nationals

Tough night for Gio Gonzalez, Nats offense in 4-1 loss

September 22, 2015, 3:51pm

Both starters experienced early bouts with command problems in this game. The Orioles took advantage while the Nats did not. Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez issued consecutive free passes to Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper with one out in the first. But Jayson Werth was caught looking at a third strike, and then Clint Robinson grounded out to end the frame. In the second, left-hander Gio Gonzalez walked Caleb Joseph and J.J. Hardy. Jimenez delivered a two-out line drive single to center,...

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Max Scherzer starts Wednesday, Danny Espinosa suffers hamstring tear

September 22, 2015, 1:36pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer starts Wednesday, Danny Espinosa suffers hamstring tear

Nationals manager Matt Williams has shuffled his pitching rotation a bit after last night's rainout. Right-hander Tanner Roark, who was scheduled to start in Game 2, now moves to the finale on Thursday afternoon. Williams will keep his ace Max Scherzer on normal rest, sending the righty to the mound tomorrow night. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is due to take the hill for Friday's opener against the Phillies in what could be his final start at Nationals Park. Zimmermann, 29, becomes a free...

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Gio Gonzalez looks to set tone in series opener (with lineups)

September 22, 2015, 11:49am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez looks to set tone in series opener (with lineups)

Both Nationals manager Matt Williams and Orioles manager Buck Showalter stayed with their starters from last night's rainout. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes the mound for Washington after going 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA over his last three starts. He matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in a 12-2 win over the Phillies last Wednesday. Gonzalez started the Nats' lone loss in Baltimore before the All-Star break, but left in the seventh with a one-run lead before the Orioles tied the game in the...

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Bryce Harper deserves MVP in historic season

September 22, 2015, 4:52am

Nationals

Bryce Harper deserves MVP in historic season

During this final homestand, the Nationals began a campaign promoting 22-year-old sensation Bryce Harper for National League MVP. They loaded a one-page document full of mind-boggling statistics comparing Harper to his contemporaries, and in some cases, displaying prowess over some of the game's most legendary figures. Whether the Pope's arrival to D.C. later today can help the Nats miraculously turn a 6 1/2-game deficit into a NL East crown in the next 13 days should be irrelevant for...

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Rain postpones tonight's game, makeup scheduled for Thursday (updated)

September 21, 2015, 4:18pm

Nationals

Rain postpones tonight's game, makeup scheduled for Thursday (updated)

Persistent rain forced the postponement of tonight's game between the Nationals and Orioles. The two teams will make up the game this Thursday at 4:05 p.m. The Nationals and Orioles will play Tuesday and Wednesday with both games scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. Visit nationals.com/Rainout for information on rainout ticket exchange policies. Update: Nationals manager Matt Williams only chose to announce his starter for tomorrow's game. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who was set to go tonight, will...

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Nats game blog: Gio Gonzalez looking to repeat last start against Orioles

September 21, 2015, 2:03pm

Nationals

Nats game blog: Gio Gonzalez looking to repeat last start against Orioles

The Nationals and Orioles begin a rare series in late September. Both teams are in difficult predicaments in their quest to make the postseason. Last season, both squads had already clinched division titles at this time of the year. On September 21, 2014, the Nationals dropped the Marlins 2-1 behind Stephen Strasburg and led the National League East by 15 games. That day, the Orioles lost the Red Sox 3-2, but still led the American League East by 13 games. The Nationals took two of three in...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Picking postseason favorites with Nats on outside looking in

September 22, 2015, 6:03am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Picking postseason favorites with Nats on outside looking in

With the Nats 6 1/2 games out of the National League East with 13 games to go, it looks a lot like the New York Mets are going to pull away with the division title. There still is hope, though. The Nats are 6 1/2 games out, and the Mets are coming off a series loss against the New York Yankees. If the Nats can make up enough ground to roll into New York next week within three games of the division lead, they could pull of an end-of-season upset. As much as I would love to see that happen, it is...

