nationals

Gonzalez's throw day pushed back, LaRoche inches closer to activation

May 23, 2014, 1:45pm

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez's progression toward a throwing program hit a small bump in the road Friday, when left shoulder stiffness scrapped his plans to throw. Nationals manager Matt Williams didn't seem too concerned with the setback, telling reporters who expressed concern before his team's game at PNC Park against the Pirates, "It's only a day." "He's a little stiff still, so he'll continue his rehab program and we'll look to push him back a day as far as his throwing program...

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More on Treinen and Nats' lack of run production

May 23, 2014, 12:14am

Nationals

More on Treinen and Nats' lack of run production

PITTSBURGH - Five appearances into Blake Treinen's big league career, it's clear that he has the raw ability to compete at this level. Treinen's hard two-seamer touched 98 mph last night against the Pirates and was clocked at 100 mph at times in the minors. He has a changeup and slider that at times can be strong pitches for him. He has a quiet confidence and rarely seems shaken on the mound. The question going forward is whether he can develop his secondary pitches enough to still be...

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Espinosa and Moore sit, Walters and Dobbs start

May 23, 2014, 11:23am

Nationals

Espinosa and Moore sit, Walters and Dobbs start

PITTSBURGH - Matt Williams is shaking up his lineup a bit a day after the Nationals put up just one run in a 3-1 loss to the Pirates. Danny Espinosa and Tyler Moore are out of the starting lineup tonight, with Zach Walters getting the start at third base and Greg Dobbs in there at first. Jordan Zimmermann will toe the rubber for the Nats, opposed by righty Charlie Morton. For the Nats CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth C Wilson Ramos SS Ian Desmond 1B Greg Dobbs 3B Zach...

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Treinen: "My stuff plays, I just have to execute pitches"

May 22, 2014, 7:32pm

Nationals

Treinen: "My stuff plays, I just have to execute pitches"

PITTSBURGH - Both times that Blake Treinen has gotten a big league start thus far in his young career, he's pitched pretty darn well, but just hasn't been able to earn the win. Against the Dodgers back on May 6, it was a rough fifth inning that featured a couple of errors, one by Treinen himself, that led to a loss. Tonight, it was a combination of factors. A four-batter stretch in the third inning where he lost command didn't help. An inability to retire Andrew McCutchen also was an issue,...

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Williams, Span like idea of manufacturing runs with big boys out

May 23, 2014, 7:08am

Nationals

Williams, Span like idea of manufacturing runs with big boys out

Manager Matt Williams said earlier this week that nine-run games are rarities, and that if a team could score that many runs every game, they would be champions. Of course, every team would love to score that many times every game out. The pressure would be taken off the pitchers and the team would have much easier games. It is so easy to say, but much harder to accomplish, especially without your top offensive producers. I saw another statistic this week that makes sense as to where the...

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Williams on Treinen's outing, Pirates' defense in Nationals' 3-1 loss

May 22, 2014, 7:17pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals got a strong outing from Blake Treinen in his second major league start, and they got a good bit of solid contact off Pirates pitching. Unfortunately for them, they also got a 3-1 loss in the first game of this four-game set at PNC Park. Treinen allowed two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, with five walks and four strikeouts. He allowed single runs in the third (when he retired the first two hitters, then walked Pirates starter Edinson Volquez, starting a...

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Checking in from the Steel City

May 22, 2014, 5:50am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - Hello from the Steel City, where the Nationals will spend their next four days before heading right back to D.C. again for a lengthy homestand. Pittsburgh doesn't necessarily have a great reputation as a travel city, but I kind of like it here. The downtown area by the bridges is gorgeous when the weather is nice (it makes for a solid area to go for a jog, if I can force myself to do so) and I really enjoy PNC Park. The press box is pretty high up, but the sight lines are...

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Treinen solid early, Desmond homers to tie game (Nats lose 3-1)

May 22, 2014, 4:18pm

Nationals

Treinen solid early, Desmond homers to tie game (Nats lose 3-1)

Rookie Blake Treinen has been solid thus far in his second major league start, but he did come a little undone in the third inning. Treinen matched Pirates starter Edinson Volquez at the outset, retiring the first eight batters of the game. But he then ran into trouble. Treinen walked Volquez with two outs in the third. Josh Harrison then singled for the Pirates' first hit of the game and Neil Walker walked to load the bases. The Nats right-hander followed by plunking Andrew McCutchen,...

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Notes on Treinen, Jordan, LaRoche's rehab and more

May 22, 2014, 1:26pm

Nationals

Notes on Treinen, Jordan, LaRoche's rehab and more

With Gio Gonzalez on the disabled list, rookie right-hander Blake Treinen gets a chance to show his strong showings over two prior stints with the Nationals this season were no fluke. Treinen, 25, has pitched to a 0.77 ERA over 11 2/3 innings spanning four appearances (one start). In his first major league start on May 6, Treinen allowed no earned runs (three total) on seven hits while striking out two and walking none in five innings. Tonight, he'll look to perhaps top that in Pittsburgh....

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Williams sticking with his regulars in series opener at PNC Park

May 22, 2014, 11:18am

Nationals

Williams sticking with his regulars in series opener at PNC Park

PITTSBURGH - Matt Williams had said he planned on giving Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond a day off during this four-game series against the Pirates. Neither of those two players will be sitting in the series opener, however. Werth is starting in right field, hitting third, while Desmond is at short, batting fifth. Blake Treinen makes his second big league start after officially being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. He has a 0.77 ERA in four major league appearances coming into tonight. The...

