nationals

Could pitching be Mets' Achilles' heel in September?

August 27, 2015, 12:38pm

The Nationals are struggling to keep pace in the National League East, but there's still a good chance they are going to win the division. The reason: The first-place New York Mets are facing pitching issues as the season goes into the final month. In a nutshell, the Mets' pitching has gone from a strength to a concern. The Mets' young starters are running out of gas, and the bullpen is thin and will be running near empty by mid-September. The Mets' bridge from rotation to bullpen is...

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Aggressive play backfires as Nationals lose ground with 6-5 loss

August 26, 2015, 8:06pm

Nationals

The Nationals can't afford to battle themselves and the Mets at this point in the season. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez came out sluggish, forcing the Nats to fight uphill all night. An error by Yunel Escobar coupled with an ill-timed double play grounder interfered with a comeback effort as the Nationals fell 6-5. Gonzalez trudged through a 26-pitch first inning, but escaped with consecutive strikeouts of Justin Upton and Jedd Gyorko. The next time Gonzalez faced the meat of the Padres order, the...

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Gonzalez on loss to Padres: "You got to make a better pitch"

August 26, 2015, 7:27pm

Nationals

Gonzalez on loss to Padres: "You got to make a better pitch"

The Nationals got down early against the Padres with left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the mound. San Diego led 4-0 after three innings and 5-1 after four. The Padres would eventually hold on for the 6-5 win. It marked Gonzalez's third straight loss. Unfortunately, this trend of early deficits has been repeated in his three most recent starts. Gonzalez has now allowed four or more earned runs in those three starts since August 15. He has been unable to record more than five innings of work in six of...

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Brotherly love: Little brother Joe Ross looks to return favor to Tyson Ross in series finale

August 27, 2015, 6:04am

Nationals

Brotherly love: Little brother Joe Ross looks to return favor to Tyson Ross in series finale

Nationals 22-year-old right-hander Joe Ross has impressed from his major league debut as a pitcher who doesn't get rattled. That is sometimes a surprising trait in a rookie hurler. In his last start against the Brewers on Saturday, Khrys Davis slammed a solo homer to start the seventh inning. Ross did not let the run alter his goal and was able to get the next three outs and complete a tremendous quality start. He went seven innings and allowed only six hits, one run and no walks while...

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David Huzzard: It's time to plan for the offseason

August 27, 2015, 5:55am

Nationals

David Huzzard: It's time to plan for the offseason

With the Nationals' 6-5 loss to the Padres on Wednesday night, the Nats are now 6.5 games back of the Mets, and it might be time to start thinking about next year. The first action that most people are going to want is for Matt Williams to be fired, which could and probably should happen but isn't a big difference-making move. Matt Williams' managing philosophy is to interfere as little as possible with the game on the field. In other words, if the players were playing well then the Nats...

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Nats' season of injuries gets bizarre as Reed Johnson strains oblique on sneeze (Update)

August 26, 2015, 1:45pm

Nationals

Nats' season of injuries gets bizarre as Reed Johnson strains oblique on sneeze (Update)

If the Nationals miss these playoffs, injuries will undoubtedly be blamed for the team not meeting the sky-high expectations placed on them. Some have been blatant like Jayson Werth's fractured left wrist on a darting fastball, while others, such as Anthony Rendon's sprained MCL on a diving play, seemed otherwise harmless. Just last week, there was the unlucky Tyler Moore spraining his left ankle while accidentally stepping on a baseball in the batting cage. But none of the Nationals injuries...

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Comeback falls short, Nats lose 6-5

August 26, 2015, 4:07pm

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez labored through a 26-pitch first inning that included a hit and a walk before finally escaping with back-to-back strikeouts of Justin Upton and Jedd Gyorko. Denard Span drilled a leadoff double in the first and then advanced to third on Jayson Werth's groundout. But Span was stranded as Padres starter Tyson Ross fanned Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper to end the inning. Ross singled off Gonzalez to start the third. After Yangervis Solarte popped out, Melvin Upton Jr. hit a grounder...

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Nats game blog: Nationals seek third straight series win tonight against the Padres

August 26, 2015, 2:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals can win their third straight series with a victory in tonight's second game of the series against the San Diego Padres. The Nationals toppled the Friars 8-3 last night behind a grand slam from Ryan Zimmerman. They also dropped the Rockies (2-1) and Brewers (2-1) in their last two series. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-6, 3.98 ERA) looks to bounce back from two losses in a row. He is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts against San Diego. Padres right-hander Tyson Ross (8-9, 3.32) is...

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Nationals need strong September and collapse by Mets

August 26, 2015, 5:15pm

Nationals

The Nationals, picked to win the World Series by virtually every prognosticator across the country, are in a bind: They are going to need a strong September and a collapse by the Mets to play in October. The situation is this: If the Mets, leaders in the National League East, go 20-17 in their final 37 games, they'll have 89 wins. That means the Nationals would have to win 26 of 38 to tie. Players prefer to talk about short-term rather than long-term. This is the time of year a team needs...

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Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development

August 26, 2015, 3:16pm

Nationals

Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development

The Nationals are taking on the Padres this week and there has been talk about rookies Trea Turner and Joe Ross playing for the first time against the team that drafted them. But San Diego also has a starting catcher/first baseman in Derek Norris who began his career in the Nationals system and was drafted by the team in 2007 as a fourth-round selection. Norris played five seasons (2007-2011) in the Nationals organization, reaching Double-A Harrisburg, before being traded to the Oakland A's in...

