nationals

Bryce Harper's availability a question mark for series finale

May 30, 2015, 4:26pm

Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters after today's 8-5 loss to the Reds that right fielder Bryce Harper was only available today in an "extreme emergency situation." Harper was originally on this afternoon's lineup card, but was scratched just over an hour before first pitch with back soreness. "I tried to get in here in this morning and tried to get loose, but when I got on the field, it didn't feel very good," Harper said to reporters after the game. The soreness was the...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Neck tightness lands Strasburg on the DL, Harper scratched with sore back

May 30, 2015, 10:49am

Nationals

Neck tightness lands Strasburg on the DL, Harper scratched with sore back

The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with neck tightness. Strasburg was forced to leave last night's 5-2 loss to the Reds after throwing just 16 pitches. The right-hander finished the first inning and then began experiencing the discomfort while in the Nats dugout. "I kinda just sat down and for some reason it just locked up on me," Strasburg told reporters after the game. It was the second game this month that Strasburg left prematurely due to injury. On...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg taylor hill featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Janssen's nightmare eighth costs Nats in 8-5 loss

May 30, 2015, 12:49pm

Nationals

Janssen's nightmare eighth costs Nats in 8-5 loss

The Nationals wasted no time pressuring Reds rookie Raisel Iglesias on Saturday. Yunel Escobar ripped a two-out double to left off the right-hander in the first. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a sharp line drive single to center, scoring Escobar for the game's first run. The Reds tried to answer right back in the bottom of the inning. Nats starter Gio Gonzalez gave up back-to-back one-out singles to first baseman Joey Votto and third baseman Todd Frazier before walking right fielder Jay Bruce...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson gio gonzalez ian desmond nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman yunel escobar frontstory_nationals1

Nationals recall Hill from Triple-A Syracuse, place Strasburg on 15-day DL

May 30, 2015, 12:00pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Taylor Hill from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and placed right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with neck tightness. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Hill, 26, joins the Nationals for the first time this season. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 4.35 ERA (25 ER/51.2 IP) in nine starts with Triple-A Syracuse. His last start for the Chiefs came on May 25 at...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nats have rallied around Gio Gonzalez in May (with lineups)

May 30, 2015, 8:47am

Nationals

Nats have rallied around Gio Gonzalez in May (with lineups)

The Nationals enter today's game in Cincinnati as winners in the last five games that Gio Gonzalez has started. However, May has been a bit of a roller coaster month for the left-hander. Gonzalez has received a decision in three of those five games, allowing just three runs over 20 1/3 innings. But Gonzalez's ERA is 9.90 in the other two starts, with the Nats offense bailing him out both times. Gonzalez has pitched exceptionally well against the Reds in his career. In four starts with the...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson clint robinson gio gonzalez jose lobaton nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals1

Rendon rehabs in Bowie; Valdez shines for Potomac

May 30, 2015, 2:26am

Nationals

Rendon rehabs in Bowie; Valdez shines for Potomac

Anthony Rendon (oblique) played seven innings at second base in Double-A Harrisburg's 3-2 win at Bowie Friday night. He notched a single in four at-bats. Colin Bates pitched six innings, scattering eight hits and allowing two runs. Brian Goodwin smacked a home run, Pedro Severino contributed a RBI single and Tony Renda was hit by pitch with the bases loaded to give the Senators the lead. Next up for Rendon could be back-to-back rehab games to test his core again and see if he is ready to join...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals anthony rendon featured_sidebar hagerstown suns harrisburg senators lucas giolito phillips valdez potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Strasburg exits early with injury in Nats' 5-2 loss

May 29, 2015, 4:10pm

Nationals

Strasburg exits early with injury in Nats' 5-2 loss

Stephen Strasburg faced just five batters before leaving tonight's game with an undiclosed injury. With one out in the first, Reds first baseman Joey Votto belted a 97 mph fastball from Strasburg deep over the centerfield fence for a solo homer. Third baseman Todd Frazier followed with a single to left before Ryan Zimmerman ended the inning with an unassisted double play on a grounder from right fielder Jay Bruce. Strasburg immediately got ahead of catcher Brayan Pena 0-2 to start the second...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson ian desmond nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg taylor jordan featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Options for Williams if Strasburg can't go

May 30, 2015, 4:15am

Nationals

Options for Williams if Strasburg can't go

Stephen Strasburg threw only 16 pitches in last night's 5-2 loss to the Reds before leaving the game with neck tightness. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated to reporters that the discomfort was in Strasburg's left trapezius muscle. Strasburg isn't familiar with this type of pain in this particular area. "We don't know at this point," Williams told reporters after the game. "We have to see how he is (Saturday) and evaluate. I don't know. It's the other side, so we'll see what he...

