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Werth hitting cleanup in return to Nationals

April 13, 2015, 8:00am

BOSTON - Left fielder Jayson Werth will hit cleanup in his return to the Nationals. Manager Matt Williams slotted Werth, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list this morning, into the fourth spot in the lineup for today's afternoon game at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has hit cleanup in each of the Nationals' previous six games this season, drops to fifth in the lineup. He is struggling, starting the season 3-for-26 (.130). Clint Robinson's...

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Nationals reinstate outfielder Jayson Werth from disabled list

April 13, 2015, 6:38am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Jayson Werth from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, and optioned outfielder Matt den Dekker to Triple-A Syracuse. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Werth, 35, returns to the Nationals' active roster after missing the first six games of the 2015 season following offseason (January 9) surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder. On a three-game rehab assignment with...

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Werth's return gives Williams options in the lineup

April 13, 2015, 6:14am

Nationals

Werth's return gives Williams options in the lineup

BOSTON - Jayson Werth has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and is expected to be in uniform and in left field when the Nationals play in the season's first game at Fenway Park later this afternoon. Werth rejoined his team in Philadelphia last night in time for a disco ball celebration in the team clubhouse after the Nats' second win. He had been targeting today as a return date since his January surgery to repair his right shoulder, which was initially injured while making a...

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Minor league notes: Severino has not allowed a stolen base to begin season

April 13, 2015, 3:20am

Nationals

Minor league notes: Severino has not allowed a stolen base to begin season

Double-A Harrisburg catcher Pedro Severino has started the season on a stunning streak. Seven base runners have attempted to steal second base on him and seven have failed. His range factor, which is putouts plus assists divided by games played, is also double digits (11.0). That is also a career high. The 21-year-old is in his first season with the Senators. His teammate, right-hander Austin Voth, tossed six scoreless innings in his initial start, allowing three hits, striking out seven and...

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Scherzer "as advertised" in second dominant start

April 12, 2015, 3:35pm

Nationals

Scherzer "as advertised" in second dominant start

PHILADELPHIA - It would be hard to ask for much more than what right-hander Max Scherzer has given the Nationals through his first two starts this season. Even without his A-game today, Scherzer held the Phillies to one run on six hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts, over six innings in today's 4-3 victory. "My fastball command was kind of inconsistent today, but I thought I had good command of all my off-speed pitches," said Scherzer. "Changeup, cutter, slider, curveball - I felt...

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Opposite dugout: Well-rounded Red Sox welcome Nats to Fenway for home opener

April 13, 2015, 5:27am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Well-rounded Red Sox welcome Nats to Fenway for home opener

Manager: John Farrell, third year Record: 4-2 Last 10 games: 4-2 Who to watch: LF Hanley Ramirez (.320/.333/.680, 3 HR, 7 RBIs); SS Xander Bogaerts (.407/.467/.519, 2 XBH, 2 SB, 6 RBIs); RHP Rick Porcello (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.333 WHIP); RHP Justin Masterson (1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.833 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2014): DNP since 2012 Pitching probables April 13: RHP Rick Porcello vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 3 p.m., MASN April 14: RHP Justin Masterson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 6 p.m., MASN April 15:...

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Marty Niland: Three reasons Nats fans should remain optimistic

April 13, 2015, 4:59am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Three reasons Nats fans should remain optimistic

Repeat after me: "It's still early. ... It's a marathon, not a sprint. ... Nobody ever won a pennant in April. ... Three of our best hitters haven't played yet." Can we think of any other worn-out clichÃ©s to perk up the spirits of Nationals fans expecting more after a 2-4 first week? There are probably plenty. Quite a few have appeared on Nats message boards and discussion groups this year, almost as many as the number of posts pointing out mistakes the Washington fielders, hitters,...

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Escobar, Robinson help Nats avoid sweep (Nats win 4-3 in 10)

April 12, 2015, 9:54am

Nationals

Escobar, Robinson help Nats avoid sweep (Nats win 4-3 in 10)

PHILADELPHIA - Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field rocket off Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan in the first that just cleared the wall in left. The solo homer is Harper's second of the season. The Nats have now hit three homers in the first inning through six games this season. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman and center fielder Michael A. Taylor are the others to deliver early bombs. Nats starter Max Scherzer walked Phillies left fielder Ben Revere to start the game, but...

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Werth rejoins Nats and will travel to Boston, plus positive news on Span and Rendon

April 12, 2015, 2:31pm

Nationals

Werth rejoins Nats and will travel to Boston, plus positive news on Span and Rendon

PHILADELPHIA - Outfielder Jayson Werth returned to the Nationals clubhouse Sunday after completing a three-game rehab stint at Single-A Potomac. Nats manager Matt Williams confirmed that Werth will travel with the team to Boston tonight but was not ready to say whether he'll be in the lineup tomorrow at Fenway Park. "Well, we'll see," said Williams. "We'll see how he wakes up tomorrow. Today he's good, so we'll make that determination in the morning." Werth is eligible to play after...

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Not to confuse you, but Danny Espinosa switches back

April 12, 2015, 5:25am

Nationals

Not to confuse you, but Danny Espinosa switches back

PHILADELPHIA - It appears that infielder Danny Espinosa is returning to switch-hitting. Espinosa's first two at-bats of the season resulted in groundball outs from the right side of the plate against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels. But when Espinosa's turn came to lead off the eighth against right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, he stepped into the left side of the batter's box. The debate over whether Espinosa should be a switch-hitter has been going on in the Nationals organization for a few years. His...

