nationals

Mike Rizzo's "hidden ceiling" for Bryce Harper remains private

May 10, 2015, 9:29am

In his second year as general manager of the Nationals, Mike Rizzo held the golden ticket to select Bryce Harper with the No. 1 pick in the First-Year Player Draft. Few players in the game's storied history arrived with the rock star hype as Harper, who was still just 17 when he officially signed with the Nationals in August 2010. Harper didn't waste much time proving his worth. He belted 22 homers and hit .270 to coast to the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2012. Harper's...

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Zimmerman, Ramos deliver in Nats' 5-4 comeback win

May 10, 2015, 10:20am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Ramos deliver in Nats' 5-4 comeback win

Bryce Harper seems unstoppable right now. Harper picked right up where he left off with a two-out laser to dead center in the first. Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin hurried back and leaped up at the warning track, but the ball caromed off his glove. Nats third baseman Yunel Escobar scored easily on the double, which produced Harper's team-leading 28th RBI. First baseman Ryan Zimmerrman then followed with his 21st RBI on a double to the gap in left-center field. The Nationals weren't...

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Ryan Zimmerman finds relief from big three-run homer

May 10, 2015, 6:11am

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman finds relief from big three-run homer

The way Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's season has been going so far, the events surrounding his three-run homer yesterday were no surprise. Zimmerman has been hitting ropes this year with unlucky results. Sure, he has 22 strikeouts in 121 at-bats, but his .223 average isn't reflective of how well he has hit the ball. After battling though seven pitches in his fifth inning at-bat, Zimmerman ripped a slider from Braves right-hander Julio Tehran into the flower bed just above the left...

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Escobar, Ramos look to stay hot in series finale (with lineups)

May 10, 2015, 8:22am

Nationals

Escobar, Ramos look to stay hot in series finale (with lineups)

The Nationals continue to be careful with center fielder Denard Span, who is coming off two offseason abdominal surgeries. Span receives a day off this afternoon and third baseman Yunel Escobar slides into the leadoff spot, while rookie Michael A. Taylor will play center. Escobar's .308 batting average is second on the Nats behind Wilson Ramos. In the last six games, Escobar is 10-for-24 (.417) with five RBIs, two walks and four runs scored. Meanwhile, Ramos brings a 12-game hitting streak...

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Fister cites work with Lobaton, Harper's play as reasons why are Nats finally getting above .500

May 09, 2015, 4:48pm

Nationals

Fister cites work with Lobaton, Harper's play as reasons why are Nats finally getting above .500

It might be a bit lost in all the hoopla of another walk-off home run from the sensational Bryce Harper, but right-hander Doug Fister played his part in the Nationals' 8-6 win over the Braves on Saturday. Fister provided 6 2/3 innings to the Nationals' cause, allowing three runs on six hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. He got into a jam in the seventh after recording two quick outs, but the Braves managed only one run off of his pitching in the first six frames. Fister said his...

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Harper's heroics lead Nats in walk-off win

May 09, 2015, 5:35pm

Nationals

Harper's heroics lead Nats in walk-off win

We are witnessing the maturation of a budding superstar in Bryce Harper this week. After the Nationals blew a five-run lead, the 22-year-old with a flair for the dramatics clobbered a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to close out the Braves 8-6. "Just right when I hit it, I knew it was gone," Harper said. "No disrespect to that other guy, I just knew it was gone. Got around the bases, pointed to right field because my fans out there, love them, so had to point out there. Got...

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Strasburg reveals discomfort was in ankle not shoulder, says bullpen "went good"

May 09, 2015, 11:06am

Nationals

Strasburg reveals discomfort was in ankle not shoulder, says bullpen "went good"

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a good bullpen session today, four days removed from his May 5 loss to the Marlins in which he felt tightness in his shoulder. Strasburg revealed that it was actually his ankle that was bothering him in that start, causing him to change his mechanics to try to protect it. That, in turn, caused the slight pain in his shoulder. "It went good," Strasburg said. "No problems. I actually threw it for the first time without having my ankle taped up, it...

