Managing stars is hardly new territory for Baker - he's skippered clubs with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Joey Votto, among others - but Harper's unbridled enthusiasm for the game and his encyclopedic knowledge of its history and players have made their mark. "He's a very knowledgeable young man," Baker said when...