nationals

A tough way to say goodbye if that's it for Jordan Zimmermann

September 30, 2015, 6:44pm

It couldn't have been the way Jordan Zimmermann wanted to go out - pitching in front of sparse crowd on the road in a meaningless late-season game with your teammates failing to score a run. In what is expected to be the swan song for Zimmermann, the winningest pitcher in Nationals history went out with a 2-0 loss. The Braves plated two runs off Zimmermann on a pair of two-out RBI singles, one in the first and another in the second. However, Zimmermann didn't allow Atlanta many more...

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Jordan Zimmermann finishes season with hard-luck 2-0 loss

September 30, 2015, 4:31pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann finishes season with hard-luck 2-0 loss

For the second straight night, the Nationals had a runner on second with no outs in the first and failed to score. Braves right-hander Williams Perez escaped Anthony Rendon's leadoff double by retiring the next three Nats, with Jayson Werth whiffing to end the frame. Meanwhile, Nick Markakis smoked a two-out double in the bottom of the inning off Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. A.J. Pierzynski followed with an bloop RBI single to left to get the Braves on the scoreboard first. Clint...

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David Huzzard: A most pivotal offseason

October 01, 2015, 4:30am

Nationals

Before Sunday's actions by Jonathan Papelbon, the Washington Nationals were already headed towards the most pivotal offseason since moving to Washington, D.C., but now it is going to be that much more difficult. The Nationals went from having Felipe Rivero, Craig Stammen and Papelbon in the bullpen for next season to just having Rivero and Stammen, remembering that Stammen is returning from major injury. A Nationals bullpen that was already in shambles is now more of a mess and is going to...

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Jordan Zimmermann's possible final act (Escobar scratched, Turner in)

September 30, 2015, 12:00pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann's possible final act (Escobar scratched, Turner in)

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound for possibly the last time in a Nationals uniform tonight. The free agent-to-be is expected to sign elsewhere this offseason after spending his entire career with the organization after the Nationals selected with him with the 67th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Zimmermann made his major league debut with a victory over the Braves on April 20, 2009. The right-hander went on to become the winningest pitcher in Nats history, compiling a 70-49...

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Matt Williams: "Who wouldn't want to be back and take another run at it?"

September 30, 2015, 7:39am

Nationals

Matt Williams: "Who wouldn't want to be back and take another run at it?"

What has been a trying second season as manager of the Washington Nationals is coming to a crashing end for Matt Williams. Just count the shambles of the past week. Last Wednesday night, Williams was forced to deal with his closer Jonathan Papelbon beaning Orioles star Manny Machado. Then Saturday, the Nationals realized their failures this season when the Mets clinched the National League East. Unbelievably, Sunday afternoon brought a new low when Papelbon attacked Bryce Harper in the dugout....

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Nationals game blog: Zimmermann aims to finish strong

September 30, 2015, 1:57pm

Nationals

When right-hander Jordan Zimmermann takes the hill tonight, it might be for the last time in his Nationals career. Zimmermann, whose contract expires at the season, is the Nats' all-time leader with 70 wins. Zimmermann's 2.52 ERA in 15 career starts against the Braves is his best against any National League opponent. In five starts versus the Braves this year, Zimmermann has gone 3-0, allowing just seven earned runs over 34 2/3 innings (1.82 ERA). Expect Clint Robinson to start at first base...

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Matt den Dekker's recent hot streak good sign for 2016

September 30, 2015, 8:52am

Nationals

Matt den Dekker's recent hot streak good sign for 2016

It is never easy to jump from the minor leagues straight into the major league fray and exceed. It usually takes a few at-bats, even a few games to get into a groove. But for Matt den Dekker, he smashed that preconception upon his return to the active roster in late August. In two of his first three games back, he notched base hits on a single and a double. Despite an 0-for-4 Tuesday, he has eight hits in his last four games. During that three-game stretch, den Dekker went 8-for-13 with three...

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Tanner Roark making a run for 2016

September 30, 2015, 5:22am

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark seized the opportunity last night to make a case to return to the starting rotation in 2016. Sure, Roark took the hard luck 2-1 loss, surrendering two solo homers to veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski, but he shut down the rest of the Braves lineup over 6 2/3 innings. "The arm's feeling great, the body's feeling great," Roark said to reporters. "Just two bad pitches. It usually boils down to five pitches in a start to determine if you give up runs or not....

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Wasted opportunities doom Nats in 2-1 loss

September 29, 2015, 6:50pm

Nationals

Wasted opportunities doom Nats in 2-1 loss

Tanner Roark turned in one of his best outings of the season, overmatching eight of the nine batters in the Braves lineup. Unfortunately for Roark, veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski was the lone Braves hitter who found plenty of success tonight. Pierzynki's second solo homer off Roark in the seventh gave the Braves a 2-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish as the Nationals lost the opener of their season-ending road trip. The Nationals wasted an excellent chance to even the score in the ninth. After...

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Nationals punish Bryce Harper for fight with Jonathan Papelbon

September 28, 2015, 12:06pm

Nationals

The Nationals punished outfielder Bryce Harper for his role in yesterday's dugout fight with closer Jonathan Papelbon by sitting the star slugger for this afternoon's game against the Reds. During his pregame press conference, Nationals manager Matt Williams struggled while attempting to give a clear explanation of what Harper did wrong to receive the penalty. "I don't know what he could've done differently, but he was involved in it," Williams said. "So that being said, we have to...