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Pedro Severino debuts with double in first major league at-bat

September 21, 2015, 3:34pm

Nationals

Pedro Severino debuts with double in first major league at-bat

There were a plethora of Nationals highlights from Sunday's 13-3 drubbing of the Marlins, including the major league debut of highly regarded catching prospect Pedro Severino. Severino was one of the Nationals' initial September call-ups, joining the team on the first of the month in St. Louis. But the 22-year-old had yet to appear in a game until the eighth inning yesterday when manager Matt Williams summoned him to pinch-hit. Facing Marlins hard-throwing right-hander Jose Urena, Severino...

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Matt Williams reacts to weekly honors for Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper

September 21, 2015, 1:59pm

Nationals

Matt Williams reacts to weekly honors for Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper

In back-to-back years, the Nationals were given the opportunity to draft two players considered transcendent. Today, both of those young stars shared the National League's Player of the Week honors. Stephen Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, was recognized for the second time in his career (June 7-13, 2010) after going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA. The right-hander allowed just one earned run over 15 innings while striking out 24 and walking just two in dominating performances...

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Ryan Zimmerman still not able to swing bat, Danny Espinosa has strained hamstring

September 21, 2015, 1:36pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman still not able to swing bat, Danny Espinosa has strained hamstring

With the season winding down, the chances of seeing Ryan Zimmerman play again during the 2015 regular season are dwindling. Zimmerman has been out of the lineup since September 7 against the Mets. He has been listed as day-to-day with left oblique soreness. Every day the media comes into pregame and asks Nationals manager Matt Williams if Zimmerman has returned to baseball activities. Specifically, has he been swinging a bat? "No, not yet," said Williams. "We were thinking about it over the...

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Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg named co-NL Players of the Week (with lineups)

September 21, 2015, 11:24am

Nationals

Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg named co-NL Players of the Week (with lineups)

The Nationals and Orioles tangle in Game 1 of the Beltway Series, D.C. edition, from Nationals Park. Prior to the game, the Nationals announced that outfielder Bryce Harper and right-hander Stephen Strasburg have been named co-National League Players of the Week. The duo were back-to-back No. 1 overall selections by the Nationals in the First-Year Player Draft in 2009 and 2010. In seven games last week, Harper hit .519 (14-for-27) with a double, five walks, five homers and 10 RBIs. Strasburg...

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More Tyler Moore means more runs for Nationals

September 21, 2015, 5:48am

Nationals

It hasn't been easy for first baseman Tyler Moore to get a ton of starts or extended playing time this season. But in the final two games of the series against the Marlins, he showed what he can do when he gets consistent at-bats. Moore slammed a three-run shot in the sixth inning, giving him six homers on the season. He also hit a homer Saturday. In his three starts in the series, Moore hit .375 (3-for-8) with a double, two homers, a walk, two runs scored and four RBIs. Manager Matt Williams...

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Nats and Orioles set for Beltway Series with slim playoff hopes alive

September 21, 2015, 5:03am

Nationals

Nats and Orioles set for Beltway Series with slim playoff hopes alive

The Nationals and Orioles enter their Beltway Series clinging to slim playoff hopes. Baltimore is coming off a crushing 7-6 loss at Tampa Bay where closer Zach Britton blew a save by surrendering two runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Orioles are 5 1/2 games back of the Astros for the second Wild Card spot with 13 games remaining, but they must also leapfrog three teams - the Angels, Twins and Indians - to get there. Meanwhile, the Mets dropped two of three in their Subway Series to the...

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Opposite dugout: Orioles possess power, but poor pitching has dimmed playoff hopes

September 19, 2015, 12:40pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Orioles possess power, but poor pitching has dimmed playoff hopes

Manager: Buck Showalter (6th season) Record:73-76 Last 10 games:6-4 Who to watch: 3B Manny Machado (.289 with 29 HR, 75 RBIs), CF Adam Jones (27 HR, 82 RBIs), 1B Chris Davis (43 HR, 109 RBIs), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.287, 14 HR), RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (11-9, 4.31 ERA), LHP Zach Britton (2.04 ERA, 34 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: Sept. 21: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 22: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 23:...