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Zimmerman could play the outfield before he plays first base

May 22, 2014, 10:42am

Nationals

Zimmerman could play the outfield before he plays first base

One way the Nationals could add the most power to their lineup prior to Bryce Harper's July return would be to get Ryan Zimmerman back on the field and keep Anthony Rendon at third base. So Zimmerman would play at first base? Nope. Adam LaRoche returns Sunday and he would be back at his usual spot on the right corner of the infield. So where would Zimmerman play? How about left field? Zimmerman is more of a power hitter than Nate McLouth, who is a better defender in left field....

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Nationals recall right-hander Blake Treinen from Syracuse

May 22, 2014, 11:41am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Treinen, 25, joins the Nationals for his third stint this season. On May 6 at Nationals Park, in the first starting assignment of his career, Treinen suffered the loss in a matchup with Clayton Kershaw despite blanking the Dodgers through 5.0 innings. Thanks to a...

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Williams on Roark, Simon, Treinen and homestand

May 21, 2014, 4:57pm

Nationals

Williams on Roark, Simon, Treinen and homestand

After the 2-1 loss to the Reds on Wednesday night, Nationals manager Matt Williams addressed the media and announced that Blake Treinen will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse for Thursday's opener at Pittsburgh. Right-hander Ryan Mattheus will be sent back to Syracuse to make room for Treinen on the 25-man roster. Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche confirmed he will play in a rehab game for high Single-A Potomac on Thursday night in Woodbridge, Va., as he recovers from a right quad...

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Span on his first home run of season and loss to Reds

May 21, 2014, 5:14pm

Nationals

Span on his first home run of season and loss to Reds

Nationals center fielder Denard Span had himself a series. He finished the three games with nine hits against the Reds, including a 5-for-5 performance Tuesday and a leadoff solo shot Wednesday. It was his first homer of the season. The home run off of Reds starter Alfredo Simon gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, they could not muster much else offensively, leaving two men on only one time. That chance arrived in the second inning, when Ian Desmond and Tyler Moore led off with...

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David Huzzard: Nationals reaching a critical juncture

May 22, 2014, 5:05am

Nationals

There is some solace in the fact that a team that has had its opening day lineup on the field for all of three innings and has relied largely on backups is only 1 1/2 games back of the division lead, but how much longer can backups be expected to tread water? The injury to Wilson Ramos was one the Nationals were built to withstand. They acquired Jose Lobaton expressly for that purpose. The loss of Ryan Zimmerman was a blow that was not going to be easily recovered from. Zimmerman was off to a...

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The importance of getting Span on track (updated)

May 21, 2014, 5:54am

Nationals

The importance of getting Span on track (updated)

What can a five-hit game do for a guy's numbers less than two months into the season? Well, for Denard Span, it can boost his batting average and on-base percentage in a big way and get him back closer to the type of numbers he would expect to have to this point in the season. Span entered yesterday's game batting .239 with a .287 on-base percentage, significantly below his career averages. Largely because of Span's rocky start, the Nationals had the lowest on-base percentage out of the...

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Williams updates LaRoche, Harper and Gonzalez's recoveries

May 21, 2014, 10:54am

Nationals

Williams updates LaRoche, Harper and Gonzalez's recoveries

Manager Matt Williams said Wednesday during pregame that first baseman Adam LaRoche is right on target to be activated Sunday or Monday from the 15-day disabled list. LaRoche has been nursing a right quad strain. He has been on the disabled list since May 10. He is expected to play rehab games in the next day or two. "Adam is going to go play," Williams confirmed. "He has got another test today. We are not sure on what exact day he is going to start playing. Could be tomorrow, could be...

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Span picks up where he left off in series finale (Reds win 2-1)

May 21, 2014, 12:29pm

Nationals

Span picks up where he left off in series finale (Reds win 2-1)

"I had a good day," Nationals center fielder Denard Span said Tuesday night. "Today was my day. I saw the ball good, and got to do it again tomorrow." Wednesday arrived and he did it again. Fresh off a career-high-matching 5-for-5 performance in Tuesday's 9-4 Nationals win over the Reds, Span launched the second pitch from Reds right-hander Alfredo Simon into the Nationals bullpen in right field, and the Nationals lead 1-0. Span now has eight hits in the series. Right-hander Tanner...

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Rendon gets day off for series finale (with Reds lineup)

May 21, 2014, 8:41am

Nationals

Rendon gets day off for series finale (with Reds lineup)

The Nationals are going for the series win against the Reds this afternoon in D.C., but Anthony Rendon will be on the bench for the finale, getting a day off. With Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list, Rendon has become the Nats' everyday third baseman. Kevin Frandsen will get the start at third today. Right-hander Tanner Roark will take the mound this afternoon, looking to earn his fourth win of the season. The Nats will face veteran Alfredo Simon, who's 5-2 on the season, with a 2.45...

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Former adversaries, Fister and Span, team up to take it out on the Reds

May 20, 2014, 7:20pm

Nationals

Former adversaries, Fister and Span, team up to take it out on the Reds

If you ask Doug Fister, Denard Span was always a tough hitter to face. If you ask Span, Fister always got great movement on his pitches, which were incredibly deceptive to the hitter in the box. Unfortunately for the Reds, they had to face both of them Tuesday. The Nationals, led by Fister's seven strong innings and Span's 5-for-5 performance, cruised past Cincinnati 9-4. Fister went seven innings and allowed just six hits and two runs. He walked only one batter, and struck out five. Span...