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Max Scherzer aims to stop Nats losing streak (with lineups)

April 12, 2015, 7:45am

Nationals

Max Scherzer aims to stop Nats losing streak (with lineups)

PHILADELPHIA - Right-hander Max Scherzer heads to the mound this afternoon to try to stop the Nationals' three-game losing streak. Despite taking the hard-luck loss in his outing on opening day, Scherzer was brilliant, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing three unearned runs on just four hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts. Lefty Clint Robinson gets his second start of the season in left field with the Phillies' starting journeyman, right-hander Sean O'Sullivan, on the mound. Robinson...

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Struggling offense, bullpen problems lead to three-game losing streak

April 11, 2015, 8:41pm

Nationals

Struggling offense, bullpen problems lead to three-game losing streak

PHILADELPHIA - For the third time in the first five games, the Nationals blew a lead and it cost them the game, as they fell 3-2 in 10 innings to the Phillies on Saturday night. Clinging to a 2-0 lead, Nationals manager Matt Williams called on right-hander Blake Treinen to start the eighth inning. The Phillies banged four straight hits off Treinen that led to two runs. The two teams went to extra innings knotted at 2-2 until Phillies rookie center fielder Odubel Herrera smacked a double off...

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Phillies walk off Nationals for 3-2 win in 10 innings

April 11, 2015, 4:18pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals put back-to-back runners on base in the first inning when third baseman Yunel Escobar singled and right fielder Bryce Harper walked with one out. But Phillies starter Cole Hamels was able to get first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Wilson Ramos Ramos to ground out, leaving the Nats with yet another scoring opportunity squandered. The Nats have had runners on base in the first inning of each of the first five games and have left seven of them on base. They have...

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Williams says Werth could return Monday

April 11, 2015, 2:08pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth played both games of a doubleheader for Single-A Potomac this afternoon. The 35-year-old was 1-for-4 with a home run, a strikeout and two walks over the two seven-inning contests. He played left in the first game and served as the designated hitter in the second. Werth is eligible to come off the disabled list today and has maintained since his January right shoulder surgery that it was his goal to return by the Nationals' third series of the...

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Werth said Boston series "a possibility" for return from shoulder surgery

April 11, 2015, 5:01pm

Nationals

Werth said Boston series "a possibility" for return from shoulder surgery

Left fielder Jayson Werth went 1-for-4 with a home run, two walks and one strikeout over the course of a doubleheader for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals as he continues his rehab from right AC joint surgery in his shoulder. The strikeout was on a change up and the home run came on a hanging curveball off of Lynchburg. After the nightcap, Werth spoke with P-Nats play-by-play announcer Bryan Holland, who asked the veteran how his shoulder felt through several at-bats. "I feel pretty good,"...

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Williams gives Espinosa, Johnson first starts (with lineups)

April 11, 2015, 11:38am

Nationals

Williams gives Espinosa, Johnson first starts (with lineups)

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals send tall righty Doug Fister to the mound tonight to try to stop a two-game losing streak. Fister is coming off a questionable spring training, where he allowed an uncharacteristic seven homers en route to a 5.96 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. The Phillies will counter with three-time All-Star Cole Hamels. He took the loss on opening day allowing four runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks against the Red Sox. Nationals manager Matt Williams will give second...

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Matt Williams on Danny Espinosa, Nats bench

April 10, 2015, 11:22pm

Nationals

Matt Williams on Danny Espinosa, Nats bench

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals are just four games into the season and already there are concerns about the team's inability to score runs. They've only managed to cross the plate seven times in the first four contests after scoring just nine runs in the 45 innings played in last October's National League Division Series. Nationals manager Matt Williams has undoubtedly been forced to experiment with unfamiliar lineups as well as shifting infielders around. The question is whether those on the...

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A healthy Gio Gonzalez gets his first shot (with lineups)

April 10, 2015, 12:01pm

Nationals

A healthy Gio Gonzalez gets his first shot (with lineups)

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals send lefty Gio Gonzalez to the hill in tonight's series opener against the Phillies. Gonzalez was sharp throughout the spring, allowing just six runs in 19 1/3 innings, with 19 strikeouts. He appears to be fully recovered from the left shoulder soreness which bothered him for much of last year. For the Nationals: CF Michael A. Taylor 3B Yunel Escobar RF Bryce Harper 1B Ryan Zimmerman C Wilson Ramos SS Ian Desmond 2B Dan Uggla LF Tyler Moore LHP Gio Gonzalez For...

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Williams on Werth's potential return with updates on Span and Rendon

April 10, 2015, 2:09pm

Nationals

Williams on Werth's potential return with updates on Span and Rendon

PHILADELPHIA - Left fielder Jayson Werth was 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a walk in his first minor league rehab assignment. He played seven innings for Single-A Potomac last night and is planning to ramp it up to nine tonight, weather permitting. Nationals manager Matt Williams said Potomac will play a doubleheader tomorrow if rain cancels tonight's contest and Werth would play the first game and potentially take a couple of at-bats in the second. Werth is eligible to come off the disabled...

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Walks, hit batters create problems for Gonzalez, Nats (Phillies win 4-1)

April 10, 2015, 3:34pm

Nationals

Walks, hit batters create problems for Gonzalez, Nats (Phillies win 4-1)

PHILADELPHIA - Center fielder Michael A. Taylor wasted no time putting the Nationals on the scoreboard with a leadoff homer against Phillies starter Jerome Williams. It's Taylor's first bomb of the year, coming off a spring where he led the Nats in home runs with four, two of which came to start games. Taylor's homer lifts his early average to .357 with a double and three RBIs. Right fielder Bryce Harper and catcher Wilson Ramos also singled in the first leaving the Nats with runners at the...