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With Mets' recent struggles and pitching questions, Nationals have chance to catch NL East leaders

September 21, 2015, 8:25am

Nationals

The Nationals start the week six games behind the Mets in the National League East with 13 games to play. The Mets' magic number is eight, which means the race ends with any combination of Mets wins and Nationals losses totaling eight. Mathematically, the Nationals' chances are slim. But the Mets aren't the same team that swept the Nationals in D.C. earlier this month, so that helps the Nationals. "We're playing perfect right now,'' Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar said after going...

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Opposite dugout: Nats keeping playoff hopes alive behind Bryce Harper's MVP-type season

September 21, 2015, 6:49am

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Nats keeping playoff hopes alive behind Bryce Harper's MVP-type season

Manager: Matt Williams (2nd season) Record: 78-71 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Bryce Harper (.343/.470/.674 with 41 HR, 95 RBIs, 10.2 WAR), 3B Yunel Escobar (.324/.383/.429 with 53 RBIs), 2B Anthony Rendon (.278/.360/.380), SS Ian Desmond (18 HR, 60 RBIs), RHP Max Scherzer (12-11, 2.90 ERA), LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-7, 3.83 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 2-1 Pitching probables: Sept. 21: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 22: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Tanner...

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10 more strikeouts for Stephen Strasburg in Nats' 13-3 win

September 20, 2015, 2:07pm

Nationals

10 more strikeouts for Stephen Strasburg in Nats' 13-3 win

Widespread injuries are the main culprit for why the Nationals find themselves on the outside looking in to the playoffs with under two weeks remaining in the regular season. They also account for the primary reasons why Stephen Strasburg won't be mentioned in the Cy Young Award voting despite the dominant form the right-hander has displayed over the past three months. Strasburg's blazing fastball, nasty curveball and baffling changeup handcuffed the Marlins this afternoon. He fanned 10...

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Stephen Strasburg delivers dominant performance, Nats win 13-3

September 20, 2015, 10:14am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg delivers dominant performance, Nats win 13-3

The Nationals jumped on Marlins rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino early. Yunel Escobar drew a one-out walk and Bryce Harper followed with a single to center. Jayson Werth then hammered Nicolino's changeup over center fielder's Marcel Ozuna's head bringing Escobar and Harper racing to the plate for the game's first runs. Ian Desmond followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Werth. The Marlins got one back in the second when right-hander Stephen Strasburg walked Derek Dietrich....

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Yunel Escobar gets on base five times in Nationals' 13-3 dispatch of Marlins

September 20, 2015, 1:59pm

Nationals

Third baseman Yunel Escobar went 4-for-4 with a double, a walk and four RBIs as the Nationals steamrolled the Marlins 13-3. Escobar reached base in all five plate appearances and reached a personal milestone of 163 hits on the season. His previous career high was 158 hits in 2009 with the Braves. The key hit for Escobar arrived in the sixth. He slashed a double to deep right center field off of Scott McGough. The hit scored three runs. He had led off that same inning with a single to left...

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Trea Turner gets start at second base as Nats battle Marlins (lineups)

September 20, 2015, 7:52am

Nationals

Trea Turner gets start at second base as Nats battle Marlins (lineups)

The Nationals take on the Marlins seeking a series win following yesterday's 5-2 victory. The lineup includes the second major league start for Trea Turner, who will be at second base. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg (9-7, 3.98) gets the call following back-to-back starts in which he registered at least 13 strikeouts. He has tossed 15 1/3 innings in those two outings with 27 strikeouts. The Marlins counter with left-hander Justin Nicolino (3-3, 3.81), who was pushed back a day to get the Sunday...