nationals

Versatility on display for Danny Espinosa this spring

March 22, 2015, 5:05am

VIERA, Fla. - I guess you could say this spring training's theme for Danny Espinosa has been "new beginnings." Yesterday, Nationals manager Matt Williams penciled him in for his first start ever at third base. By ever, I mean ever. Like none in high school, not even little league. In fact, Espinosa's two innings played at third base in the ninth and 10th innings of Thursday's 0-0 tie with the Tigers were his first game action at the position in his life. "He's an athlete," Williams...

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Stephen Strasburg to miss Sunday's start with a sprained ankle

March 21, 2015, 12:11pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg to miss Sunday's start with a sprained ankle

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg will miss another spring start, as he sits out tomorrow's game against the Tigers. "He turned an ankle, sprained his ankle doing some conditioning, so we'll have to push him a couple of days," Nationals manager Matt Williams said after today's 4-2 win over the Marlins. Williams said the left ankle injury occurred yesterday. "I don't think it's serious," Williams said. "But again, you start messing with other parts of the body and go out there and try to...

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Jordan Zimmermann doesn't back down while Dan Uggla tries to keep it up

March 21, 2015, 2:27pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann doesn't back down while Dan Uggla tries to keep it up

VIERA, Fla. - Both starting pitchers created a couple of intense moments during the Nationals' 4-2 win over the Marlins. It all started in the second inning, when Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann stepped in the box for his first spring at-bat with runners on first and third and nobody out. The first pitch from Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez came up and in, grazing Zimmermann on the left elbow as he attempted to back away. Zimmermann stood there for a couple of seconds before slowly...

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Yunel Escobar to play first game Monday, Danny Espinosa in unfamiliar territory at third

March 21, 2015, 9:28am

Nationals

Yunel Escobar to play first game Monday, Danny Espinosa in unfamiliar territory at third

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams has Danny Espinosa doing something he's never done in a major or minor league game today, starting at third base. In fact, the 27-year-old has only played two innings there, in the ninth and 10th innings of Thursday's tie with Detroit. "He's an athlete," Williams said. "He can play anywhere on the diamond. We could put him in center field and he'd play fine. We want to certainly give him some experience over there." That's because it is not...

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Drama for Zimmermann, Uggla homers (Nats top Fish, fall to Braves)

March 21, 2015, 10:21am

Nationals

Drama for Zimmermann, Uggla homers (Nats top Fish, fall to Braves)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 4, Marlins 2 Recap: A two-run homer from second baseman Dan Uggla and a two-run single from catcher Wilson Ramos were all the Nationals needed in today's 4-1 victory over the Marlins. Jordan Zimmermann gave up one run on eight hits with four strikeouts in five innings. Need to know: Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez hit Zimmermann in the left elbow with a fastball in the second inning. Zimmermann, not happy, shouted at Alvarez as he slowly trotted up the...

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Tanner Roark misses starting role

March 21, 2015, 4:37am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - If Nationals pitcher Tanner Roark displayed an attitude or chose to be standoffish, I think most would understand. But the 28-year-old has been anything but a malcontent during spring training, which began roughly three weeks after the signing of former Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer likely bumped Roark from the Nats rotation. "Adding Max definitely helps out the team tremendously," Roark said before Thursday's 0-0 tie with Detroit. "He's a workhouse. He logs a lot of...

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Scherzer downplays importance of opening day start, Harper blasts first homer

March 20, 2015, 2:00pm

Nationals

Scherzer downplays importance of opening day start, Harper blasts first homer

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was brilliant today, fanning six in five innings in a 7-5 win over the Astros. He gave up one run on a homer to Astros catcher Jason Castro and scattered three hits with a walk and a hit batter in his fourth start of the spring. Scherzer indicated afterward that, as good as he looked, he's still got work to do before the start of the season. "There's times where I feel like I'm really on and then there's times where I start losing it...

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Danny Espinosa starting at third base vs. Marlins

March 21, 2015, 6:24am

Nationals

Danny Espinosa starting at third base vs. Marlins

VIERA, Fla. - Danny Espinosa is starting at third base in today's split-squad game against the Marlins at Space Coast Stadium. Espinosa has played only at second base and shortstop during his 492 big league games and 342 minor league contests with the Nationals. He has played two innings at third base this spring. Jordan Zimmermann makes his fourth start of the exhibition season. He's been superb so far, allowing just one earned run and six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 8 2/3...

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Nate McLouth's availability for opening day "in jeopardy"

March 20, 2015, 9:32am

Nationals

Nate McLouth's availability for opening day "in jeopardy"

KISSSIMMEE, Fla. - Nate McLouth's recovery from left shoulder surgery last August is taking a bit longer than expected. The outfielder has not fully participated because of limitations the procedure placed on his throwing shoulder. Nationals manager Matt Williams worked him into two games last week as a designated hitter. However, lingering shoulder soreness led to McLouth being scratched from last Saturday's lineup and he hasn't returned since leaving his availability for the start of the...

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Max Scherzer to ramp it up, while Dan Uggla, Mike Carp try for a late push

March 20, 2015, 6:52am

Nationals

Max Scherzer to ramp it up, while Dan Uggla, Mike Carp try for a late push

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Right-hander Max Scherzer is scheduled to throw five innings or around 70 pitches in his fourth spring start today. He's been very solid so far, allowing just two runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in nine full innings this spring. Dan Uggla starts at second base. He's batting .273 with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs while competing for a bench spot behind starter Yunel Escobar. Mike Carp needs a late spring push to make the roster. Carp, who signed a...

