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Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman nearing returns

July 25, 2015, 8:26pm

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals added infielder Anthony Rendon back to their lineup on Saturday night and they appear to be closing on two more key players rejoining the ballclub. Outfielder Jayson Werth was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs while playing left field in Triple-A Syracuse's loss Saturday night. It was the 35-year-old's eighth minor league rehab game in the last 10 days. Werth has been on the disabled list since fracturing his left wrist on May 16. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman...

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Marty Niland: Taylor's breakout recalls past Senators rookie phenom Allison

July 27, 2015, 4:40am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Taylor's breakout recalls past Senators rookie phenom Allison

There's nothing quite like seeing a major league rookie come into his own, especially when he's making the most of an opportunity to fill in for a starter. You can say, "I remember when ..." So it was fun watching Michael A. Taylor have a breakout weekend, even though the Nationals lost a difficult series in Pittsburgh and saw their NL East lead over the New York Mets shrink to two games. The rookie recorded the first four-hit game of his career on Saturday, including a two-run,...

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Nats bats quiet in 3-1 loss

July 26, 2015, 10:32am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - Michael A. Taylor crushed a 1-0 fastball from Pirates starter Gerrit Cole over the wall in right-center field for a solo home run with two outs in the third. Taylor has now homered in consecutive games. The rookie has six hits and four RBIs in the series. The Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame with RBI singles from Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen. Right-hander Joe Ross has allowed two runs on four hits with one walk, one hit batter and four strikeouts through three...

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Top Nationals pitching prospect Giolito promoted to Double-A

July 25, 2015, 9:44am

Nationals

The Nationals' top prospect, right-hander Lucas Giolito, has been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg according to a release from the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 21-year-old, a 2012 first-round selection, has gone 2-3 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 10 starts. On July 6 versus Wilmington, he went six innings, allowed three hits, no runs, one walk and struck out 10. In five of those starts, he did not surrender an earned run. Rick Giolito, Lucas' father, broke the news on Twitter: Proud of...

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Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar return to Nationals lineup

July 25, 2015, 12:18pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals lineup is beginning to round into form. Anthony Rendon returns from the disabled list after missing the last 25 games with a strained left quad. Manager Matt Williams has penciled Rendon in at second base where he has started 12 of his 18 games this season. The Nationals also welcome back Yunel Escobar after the 32-year-old rested his sore left wrist and hand the past two games. Escobar, whose .321 batting average is fifth in the National League, will play third...

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Second base or third, it doesn't matter to Anthony Rendon in return

July 25, 2015, 3:08pm

Nationals

Second base or third, it doesn't matter to Anthony Rendon in return

PITTSBURGH - This hasn't been the season Anthony Rendon expected after his breakout year in 2014. Rendon's sophomore campaign in the big leagues saw the Nationals' 2011 first round pick lead the National League in runs scored and finish tied for fifth in hits while smacking 21 homers and driving in 83 runs. The now 25-year-old's 6.5 WAR was tied for second-highest in the league, and he finished fifth in the NL MVP voting. But, a sprained left MCL suffered on a dazzling diving stop in...

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Anthony Rendon sits in series finale (with lineups)

July 26, 2015, 7:33am

Nationals

Anthony Rendon sits in series finale (with lineups)

PITTSBURGH - A day after returning from the 15-day disabled list, Anthony Rendon is not in the lineup as the Nationals aim for a split with the Pirates in the series finale. Rendon went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but he did collect an RBI on a sacrifice fly in Washington's 9-3 win last night. Nationals manager Matt Williams has indicated Rendon will be rested until he fully returns to playing shape after missing 25 games with a left quad strain. Yesterday's game was Rendon's sixth in a...

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Michael A. Taylor, Ian Desmond lead Nationals' offensive attack in 9-3 win

July 25, 2015, 7:57pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - Whether it was adding Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar back to the lineup or the sight of Pirates right-hander A.J. Burnett on the mound, the Nationals' offense erupted in a 9-3 win over Pittsburgh. Burnett gave up a career-high 14 hits against the Nationals on June 19. Tonight, the Nats drilled the 17-year veteran for 11 hits and five runs before knocking him out in the sixth. "For us, it's a little bit of what we do," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Yunel hit a couple...

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Ian Desmond's hot streak continues in Nats' 9-3 win

July 25, 2015, 3:53pm

Nationals

Ian Desmond's hot streak continues in Nats' 9-3 win

PITTSBURGH - Ian Desmond continued his hot streak with a one-out single to right in the second. Jose Lobaton followed with a base knock to center, advancing Desmond all the way to third. Pirates starter A.J. Burnett then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Desmond to race home safely for the game's first run. Desmond is 9-for-17 with three homers and five RBIs since Monday. The Pirates have one hit off Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, though the left-hander has been helped by some stellar defense...

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Nationals reinstate Anthony Rendon from DL

July 25, 2015, 11:22am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals took a major leap forward on the road to health by reinstating Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list this afternoon. Rendon's season has been plagued by three different injuries, limiting him to just 18 games for the Nationals. A sprained left MCL suffered in spring training followed by a left oblique strain robbed Rendon of the first 53 games of the year. The 25-year-old returned to hit .290/.375/.362 with five doubles and five RBIs before landing back on the...