Comments

Tags:

aj cole chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg tanner roark taylor jordan featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Opposite dugout: Poor hitting has hurt Reds in tough NL Central

May 26, 2015, 8:38am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Poor hitting has hurt Reds in tough NL Central

Manager: Bryan Price (2nd season) Record: 19-27 Last 10 games: 1-9 Who to watch: 2B Brandon Phillips (.297, 18 RBIS), 1B Joey Votto (.275, 7 HR, 21 RBIs), 3B Todd Frazier (14 HR, 28 RBIs), CF Billy Hamilton (18 SB), RHP Johnny Cueto (3-4, 3.03 ERA), RHP Aroldis Chapman (7 saves, 34 Ks in 20 1/3 innings) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-3 in 2014) Pitching probables: May 29: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Anthony DeSclafani, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 May 30: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Raisel...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel reds

Purke makes first start in more than a year, plus notes on Werth injury

May 29, 2015, 1:32am

Nationals

Purke makes first start in more than a year, plus notes on Werth injury

Left-hander Matt Purke made his first start of 2015 with low Single-A Hagerstown, falling to Kannapolis 4-0. Purke allowed two runs over four innings, had no walks and struck out three. It has been exactly one year since the 2011 third-round selection had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. Purke is on an innings limit for each game, and even though he gave up the two runs in the third, it is always a major step to make that initial start of the next season following Tommy John surgery. He...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jayson werth matt purke nationals clint robinson michael a. taylor nationals farm report tyler moore frontstory_nationals3

Neck tightness forces Stephen Strasburg out early in Nats' loss

May 29, 2015, 7:53pm

Nationals

Neck tightness forces Stephen Strasburg out early in Nats' loss

The Nationals have lost only seven games the entire month of May. Stephen Strasburg has started four of them. The right-hander lasted just five batters tonight before exiting with an injury in a 5-2 loss to the Reds. "He came out of the game with left trap tightness ... trapezius muscle, neck tightness," Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters after the game. Strasburg quickly got ahead of Reds catcher Brayan Pena 0-2 to start the second inning before delivering four consecutive balls...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson ian desmond matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

A chance for Strasburg to prove the doubters wrong

May 29, 2015, 4:43am

Nationals

A chance for Strasburg to prove the doubters wrong

It's obvious that something is wrong with Stephen Strasburg. Among starters who have pitched at least 40 innings this season, Strasburg ranks 121st out of 123 with a horrid 6.50 ERA. Teams are feasting on Strasburg's pitches to the tune of a .321 batting average, also third-worst in all of baseball. Cover your eyes. In May, the numbers are more dreadful, with Strasburg's ERA sitting at an astronomical 10.20 after surrendering a 17 earned runs in just 15 innings pitched. In fact, in three out...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Stephen Strasburg looks to rebound (with lineups)

May 29, 2015, 11:58am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg looks to rebound (with lineups)

The Nationals come plowing into Cincinnati as winners of nine consecutive series. During the blazing stretch, the Nats have won 12 of 16 games away from the nation's capital. All eyes will be on Stephen Strasburg when he takes the mound tonight. The right-hander has experienced a month he would rather forget. Strasburg is 1-3 with a 10.20 ERA during May. He has failed to pitch out of the fourth inning in all three losses. Meanwhile, Denard Span has been a road warrior. The 31-year-old has...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson denard span nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Scherzer and Janssen use similar styles to close down series in Chicago

