nationals

Espinosa in Nats lineup vs. Tigers

March 20, 2014, 8:48am

VIERA, Fla. - For the second straight day, we're getting a Nationals lineup chock full of regulars. The only change in terms of players from last night is that Danny Espinosa is starting at second base and hitting eighth, instead of Anthony Rendon. Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth flip spots today, with Zimmerman fourth in the lineup and Werth third. Other than that, the lineup stays as-is. Another thing we're getting today is a great starting pitching matchup: Stephen Strasburg vs. Max...

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Nats pitchers realize Chapman's fate could easily be theirs

March 20, 2014, 9:34am

Nationals

Nats pitchers realize Chapman's fate could easily be theirs

VIERA, Fla. - The replay of Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman getting hit in the face with a line drive was shown on the Nationals' clubhouse TVs several times Thursday. Each time, players reacted in stunned silence. Some looked away. Others closed their eyes. But each realized the accident could happen in any game. Chapman, the Reds' closer, was hit in the face with a drive by Kansas City's Salvador Perez in the Cactus League on Wednesday night. Chapman was carried off on a stretcher. The game...

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Some takeaways from last night

March 20, 2014, 3:39am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - If you happened to watch last night's Nationals-Astros game, you might have noticed a stunningly good-looking, well-put-together man handling the sideline reporting. Not that I'm trying to put any words in your mouth or anything. Yes, I've been asked by MASN to pick up the sideline reporting duties for Nats games, and I've happily accepted. This is a tremendous opportunity and I'm really excited about getting to work closer with our great production team. I will continue...

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Stephen Strasburg will be Nats' opening day starter

March 19, 2014, 5:37pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg will be Nats' opening day starter

VIERA, Fla. - It's not much of a surprise, but it is official: Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter. Manager Matt Williams announced after tonight's 2-0 loss to the Astros that Strasburg will get the ball for the Nats on opening day, March 31 in New York against the Mets. It will be the third straight season Strasburg has started opening day for the Nats. He'll be followed in the rotation by Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann, in that order. The rest of the...

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Jordan's sinker darting and diving (Nats lose 2-0)

March 19, 2014, 3:05pm

Nationals

Jordan's sinker darting and diving (Nats lose 2-0)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Astros 2, Nationals 0 Recap: Taylor Jordan pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five. But the Nats committed two errors and looked out of sorts on defense on the way to falling to the Astros. The Nats were held hitless until the sixth inning. Need to know: Jordan might've enhanced his chances to earn the No. 5 spot in the team's rotation with an impressive outing that lowered his spring ERA to 4.80. On deck:...

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Detwiler headed to 'pen; Roark, Jordan, Young in mix for fifth starter

March 17, 2014, 10:56am

Nationals

Detwiler headed to 'pen; Roark, Jordan, Young in mix for fifth starter

LAKELAND, Fla. - The competition to be the fifth starter in the Nationals rotation took an unexpected turn today, when manager Matt Williams announced that left-hander Ross Detwiler would start the season in the bullpen. That leaves three right-handers - Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan and Chris Young - battling for the last spot in the rotation, the manager said. "We've asked Ross to start our season in the bullpen," Williams said after the Nationals' scheduled game against the Tigers was...

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Detwiler discusses getting moved to the bullpen

March 19, 2014, 12:11pm

Nationals

Detwiler discusses getting moved to the bullpen

VIERA, Fla. - Ross Detwiler surely didn't envision getting moved into a relief role this spring, but that's now where he finds himself. The Nationals left-hander learned on Monday that instead of continuing his battle for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, manager Matt Williams had decided to move him to the bullpen, this after he had been a member of the team's starting rotation for the bulk of 2012 and all of last year up until being sidelined by injury. Detwiler is scheduled to work one...

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Nats fielding a possible opening day lineup tonight live on MASN (with notes)

March 19, 2014, 1:20pm

Nationals

Nats fielding a possible opening day lineup tonight live on MASN (with notes)

VIERA, Fla. - Those of you who will be watching tonight's Nationals-Astros game on MASN (airing live at 6 p.m.) will get a treat. Manager Matt Williams is running out a lineup loaded with regulars. In fact, Williams said that his lineup tonight could end up being "close" to the starting lineup that he runs out on opening day less than two weeks from now. Things could and will certainly change based on lefty/righty pitching matchups and even the team that the Nats are playing, Williams...

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Nats grant Luis Ayala his unconditional release

March 19, 2014, 10:32am

Nationals

Nats grant Luis Ayala his unconditional release

VIERA, Fla. - Veteran reliever Luis Ayala asked for and was granted his unconditional release by the Nationals today, this after the team informed him that he was being cut. Ayala plans to try and land a big league job with another organization. The 36-year-old right-hander signed a minor league deal with the Nationals on February 7, in hopes of winning a spot in the Nats' opening day bullpen. Ayala made six spring appearances with the Nats and was shelled in two of them, although one of...

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Who will prevail in fifth starter competition?

March 17, 2014, 6:27pm

Nationals

Who will prevail in fifth starter competition?

VIERA, Fla. - So it's down to three pitchers vying for the fifth starter's spot after Matt Williams announced Monday that left-hander Ross Detwiler, the presumed No. 5 heading into camp, would open the season as a multifaceted reliever. Which of the remaining competitors, all right-handers, do you like? Is it the promise of Taylor Jordan, who sometimes looks equal to the task and at other times appears in need of more seasoning? Is it Tanner Roark, who did nothing last season but win and...

