nationals

Fister ready for season to start after six strong innings in spring finale

April 04, 2015, 1:11pm

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister tossed six innings Saturday in his final start of spring training. He allowed four hits, the lone blemish a two-run homer by Stephen Drew that got the Yankees on the board in the fifth. But Fister started very well, retiring the first nine New York batters he faced. Jacob Ellsbury was hit by pitch to start the fourth and Brett Gardner followed with a single. But Fister induced a 4-6-3 Mark Teixeira double play grounder to end the threat. Brian McCann doubled...

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Fister, Storen surrender homers in 4-3 loss to Yankees

April 04, 2015, 9:32am

Nationals

Fister, Storen surrender homers in 4-3 loss to Yankees

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Yankees 4, Nationals 3 Recap: A pair of two-run homers from the Yankees did in the Nats in the final exhibition game of the spring. Right-hander Doug Fister gave up one of the homers to Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew in the fifth and closer Drew Storen surrendered the other in to outfielder Chris Young the eighth. The Nats got all their offense in the first on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and a two-run single by DH Wilson Ramos. Need to...

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Denard Span will play in a minor league game today

April 04, 2015, 8:20am

Nationals

Denard Span will play in a minor league game today

Nationals manager Matt Williams liked what he saw yesterday as he leaned on the back of the cage at Steinbrenner Field and watched center fielder Denard Span participate in a full batting practice session. Today, Span will see his first live action since March 9 core muscle surgery when he plays in a minor league game in Viera, Fla. "He felt good," Williams said of Span. "The plan for him is to play today. So he'll get in the game down there, assuming that he's shows up and feels well....

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Yankees-Nationals lineups for final exhibition game

April 04, 2015, 6:01am

Nationals

The Grapefruit League of the Nationals' schedule is done, and Space Coast Stadium is in their rear view mirror. Today at 1 p.m. on MASN, the Nationals host the Yankees in the final exhibition game of the spring. The grounds crew is putting the finishing touches on the beautiful, new turf at Nats Park as I type, and a group of red-clad pitchers are stretching in the outfield. Sure signs that baseball's back. If you're coming to the game today - and particularly if you're sitting in the upper...

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With new locker location, Desmond ready for opening day

April 04, 2015, 7:36am

Nationals

With new locker location, Desmond ready for opening day

To begin 2015, there are some subtle changes to the makeup of the Nationals and the way things look in the clubhouse. First baseman Adam LaRoche has moved on to the Chicago White Sox. Sporting a new haircut and thicker goatee, veteran shortstop Ian Desmond has moved his clubhouse locker location over to the stall previously occupied by LaRoche. He is now right next to Tyler Moore and closer to Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman. Bryce Harper's locker is now to his right. Desmond remembers when he...

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Update on Storen, plus what role will Blake Treinen take on this season?

April 04, 2015, 8:53am

Nationals

Update on Storen, plus what role will Blake Treinen take on this season?

Manager Matt Williams said the Nationals will get closer Drew Storen into today's exhibition game against the Yankees. Storen has been recovering from a blister on right foot. "He's available to pitch today," Williams said. "We plan on him pitching. He threw yesterday. They wrapped him up pretty good. He's got a good callous over the blister. So the anticipation today is to get him in there. We need to get him in there. It's part of his progression. We'll keep going with that." With...

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Williams dealing with his own final four

April 04, 2015, 4:24am

Nationals

Williams dealing with his own final four

The countdown has been going on for several weeks, but we now sit on the doorstep of opening day. Nationals manager Matt Williams has one last bit of business to take care of before his ballclub takes the field against the Mets on Monday. Williams is currently staring at 27 healthy players (14 position players, 13 pitchers). That number needs to be paired down to 25 by Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.. Williams indicated on Friday that he wanted to get one last look at those competing for the final...

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Williams ready to go after "interesting spring"

April 03, 2015, 7:05pm

Nationals

Williams ready to go after "interesting spring"

TAMPA - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg turned in his best spring start in today's 8-2 win over the Yankees in the Nationals' final Grapefruit League game. Strasburg limited the Yankees to just one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. "It's just progress," said Strasburg. "I think I felt good a couple starts ago and then I twisted my ankle and pushed everything backwards. Now I think I'm going in the right direction." Strasburg's breaking balls were...

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Bryce Harper triples, Mike Carp homers (Nats win 8-2)

April 03, 2015, 9:29am

Nationals

Bryce Harper triples, Mike Carp homers (Nats win 8-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Yankees 2 Recap: Right fielder Bryce Harper got the Nats started early with a RBI triple off Yankees starter CC Sabathia. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman and shortstop Ian Desmond pushed runs across the plate with a single and double, respectively, to give the Nats a three-run first inning. First baseman Mike Carp popped a three-run homer in the seventh, his first of the spring. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on six...

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Divisional preview: National League East

April 03, 2015, 1:48pm

Nationals

Divisional preview: National League East

After winning two of the last three National League East titles, and then losing in October's National League Division Series, the Nationals are on the hot seat of expectations. They've added $210 million pitcher Max Scherzer to what was already the best rotation in baseball. And with shortstop Ian Desmond and starters Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister eligible for free agency after the season, the Nationals have a sense or urgency. The Nationals won the division by 17 games last season with...

