nationals

With or without offense, Nationals will lean on Jordan Zimmermann

June 07, 2015, 6:19am

The Nationals will look to Jordan Zimmermann to salvage a split with the Cubs in today's series finale. Aside from his second start of the season against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Zimmermann has been stellar. The right-hander has allowed just seven earned runs over 41 innings in his last six starts to lower his season ERA to 2.88. "I've been feeling good," Zimmermann said. "I was a little off in the beginning and everything's working now, and right where I want to be." Zimmermann's...

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Escobar returns, Zimmerman sits (with lineups)

June 07, 2015, 9:27am

Nationals

Escobar returns, Zimmerman sits (with lineups)

Yunel Escobar returns to the Nationals lineup this afternoon after missing the past two games with a sore right wrist. Escobar injured his wrist on a check swing in the first inning of Thursday's loss to the Cubs and immediately left the game. Nationals manager Matt Williams has Escobar slated to bat second and playing third base with Anthony Rendon still in the cleanup role and at second base. Tyler Moore starts at first base today as Ryan Zimmerman gets a day off. Zimmerman, still hampered...

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Despite loss, Joe Ross and his teammates felt confident in rookie's debut

June 06, 2015, 12:12pm

Nationals

Despite loss, Joe Ross and his teammates felt confident in rookie's debut

Right-hander Joe Ross started off well, did what he needed to do and kept the Nationals in the game in his major league debut Saturday versus the Cubs. Chicago won the game 4-2, but Ross did well for himself and the Nationals. He went five innings, allowed six hits, three runs, all earned, no walks and struck out four. He had to throw 91 pitches in those five innings, 68 were for strikes. The 22-year-old Ross rolled through the Cubs lineup the first time without allowing a run or a hit. He sent...

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Washington Nationals Dream Foundation celebrates a "Decade of Dreams" at 2015 Dream Gala

June 07, 2015, 6:32am

Nationals

Last night at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation highlighted its community contributions at the 10th annual Dream Gala. As the primary fundraiser for the Nationals Dream Foundation, the 2015 Dream Gala â€‹netted more than $600,000 for the Foundation's three cornerstone programs which focus on children's health, education and recreation. The Dream Gala featured a cocktail reception and silent auction, a dinner program emceed by MSNBC television...

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Espinosa, Roark charge up Nats in 7-5 win

June 05, 2015, 8:05pm

Nationals

Espinosa, Roark charge up Nats in 7-5 win

When the season started, Tanner Roark was on the outside looking in on the Nationals starting rotation. After Anthony Rendon finally returned yesterday, Danny Espinosa was presumably the odd man out in the Nats lineup. Tonight, both Roark and Espinosa starred for the Nats in a 7-5 victory over the Cubs that snapped a three-game slide. The Nationals offense entered tonight sleepwalking through the last 10 days, but Espinosa woke them up in the second inning. After a leadoff single from Wilson...

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Nats Rizzo has confidence A.J. Cole will be big league starter (Update: Cole to Syracuse)

June 05, 2015, 7:29pm

Nationals

Nats Rizzo has confidence A.J. Cole will be big league starter (Update: Cole to Syracuse)

The Nationals will start Double-A Harrisburg right-hander Joe Ross Saturday. The first-round 2011 selection, who started his career with the Padres, follows rookie A.J. Cole in making his major league debut with the Nats. Cole started April 28 at Atlanta, but allowed nine runs, only four earned, in two innings. Down 9-1, the Nationals rallied to win that game in dramatic fashion, 13-12. Cole was then sent down, but has since made two more appearances with the Nationals on May 15 and May 23, a...

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Span continues stunning defense and Ross set for debut (with lineups)

June 06, 2015, 7:40am

Nationals

Span continues stunning defense and Ross set for debut (with lineups)

Denard Span leads the Nationals into today's early afternoon game against the Cubs. Despite recovering from two offseason abdominal surgeries and currently dealing with a sore right knee, Span continues to play defense at the highest level. With the Nats clinging a two-run lead in the eighth inning last night, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo blasted a sinker from right-hander Blake Treinen the opposite way to deep left-center field. Span, who was shading the left-handed Rizzo to pull,...

