nationals

Streaky Desmond heating up again

May 24, 2015, 4:44am

There weren't many bright spots for the Nationals yesterday in the 8-1 drubbing by the Phillies. But if you're stretching for positives, look toward Ian Desmond's eighth-inning RBI double that not only prevented a shutout but also extended the shortstop's hitting streak to eight games. On Friday, Desmond drove in the eventual game-winning run with another double high off the center field wall. The two games prior to that, Desmond hit solo homers to center in the first inning to answer early...

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Not the same Stephen Strasburg so far

May 23, 2015, 4:30pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg is at a point in his six-year career that he has never experienced before. The tall righty didn't make it through the fourth inning for the third time in his last four starts as the Phillies pounded him early and often in today's 8-1 victory over the Nationals. The loss snaps the Nats' six-game winning streak, but they can still capture their eighth straight series with a win in the finale tomorrow. More importantly though, are the issues with Strasburg, who's ERA balloons...

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NL East review: It took a while, but Washington has returned to top spot

May 23, 2015, 8:18pm

Nationals

NL East review: It took a while, but Washington has returned to top spot

Nothing has changed in the National League East: The Nationals are the best team in the division and they're playing that way. After falling as many as eight games behind the Mets in the NL East with a 7-13 start, the Nationals have returned to first place, where they are expected to stay. And they are in first place even though three of their best players are on the disabled list and their elite pitching staff isn't firing on all cylinders. The Mets, the team that made headlines with a good...

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Phillies rough up Strasburg, Nats lose 8-1

May 23, 2015, 1:04pm

Nationals

Phillies rough up Strasburg, Nats lose 8-1

Stephen Strasburg ran into difficulty in the third when he surrendered a one-out walk to Phillies left fielder Ben Revere. Shortstop Cesar Hernandez followed by slapping a double down the left field line that left the Phillies with runners at second and third. A groundout from second baseman Chase Utley scored Revere unchallenged. Then, first baseman Ryan Howard ripped an RBI double into the right field corner. Strasburg looked to be in position to finally get out of the inning as he had the...

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Anthony Rendon nearing game action in rehab process

May 23, 2015, 11:34am

Nationals

Anthony Rendon nearing game action in rehab process

Anthony Rendon was on the field for more pregame work with the Nationals this afternoon. Stationed at second base, Rendon took several grounders while working on double plays. "He feels good," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "A little bit more intensity today on the ground balls ... turning the pivot at second. He feels good about where he's at right now. After yesterday, he reported today feeling great." After infield practice, Rendon jumped in the batter's box for a full round of...

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Williams on defense, Cole and Janssen; players react to 8-1 "clunker"

May 23, 2015, 4:00pm

Nationals

Williams on defense, Cole and Janssen; players react to 8-1 "clunker"

Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Phillies was a tough one for the Nationals with Stephen Strasburg allowing six runs, five earned over just 3 2/3 innings. It's the third start in the past four where he did not complete four frames. But, the defense was not stellar either. The sloppy fielding netted four errors, tying a season-high from the April 27 8-4 loss at Atlanta. Nationals manager Matt Williams said they didn't take any solace from the loss just because they have played better defense during...

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Williams confirms Tanner Roark will start Monday at Cubs; Strasburg note

May 23, 2015, 10:30am

Nationals

Williams confirms Tanner Roark will start Monday at Cubs; Strasburg note

Nationals manager Matt Williams confirmed that right-hander Tanner Roark will start Monday's afternoon game in Chicago against the Cubs. "Tanner is going to pitch Monday," Williams said. "So the way it lines up, it gives (Jordan Zimmermann) an extra day." Roark made a career-high 31 starts in 2014. He won a career-high 15 games to 10 losses, throwing close to 200 innings and sporting a 2.85 ERA. Williams said right-hander Doug Fister might throw during batting practice today, but it looks...

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Marquee pitching matchup between Strasburg and Hamels (with lineups)

May 23, 2015, 10:05am

Nationals

Marquee pitching matchup between Strasburg and Hamels (with lineups)

The Nationals enter this afternoon's contest against the Phillies as winners of 18 of their past 22 games dating back to April 28. Over the torrid stretch, the Nats are leading the majors in runs (138), runs per game (6.27), batting average (.299), on-base percentage (.366) and slugging percentage (.485). The 18-4 marks also ties the best 22-game record in Nationals' history (2005-present). Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels and Nationals righty Stephen Strasburg are featured in a marquee...

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Updates on Lopez, Turner, former Nats and other notes

May 23, 2015, 3:20am

Nationals

Updates on Lopez, Turner, former Nats and other notes

High Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Reynaldo Lopez had a tough outing Friday in a 8-4 loss at Myrtle Beach. Lopez (2-1) lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits with one walk, a wild pitch and two strikeouts. The P-Nats did crank three homers. Isaac Ballou, Brandon Miller and former Pelican Christopher Bostick went yard, but it wasn't enough as the P-Nats fell to 5-9 versus Southern Division opponents. Despite the loss, Lopez has still impressed in his jump to...

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Scherzer taking Nats to next level

May 23, 2015, 6:26am

Nationals

It seemed as though the Nationals were taking a big risk when signing free agent Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210 million contract this offseason. The questions surrounding the monumental deal weren't necessarily about whether Scherzer was worth the money, but rather how he would affect a Nats team that already had the best record in baseball over the past three seasons and the game's most imposing starting rotation. There were also doubts about how paying an outsider boatloads of money...