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What's up with Adrian Nieto in Arizona? (Roark update)

March 18, 2014, 6:36am

Nationals

What's up with Adrian Nieto in Arizona? (Roark update)

MELBOURNE, Fla. - You'll notice a change in dateline for today's entry. The Nationals have reached the 32nd day of spring training, and are enjoying their first off-day of camp. How off are they? There's not even a pithy motivational quote from Matt Williams on this morning's lineup sheet. In fact, there's no lineup sheet at all. The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association mandates that each team receive two days...

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Nationals Chatter: Harper feature, drone issues, spring training facility update and more

March 18, 2014, 9:32am

Nationals

Friday marks the 10-day countdown until the start of the season. We've all missed seeing the boys in red play some meaningful baseball. Don't worry, the Nationals will be playing the Mets very soon. We'll just have to wait a few more days to see the team at Nats Park. Here are a few stories about the Nationals you may have missed from other media outlets. * Nobody can argue that left fielder Bryce Harper is one of the most exciting young talents currently taking the majors by storm....

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Returning to Nats, Carroll has an eye on his future

March 17, 2014, 11:29am

Nationals

Returning to Nats, Carroll has an eye on his future

VIERA, Fla. - If 12 years in the big leagues have taught Jamey Carroll anything, it's that in the game of baseball, the little things are big. Sometimes it's noticing a pattern of how an opposing pitcher works you as a hitter. Maybe it's spying that an outfielder is favoring his arm a little, and that he might be ripe for trying to take an extra base. Or just anticipating how a game might play out and when he might be needed as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner or defensive replacement. All of...

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Nats deal Koyie Hill to Phillies

March 17, 2014, 12:25pm

Nationals

LAKELAND, Fla. - This morning, the Nationals reassigned catcher Koyie Hill to minor league camp. This afternoon, they sent Hill out of the organization, trading him to the Phillies in exchange for cash or a player to be named. MLB.com was first to report the deal. The 35-year-old Hill, signed Feb. 5 to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league camp, batted .385 (5-for-13) with three RBIs in 10 Grapefruit League games. But when the Nats traded for Tampa Bay catcher Jose Lobaton...

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Williams on Fister, Souza, Solis

March 17, 2014, 11:18am

Nationals

LAKELAND, Fla. - Rain continues to pelt the tarp at Joker Marchant Stadium, and fans hadn't been notified that the game was canceled when media members met with Nationals manager Matt Williams outside the visiting clubhouse. The first clue: equipment backs being loaded up to return to Viera. The second clue: when reliever Jerry Blevins started a parade of players dressed in street clothes heading for the parking lot for the (hopefully) 90-minute drive back to Space Coast Stadium. Williams...

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McCatty on Fister's start: "He had no complaints" (rain delay update)

March 17, 2014, 9:08am

Nationals

McCatty on Fister's start: "He had no complaints" (rain delay update)

LAKELAND, Fla. - Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty and manager Matt Williams delayed their departure for today's game against the Tigers in order to watch right-hander Doug Fister throw two innings in a minor league game. McCatty liked what he saw, but wasn't ready to slot the right-hander, who is progressing in his recovery from right elbow inflammation, for his first regular season start. "It was fine," McCatty said. "He gave up a hit on a curveball, but he hasn't thrown that...

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Zimmerman gets start at DH against Tigers (plus Tigers lineup)

March 17, 2014, 5:46am

Nationals

Zimmerman gets start at DH against Tigers (plus Tigers lineup)

VIERA, Fla. - Many of the Nationals' starters will be making the trip to Lakeland this afternoon to play the Tigers. Right-hander Tanner Roark will take the mound for the Nats. Ryan Zimmerman, who saw time at first base yesterday, will serve as the Nats' designated hitter. Here is the Nats lineup for the game against the Tigers: CF Denard Span SS Ian Desmond DH Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper 2B Danny Espinosa 1B Tyler Moore 3B Zach Walters RF Jeff Kobernus C Jhonatan Solano RHP...

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Souza, Perez, Solis among six cuts from Nats camp

March 17, 2014, 6:41am

Nationals

Souza, Perez, Solis among six cuts from Nats camp

LAKELAND, Fla. - Greetings from Joker Marchant Stadium, where the Nationals are supposed to play the Tigers today at 1:05 p.m. I say "supposed" because the weather radar is showing a large multi-colored blob of precipitation closing in on us, and the tarp is covering the field. The forecast calls for morning thunderstorms followed by scattered afternoon thunderstorms with damaging winds, conditions not necessarily conducive to exhibition play. But we'll forge on. It's nothing like the snow...

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Dissecting responsibility for a stolen base allowed

March 16, 2014, 2:00pm

Nationals

Dissecting responsibility for a stolen base allowed

VIERA, Fla. - When an opposing baserunner steals against the Nationals, who's at fault? Sometimes it's the pitcher, who didn't do enough to hold the runner on, disrupt his attempt to swipe a bag or get the ball quickly enough to the plate. Sometimes it's the catcher, who didn't uncork a strong enough throw to nab him. And sometimes no one's at fault - even when you execute properly, the guy trying to steal may execute a little better. All three situations were apparent to an extent in...

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Williams on replay challenge, Zimmerman at first, Fister's next step

March 16, 2014, 1:11pm

Nationals

Williams on replay challenge, Zimmerman at first, Fister's next step

VIERA, Fla. - When Matt Williams strolled out of the first base dugout in the seventh inning of Sunday's game to challenge a safe call by first base umpire Gary Cederstrom, the Nationals manager knew that the initial call was correct. So why did he endure a 1:56 replay review to confirm what he already knew? "At some point during the game, you have to practice and we want to work the process as much as we can. ... It wouldn't be right for us to go through the whole game and not use one if...