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Sluggish Nats offense returns in 4-2 loss

June 06, 2015, 8:43am

Nationals

Sluggish Nats offense returns in 4-2 loss

Joe Ross came out aggressive in his major league debut. The 22-year-old right-hander started his big league career with a strikeout after delivering Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler a steady dose of 95 mph heaters. Ross has retired the first nine batters he has faced with three strikeouts. Wilson Ramos opened the scoring in the second with a massive solo homer to deep left-center that landed among the diners in the Red Porch. The no-doubt shot was Ramos' fourth home run of the season Update:...

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Williams juggles lineup hoping to spark Zimmerman

June 05, 2015, 2:55pm

Nationals

Williams juggles lineup hoping to spark Zimmerman

Nationals manager Matt Williams will again be short-handed tonight, playing without Yunel Escobar, who injured his right wrist on a check-swing during his first at-bat last night. Escobar left the game immediately and underwent X-rays shortly after, which proved negative. "He's still a little sore so we'll have to keep evaluating day to day and see where he's at," Williams said. "It's a big force coming through there when you're fully committed to a swing and then you try to stop it,...

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Pitching prospect Joe Ross called up from Double-A to start Saturday

June 05, 2015, 2:09pm

Nationals

Pitching prospect Joe Ross called up from Double-A to start Saturday

Nationals manager Matt Williams confirmed that right-hander Joe Ross will be called up to make his major league debut and start Saturday's game against the Cubs. The 2011 first-round selection was acquired in a three-team trade from the Padres in the offseason, alongside shortstop Trea Turner. The deal, in part, sent outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to the Rays. Ross, the younger brother of San Diego pitcher Tyson Ross, was rated the No. 4 prospect in the Padres chain in 2014. Williams said it's a...

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Offense shows life in Nats' 7-5 win

June 05, 2015, 3:42pm

Nationals

The Nationals offense has been struggling badly as of late, especially with runners in scoring position. Danny Espinosa took care of that early tonight. After Wilson Ramos singled to right and Ian Desmond ripped a double to left, Espinosa belted a monster three-run homer to deep left-center that landed in the seats beyond the Cubs bullpen. Espinosa is second on the Nationals behind Bryce Harper with seven home runs. Tanner Roark has made quick work of the Cubs so far. The right-hander has...

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Surviving injuries will be key to several races in majors

June 05, 2015, 5:38pm

Nationals Orioles

Surviving injuries will be key to several races in majors

The Orioles got catcher Matt Wieters back into their lineup Friday night in Cleveland, although second baseman Jonathan Schoop's return is still a ways off. Wieters has been out since May 10 of last season. In Washington, infielder Anthony Rendon, who finished fifth in the National League MVP voting last season, is back with the Nationals, but the Nats are still without outfielder Jayson Werth and pitchers Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg. Rendon had two hits in his first game back and then...

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Update on Escobar's wrist, Rendon's return, Gonzalez's bounce back after rough first inning

June 04, 2015, 9:28pm

Nationals

Update on Escobar's wrist, Rendon's return, Gonzalez's bounce back after rough first inning

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Yunel Escobar left the game because of a right wrist injury. The X-Rays at the stadium were negative. "Yunel on the check swing, his right wrist wasn't feeling good so we'll evaluate that tomorrow and see where he's at," Williams reported postgame. "They took an X-Ray, he's fine. There's no issue there, he just tweaked it trying to check up." Escobar exited the game to begin the top of the second. Danny Espinosa was called in to play...

