nationals

LaRoche named NL co-Player of the Week, plus lineups

September 08, 2014, 12:02pm

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche, along with Giants catcher Buster Posey have been named the National League co-Players of the Week. LaRoche hit .333 (5-for-15) with a .421 on-base percentage, and a 1.133 slugging percentage in five games (four starts) last week. Four of LaRoche's five hits were home runs. He also drove in 10 runs and walked three times. LaRoche is the third Nationals player to win Player of the Week honors this season. Jayson Werth and Jordan Zimmerann previously won...

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Nats announce 2015 schedule

September 08, 2014, 9:24am

Nationals

The Nationals released their 2015 schedule this afternoon, and it will begin and end with the Mets. The Nats start 2015 at home on Monday, April 6 against the Mets and end it on Oct. 4 at Citi Field in New York. Washington opens the season by playing National League East foes in 26 of its first 32 contests through May 10, before finishing the year with 26 of its final 29 games against division foes from Sept. 3 to Oct. 4. While 29 of next season's first 50 contests will be played on the...

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Williams on Fister, Storen and more after Nats' 2-1 win over Braves

September 08, 2014, 6:40pm

Nationals

Williams on Fister, Storen and more after Nats' 2-1 win over Braves

The division lead is up to eight. The magic number is down to 12. Things continue to look up for the Nationals. Doug Fister went seven scoreless innings, the Nationals managed just enough offense on Ian Desmond's RBI single and Anthony Rendon's run-scoring fielder's choice, and Drew Storen struck out the side in a dominant ninth to give the Nats a 2-1 win over the Braves. Fister turned in an absolute gem, and while he got into a bit of trouble in the seventh, Matt Williams trusted him to...

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Nationals strike first versus Braves (Nats win 2-1)

September 08, 2014, 3:26pm

Nationals

The Nationals were able to break the ice early against the rival Braves. Each of these games are so important, but manager Matt Williams repeated during pregame that it is just another game. But a sweep either way would make a huge statement with games, and the season, dwindling down to a precious few. Doug Fister allowed just a Freddie Freeman base hit in the first. With two outs in the bottom of the first and Anthony Rendon on base, Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond had back-to-back singles to...

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Zimmerman works in outfield during batting practice

September 08, 2014, 1:29pm

Nationals

Zimmerman works in outfield during batting practice

Manager Matt Williams gave the latest update on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is in the process of rehabbing a right hamstring strain. Zimmerman has continued running and agility drills. He was seen doing some baseball-related activities during batting practice Monday prior to the Nationals' series opener against the Braves, throwing the ball to his teammates while in the outfield. The turning and running for Zimmerman, including pivoting and twisting defensively along with running the...

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Nationals offense needs more consistency; Hagerstown and Potomac playoff updates

September 08, 2014, 6:12am

Nationals

Have you noticed how the Nationals offense has been more all or nothing this season? That is one reason why their record when scoring more than four runs jumps out at you. The Nationals are 66-9 when scoring four or more runs in a game this season. They are 14-52 when scoring three or fewer. Ironically, the Phillies series had two games that were against that average - the 11-inning 9-8 loss on Friday and the 3-2 win on Sunday. But it just seems that the Nationals score zero to three runs...

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Soriano "felt good" during bullpen session, could pitch in game soon

September 08, 2014, 1:09pm

Nationals

Soriano "felt good" during bullpen session, could pitch in game soon

Prior to Monday's game versus the Braves, Nationals manager Matt Williams updated Rafael Soriano's progress as he tries to work on his mechanics following a rough stretch. Soriano has not pitched since Friday. Williams did not personally witness Soriano's bullpen session today, but got the full report from pitching coach Steve McCatty. He did get to speak to Soriano after the workout. "He's working on his mechanics," Williams said. "I talked to him in there and he said he felt good....

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Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche named National League co-Player of the Week

September 08, 2014, 12:17pm

Nationals

Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was named the co-National League Player of the Week, sharing the honor with San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey. Major League Baseball made the announcement this afternoon on MLB Network. LaRoche, 34, opened the month of September on a powerful tear at the plate as he helped guide the Nationals to two pivotal victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. In earning his first NL Player of the Week honors, LaRoche hit...

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A chance to bury the Braves

September 08, 2014, 6:22am

Nationals

A seven-game lead (eight in the loss column) with 21 games remaining in the regular season is pretty safe. The Nationals are certainly aware of this, despite their day-at-a-time focus. Baseball Prospectus is giving the Nats a 98.6 percent chance to win the National League East. FanGraphs puts it at a 99.6 percent chance. It would take a miracle for the Braves to overtake the Nats in the division. But this is baseball. Anything can happen, and miracles have been known to occur. These next...

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Nationals announce 2015 schedule

September 08, 2014, 9:07am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today released their 2015 schedule, which includes 81 home dates, beginning with Washington's 82nd home opener since 1901 on Monday, April 6 vs. the New York Mets and is highlighted by 13 weekend series against, among others, the Phillies (three times), Braves (two times), Cubs, Pirates, Giants, Dodgers and Brewers. Washington's 2015 slate both begins (see above) and concludes (Sunday, October 4 at Citi Field) against the NL East-rival Mets. Washington opens '15 by...

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Hearing from Storen, Gonzalez, LaRoche and Hairston after win over Phillies

September 07, 2014, 2:45pm

Nationals

Hearing from Storen, Gonzalez, LaRoche and Hairston after win over Phillies

The Nationals salvaged their series against the Phillies with a 3-2 win on Sunday. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez outdueled fellow southpaw Cole Hamels for the win. The offense was powered by two solo home runs from Adam LaRoche and a sacrifice fly from Scott Hairston. Drew Storen also earned his second save of the season after working a perfect ninth inning. The win could not have come at a better time as the Nats begin a three-game series with the Braves tomorrow night. Here's what the...