May 28, 2015, 3:26am

Nationals

Scherzer and Janssen use similar styles to close down series in Chicago

The two biggest offseason pitching acquisitions came through huge for the Nationals in the same game Wednesday night in Chicago. Starter Max Scherzer and reliever Casey Janssen, alongside Matt Grace and Drew Storen, held the Cubs without a run in a series-clinching 3-0 victory at historic Wrigley Field. Scherzer struck out a season-high 13 batters over seven innings, allowing only five hits. He walked only one in twirling 108 pitches, 72 for strikes. Then, with two men on and no outs in the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr casey janssen cubs joe maddon max scherzer mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Worse than expected for Werth, who reportedly has two fractures in left wrist

May 28, 2015, 1:55pm

Nationals

$Worse than expected for Werth, who reportedly has two fractures in left wrist$

It appears Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth will be out for a couple of months after a CT scan showed two fractures in his left wrist, according to reports. Werth's wrist was struck by a fastball back on May 15 during a second inning at-bat in San Diego. X-rays taken that night proved negative and an MRI a few days later revealed no ligament damage leaving Werth feeling positive. "I'm relieved," Werth said on May 19. "I wish it felt better. I'm optimistic, but I don't feel like I'm...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson jayson werth nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Scherzer and Harper provide relentless assault for Nats

May 28, 2015, 4:56am

Nationals

Scherzer and Harper provide relentless assault for Nats

What more can you say about what Max Scherzer has brought to this Nationals team? Last night, Scherzer struck out a season-high 13 in holding the Cubs scoreless through seven innings. Scherzer was stalking around the mound all night as his intensity was on full display, as well as his full repertoire of pitches. "You never really know what you're gonna get," Ian Desmond said on "Nats Xtra" after the game. "It keeps you off balance even more. I mean, he's got essentially eight pitches. He...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson ian desmond jon lester matt williams max scherzer nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Nationals ride Scherzer and Harper to ninth straight series win

May 27, 2015, 8:14pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer locked up the Cubs through seven innings and Bryce Harper added another homer as the Nationals beat the Cubs 3-0 to claim their ninth consecutive series win. Scherzer was rarely challenged on a night where he fanned a season-high 13 while only yielding five hits and one walk. In fact, Scherzer struck out all but one member of the Cubs' starting nine. "He's awesome out there," Ian Desmond on "Nats Xtra" after the game. "He flips a switch and doesn't really turn it off until...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper casey janssen chris johnson danny espinosa drew storen matt williams max scherzer nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Morning coffee: Bleier earns Eastern League honor, Auburn roster taking shape

May 27, 2015, 3:24am

Nationals

Morning coffee: Bleier earns Eastern League honor, Auburn roster taking shape

Double-A Harrisburg left-handed pitcher Richard Bleier has been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week. He had his best start of the season against New Britain. Bleier gave up only two singles in eight shutout innings to notch his third win of the season as the Senators beat the New Britain Rock Cats, 1-0. Bleier also walked only one batter and struck out a season-high seven batters. Bleier is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in nine games this season, seven of those starts. He has allowed only three...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr harrisburg senators matthew spann nationals farm report richard bleier tyler mapes featured_sidebar nationals frontstory_nationals3

David Huzzard: Appreciating the Wright stuff

May 27, 2015, 5:45pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Appreciating the Wright stuff

There was a time when Nationals fans were far fewer and had to forget about being Nationals fans. Hoping for a win from some of the lowly clubs this franchise put on the field from 2007-2011 was like hoping for the Marlins to do something competent. With all apologizes to Ryan Zimmerman and his numerous walk-offs between the summer of Soriano and Stephen Strasburg's debut. The Nationals weren't much of a drawing card. Those of us that did venture out to RFK Stadium or Nationals Park in the...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard david wright guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Scherzer dominant in Nats' 3-0 win (Harper homers)

May 27, 2015, 6:12pm

Nationals

Scherzer dominant in Nats' 3-0 win (Harper homers)

Max Scherzer is on fire tonight. The Nationals' ace has elevated his fastball to 98 mph several times when needed. Scherzer has held the Cubs scoreless through six innings, allowing five hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. It is the 29th 10-plus strikeout game of Scherzer's career and fourth this season. Bryce Harper helped Scherzer's cause in the sixth with his 18th homer of the season, which tied him with Seattle's Nelson Cruz for the major league lead. The opposite field blast is...