nationals

Quicker pace: Speed-up rules working with minor adjustments

May 13, 2015, 4:38pm

For six weeks, baseball's new pick-up-the-pace rules have been in place, and while the average time of game has been cut by nine minutes, the real question is this: Has anyone really noticed the quicker pace? "We don't want our players thinking about it,'' Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "But, there haven't been any issues.'' Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista agreed: "There's been no adjustments.'' And Orioles manager Buck Showalter wondered if a family of four who attends a...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 mel antonen nationals orioles

Gonzalez, Harper try to stay hot in the desert (with lineups)

May 13, 2015, 9:44am

Nationals

Gonzalez, Harper try to stay hot in the desert (with lineups)

Lefty Gio Gonzalez takes the hill against the Diamondbacks this afternoon as the Nationals attempt to win their fifth consecutive series. Gonzalez has pitched brilliantly so far in May, allowing just two runs in 14 innings (1.29 ERA) while striking out 17 and only walking three across two victories. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks will counter with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who will be making his first start against the Nationals. Hellickson hasn't made it out of the fifth inning in his last...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson gio gonzalez nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals2

Stephen Strasburg rocked in 14-6 blowout loss

May 12, 2015, 9:23pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg rocked in 14-6 blowout loss

Even in a 14-6 blowout loss, the Nationals figured out a way to make history. Down 10 runs in the eighth inning and not wanting to waste his bullpen further, Nationals manager Matt Williams turned to outfielder Clint Robinson to pitch. The 30-year old Robinson hurled a scoreless frame that even included a strikeout in his major league debut on the mound. It was the first time in Nationals history (2005-present) that the team used a position player to pitch. The circumstances were nothing to be...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson clint robinson matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Williams on Strasburg: "His stuff will show itself in the end"

May 13, 2015, 4:34am

Nationals

Williams on Strasburg: "His stuff will show itself in the end"

These aren't the best of times for Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Curious ankle and back discomfort surrounded the better part of the week leading up to his seventh start last night. After the Diamondbacks shelled him for eight runs on eight hits, including two homers, it seemed as if the only positive Nationals manager Matt Williams could grasp for was that Strasburg seemed healthy. "Certainly not what he wanted," Williams said to reporters in Arizona. "The fact that he got...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson clint robinson matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Morning coffee: major and minor league Nats notes

May 12, 2015, 3:56am

Nationals

Morning coffee: major and minor league Nats notes

It has been a very good start to May for high Single-A Potomac third baseman Drew Ward. He has gone 8-for-29 (.276) with two homers and five RBIs. He has walked seven times and struck out only seven times. The 20-year-old from Leedey, Okla., has hit .278 overall with a .800 OPS, totaling 27 hits including eight doubles. Second baseman Christopher Bostick had a six-game hit streak snapped last night. But he had a game-winning hit last week in a 4-3 win over Frederick and has eight stolen bases...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr denard span nationals ryan zimmerman drew ward yunel escobar frontstory_nationals3

Max-ing out in Arizona

May 12, 2015, 4:47am

Nationals

The Nationals dumped 10 runs on the Diamondbacks in the first two innings last night. It was the second time this season that the Nats had been in a game that got out of control before most had an opportunity to even settle in their seats. Back on April 28, the Braves stunned the Nats with nine runs in the first two frames before Washington staged an improbable comeback that has propelled them to win 11 of their last 13 games and climb to within 2 1/2 games of the lead in the National League...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson matt williams max scherzer mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar

Stephen Strasburg back at it out west (with lineups)

May 12, 2015, 2:43pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg back at it out west (with lineups)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg returns to the mound tonight. His scheduled start was bumped back a day after undergoing a chiropractic alignment adjustment. Strasburg was limited to only three innings in his last outing due to discomfort in his back. He has the highest number of hits allowed (42) and the worst ERA (4.73) among Nats starters. It seems that Nationals manager Matt Williams is favoring the sure-handed Danny Espinosa at second base over Dan Uggla. Espinosa will make his sixth...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson danny espinosa nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1