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Unreal stretch for Bryce Harper continues with walk-off homer, Nats win 8-6

May 09, 2015, 12:54pm

Nationals

Unreal stretch for Bryce Harper continues with walk-off homer, Nats win 8-6

The Nationals are on quite a roll with the long ball. Catcher Jose Lobaton joined the party in the second inning with a two-run shot into the second deck beyond the right field wall at Nats Park. For Lobaton, both of his homers this season have come off Braves starter Julio Teheran. Second baseman Danny Espinosa followed Lobaton's blast with a double to center field. Three batters later, third baseman Yunel Escobar hit a two-out flare to center plating Espinosa for the Nats' third run. Nats...

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Nationals honor Frank Robinson with spot in Nationals Ring of Honor

May 09, 2015, 2:09pm

Nationals

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson returned to Nationals Park today as the team honored its first manager by unveiling his name in the Nationals Ring of Honor. Robinson became the Nationals first manager, guiding the team from Montreal to Washington. "I take a lot of pride in it," Robinson said. "The players were great. It was a good situation for us coming from Montreal although it was kind of bittersweet to leave those fans up there." Robinson's Nationals greatly overachieved in their first...

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For Danny Espinosa, the power comes from the left

May 09, 2015, 5:50am

Nationals

For Danny Espinosa, the power comes from the left

If I asked you before the season who would be leading the Nationals in homers through the first 30 games, the overwhelming answer would've been Bryce Harper. But if I asked which Nationals player would have the second most, not one single person would've guessed Danny Espinosa. However, that's exactly where the 28-year-old Espinosa stands after belting out his third and fourth long balls, both to the opposite field, in last night's 9-2 rout of the Braves. It's the third time in Espinosa's...

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Giolito allows eight hits and five runs in debut, has "a lot of stuff to work on"

May 09, 2015, 4:13am

Nationals

Giolito allows eight hits and five runs in debut, has "a lot of stuff to work on"

Nationals top prospect right-hander Lucas Giolito made his first start for high Single-A Potomac, going 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Frederick. He allowed eight hits, seven of which were singles, and five runs, while striking out five and walking two. Giolito faced 23 batters and got seven groundouts and one flyout with one wild pitch before 5,041 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Frederick won the game, 8-7. After the game, he spoke to reporters about finally getting a chance to...

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Bryce Harper tries to stay in zone in matinee (with lineups)

May 09, 2015, 9:04am

Nationals

Bryce Harper tries to stay in zone in matinee (with lineups)

Braves right-hander Julio Teheran will take his shot at cooling down Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper this afternoon. Over his last two games, Harper is 6-for-8 with five homers, 10 RBIs and five runs scored. In other words, he is zoned in. According to Elias, the only other former No. 1 overall draft picks to hit five bombs in two games are Alex Rodriguez (2002) and Josh Hamilton (2012). Teheran started the crazy game in Atlanta that featured the largest comeback in Nationals' history. He...

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Gonzalez finally got fastball to click and then offense cranked it up for 9-2 win

May 08, 2015, 7:08pm

Nationals

Gonzalez finally got fastball to click and then offense cranked it up for 9-2 win

Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez has had a lot of success with the team since his arrival in 2012. Amazingly, though, he had never defeated the Braves at Nats Park until Friday night. Gonzalez (3-2) went seven strong innings in a 9-2 shellacking of Atlanta. The left-hander gave up only two earned runs on five hits with one walk. He struck out eight hitters. Gonzalez has now struck out 25 batters in his last three starts. The Braves managed a couple of runs in the first three innings against...

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Harper, Espinosa both hit a pair of homers, Nats win 9-2

May 08, 2015, 3:37pm

Nationals

Harper, Espinosa both hit a pair of homers, Nats win 9-2

The Nationals caught some tough luck in the first inning when starter Gio Gonzalez hit the game's second batter, Andrelton Simmons. Gonzalez's breaking ball glanced Simmons' right foot as it shot out of the box on a check swing. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman followed with a double to set up a sacrifice fly from left fielder Jonny Gomes, which plated Simmons easily. Freeman is now is 9-for-14 (.642) against the Nats this year and owns a career. 339 batting average in 77 games versus...