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Espinosa, Moore spark offense early (Harper homers, Nats win 7-5)

March 20, 2015, 10:02am

Nationals

Espinosa, Moore spark offense early (Harper homers, Nats win 7-5)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 7, Astros 5 Recap: Right fielder Bryce Harper smacked his first home run of the spring and Max Scherzer turned in another exceptional performance on the mound in the win. Harper's homer gave the Nats their fifth run of the day in the fourth hitting. Scherzer had six strikeouts in five innings, while allowing one run and three hits with a walk and a hit batter. Need to know: Danny Espinosa collected his third hit this spring off a right-handed pitcher while...

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Jayson Werth still sees opening day as a possibility

March 20, 2015, 4:38am

Nationals

Jayson Werth still sees opening day as a possibility

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth injured his right shoulder seven months ago when he crashed into the right field wall at Nats Park while making a catch. He missed a handful of games, had a couple of cortisone shots and was in the lineup for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. When the shoulder wouldn't heal, the 35-year-old finally opted for surgery in January. The original timetable for his full recovery was 60 to 90 days. But Werth will see his first action in a...

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Gonzalez and Roark lead Nats in scoreless tie, Werth still aiming for opening day

March 19, 2015, 2:23pm

Nationals

Gonzalez and Roark lead Nats in scoreless tie, Werth still aiming for opening day

VIERA, Fla. - Pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark both turned out their best performances of the spring in today's unique 10-inning 0-0 tie between the Nationals and Tigers. Gonzalez worked the count in his favor throughout his four innings, striking out five while allowing only two hits and one walk. "I think the most I was happy with was how my arm feels," said Gonzalez. "It feels fantastic. I'm so excited about it. Just talking about it from my last start to now, I was just trying to...

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Five strikeouts for Gonzalez, Nats run into trouble (0-0 final in 10)

March 19, 2015, 10:00am

Nationals

Five strikeouts for Gonzalez, Nats run into trouble (0-0 final in 10)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 0, Tigers 0 (10 innings) Recap: The Nationals and Tigers combined for 12 hits in this scoreless extra-inning affair. Gio Gonzalez was impressive, striking out five while allowing only two hits and one walk in four innings. Tanner Roark had his best outing of the spring, scattering three hits with three strikeouts in two frames. Nats relievers Matt Thornton and Aaron Barrett also shut out in the Tigers in an inning of work each. Need to know: Tough day at...

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Williams isn't concerned with Roark, Werth to see minor league game action tomorrow

March 19, 2015, 6:51am

Nationals

Williams isn't concerned with Roark, Werth to see minor league game action tomorrow

VIERA, Fla. - It's hard to say anyone in the Nationals organization has been negatively affected by the offseason signing of right-hander Max Scherzer. But coming off a season where he went 15-10 with a sterling 2.85 ERA as a starter, it appears righty Tanner Roark will get bumped from the rotation due to Scherzer's arrival. Manager Matt Williams continues to say that Roark is preparing as a starter during spring training, although he's made only one start and that was on the road in a...

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Slugger Clint Robinson making a case

March 19, 2015, 4:33am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Clint Robinson has bounced around the minor leagues for nine years since Kansas City drafted him in 2007. Despite swinging a heavy bat to the tune of a .302 average with 141 homers and 587 RBIs in the minors, Robinson has only taken in the bright lights of the majors for 13 games - four with Royals in 2012 and nine with the Dodgers last season. "It's tough," Robinson said. "It's a good place to be, the big leagues. You want to get up there and you want to stay, but there are...

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Nationals lineup centered around Michael A. Taylor

March 19, 2015, 5:33am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Michael A. Taylor came to Viera with the goal of making a shorter trip back north to D.C. instead of to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of spring training. He had no idea that would entail being the Nationals' opening day center fielder. That could be Taylor's role since Denard Span's abdominal surgery has likely cost him the beginning of the season. Taylor has answered the call by hitting .292 with a homer, two triples, a double and three RBIs in eight starts this spring....

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Doug Fister singing the "spring training blues," Yunel Escobar making progress

March 18, 2015, 1:38pm

Nationals

Doug Fister singing the "spring training blues," Yunel Escobar making progress

JUPITER, Fla. - Casey Janssen has spent his entire career pitching in the American League for the Toronto Blue Jays. In the sixth inning of today's game, with the Nationals holding a 3-2 lead, Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton welcomed Janssen to the National League with a titanic blast that soared well beyond the center field wall at Roger Dean Stadium. "I would imagine that's not the only one he's hit in the last couple years," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He left one out over...

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Williams encouraged with Cole despite cut, plus Escobar and Rendon updates

March 18, 2015, 8:56am

Nationals

Williams encouraged with Cole despite cut, plus Escobar and Rendon updates

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals optioned right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole to Triple-A Syracuse this morning. Cole, ranked the No. 52 prospect in baseball by MLB.com, gave up three solo home runs among eight hits in seven innings this spring. "I thought he pitched really well and we've got to get him back down and get his normal routine going," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. Williams has indicated that more roster moves are coming for pitchers as the starting rotation continues eating up...

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Shaky start for Fister, quiet bats for Nats (Nats lose 5-4)

March 18, 2015, 9:51am

Nationals

Shaky start for Fister, quiet bats for Nats (Nats lose 5-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Marlins 5, Nationals 4 Recap: Doug Fister allowed two runs on six hits with a strikeout in four innings. He threw 57 pitches, 39 for strikes. The Nats were finally able to get to Marlins starter Mat Latos in the fourth when Michael A. Taylor singled, stole second and then scored on a Dan Uggla double. After Uggla swiped third, Ryan Zimmerman plated him on a ground ball. Clint Robinson hit a hit a solo homer in the fifth and Matt Skole hit a solo shot in the...