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Harper's 16th homer another to admire in Nationals' 2-1 win over the Phillies

May 22, 2015, 6:58pm

Nationals

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper makes the incredible look commonplace. The back-to-back National League player of the week hit another home run Friday, No. 16 on the year, to open the scoring in a 2-1 win over the Phillies. He leads the National League in home runs and is one behind Nelson Cruz of Seattle (17) for the most homers in the majors. In the month of May alone, Harper has hit 11 homers with 24 RBIs. Shortstop Ian Desmond was asked what he thought of Harper's run this month. "I...

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It's the Max Scherzer show

May 22, 2015, 7:44pm

Nationals

Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan has probably seen enough of Max Scherzer this season and we're not even through May. Not only did Scherzer outpitch O'Sullivan for the third time this season, but he also beat him with a base hit in the sixth inning that led to Scherzer scoring the game-winning run in the Nationals' 2-1 victory. It's the Nationals' sixth straight win, their longest streak of the season, and their 18-4 (.818) record in their past 22 games matches the best 22-game stretch in...

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Williams: Roark will start Monday or Tuesday as Fister heals on D.L.

May 22, 2015, 1:35pm

Nationals

Williams: Roark will start Monday or Tuesday as Fister heals on D.L.

With Doug Fister (right forearm tightness) still recovering on the disabled list, Nationals manager Matt Williams announced during Friday's pregame media availability that Tanner Roark will get the next start to fill Fister's spot. "He's getting stretched out for either Monday or Tuesday," Williams said. "We have the availability for either one of those days. He threw to some hitters today. It depends on what happens in our games the next three days and whether we have to use him or not....

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Scherzer, Harper lead Nats to sixth straight win, 2-1

May 22, 2015, 3:58pm

Nationals

Scherzer, Harper lead Nats to sixth straight win, 2-1

The Phillies used a pair of doubles from Ryan Howard and Odubel Herrera in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Howard's two-bagger led off the inning, but Max Scherzer caught him in between second and third on Maikel Franco's grounder back to the mound moments later. It looked like Scherzer may get out of the inning unscathed until Herrera slammed one off the center field wall, scoring Franco. The rookie Herrera is now 10-for-26 against the Nats this year and 4-for-8 against Scherzer. The...

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Matt Williams: "I want Bryce to be Bryce"

May 22, 2015, 2:15pm

Nationals

Matt Williams: "I want Bryce to be Bryce"

Nationals manager Matt Williams returns to the dugout tonight after being tossed for defending Bryce Harper in the third inning of Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees. "Without getting in to what happened three days ago, I know nobody's going to let it go," Williams said before tonight's game. "I would encourage everybody to do so because we're now playing the Phillies." Williams indicated he has not heard anything from Major League Baseball regarding home plate umpire Marvin Hudson's...

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#TalkToMeFP: MASN's F.P. Santangelo takes over @masnNationals Twitter account

May 22, 2015, 7:42am

Nationals

This past Wednesday before the Nationals wrapped up their two-game sweep of the Yankees, MASN's very own F.P. Santangelo took over the @masnNationals Twitter account to chat with Nats Nation. And when we say "took over," we mean took over. He made the account completely his. He changed the avatar, the name and even the description, adding a play off his in-game catch phrase. F.P. literally became the face of Nationals on MASN. Fans were able to tweet their Nationals questions and thoughts to...

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Nationals reinstate Casey Janssen, put Sammy Solis on 15-day DL

May 22, 2015, 10:52am

Nationals

The Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Casey Janssen and placed lefty Sammy Solis on the 15-day disabled list today with left shoulder inflammation. Janssen joins the Nats' active roster for the first time after missing the first 41 games of the season. Janssen, who signed with Washington in February, was brought on to replace Tyler Clippard in the Nats bullpen, presumably to take on the eighth inning duties. But, right shoulder inflammation has delayed his debut with the team. Janssen...

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Scherzer faces Phillies for third time (with lineups)

May 22, 2015, 12:06pm

Nationals

Scherzer faces Phillies for third time (with lineups)

Max Scherzer enters tonight's game as a winner in his last three starts. The ace of the Nationals' rotation is 4-3 with a 1.75 ERA, having struck out 66 and walked only eight. Scherzer is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the Phillies this year, allowing just two earned runs in 14 innings pitched. "He's a gamer," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He enjoys the day he pitches but he enjoys the other days as well. He's helpful. He's active even on the days he doesn't pitch in the dugout...

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Opposite dugout: Recent hot streak doesn't mask Phillies' lingering issues

May 20, 2015, 10:46am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Recent hot streak doesn't mask Phillies' lingering issues

Manager: Ryne Sandberg (3rd season) Record: 18-25 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 1B Ryan Howard (.257/.307/.521 with 9 HR, 21 RBIs), SS Freddie Galvis (.319, 11 RBIs), CF Odubel Herrera (.262, 13 RBIs), RHP Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.24 ERA), RHP Aaron Harang (4-3, 1.82 ERA), RHP Jonathan Papelbon (11 saves, 1.50 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3 Pitching probables: May 22: RHP Sean O'Sullivan vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m. MASN May 23: LHP Cole Hamels vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 4:05 p.m.,...

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Baseball craves Bryce Harper's personality

May 21, 2015, 9:46am

Nationals

Baseball craves Bryce Harper's personality

Bryce Harper will never be universally liked. Understand that first, and then we can begin the discussion. I could use the rest of this page describing why scouts have been drooling about Harper since he was taking pre-Algebra. But we know all of those reasons and we've seen them on display in his first four seasons, and certainly the past few weeks. The problem is that some will never accept the total package that accompanies Harper's ultra-talented skill set. When you grace the cover of...