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Nats have fielding concerns as opening day nears

April 03, 2015, 4:15am

Nationals

Nats have fielding concerns as opening day nears

TAMPA - Spring training statistics are fairly ridiculous to dissect given the amount of minor leaguers that participate and the inconsistent lineups. But one category the Nationals didn't want to lead during the exhibition season was errors committed. Their 34 errors are tied with the Giants for the most this spring, although the Nats have reached their total in three fewer games. Ironically, the two teams tied for 100 errors last season, leaving them sitting right in the middle of the pack of...

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Strasburg facing Sabathia in final Grapefruit League game (with lineups)

April 03, 2015, 6:44am

Nationals

Strasburg facing Sabathia in final Grapefruit League game (with lineups)

TAMPA - Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated on Wednesday that today's lineup would be his regulars. If so, that would mean that Danny Espinosa would be the team's starting second baseman on opening day. Espinosa has spent the entire spring transitioning from a switch-hitter to exclusively batting from the right side of the plate. He was only 7-for-51 (.137) in the exhibition season, but Williams may prefer Espinosa's glove to Dan Uggla's at second, especially with other new faces...

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Down to the wire for Clint Robinson

April 02, 2015, 4:56am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have three days remaining before Sunday's deadline to trim their roster to 25 for opening day. Clint Robinson is in a place he's not familiar with. The 30-year-old has never made it this far in spring training with any big league club. Now he's on the doorstep of breaking camp in the majors with a team projected to win the World Series. "It's a 50/50 shot: You either make it or you don't," said Robinson. "I'm trying not to think about it. It's part of the...

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Win big with MASN at NatsFest on Saturday

December 11, 2014, 8:22pm

Nationals

Win big with MASN at NatsFest on Saturday

Still craving Nationals baseball after the Winter Meetings wrapped up in San Diego? Well, you're in luck. It's once again time to break out the Natitude on Saturday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for NatsFest! You know the drill: MASN will be on-site all afternoon hooking you up with Nats gear, autographed memorabilia, and chances to rub elbows with your favorite players and on-air personalities. For all of the NatsFest veterans out there, you'll notice some changes to...

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Anthony Rendon to start the season on DL

April 01, 2015, 8:00am

Nationals

Anthony Rendon to start the season on DL

JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that third baseman Anthony Rendon will begin the season on the disabled list. The news comes on the heels of Rendon's trip to Vail, Colo., yesterday for a third opinion on his ailing left knee. Dr. Steven Singleton concurred with Dr. James Andrews on a sprained left MCL for Rendon, the same diagnosis originally made three weeks ago when the injury occurred. "It's an injury that's kind of (a) week-to-week type injury,"...

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Nats look to help improve Wi-Fi connections in Nationals Park

April 02, 2015, 6:01am

Nationals

Fan experience is important to the Nationals, especially in this day and age of mobile phone use, Wi-Fi connections and connectivity levels at the stadium. Some fans have been concerned about getting good levels on their Wi-Fi connections throughout the stadium. I had some questions on Twitter about Wi-Fi at Nationals Park. @masnKerr did they do anything to improve the wifi at the park cc @NLBeastNats -- MicheleS (@aNatsFan) April 1, 2015 I posed the concern to Nationals chief revenue and...

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New items at Nats Park in 2015 centered around 10th anniversary celebration

April 01, 2015, 11:55am

Nationals

New items at Nats Park in 2015 centered around 10th anniversary celebration

The Nationals announced new concessions, menu items, enhanced spaces for fans called Club 24, a Baseball Americana exhibit, a new main clubhouse team store, promotional items, historic home run commemoration, theme nights, giveaways and much more during a media tour of Nationals Park on Wednesday. Several of the newest enhancements are related to the 10th anniversary of baseball's return to D.C. "We've been planning for a really long time this celebration, really since the last pitch of last...

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Morse, Stanton rock Zimmermann for early homers (Nats lose 8-0)

April 01, 2015, 9:28am

Nationals

Morse, Stanton rock Zimmermann for early homers (Nats lose 8-0)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Marlins 8, Nationals 0 Recap: This one was over quickly. A three-run homer by former Nats slugger Michael Morse began a Marlins onslaught in the first against right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. In the second, Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich added a two-run triple and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton followed with a titanic two-run homer. All told, Zimmermann gave up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Need to know: A double by...

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Zimmermann not worried after rough start, Nats make roster moves in crunch time

April 01, 2015, 1:28pm

Nationals

Zimmermann not worried after rough start, Nats make roster moves in crunch time

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals were shut out for the second consecutive day, as the Marlins pounded starter Jordan Zimmermann right out of the gates en route to an 8-0 loss in the seventh and final meeting between the two clubs in Grapefruit League play. Marlins first baseman Michael Morse and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton both belted deep homers off Zimmermann, who allowed all eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks. "It's spring training, that's a good...

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Williams fields likely opening day lineup vs. Marlins today

April 01, 2015, 8:35am

Nationals

Williams fields likely opening day lineup vs. Marlins today

JUPITER, Fla. - Aside from starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, it's quite possible the Nationals are fielding their opening day lineup against the Marlins today at Roger Dean Stadium. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor certainly figured to be one to watch at the start of spring training, but the 23-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Denard Span went down with core muscle surgery. Not only does Taylor's speed and athletic ability fill Span's void in center field, but he's also shown...