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Williams defends decision to send Papelbon back to mound after fight with Harper

September 27, 2015, 2:27pm

Nationals

Williams defends decision to send Papelbon back to mound after fight with Harper

A day after his team was officially eliminated from postseason play, Nationals manager Matt Williams was forced to deal with two of his most high-profile players fighting in the dugout. With the game tied 4-4, Bryce Harper - the favorite to win the National League Most Valuable Player award - lifted an easy fly ball to left. As Jeff Francoeur eased underneath the ball, Harper jogged down the line reaching the bag before heading for the first base dugout. Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon was...

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Rachel Levitin: Passion alive for baseball in D.C.

September 30, 2015, 5:48am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Passion alive for baseball in D.C.

It's been an eventful end to the season for the Nationals, to say the least. It's definitely not the conclusion predicted early on in the year. Spoiler alert: The Nats aren't going to the playoffs. The explosion at Nats Park over the weekend sparked a barrage of national media attention. This is may end up being an unpopular opinion, but getting to this end point is something that's been in the making for a decade. When I moved to D.C. in August 2015, all I wanted - more than anything - was...

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Braves win homer contest, game 2-1 over Nats

September 29, 2015, 4:30pm

Nationals

Braves win homer contest, game 2-1 over Nats

Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner opened tonight's game with singles against Braves right-hander Matt Wisler. But Wisler battled back, stranding both runners in the first. Ian Desmond led off with a double off the top of the center field wall, just missing his 20th homer. Again, the Nats were unable to plate a runner on second with no outs as Wisler retired the next three hitters in order. With two outs in the fourth, A.J. Pierzynski smacked a hanging curveball from Nats right-hander Tanner Roark...

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Opposite dugout: Braves counting on trio of rookie pitchers to halt Nats' 2015 domination

September 28, 2015, 8:52am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Braves counting on trio of rookie pitchers to halt Nats' 2015 domination

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (5th year) Record: 62-94 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Nick Markakis (.297 with 51 RBIs), 1B Freddie Freeman (18 HR, 66 RBIs), CF Cameron Maybin (10 HR, 22 SB), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (1.80 ERA, 7 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-13 Pitching probables: Sept. 29: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Matt Wisler, 7:10 p.m., MASN Sept. 30: RHP Jordan Zimmermann vs. RHP Williams Perez, 7:10 p.m., MASN Oct. 1: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Ryan Weber, 7:10 p.m., MASN Inside the...

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Scherzer's composure can help future Nationals pitchers find success

September 29, 2015, 1:06pm

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer came within five outs of his second no-hitter this season in Monday's 5-1 win over the Reds. "I thought he was going to do it again," said manager Matt Williams. "Some great plays early. T-Mo (Tyler Moore) made a great play, Uggs (Dan Uggla) made a great play at second base. Pitch count was in order. He was pushing it, but I thought he was going to do it again. He pitched really well." Scherzer has wanted to end this season strong, similar to what...

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Matt Williams' future is one of many decisions Mike Rizzo faces

September 28, 2015, 5:46pm

Nationals

Matt Williams' future is one of many decisions Mike Rizzo faces

Nationals manager Matt Williams poor handling of Sunday's dugout fight between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper paved the way for deeper questions about the skipper's future when general manager Mike Rizzo addressed the media on Monday afternoon. Following the melee in the eighth inning in which Papelbon lunged at Harper and then placed his hands on the superstar's throat, Williams sent Papelbon back out for the ninth inning of a 4-4 game against the Phillies because he's the Nats closer....

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Nationals game blog: Bryce Harper feasting on Braves' pitching this year

September 29, 2015, 3:33pm

Nationals

The Nationals begin a season-ending six-game road trip in Atlanta tonight. Washington enters the series with a 34-41 record away from Nationals Park. Bryce Harper has filled up the stat sheet playing against the Braves this year. The 22-year-old is batting .426 (23-for-54) with six homers, eight doubles, 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored in 15 games against Atlanta this year. Besides chasing a National League batting title, Harper is also close to breaking a few franchise records. His 123 walks has...

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Bryce Harper returns aiming for a batting title (with lineups)

September 29, 2015, 12:16pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper returns aiming for a batting title (with lineups)

Bryce Harper returns to the Nationals lineup a day after sitting out for disciplinary reasons resulting from his role in Sunday's dugout fight with Jonathan Papelbon. Lost in all the mess of the past few days is Harper's chance at National League batting title. Harper's .336 batting average is tied with Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for highest in the majors. Miami's Dee Gordon enters play tonight trailing Harper by just four points in the NL. After winning NL Player of the Week honors for...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Taking the good with the bad

September 29, 2015, 5:43am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Taking the good with the bad

It's been a weird couple of days to be a Nationals fan. I am used to being excited after a walk-off win, or sad after a big loss. But the past couple of days I have felt a feeling that I have never felt before as a Nationals fan - embarrassment. I was embarrassed by the way Jonathan Papelbon bullied the best player on the team and best player in baseball, Bryce Harper. I was embarrassed that the Nationals coaching staff let Papelbon play after the attack. I was embarrassed all around that no...

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Rizzo on Papelbon's suspension, Harper's role in altercation, Williams' future with Nats

September 28, 2015, 3:21pm

Nationals

Rizzo on Papelbon's suspension, Harper's role in altercation, Williams' future with Nats

Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo met with the media after the Nationals' 5-1 win over the Reds on Monday. It was the first time he had spoken publicly since the team suspended closer Jonathan Papelbon for four games without pay following Papelbon's physical altercation with Bryce Harper in the dugout during Sunday's game. Rizzo explained the reasoning for Papelbon's suspension: "We hold our players at a high standard. I always brag about the fact...