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#TBT: Max Scherzer strikes out 16 in dominant performance

February 11, 2016, 5:51am

When reflecting on Max Scherzer's 2015 season, two no-hitters immediately come to mind - and rightfully so. However, I could argue that a performance that wasn't a no-hitter may have been his best start of the season. This game is a standout, as the Nationals ace simply made Brewer after Brewer look silly. In the shutout victory, Scherzer allowed just one bloop single and one walk while striking out 16. Yes, 16 batters! While he went on to record a nearly perfect no-hitter in his next start,...

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Dusty Baker on MLB Network documentary: "Why not now and why not me?"

February 10, 2016, 4:03am

Nationals

Dusty Baker on MLB Network documentary: "Why not now and why not me?"

New Nationals manager Dusty Baker was the subject of MLB Network's one-hour documentary, "Dusty: A Baseball Journey," which aired Tuesday evening. The show details Baker's early life growing up in Riverside, Calif., and then eventually moving to Sacramento, Calif., where he experienced racial divide in the mid-1960s. Baker, a gifted athlete from an early age, and his friends eventually found an outlet in music. After attending the famous Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967, the group briefly...

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Max Scherzer always looking for improvement

February 09, 2016, 3:38am

Nationals

Max Scherzer always looking for improvement

Right-hander Max Scherzer arrived in Washington last January after pitching the previous five seasons in Detroit, which included winning the American League Cy Young award in 2013. In his first season pitching in the National League since 2009 with the Diamondbacks, Scherzer dominated hitters, tossing two no-hitters and challenging to win another Cy Young. "Last year, I thought I had the upper hand a little bit because it was the first time for me to actually face them," Scherzer told ESPN...

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A healthy Stephen Strasburg isn't focused on contract year

December 12, 2015, 9:02am

Nationals

A healthy Stephen Strasburg isn't focused on contract year

Stephen Strasburg battled through nagging injuries for much of last season, but emerged from two trips to the disabled list as one of the top pitchers in the majors down the stretch. The Nationals won eight of Strasburg's final 10 starts, while the right-hander went 6-2 with a 1.90 ERA, fanning 92 with just eight walks over 66 1/3 innings. A sprained left ankle in spring training coupled with a benign growth in his back bothered Strasburg's mechanics throughout the season. Speaking today at...

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Nats prospect watch: Drew Ward

February 10, 2016, 10:30am

Nationals

One power hitter that could make a nice move this year is Drew Ward. The high Single-A Potomac third baseman was able to play in the Arizona Fall League at the end of his 2015 campaign. He got the chance to play twice a week as a taxi squad participant for the Salt River Rafters. That experience was huge for the 21-year-old, who rubbed elbows with top prospects and learned from their game-to-game routine. "(That was) really good for him experience-wise being around a lot of good players,"...

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Mike Rizzo going all-in on Jonathan Papelbon

February 07, 2016, 10:20am

Nationals

Mike Rizzo going all-in on Jonathan Papelbon

On Sept. 29, a day after Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper tangled publicly in dugout, the eventual National League MVP attempted to sweep the mess underneath the rug. "If Pap's gonna help us win a World Series next year, that's what I need," Harper said in front of his locker after serving a team-imposed one-game suspension for his role in the fracas. During the same rap session, Harper indicated he planned to reach out to Papelbon at some point since the veteran closer had already been...

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Not the favorites this time, but expectations remain high for the Nationals

February 07, 2016, 3:13am

Nationals

Baseball is close. The biggest sports day of the year is upon us, as we'll all gather around for tonight's Super Bowl. But once the Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the Broncos or Panthers, we can truly the flip the calendar, allowing our attention to shift to the national pastime as spring training nears. There will be more than $100 million wagered legally in Las Vegas on tonight's game on anything from the final score to whether there will be an earthquake in the Bay Area during the game....

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Baseball America No. 1 Nats prospect: Lucas Giolito

February 08, 2016, 10:29am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 1 Nats prospect: Lucas Giolito

The image of top prospect right-hander Lucas Giolito pitching in a Nationals uniform could become even clearer this summer. Giolito paved the way to that end with a very positive 2015 campaign in which he pitched in 21 games, 19 of them starts, for 117 innings. He fired 131 strikeouts and only 37 walks. As expected, Baseball America has him as its top Nationals prospect. No. 1 Lucas Giolito Baseball America editor-in-chief John Manuel says Giolito has a very good shot of pitching for the...

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With Super Bowl in the books, time to turn attentions to baseball's questions

February 08, 2016, 6:17am

Nationals Orioles

With Super Bowl in the books, time to turn attentions to baseball's questions

Super Bowl 50 is complete. The Denver Broncos are celebrating a 24-10 victory against the Carolina Panthers. This all means, of course, that baseball spring training is the next big event. The Orioles' first workout for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 19. The Nationals start a day later. Both teams' pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18. The Orioles' biggest questions are pitching and right field. The Nationals' new manager, Dusty Baker, will have five new bullpen pitchers and a rotation...

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Joe Ross, Tanner Roark set to fill up Nationals starting rotation in 2016

February 06, 2016, 3:29am

Nationals

Despite knowing the Nationals were losing right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister from their rotation, there was still plenty attractive about coming to D.C. for new pitching coach Mike Maddux. "What an inventory of arms over here, man," said an excited Maddux when asked about the opportunity. "I look at a rotation that features Max Scherzer up top ... Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Joe Ross, Tanner Roark. Everybody's got their own little shtick going on there. One guy is...