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Roark felt good despite another hard-luck loss to Phillies

September 06, 2014, 3:33pm

Nationals

Roark felt good despite another hard-luck loss to Phillies

Right-hander Tanner Roark certainly did not what that to happen again. He pitched pretty well, but faced an opposing pitcher who recently has had the Nationals' number. On Aug. 25, Roark allowed two earned runs in a 3-2 loss to A.J. Burnett and the Phillies. Burnett struck out 12 batters in that game. On Saturday, Roark surrendered three earned runs and again lost to Burnett, this time 3-1. Burnett allowed the Nationals' only one run. Despite the loss, his second straight to the Phillies,...

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Marty Niland: Storen is right choice as Nats' new closer

September 08, 2014, 4:54am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Storen is right choice as Nats' new closer

It didn't take long for Nationals manager Matt Williams to reveal his next closer. Two days after Rafael Soriano blew his seventh save of the season and fifth since the All-Star break, Drew Storen emerged from the Nats bullpen in the ninth inning of Sunday's 3-2 win over Philadelphia and set the Phillies down in order. For fans weary of watching Soriano's ineffectiveness in recent weeks, a scoreless inning, let alone a clean one, was a welcome sight. Now it will be up to the Nats'...

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Williams discusses Nats' 3-1 loss

September 06, 2014, 3:30pm

Nationals

A.J. Burnett kept his successful streak against the Nationals going, and the Phillies kept on rolling. Burnett allowed just one run over seven innings in the Phillies' 3-1 win this afternoon, giving him just his third win since June 20. All three of those wins have come against the Nats. The Phillies, meanwhile, earned their fifth series win in their last six sets. The last-place Phils have surprisingly gotten hot recently, winning series over the Mariners, Cardinals, Braves and now two sets...

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Hairston gets start in left against Hamels

September 07, 2014, 7:46am

Nationals

Hairston gets start in left against Hamels

The Nationals will try salvage the series against the Phillies this afternoon and end a two-game losing streak. Left-handers Gio Gonzalez and Cole Hamels will square off on the mound. With Hamels starting, Bryce Harper is out of the lineup and Scott Hairston is starting in his place. Hairston is a .392 hitter with five doubles, five home runs and nine RBIs in his career against Hamels. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF...

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Early miscues hurt Nats (Nats win 3-2)

September 07, 2014, 9:58am

Nationals

Well, things are off to an interesting start this afternoon at Nationals Park. With one out in the top of the first, Grady Sizemore singled to center fielder Denard Span. With two outs, Marlon Byrd singled on a line drive to Span, which scored Sizemore. Byrd was able to advance to third following throwing errors by Span and third baseman Anthony Rendon. The Phillies lead the Nationals 1-0 at the end of one inning. The run was charged as an earned run to Gio Gonzalez, who threw 19 pitches...

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Williams meets with the media after 3-2 win over Phillies

September 07, 2014, 2:11pm

Nationals

Williams meets with the media after 3-2 win over Phillies

With one victory today, the Nationals avoided a sweep by the Phillies, extended their lead in the National League East to seven games, trimmed their magic number to 14 and got some momentum back on their side before a three-game series against the Braves starts tomorrow. Not a bad day at the office. The Nats got six strong innings from Gio Gonzalez today, were led offensively by Adam LaRoche's two solo homers and Scott Hairston's go-ahead sac fly, and saw Drew Storen close it down with a...

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Soriano to take a couple of days off, review mechanics; Nats will mix, match in ninth

September 06, 2014, 9:57am

Nationals

Soriano to take a couple of days off, review mechanics; Nats will mix, match in ninth

Following Friday night's blown save by closer Rafael Soriano - which eventually resulted in a 9-8,11-inning loss to the Phillies - Matt Williams said Soriano will take a couple of days off. The Nationals manager was clear about the plan for Soriano. But Williams wasn't ready to pinpoint exactly who will replace him in the ninth inning for the time being. Matt Thornton, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen will likely get the bulk of the late-inning work, with Ryan Mattheus also a possibility as the...

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Burnett continues to baffle Nats (Phillies win 3-1)

September 06, 2014, 12:51pm

Nationals

Burnett continues to baffle Nats (Phillies win 3-1)

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark allowed two earned runs in a tough 3-2 loss to right-hander A.J. Burnett and the Phillies on Aug. 25. In their rematch Saturday, it took the Phillies only three innings before they connected for two earned runs. With one out in the third, Burnett singled. With two outs, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley singled to load the bases. Ryan Howard smacked a base hit through the infield, scoring two runs, and the Phillies led 2-0. The Nationals enjoyed only a single...

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Nats recall outfielder Michael A. Taylor, right-hander Ryan Mattheus (with lineups)

September 06, 2014, 8:48am

Nationals

Nats recall outfielder Michael A. Taylor, right-hander Ryan Mattheus (with lineups)

The Nationals expanded their roster further this afternoon, recalling outfielder Michael A. Taylor and reliever Ryan Mattheus from Triple-A Syracuse Taylor, 23, is back with the Nationals for the second time this season after hitting .304 with a .390 on-base percentage and a .526 slugging percentage in 110 games with Double-A Harrisburg and Syracuse. After recording 17 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs and 34 stolen bases in 98 games, Taylor was named the Double-A Eastern League...