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Stephen Strasburg, Tony Gwynn Jr. recognize a special moment

March 18, 2015, 4:24am

VIERA, Fla. - It's hard to read anything into spring training lineups when Nationals manager Matt Williams posts them early in the morning before exhibition games. But while quickly looking at Tuesday's lineup, I recognized that something important was going to happen when the Nats took on the Tigers. Most are probably thinking I'm talking about the hyped matchup between Nats righty Stephen Strasburg and Detroit ace Justin Verlander - and certainly that was fun, if even only for four...

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Doug Fister gets tough test against Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (Cole cut)

March 18, 2015, 6:52am

Nationals

Doug Fister gets tough test against Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (Cole cut)

JUPITER, Fla. - Ian Stewart gets another start at third base today for the Nationals, while Anthony Rendon continues to recover from a sprained left MCL. The seven-year veteran has been swinging a hot bat. Stewart is hitting .389 with two homers, a double and three RBIs. Right-hander Doug Fister will have a good test against Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton in his third start of the spring. Fister also becomes the first Nats pitcher to hit in the exhibition season, with the designated hitter...

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Former manager Davey Johnson visits Nats (Kobernus released)

March 17, 2015, 4:05pm

Nationals

Former manager Davey Johnson visits Nats (Kobernus released)

LAKELAND, Fla. - Davey Johnson may have retired as Nationals manager after the 2013 season, but he continued to keep close tabs on his former ballclub from afar by watching virtually every game they played on television last year. "It's in your blood," Johnson said. "It was fun. I was addicted to it. I would check the paper. I don't think I missed but one or two games all season long." Despite intently watching his old team from afar, Johnson had not seen the Nats in person since he left...

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Strasburg delivers four shutout innings while Harper's bat struggles

March 17, 2015, 1:56pm

Nationals

Strasburg delivers four shutout innings while Harper's bat struggles

LAKELAND, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg appeared to be in midseason form throughout today's start. The Tigers only managed three hits while Strasburg struck out five in four scoreless innings in the Nationals' 6-4 victory. Detroit's lineup saw the full repertoire from the big righty. "Two-seamer was working pretty well, changeup got better as the game went on and curveball, I was able to throw it for a strike today," Strasburg said. "Everything was working pretty well." Strasburg threw 44 of...

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Harper's arm is a weapon, too

March 16, 2015, 11:08pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - In a game that included two triples, a throw was perhaps the most incredible part of yesterday's 2-1 win over the Astros. Houston outfielder Alex Presley ripped a ball past the extended Danny Espinosa and into the right-center gap in the fifth inning. As right fielder Bryce Harper casually made his way to the ball, Presley headed for second. In a flash, Harper fired a bullet to the bag and Presley was tagged out by Wilmer Difo. "I came up slow on that on purpose, just to see...

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Williams looking forward to Strasburg-Verlander, plus injury updates

March 17, 2015, 9:00am

Nationals

Williams looking forward to Strasburg-Verlander, plus injury updates

LAKELAND, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg faces Justin Verlander in one of Major League Baseball's juiciest pitching matchups thus far this spring. "Oh, yeah. It's a good one. Both those guys are pretty good. It'll be fun," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. Strasburg wasn't able to make his last start after having an ingrown toenail removed, but he still got his work done on the minor league side. Williams doesn't expect Strasburg to deal with any ill effects from last week's minor...

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Nats offense pounds Verlander while Strasburg is dominant (Nats win 6-4)

March 17, 2015, 11:44am

Nationals

Nats offense pounds Verlander while Strasburg is dominant (Nats win 6-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 6, Tigers 4 Recap: Tony Gwynn Jr. and Kila Ka'aihue homered off Tigers starter Justin Verlander who gave up four runs on five hits. Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg shut out the Tigers in his four frames, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts. Nats reliever Jerry Blevins had a rough outing, allowing a three-run homer to Tigers left fielder Tyler Collins in the eighth. Need to know: Bryce Harper was 0-for-3 with with two strikeouts and is now hitting...

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Strasburg, Verlander highlight heavyweight pitching matchup (with lineups)

March 17, 2015, 6:49am

Nationals

Strasburg, Verlander highlight heavyweight pitching matchup (with lineups)

LAKELAND, Fla. - There's a marquee pitching matchup today as the Nationals send right-hander Stephen Strasburg to the mound, while the Tigers will start former American League MVP Justin Verlander. Strasburg missed his last start after having an ingrown toenail removed. He gave up two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings in his first appearance of the spring on March 7. Right fielder Bryce Harper is one of three starters who made the trip to Lakeland today....

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Jordan Zimmermann dodges "a bullet" as Nats shut down Astros

March 16, 2015, 2:28pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann dodges "a bullet" as Nats shut down Astros

VIERA, Fla. - It was just two days ago that Nationals manager Matt Williams got a scare when Gio Gonzalez fell to the ground on a ball hit hard back up the box. Some hearts probably skipped a beat in the third inning of today's 2-1 win over the Astros when Jordan Zimmermann was knocked off his feet on a ball Robbie Grossman smoked right at him. Zimmermann was able to quickly get his glove up to deflect the ball while falling backward. He popped up and located the ball, making a throw to first...

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Zimmermann fine after dangerous comebacker, Taylor triples (Nats win 2-1)

March 16, 2015, 10:06am

Nationals

Zimmermann fine after dangerous comebacker, Taylor triples (Nats win 2-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 2, Astros 1 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann allowed one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk in four innings. The Nationals got on the board quickly, as Michael A. Taylor led off the game with a triple. He tagged up and scored when Ian Desmond hit a sac fly to right field one batter later. The Nationals took the lead in the seventh when Clint Robinson delivered a triple, scoring Tony Gwynn Jr. Aaron Barrett pitched a scoreless ninth, but...