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Nationals starter Joe Ross came within one day of facing older brother Tyson Ross

August 26, 2015, 1:12pm

Nationals

According to Baseball Almanac, it has happened only 21 times. The last time was 2009 when Jered faced his brother Jeff Weaver. Phil and Joe Niekro squared off nine times in their careers. It almost happened in this series here at Nationals Park this week. Brother vs. brother on the starting pitching mound. The Nationals and Padres came within one day of pulling it off at Nationals Park. Right-hander Tyson Ross pitches tonight for the Padres. Little brother Joe Ross starts for the Nationals...

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Gio Gonzalez aims to continue winning streak (with lineups)

August 26, 2015, 11:47am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez aims to continue winning streak (with lineups)

Gio Gonzalez looks to get back on track against the Padres tonight. Gonzalez was on a roll, going 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA over eight starts from June 21-Aug. 10. But since then, the left-hander has battled command issues, dropping two straight games while surrendering 11 runs (10 earned) over just 7 2/3 innings (11.74 ERA). Gonzalez is 5-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 starts at Nationals Park this season. The Padres send Tyson Ross (8-9 3.32 ERA), older brother of Nationals starter Joe Ross, to the mound...

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Trea Turner on facing his former team for first time since trade

August 26, 2015, 6:34am

Nationals

Trea Turner on facing his former team for first time since trade

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round in June, 2014. This season, in the middle of June, he was the player to be named later as part of a three-team, 11-player trade that finally brought him to the Nationals. This week, Turner is getting a chance to face the team that selected him with their top pick in 2014. Turner looked over and saw some familiar faces as he worked in a pregame fielding session Tuesday. "Yeah, it's different just seeing them...

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Fair or foul, Bryce Harper helped Nats to 8-3 win

August 26, 2015, 4:32am

Nationals

Fair or foul, Bryce Harper helped Nats to 8-3 win

The Nationals held a two-run lead in the sixth last night when Ryan Zimmerman's grand slam changed the complexion of the game, allowing Washington to coast to their third straight win 8-3. Zimmerman's epic homer would not have happened if not for a blown call by home plate umpire David Rackley. With two outs and Anthony Rendon on first, the Nationals had Bryce Harper at the plate facing left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. On a 2-1 count, Harper hit a grounder right at Padres first baseman Yonder...

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Stephen Strasburg shuts down Padres in Nats' 8-3 win

August 25, 2015, 7:40pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg shuts down Padres in Nats' 8-3 win

This Nationals season has been marred by injuries since spring training. Most of tonight's pregame attention was dominated by the return of Denard Span from the disabled list, finally making the Nats lineup whole for the first time year in the 124th game. But it was Stephen Strasburg, who twice lost large chunks of the season to DL stints, dominating the Padres over six strong innings in the Nats' 8-3 win. Yonder Alonso singled to lead off the second and Jedd Gyorko followed with a two-run...

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Zimmerman's grand slam highlights Nationals' 8-3 win over Padres

August 25, 2015, 7:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals subdued the Padres 8-3 to start their series Tuesday at Nationals Park. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman broke the game open with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth that provided the Nationals with an 8-2 lead. Facing Bud Norris, Zimmerman was able to get ahead in the count and then drove a fastball over the right-center field fence. It was his first grand slam since July 2013, also against the Padres. "Slider, good pitch, but a little bit off the plate," Zimmerman said of the...

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Nationals look to go streaking

August 25, 2015, 4:38am

Nationals

It doesn't appear that the New York Mets will make it easy for the Washington Nationals to catch them. The Mets extended their lead in the National League East to 5 1/2 games after bashing a club-record eight home runs in a 16-7 win in Philadelphia last night. The Mets, who welcomed David Wright back from the disabled list, play three more against the Phillies this week while the Nats open a series with the Padres in D.C. The Nats, coming off back-to-back win over the Brewers, haven't won...

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Strasburg, Zimmerman lead Nats to 8-3 win

August 25, 2015, 3:35pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Zimmerman lead Nats to 8-3 win

Stephen Strasburg gave up a leadoff single to Yonder Alonso in the second. Jedd Gyorko then smacked Strasburg's 97 mph fastball over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Strasburg retired the next three Padres in order. The right-hander has four strikeouts through two innings. The fans at Nationals Park welcomed Denard Span back from the disabled list with a standing ovation before his first at-bat. Span grounded out to shortstop. Update: Yunel Escobar singled off Padres starter James Shields...

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Opposite dugout: Whether Padres make moves or not, they haven't lived up to expectations

August 24, 2015, 4:45pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Whether Padres make moves or not, they haven't lived up to expectations

Manager: Pat Murphy (1st season) Record: 61-63 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Matt Kemp (.267/.314/.423 with 15 HR, 76 RBIs), LF Justin Upton (.258/.344/.448 with 20 HR, 67 RBIs), 3B Yangervis Solarte (.269/.325/.425 with 10 HR, 49 RBIs), RHP James Shields (9-5, 3.74 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (35 saves, 2.94 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-3 Pitching probables: Aug. 25: RHP James Shields vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 22: RHP Tyson Ross vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m.,...

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Williams explains Roark decison, lines up Scherzer to face Mets

August 25, 2015, 2:25pm

Nationals

Williams explains Roark decison, lines up Scherzer to face Mets

In order to make room for the return of Denard Span from the 15-day disabled list, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Matt Williams were left with the tough decision to option right-hander Tanner Roark to Single-A Potomac. Roark, who went 15-6 with a 2.66 ERA in 31 starts last season, has worked primarily out of the bullpen this season. He's 1-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 28 relief appearances. However, with rookie right-hander Joe Ross nearing an innings limit, the Nationals are sending...