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Playing the field with the non-roster invitees

February 05, 2016, 4:19am

Nationals

Playing the field with the non-roster invitees

Dan Uggla and Clint Robinson were among a host of veterans brought to Nationals spring training on minor league deals last year with seemingly no shot to crack a packed roster fresh off a division crown. Longtime major league outfielder Reed Johnson joined them in final days of camp. After years as one of the game's best power-hitting second basemen, Uggla's offense had dropped off a cliff in the couple of seasons prior and his appearance was considered more of a charity case when he showed...

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Out of the Park: Nats and MASN personalities get ready for spring training

February 05, 2016, 5:40am

Nationals

Out of the Park: Nats and MASN personalities get ready for spring training

It was a slow week on social media for the Nationals, which must mean we are getting closer to spring training. The guys are probably busy getting their affairs in order, planning their workouts for the next two weeks and setting their packing checklist before heading out for Viera, Fla. However, it seems that we do have some guys who are too eager and are already down by Space Coast Stadium. Well hello there!... #SpringTraining #nats #AmIEarly pic.twitter.com/IwtyGdGFjg -- Clint Robinson...

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Barrett begins throwing; more prospect watch on Giolito and Turner

February 04, 2016, 3:48am

Nationals

Barrett begins throwing; more prospect watch on Giolito and Turner

On Monday, left-hander Gio Gonzalez showed a video on Instagram of his first flat ground throwing session of the new year. It was just some standard warm-up for Gonzalez as he prepares once again for a major role in the Nationals starting rotation in 2016. But yesterday, maybe a more significant video from a Nationals pitcher was posted. Last Sept. 3, reliever Aaron Barrett underwent Tommy John surgery and then had a procedure to repair bone spurs and bone chips in his left ankle on Dec. 3. On...

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MLB Network to air Dusty Baker documentary on Feb. 9

February 05, 2016, 7:31am

Nationals

MLB Network to air Dusty Baker documentary on Feb. 9

Since being named as the new manager in early November, Dusty Baker has been busy learning about his new team. While the veteran skipper might prefer to rely on his own eyes at spring training, he met with his new charges during Winterfest weekend and has been having dialogue with key players throughout the offseason. Nationals fans have also been getting to know their new manager, who has made several trips to D.C. this winter to get acquainted with his new environment. If you're still trying...

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#TBT: Anthony Rendon charges grounder, makes great play to first

February 03, 2016, 12:20pm

Nationals

#TBT: Anthony Rendon charges grounder, makes great play to first

He's got pop in his bat and range while manning the hot corner. Unfortunately, third baseman Anthony Rendon was limited to 80 games last season due to injury. However, some experts are saying that Rendon could become a top infielder in the National League in 2016. Rendon certainly showed off his talent in the 2014 season. He scored 111 runs en route to finishing fifth in National League MVP voting and being named a Silver Slugger. So what could be on deck for a healthy Rendon? Hopefully, many...

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Is a Triple Crown next for Bryce Harper?

February 03, 2016, 4:34am

Nationals

Is a Triple Crown next for Bryce Harper?

By now we've thoroughly defined how historic Bryce Harper's record-breaking 2015 season was. But while expected after becoming one of the most hyped prospects the game has ever seen, Harper's year could also be described as a breakthrough. After bursting onto the scene with 22 homers in his rookie season, Harper couldn't exceeded that total as nagging injuries bothered him the following two years. In 2016, he mashed 42 longballs. Harper batted .330 in 2015, a whopping 58 points higher...

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Nats prospect watch Part II: Jose Marmolejos

February 03, 2016, 10:37am

Nationals

Nats prospect watch Part II: Jose Marmolejos

Almost making it into Baseball America's list of the top Nationals prospects was Jose Marmolejos, who smashed the baseball in 2015. The first baseman slashed .310/.363/.485 in 124 games for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. He hit 39 doubles, five triples, 11 homers and 87 RBIs. Marmolejos was so good he was honored as the Nationals organizational Offensive Player of the Year. Baseball America editor-in-chief John Manuel said his publication likes what they see from him offensively, but want...

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As spring training nears, still a few roster questions for Nats

February 01, 2016, 3:39am

Nationals

As spring training nears, still a few roster questions for Nats

A flip of the page in the calendar, and you can almost hear the crack of the bat, the pop of the glove and the smell the hot dogs. February is here and in just 17 days the clubhouse lockers at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., will be filled with brand new snow-white Nationals jerseys. So how close is general manager Mike Rizzo from establishing which 25 players will don the curly W cap on opening day in Atlanta? Probably the biggest surprise this offseason for the Nationals is that...

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Nationals need consistency from Gio Gonzalez in 2016 (Nats agree with Ryan)

February 02, 2016, 4:05am

Nationals

Count Gio Gonzalez among those itching for the return of baseball when pitchers and catchers report in 16 days. The Nationals left-hander posted a video on his Instagram account yesterday showing off his first flat ground throwing session in 2016. Last spring, Gonzalez showed up at Space Coast Stadium appearing noticeably heavier and joking about enjoying plenty of good Cuban food during the offseason. Followers of Gonzalez on social media know that Gonzalez appears much trimmer now after...

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Finding connections between the Super Bowl and baseball

February 02, 2016, 11:48am

Nationals Orioles

Finding connections between the Super Bowl and baseball

This is the NFL's Super Bowl week. It is the 50th Super Bowl. It should be Super Bowl L, in keeping with the sport's Roman numeral tradition, but this year, the NFL decided to go with "50" instead of the capital L. So while the Super Bowl is grabbing all the headlines, let's see how many baseball angles we can find to the Carolina-Denver game that's going to be played Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.: * Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, was supposed to be built in San...