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Who's the top option in the lineup?

March 16, 2015, 8:54am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - One of the biggest questions facing the Nationals with exactly three weeks to go before opening day is who will be atop the lineup. Denard Span most likely won't be available to return to his normal spot until May, as he's recovering from abdominal surgery. Anthony Rendon batted first for two spring games until he went down with a sprained left MCL. Michael A. Taylor, today's leadoff hitter, has been used the most in that place in the order. "We have options," manager Matt...

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Nationals option outfielder Brian Goodwin and pitcher Sammy Solis (with lineups)

March 16, 2015, 6:32am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have optioned outfielder Brian Goodwin to Triple-A Syracuse and left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis to Double-A Harrisburg. Goodwin, 24, had not appeared in an exhibition game this spring as he continues to rehab from offseason surgery on his left shoulder, his non-throwing shoulder. Goodwin returns to Syracuse, where he hit .219 with four homers and 32 RBIs last season. The Nationals selected him with the 34th pick in the first round of the 2011 First-Year-Player Draft....

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Max Scherzer, Wilson Ramos are still working to get on the same page

March 15, 2015, 8:39pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer, Wilson Ramos are still working to get on the same page

VIERA, Fla. - The first time Wilson Ramos crouched behind the plate to catch Max Scherzer, he lasted only three pitches before realizing it was the wrong time to break in a new mitt. The Nationals catcher grabbed his old, broken-in glove and settled back in to begin learning the newest member of the Nats' elite rotation. "Everything's moving," Ramos said with a bit of amazement. "That's impressive. Pitchers like him, not too many in this game." Familiarizing himself with Scherzer's...

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Questions and answers from spring training camps

March 16, 2015, 7:49am

Nationals Orioles

Questions and answers from spring training camps

With spring training half over and three weeks until opening day, here are questions and answers regarding some of the storylines from Florida and Arizona: Question: Will the Cubs have power-hitting third base prospect Kris Bryant in the lineup when they open April 5 in Wrigley Field against St. Louis? Answer: Bryant, who hit 43 home runs at two minor league levels last season, has been blasting away in the Cactus League and into the headlines this spring, but the chances of the Cubs having him...

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No opening day starter talk yet as Scherzer rolls against Astros

March 15, 2015, 2:03pm

Nationals

No opening day starter talk yet as Scherzer rolls against Astros

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - With 23 days remaining until opening day, Nationals manager Matt Williams isn't interested in entertaining conversation about who he plans to give the ball to for the start of the 2015 season. "We've got three off days right before the season," Williams said. "So, at this point, we're running them out there on their turn and if we have to make an adjustment then we can make an adjustment. Right now, we're not thinking about it. We're just making sure they're getting...

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Starting five MASNsports.com guest bloggers revealed for 2015

March 13, 2015, 12:51pm

Nationals

Starting five MASNsports.com guest bloggers revealed for 2015

When the Nationals came to D.C. from Montreal for the 2015 season, they created a lot of buzz in the nation's capital. One of the interesting offshoots of their arrival was the plethora of fan blogs that were quickly established. These folks were the ones who created the Natosphere, the wonderful Internet gathering place for new Nats fans and baseball-starved denizens of the District and the surrounding area. Well, we noticed. And in 2011, MASNsports.com started offering daily in-season...

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Nats option Hill to Triple-A, reassign three others to minors (with lineups)

March 15, 2015, 7:27am

Nationals

Nats option Hill to Triple-A, reassign three others to minors (with lineups)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Nationals have optioned right-handed pitcher Taylor Hill to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigned right-handers Eric Fornataro, Mitch Lively, and Scott McGregor to minor league camp. Hill, 26, made three appearances this spring, allowing two earned runs on five hits in four innings, while striking out five, walking none and hitting two batters. A sixth-round pick by the Nationals in 2006, Hill rejoins Syracuse, where he was 11-7 with a 2.81 ERA in 24 starts last season. He made...

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Moore heating up again (Nats fall 3-2)

March 15, 2015, 10:10am

Nationals

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Astros 3, Nationals 2 Recap: Max Scherzer pitched four scoreless innings today, allowing just a hit and a walk with three strikeouts. He threw 60 pitches, 29 for strikes, in his longest outing of the spring. Tyler Moore hit his seventh extra-base hit of the exhibition season when he smoked a double to the right-center gap in the first. He's now 10-for-21 in Grapefruit League play. Need to know: Reliever Heath Bell struggled in the fifth inning, giving up three runs...

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Ka'aihue brings unique Far East experience to spring training

March 15, 2015, 4:43am

Nationals

Ka'aihue brings unique Far East experience to spring training

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams made his usual wholesale substitutions before the seventh inning of Tuesday's road game against the Mets. The Tradition Field public address announcer began reading them off so fans could recognize the changes. "At shortstop, Difo for Espinosa," he said while continuing down the line with every player's name and position until he got to the last. "At first base, 18 for 33 ...18 for 33." No. 18 is Kila Ka'aihue. That's pronounced Kee-la...

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Gonzalez surprisingly happy, Werth hits for first time this spring

March 14, 2015, 1:20pm

Nationals

Gonzalez surprisingly happy, Werth hits for first time this spring

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams has seen enough of injuries lately, so there was some immediate cause for concern in the third inning of today's game at Space Coast Stadium when starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez landed awkwardly after jumping and attempting to reach a hard hit ball by the Marlins' Marcell Ozuna. Williams and Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty immediately came out of the dugout to check on Gonzalez. "I tried to do the jump man logo and catch the ball in the end zone...