nationals

Strasburg's spring debut goes smoothly, ends quickly (game update)

March 04, 2014, 8:51am

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg barely had time to get loose today and his spring debut was already over. Strasburg went two innings against the Braves this afternoon, facing the minimum six hitters. He allowed a groundball single to Justin Upton in the second, but then got a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Chris Johnson to end the inning and his outing. In total, Strasburg threw just 15 pitches, nine for strikes. He had a nine-pitch first, getting a first-pitch flyout to left...

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Nats sign left-hander Michael Gonzalez to minor league deal (with Nats lineup)

March 04, 2014, 3:09am

Nationals

Nats sign left-hander Michael Gonzalez to minor league deal (with Nats lineup)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals and popular left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez have reunited. The team announced this morning that it has signed Gonzalez to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Gonzalez posted a 4.68 ERA over 50 innings with the Brewers last season. He struck out 60 and walked 25, posting a 1.660 WHIP. The 35-year-old lefty was a well-liked member of the Nats' 2012 roster and put up a 3.03 ERA over 47 appearances that season. He made one...

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How a trade and a season at Double-A jump-started Blake Treinen's career

March 04, 2014, 2:32am

Nationals

How a trade and a season at Double-A jump-started Blake Treinen's career

VIERA, Fla. - After a day filled with travel yesterday, the Nationals will hop back on the team charter buses today and make the trip to Lake Buena Vista to face the Braves, the second time in four days they've seen the reigning National League East champs. Stephen Strasburg will get the ball for the Nats, making his first start of spring. A number of starting position players are scheduled to make the trip today, including Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Adam LaRoche and Anthony...

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Quick Williams quotes after Nats' first loss of spring

March 03, 2014, 11:57am

Nationals

Quick Williams quotes after Nats' first loss of spring

TAMPA, Fla. - The Washington Nationals will not go through their Grapefruit League schedule undefeated. Tears are pouring down your faces right now, I'm sure. The Nationals dropped a 4-2 game to the Yankees today, giving them their first spring loss this year. Ross Detwiler allowed all four Yankees runs (three earned), and Zach Walters homered to provide one of the few offensive highlights for the Nats. Here are pieces from reporters' postgame chat with manager Matt Williams: On...

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Williams wants Nats' coaches making lineup decisions as a group

March 03, 2014, 8:18am

Nationals

Williams wants Nats' coaches making lineup decisions as a group

TAMPA, Fla. - Matt Williams has made it very clear to his coaches that he wants input from every one of them throughout spring training. The Nationals' coaches have multiple group meetings every day, discussing the skill-sets of various players, workout schedules and how the pitchers will be used throughout spring. But the input Williams has received from his coaches doesn't end there. The construction of the Nats' lineup has been a group effort, as well. "We sit as a group and make our...

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Hearing from Detwiler, Roark and Lobaton after 4-2 Nats loss

March 03, 2014, 11:43am

Nationals

Hearing from Detwiler, Roark and Lobaton after 4-2 Nats loss

TAMPA, Fla. - It may only be spring training, and the results may mean nothing, but that doesn't mean that Ross Detwiler wasn't nervous before today's 4-2 loss to the Yankees. After all, it was his first time in a big league game in exactly eight months. Detwiler, who missed the last half of last season with a back injury, went 1 1/3 innings today, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out three and walked none, showing good fastball velocity (up to 94 mph on the gun)...

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Detwiler retires four batters in spring debut (Nats lose 4-2)

March 03, 2014, 9:01am

Nationals

Detwiler retires four batters in spring debut (Nats lose 4-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Yankees 4, Nationals 2 Recap: Ross Detwiler allowed four runs, three earned, in 1 1/3 innings of work in his spring debut, while Zach Walters kept his hot spring going by crushing a solo homer to center. Need to know: Detwiler showed some positive signs, but struggled with his fastball command, while Tanner Roark delivered two uneventful, scoreless frames. Those two, along with Taylor Jordan, are competing for the No. 5 spot in the Nats rotation. On deck:...

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Harper update, plus Williams on fifth starter competition and Moore's playing time

March 03, 2014, 7:27am

Nationals

Harper update, plus Williams on fifth starter competition and Moore's playing time

TAMPA, Fla. - Bryce Harper was sent home yesterday after reporting to the Nationals' spring training complex with what manager Matt Williams called "flu-like symptoms," but Williams said that Harper was feeling much better today and wanted to make the trip to Tampa as part of today's travel roster. Williams held Harper back, allowing him to rest up today, but said that he plans to bring Harper with the team tomorrow when the Nats travel to Lake Buena Vista to face the Braves. "After...

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Detwiler to make spring debut

March 03, 2014, 5:10am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Left-hander Ross Detwiler will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Yankees in Tampa this afternoon. Denard Span will lead off and play center for the Nationals. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 2B Danny Espinosa LF Tyler Moore DH Scott Hairston C Jose Lobaton 1B Matt Skole SS Zach Walters 3B Will Rhymes RF Eury Perez LHP Ross Detwiler For the Yankees: CF Brett Gardner SS Derek Jeter C Brian McCann 2B Brian Roberts DH Francisco Cervelli 3B Kelly Johnson...

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On Walters' strong start to spring and how his game needs to evolve

March 03, 2014, 2:40am

Nationals

On Walters' strong start to spring and how his game needs to evolve

VIERA, Fla. - Today marks the one road trip this spring when the Nationals will make the drive across the state to the west coast of Florida. There are some gorgeous spring facilities on that side of the Sunshine State. The Red Sox have a nice new stadium in Fort Myers. The Orioles' facility in Sarasota is snazzy. We made the trip to Clearwater last year when the Nats played the Phillies, and that was a beautiful park in a beautiful location. The problem with all of these road games? The...