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Sammy Solis breaks down his matchups in 7-5 loss to Pirates

July 25, 2015, 7:18am

Nationals

Sammy Solis breaks down his matchups in 7-5 loss to Pirates

Left-hander Sammy Solis entered Friday night's game versus the Pirates in a good situation. The Nationals had just tied the game at 5-5 on a dramatic home run by the hot-hitting Ian Desmond. After trailing 2-0 and 5-4, the Nationals had tied the game again. Max Scherzer was done, finishing five innings. Now it was time for the bullpen to take over and hold back the Pirates. It didn't work out that way for Solis. After a strikeout of Pedro Alvarez, Solis allowed a single to Francisco Cervelli....

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Ian Desmond is battling back

July 25, 2015, 6:01am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - All season long, Ian Desmond's teammates have picked him up, and last night he returned the favor. After Max Scherzer surrendered the lead on back-to-back homers in the fifth, Desmond evened the score to start the sixth with a solo bomb of his own. "I was pretty excited to get Max off the hook," Desmond said. Certainly, the numerous injuries have led to inconsistencies in the Nationals offense, but a season-long struggle from Desmond has interfered, as well. Desmond's average...

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Nationals reinstate Rendon from DL, option De Los Santos to Double-A

July 25, 2015, 11:19am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Abel De Los Santos to Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rendon, 24, returns to the Nationals' active roster after missing 25 games with a left quad strain. He appeared in six Minor League rehab games with Single-A Potomac, hitting .471 (8-for-17) with...

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Max Scherzer frustrated after surrendering three homers in Nats' 7-5 loss

July 24, 2015, 7:54pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer frustrated after surrendering three homers in Nats' 7-5 loss

PITTSBURGH - A month ago, Max Scherzer dominated the Pirates en route to throwing his first career no-hitter. Pittsburgh exacted full revenge tonight, bombing three homers off the ace to beat the Nationals 7-5. Jung Ho Kang picked up the Pirates' first hit off Scherzer this year with a one-out single in the second. Scherzer then missed on a 93 mph fastball to Pedro Alvarez and it ended up 460 feet away in the Allegheny River for a two-run homer. The Nationals fought back with a four-run...

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If Aroldis Chapman is acquired, who pitches eighth inning?

July 24, 2015, 5:41am

Nationals

If Aroldis Chapman is acquired, who pitches eighth inning?

The Nationals bullpen has been knocked around a couple of times in the last week. Fortifying this concern is the ongoing issue of not having a fireballer eighth inning setup man following the departure of Tyler Clippard to the Athletics last season. Casey Janssen is a veteran reliever that certainly works fast, but is more of a finesse pitcher. He has done a good job as the eighth inning guy recently. Manager Matt Williams has mentioned him in that spot a few times in the last week. Janssen has...

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Updates on Strasburg, Escobar, Rendon, Werth and Zimmerman

July 24, 2015, 3:27pm

Nationals

Updates on Strasburg, Escobar, Rendon, Werth and Zimmerman

PITTSBURGH - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg threw three simulated innings at PNC Park this afternoon. It was the first time Strasburg has thrown with live hitters standing in since he landed on the 15-day disabled list on July 4, a day after a strained left oblique knocked him out of his start in the fourth inning. "I thought he was good," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He was optimistic about it from the time he went to the bullpen to warm up." Strasburg tossed 17 pitches each...

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Max Scherzer tagged for three homers, Nats lose 7-5

July 24, 2015, 3:58pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer tagged for three homers, Nats lose 7-5

PITTSBURGH - After being on the wrong side of Max Scherzer's first career no-hitter on June 20, the Pirates appear to be taking a far more aggressive approach against the Nationals ace tonight. Jung Ho Kang took care of the Pittsburgh's first hit with a one-out single in the second. Pedro Alvarez followed with a moonshot, pulverizing a Scherzer fastball over the stands in right. The two run-homer, which one-hopped in the Allegheny River, was estimated at 460 feet. Scherzer has allowed two...

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Harper, Williams have similar goals, but a rivaled past

July 24, 2015, 2:56pm

Nationals

Harper, Williams have similar goals, but a rivaled past

As a kid growing up in Las Vegas, Bryce Harper knew about Matt Williams' All-Star baseball career. But Harper had reasons not to follow it too closely. Apparently, in-state rivalries never die in Nevada. Harper grew up in southern Nevada and Williams was from the north. "Being from Las Vegas, you hated the schools up north,'' Harper said. "It's a rivalry. You don't really like those teams up north. Las Vegas didn't like Reno.'' Williams can relate because he said northern schools...

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Max Scherzer faces Pirates for first time since no-hitter (Robinson scratched)

July 24, 2015, 11:28am

Nationals

Max Scherzer faces Pirates for first time since no-hitter (Robinson scratched)

PITTSBURGH - Max Scherzer makes his first start against the Pirates since he tossed his first career no-hitter against them on June 20 at Nationals Park. Scherzer was one strike away from throwing the 24th perfect game in major league baseball history when his slider clipped Pittsburgh's Jose Tabata on the left elbow. Eight days later, the Pirates designated Tabata for assignment. The Nationals have scored only four total runs in Scherzer's four starts in July, leading to a 1-3 record in the...

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Trade rumors and Anthony Rendon nearing return

July 24, 2015, 4:57am

Nationals

Trade rumors and Anthony Rendon nearing return

PITTSBURGH - With the non-waiver trade deadline exactly one week away, rumors are floating and action and is heating up. In the middle of the Nationals' 7-3 loss to the Pirates last night, MLB Network insider and FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported that two Reds scouts were in Vermont to put eyes on right-hander Erik Fedde, Washington's first-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Two #Reds officials are watching #Nationals Class A RHP Erick Fedde tonight in Vermont. -- Ken...