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Bryce Harper's history-making homers lead Nats to 9-2 win

May 08, 2015, 7:36pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper's history-making homers lead Nats to 9-2 win

During spring training, ESPN released a poll of major leaguers, naming Bryce Harper as the the game's most overrated player. The world-wide leader might want to call a re-vote after Harper followed Wednesday's three-homer assault by smacking two more bombs tonight to lead the Nationals to a 9-2 win over the Braves. The 22-year-old Harper became the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit five home runs in a two-game span and the first ever do it in the 47-year history of the...

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Williams on Strasburg, Gonzalez and Roark

May 08, 2015, 2:35pm

Nationals

Williams on Strasburg, Gonzalez and Roark

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was forced to leave Tuesday's game after just three innings due to soreness underneath the shoulder blade on his throwing side. The injury did not require an MRI, but Strasburg did undergo a chiropractic adjustment. "He reported feeling pretty good today," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "So we'll look to see when we can get him ready for his next one." Strasburg is scheduled to start Monday night in Arizona. Williams indicated that Strasburg will have...

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Opposite dugout: Braves bank on second meeting with Nats going better than first

May 07, 2015, 9:54am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Braves bank on second meeting with Nats going better than first

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (5th season) Record: 14-14 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C A.J. Pierzynski (.344/.377/.541 with 3 HR, 14 RBIs), 1B Freddie Freeman (.318/.376/.561 with 5 HR, 17 RBIs), RF Nick Markakis (.301/.390/.340), IF Kelly Johnson (6 HR, 17 RBIs), RHP Julio Teheran (3-1, 3.82 ERA, 28 K in 33 IP), RHP Jason Grilli (0-1, 9 SV) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: May 8: LHP Eric Stults vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 May 9: RHP Julio Teheran vs. RHP Doug...

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Jayson Werth returns with Gio Gonzalez on the mound (with lineups)

May 08, 2015, 11:47am

Nationals

Jayson Werth returns with Gio Gonzalez on the mound (with lineups)

Left fielder Jayson Werth returns to the Nationals' lineup this evening after missing the past two games with soreness in his right shoulder, resulting from offseason surgery. Werth, who began the season on the disabled list, has struggled at the plate since joining the team on April 13. The 35-year-old is batting a lowly .176 (13-for-74) with no homers and only seven RBIs. Braves starter Eric Stults beat the Nats back on April 27, when he allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in Atlanta. It's...

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Lopez delivers win in first high Single-A start for Potomac; Janssen begins rehab

May 08, 2015, 3:00am

Nationals

Lopez delivers win in first high Single-A start for Potomac; Janssen begins rehab

The Nationals' No. 3 prospect right-hander Reynaldo Lopez provided a solid debut with high Single-A Potomac on Thursday. Lopez threw five scoreless innings in a 2-1 Potomac victory in Game 1 over the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. In Game 2, right-hander Casey Janssen tossed one scoreless inning to begin his rehab from shoulder tendinitis. Lopez fired 54 pitches, 37 for strikes, and hit 98 mph velocity with his fastball according to P-Nats media relations. He...

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Janssen's rehab outing went so well, he feels like he "could pitch today"

May 08, 2015, 1:42pm

Nationals

Janssen's rehab outing went so well, he feels like he "could pitch today"

Nationals right-hander Casey Janssen (right shoulder inflammation) surprised even himself with how good he felt today following his first rehab outing Thursday in Woodbridge, Va., for high Single-A Potomac. "Definitely a nice step, probably a bigger step than I originally thought it was going to be," Janssen said following one scoreless inning to begin Game 2 versus Wilmington. He faced three batters, threw nine pitches and struck out one. Janssen did not allow a base runner. He said he...