Span, Escobar lead offensive assault in Nats' 11-1 win

May 11, 2015, 8:56pm

Nationals

Span, Escobar lead offensive assault in Nats' 11-1 win

Nationals ace Max Scherzer entered Monday's game receiving only 3.4 runs of support per outing, the lowest number among the Nats' rotation. The result was a 2-3 record that wasn't close to reflecting the way the right-hander had pitched through his first six starts. The Nationals wasted no time erasing that problem, plating a whopping 10 runs in the game's first two innings en route to an 11-1 victory over the Diamondbacks. The relentless offensive assault began with a leadoff homer from...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson denard span matt williams max scherzer nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman yunel escobar featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Focused Ramos ready to shed tag as injury-prone catcher

May 12, 2015, 1:25pm

Nationals

Focused Ramos ready to shed tag as injury-prone catcher

Catcher Wilson Ramos came to Washington in a 2010 trade with the Minnesota Twins. Since then, his career has been defined by a kidnapping incident in Venezuela, as well as injuries that put him on the disabled list for three consecutive seasons. But this season, that could all change. Ramos, 27, has a new lease on life. He's one of the Nationals' most consistent hitters. He's relaxed, healthy, and enjoying his job and life away from the field. He's dropped weight, feels strong and his body...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals4 mel antonen nationals wilson ramos

Nats blow out Diamondbacks 11-1 for fifth straight win

May 11, 2015, 6:38pm

Nationals

Nats blow out Diamondbacks 11-1 for fifth straight win

The Nationals wasted no time getting back on the longball train tonight. Fresh off a rest day, center fielder Denard Span ripped the second pitch from Diamondbacks starter Josh Collmenter well over the right field wall for the third leadoff homer of his career. Third baseman Yunel Escobar followed with a single. And after left fielder Jayson Werth walked, right fielder Bryce Harper just missed his 12th homer. The long out ended about three feet short of the wall in the right. No worries though...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson denard span jayson werth max scherzer nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Matt of Matt's Bats: For Harper, maybe the best is yet to come

May 12, 2015, 5:08am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: For Harper, maybe the best is yet to come

"He swings and hits a long drive to deep right-center! Going back is the center fielder! See you later! Another homer for Bryce Harper! This one wins the game!" That's how Saturday's game ended: Nationals 8, Braves 6, on a walk-off home run by Bryce Harper. He killed a Cody Martin offering to right-center to end the game. Harper has hit more than just a few home runs this past week. The Miami Marlins came to town, and Wednesday it was boom, boom, boom. Three home runs in one game. After an...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper guest blogger guestblogger matt nationals nationals buzz

Max Scherzer returns to familiar territory (with lineups)

May 11, 2015, 2:39pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer returns to familiar territory (with lineups)

Right-hander Max Scherzer was originally selected 11th overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He spent two seasons in Arizona, compiling a 9-15 record with a 3.86 ERA, before being traded to Detroit. Tonight, Scherzer gets the opportunity to face his old team for the second time in his career. The Nats' ace is coming off back-to-back games with 10 strikeouts. Scherzer's 49 strikeouts in six game leaves him seven behind National League leader Clayton Kershaw of the...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson max scherzer nationals nationals pastime yunel escobar frontstory_nationals3

Bryce Harper named National League Player of the Week

May 11, 2015, 11:56am

Nationals

Bryce Harper named National League Player of the Week

No surprise here: Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper has been named National League Player of the Week after hitting .455 with six homers, 13 RBIs, a 1.318 slugging percentage and 29 total bases last week. Harper' three-home run game against the Marlins on Wednesday made him the fourth Nationals player to accomplish the feat in the team's D.C. history, joining Alfonso Soriano, Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman. Two days later, the 22-year-old crushed two more homers against the Braves to become...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

A healthy Wilson Ramos is a hit

May 11, 2015, 4:29am

Nationals

Wilson Ramos isn't just helping his pitchers behind the plate, he is also terrorizing opposing pitchers at the plate. Braves right-hander Cody Martin was Ramos' latest victim yesterday. With two outs, the game tied in the bottom of the eighth and Ryan Zimmerman standing on first, Ramos sliced a double into the right field corner. Zimmerman chugged all the way around to score the go-ahead run as the Nationals went on to win 5-4 and sweep the Braves. "He's got a knack for driving runs in...