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Werth dealing with biceps strain, Harper sent home due to flu-like symptoms

March 02, 2014, 11:57am

Nationals

Werth dealing with biceps strain, Harper sent home due to flu-like symptoms

VIERA, Fla. - Right fielder Jayson Werth was set to make his spring training debut this afternoon against the Marlins, but that will have to wait. Werth was scratched from today's game less than an hour before first pitch due to a right biceps strain, according to Nationals manager Matt Williams. Williams said after the Nats' 10-3 win over the Marlins that Werth felt discomfort in the lower biceps area yesterday. He was originally written into today's lineup but was scratched when the...

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Williams discusses Nats' third straight Grapefruit League win

March 02, 2014, 12:17pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' third straight Grapefruit League win

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are 3-0 thus far in spring training. Start printing those World Series tickets. The results here in spring mean nothing, but there were plenty of positives for manager Matt Williams to pull from today's 10-3 win over the Marlins, far more positives than he was able to pull from yesterday's ugly 16-15 victory over the Braves. Doug Fister, making his first spring start as a National, allowed one run over two innings today, striking out two. Fister said that his...

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LaRoche homers, Fister speaks after his Nats debut (Nats win 10-3)

March 02, 2014, 9:42am

Nationals

LaRoche homers, Fister speaks after his Nats debut (Nats win 10-3)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Nationals 10, Marlins 3 Recap: Doug Fister allowed a run in two solid innings of work in his spring debut, and the Nats reserves broke open the game in the middle innings, turning a 3-2 game after four into a 10-3 win. Need to know: Zach Walters is now 5-for-5 with two doubles and a triple this spring, and he's made a couple of impressive defensive plays, as well. That'll get ya noticed early in camp. On deck: Monday, at Yankees in Tampa, 1:05 p.m. VIERA,...

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Williams talks plans for Zimmerman at first base (plus Rendon, Stammen notes)

March 02, 2014, 7:13am

Nationals

Williams talks plans for Zimmerman at first base (plus Rendon, Stammen notes)

VIERA, Fla. - As promised, the Nationals were at about 9:30 a.m., out on the field at Space Coast Stadium going through situational defense drills. These drills had already been scheduled for this morning before yesterday's five-error, sloppy performance against the Braves. But after Matt Williams saw his team kick the ball around a good bit yesterday, he was happy to put them through some defensive work today. "Like I said, I think yesterday was an aberration," Williams said this morning...

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Nats and Marlins lineups (Werth scratched from lineup)

March 02, 2014, 3:59am

Nationals

Nats and Marlins lineups (Werth scratched from lineup)

VIERA, Fla. - Jayson Werth will take the field this afternoon for his first game this spring, as the Nationals host the Marlins in a game that you can catch live on MASN at 1:05 p.m. Werth sat out the Nats' first two games as he eases into spring, but he's in the lineup today as the Nats face Marlins lefty Brad Hand. Doug Fister gets the ball for the Nats, and like Taylor Jordan and Jordan Zimmermann before him, he's likely to go two innings today. As I mentioned earlier this morning,...

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Fister fans two, allows a run in Nats spring debut

March 02, 2014, 8:46am

Nationals

Fister fans two, allows a run in Nats spring debut

VIERA, Fla. - Doug Fister's first spring inning as a Washington National couldn't have gone much better. His second wasn't quite as smooth, but he still completed a solid Nats spring training debut. Fister struck out two and got a pop-up to short in the first inning, breezing through the top of the Marlins order, and then allowed two hits, a walk and a run in the second. He'll exit today's game having thrown 30 pitches, 19 for strikes. Fister got Matt Angle looking at a called strike...

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A large serving of leftovers

March 02, 2014, 2:33am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - How often does a team go 11-for-23 with runners in scoring position, put up 25 hits, score 15 runs, benefit from five errors by the opposing team and lose a ballgame? Yeah, yesterday's game was a funky one regardless of whether the outcome actually meant anything or not. The Nationals were outhit 25-12 yesterday and allowed nine runs in a single inning, but still came away with their second victory of spring. The merry-go-round on the bases left a handful of pitchers with some...

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Williams recaps a long, ugly Nats win

March 01, 2014, 1:07pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - As reporters were waiting to meet with manager Matt Williams in his office following today's 16-15 Nationals win over the Braves, a game in which the Nats made five errors and allowed 25 hits, defensive coordination and advance coach Mark Weidemaier walked by. "Coached the hell out of 'em today, huh?" Weidemaier joked. The Nats' spring training home opener was not the prettiest of ballgames. Not by a longshot. Atlanta scored nine runs in the fifth inning today, an inning...

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Looking back and looking ahead, plus Mattheus update

March 01, 2014, 6:28am

Nationals

Looking back and looking ahead, plus Mattheus update

VIERA, Fla. - Jayson Werth is the only Nationals starting position player who won't appear in one of the Nats' first two spring training games, but manager Matt Williams says that's by design. Werth typically eases his way into spring, and the Nats had planned to give the right fielder these first two games off. Werth is perfectly healthy, Williams says, and he'll be in the Nats lineup tomorrow when they host the Marlins. "He's right on schedule," Williams said. "No variation to his...

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The game gets sloppy, Zimmermann gets in his work (Nats win 16-15)

March 01, 2014, 10:48am

Nationals

The game gets sloppy, Zimmermann gets in his work (Nats win 16-15)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Nationals 16, Braves 15 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann threw two scoreless innings in the blink of an eye, and then everything fell apart for both teams. The Nats and Braves combined to record 37 hits. They had 14 total walks. They made six errors between them. At least this game is finally over. Need to know: Thank goodness for Luis Ayala. If not for him working out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth without allowing the tying run, these teams might still be...