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Rendon starts at third as Escobar sits (with lineups)

June 05, 2015, 11:34am

Nationals

Rendon starts at third as Escobar sits (with lineups)

Yunel Escobar is out of the lineup tonight after injuring his right wrist during a checked swing in his first at-bat in last night's 2-1 loss to the Cubs. X-rays were negative for Escobar, who was due for further evaluations today at Nationals Park. Anthony Rendon gets the start at third base in his second game of the season. He debuted with a single and a double in four at-bats yesterday. Danny Espinosa will play second base tonight. Rendon will hit cleanup for the Nationals tonight, while...

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Robinson's blunder costs Rendon a chance in Nats' 2-1 loss

June 04, 2015, 9:56pm

Nationals

Robinson's blunder costs Rendon a chance in Nats' 2-1 loss

The script seemed to be written. In his long-awaited season debut, Anthony Rendon stepped to the plate with Michael A. Taylor standing on second base and Clint Robinson on first with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Nationals trailing by one run. But the script went up in flames as the game ended in the unlikeliest of ways with Cubs catcher David Ross back-picking Robinson off first base to leave Rendon standing at the plate with the bat on his shoulder in the Nats' 2-1 loss. "Just...

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Source: Joe Ross to be called up from Double-A to start Saturday

June 05, 2015, 9:10am

Nationals

Source: Joe Ross to be called up from Double-A to start Saturday

The Nationals have had to be creative and aggressive in filling vacant turns in their rotation the last couple of weeks due to injuries to starters Doug Fister (right forearm tightness) and Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness). That assertive formula continues this weekend as the Nationals will call up Double-A Harrisburg right-hander Joe Ross to make his first major league start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, an industry source confirmed to MASNsports.com. The news originally reported in a...

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On second thought, maybe Anthony Rendon will play third

June 04, 2015, 11:07pm

Nationals

On second thought, maybe Anthony Rendon will play third

The Nationals can't seem to catch a break. Teammates welcomed Anthony Rendon back to the lineup last night. The 24-year-old took the field at second base to start the game and then singled in his first at-bat. But when the second inning started, Rendon moved over to third base, replacing Yunel Escobar, who was forced to leave the game after feeling pain in his right wrist following a check swing. Nationals manager Matt Williams said X-rays taken on Escobar's wrist were negative. Escobar will...

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Quiet bats spoil Rendon's return in Nats' 2-1 loss

June 04, 2015, 5:43pm

Nationals

Quiet bats spoil Rendon's return in Nats' 2-1 loss

Much like tonight's game, Gio Gonzalez was slow to get started. After a 1-hour, 51-minute rain delay, Gonzalez loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. He then battled Cubs right fielder Junior Lake before walking him on the eighth pitch to bring center fielder Dexter Fowler to the plate for the game's first run. The Cubs followed with another run on shortstop Starlin Castro's double play grounder. It was the first test for Anthony Rendon who received the flip from Ian Desmond and...

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After frustrating injuries, Rendon ready to make season debut (game started)

June 04, 2015, 2:33pm

Nationals

After frustrating injuries, Rendon ready to make season debut (game started)

Anthony Rendon hasn't played a game with his Nationals teammates since March 9. The 24-year-old is set to bat second and start at second base in his season debut tonight after the Nats reinstated him from the disabled list earlier this afternoon. "It feels good," Rendon said. "I had a frustrating few months, but I'm happy to be back." Rendon initially sprained his left MCL on a spectacular diving play in his third exhibition game. After second and third opinions from renowned...

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Updates on Fister, Strasburg, Solis, Zimmerman and facing Kris Bryant

June 04, 2015, 1:49pm

Nationals

Updates on Fister, Strasburg, Solis, Zimmerman and facing Kris Bryant

Nationals manager Matt Williams updated how pitchers Doug Fister (right forearm tightness), Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness) and Sammy Solis (left shoulder inflammation) are going through the rehab process while on the disabled list. All three worked out at Nationals Park on Thursday. "Doug threw 40-ish pitches in the bullpen today, felt good," Williams said. "Threw all of them. Threw his changeup and his curveball, his cutter. Came out of it feeling really good. That heavier load, we'll...