Comments

Tags:

chris johnson drew storen matt williams nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Harper named National League Player of the Week

May 11, 2015, 11:44am

Nationals

Harper named National League Player of the Week

After an historically powerful week at the plate, Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Harper, who is currently leading the National League in home runs (11) and is tied for the Major League lead in walks (27), hit .455 with a .520 on-base percentage and a 1.318 slugging percentage over last week's six-game stretch. He clubbed six home runs, drove in 13, doubled...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Opposite dugout: D-backs relying on Goldschmidt, but need more reliable starting pitching

May 10, 2015, 8:24am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: D-backs relying on Goldschmidt, but need more reliable starting pitching

Manager: Chip Hale (1st season) Record: 14-16 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.345/.444/.646 with 9 HR, 27 RBIs), LF Ender Inciarte (.304 with 11 RBIs), CF A.J. Pollock (.306 with 3 HR, 10 RBIs), RF Mark Trumbo (.287 with 4 HR, 15 RBIs), RHP Brad Ziegler (1.35 ERA), RHP Josh Collmenter (3-3, 3.40 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-6 in 2014) Pitching probables: May 11: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Josh Collmenter, 9:40 p.m., MASN2 May 12: RHP Stephen Strasburg...

Comments

Tags:

diamondbacks nationals nationals buzz opposite dugout pete kerzel frontstory_nationals3

Kicking off our first #AskMatt session of 2015

May 11, 2015, 5:10am

Nationals

Kicking off our first #AskMatt session of 2015

Over the weekend at Nats Park, we kicked off this season's first edition of #AskMatt. Matt Williams fielded fan questions submitted through Twitter and Facebook from MASN's own Chris Johnson. Nats fans sent over some hard hitting questions for the manager, along with some entertaining ones: "What's your strategy when deciding when to pull a pitcher?" - submitted by @CALSGR8 "Why don't we steal bases?!" - submitted by Casey Brinck "What would Matt Williams the manager tell Matt...

Comments

Tags:

ask matt askmatt lindsay rykiel nationals nationals buzz

Janssen update, plus notes on Giolito, Solis, Barrett, Strasburg, Treinen and bullpen

May 11, 2015, 2:50am

Nationals

Janssen update, plus notes on Giolito, Solis, Barrett, Strasburg, Treinen and bullpen

Nationals right-hander Casey Janssen, who is on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, got knocked around Sunday in his second rehab assignment with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. Arriving in the seventh, Janssen allowed a home run, double and triple, but finished the inning. Of course, you don't want to get knocked around in a rehab outing, but more importantly for Janssen is how the shoulder feels the day after. If he feels good Monday, his next outing would likely be Tuesday....

Comments

Tags:

blake treinen byron kerr casey janssen drew storen lucas giolito nationals padres sammy solis stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2 nationals farm report

Zimmermann fought fastball command, but still found way to eat up innings in comeback win

May 10, 2015, 2:09pm

Nationals

Zimmermann fought fastball command, but still found way to eat up innings in comeback win

The Nationals found a way in the end to come back and beat the Braves 5-4 on Sunday and sweep their three-game series. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was staked to an early 3-0 lead. Normally, he is able to take full advantage of such a cushion. But the Braves chipped away quickly, scoring two in the second inning and one in the third to tie the game at 3-3. Atlanta scored one more in the seventh and led 4-3. Zimmermann knew it wasn't his most even outing with control issues - he had only two...

Comments

Tags:

atlanta braves byron kerr jordan zimmermann kelly johnson matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Resilient Nats fight back again in 5-4 win

May 10, 2015, 2:35pm

Nationals

Resilient Nats fight back again in 5-4 win

Veterans Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos delivered clutch RBIs in the bottom of the eighth to help the Nationals to their eighth come-from-behind win of the early season in today's 5-4 victory over the Braves. After a sluggish start in the first 20 games of the year, the Nationals have stormed back, winning 10 of 12 while showing tremendous resiliency especially in late innings. "I like the fact that we grind," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. Trailing by one entering the eighth,...