nationals

Nats acquire lefty Matthew Spann from Rays, completing DeJesus trade

September 19, 2013, 8:32am

The Nationals acquired left-hander Matthew Spann from the Rays today, completing the trade that sent outfielder David DeJesus to Tampa Bay for a player to be named. Spann, 22, went 4-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 games (four starts) for Bowling Green of the Single-A Midwest League this season. After working primarily as a starter the last two seasons, Spann was moved to the bullpen most of this year, and posted a 2.50 ERA in 15 relief appearances. The lefty had just 35 strikeouts and 21 walks in...

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The straw that broke the camel's back?

September 19, 2013, 5:21am

Nationals

Over the last month, the Nationals have done well to right the ship and start running off wins. They've gotten their record back above .500 and slowly chipped away at the massive deficit they had built up behind the wild card leaders. Unfortunately, as we all know, when you build up such a massive deficit, you need to be close to perfect to overcome your previous struggles. You also need a lot of help. The Nats have been playing at an incredibly high level for the last five weeks or so, but...

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After loss, Ohlendorf, Desmond and LaRoche discuss Nationals' desperate situation

September 18, 2013, 7:32pm

Nationals

After the Nationals won 27 of their previous 37 games, losing a game became pretty rare. But losing a game to first-place Atlanta late in September with the NL wild card still not within their grasp hurts even more. Starter Ross Ohlendorf cruised through five innings before allowing two home runs and three runs in the sixth. The Braves eventually won 5-2. Ohlendorf said losing this time of year - with the a postseason berth in the balance - stings even more. "All the losses are...

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Strasburg on inability to get loose: "I don't really know why it is happening"

September 18, 2013, 7:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg on inability to get loose: "I don't really know why it is happening"

Manager Davey Johnson announced after Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Braves that Stephen Strasburg would be scratched from Thursday's start. Gio Gonzalez will start the opener against the Marlins while Jordan Zimmermann will get the call Friday. Johnson said Strasburg would now be scheduled to pitch next on Saturday. Strasburg last pitched September 8. If Strasburg does pitch Saturday, that would mark 13 days between starts. Strasburg said today's throwing session went well, but he is having...

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Strasburg scratched from Thursday start

September 18, 2013, 7:07pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg has been scratched from tomorrow's scheduled start after having trouble getting loose when throwing earlier today, manager Davey Johnson said after tonight's 5-2 loss to the Braves. Strasburg had been scratched from last Friday's start due to right forearm tightness, and the Nationals had pushed him back to Thursday, hoping that some extra time would allow him to get over that forearm discomfort. Things had been progressing well over the last few days, but when Strasburg...

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Rachel Levitin: September baseball is family time

September 19, 2013, 5:21am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: September baseball is family time

For just a few minutes (or at least while you read this blog post) let's try and forget that the openly-hyped 2013 Nationals are 5 1/2 games behind the Reds for the second National League wild card. Instead, I'd like to give my two cents on September baseball. It's the end of summer and the start of the school year come September. Fall is here, even in D.C., and the conversation I had with my buddy Tom on Tuesday helped cement in my mind something that I've already felt to be true for...

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Johnson recaps Nats' 5-2 loss

September 18, 2013, 6:59pm

Nationals

Under normal circumstances, the Nationals would be happy winning two of three in a series with the first-place Braves. These are not normal circumstances. The Nats need wins. Lots of them. And even though they took the series with Atlanta by sweeping yesterday's doubleheader, they needed a win tonight as well. They didn't get it, falling to the Braves 5-2. "It's just not enough. We just can't afford to lose," manager Davey Johnson said. "It's that simple. We just need to get back at...

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Span extends the streak, but Nats still trail (Nats lose 5-2)

September 18, 2013, 5:54pm

Nationals

Span extends the streak, but Nats still trail (Nats lose 5-2)

When Denard Span walked from the on-deck circle to the plate leading off the seventh inning, a large portion of the 30,636 at Nationals Park tonight started cheering, trying to spur Span on as he attempted to extend his hitting streak in the late innings. The fans got even louder after Span laced a single to right-center, pushing that hitting streak to 29 games. Span had been 0-for-3 tonight entering that at-bat, and I'm sure he was aware as he made his way into the batter's box that it...

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Ohlendorf on top of his game against Atlanta (a lot of drama in the middle innings)

September 18, 2013, 4:36pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf on top of his game against Atlanta (a lot of drama in the middle innings)

I'm not sure anyone could have expected a game started by Ross Ohlendorf and Alex Wood to be scoreless through 4 1/3 innings. I'm also not sure that anyone could have expected Ohlendorf and Tanner Roark to have combined to throw 12 straight scoreless innings against the Braves. But that's where we are. Ohlendorf has put up five scoreless frames tonight, allowing just one baserunner, striking out five and needing just 57 pitches to this point. He set down the first 10 Braves he saw before...

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Detwiler unlikely to return to Nats in regular season

September 18, 2013, 2:12pm

Nationals

Detwiler unlikely to return to Nats in regular season

Given how long he's been out while working back from a herniated disc in his back, it always seemed somewhat unlikely that Ross Detwiler would be able to return and pitch in major league games before the end of this season. Detwiler, who has been sidelined since July 4 due to the back injury, threw three simulated innings today at Nationals Park, and is continuing to progress in his rehab. But while the Nationals have been optimistic that Detwiler would be able to come back and pitch out of...

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Nationals' Stammen reflects on Navy Yard tragedy, looks forward

September 17, 2013, 8:25am

Nationals

Nationals players were welcomed in the clubhouse by U.S. Navy four-star Admiral James A. Winnefeld, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, prior to their Tuesday doubleheader against the Braves. Winnefeld handed out U.S. Navy caps for the players to wear during batting practice today, one day after Monday's tragic shootings at nearby Washington Navy Yard. Nationals players Craig Stammen, Chad Tracy, Tyler Moore and Jeff Kobernus were the first to greet the admiral and share some time...

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Notes on Span's streak, plus series finale lineups

September 18, 2013, 11:43am

Nationals

Notes on Span's streak, plus series finale lineups

Denard Span's hitting streak has reached 28 games, and is now the longest streak in the big leagues since Dan Uggla had a hit in 33 consecutive games in 2011. Over this stretch, Span is hitting a ridiculous .378/.414/.504. He's continued his strong defensive play and even seen his production improve on the basepaths, where he's 7-for-8 in stolen base attempts. Since the start of his hitting streak, Span's season average has improved 25 points. His on-base percentage has jumped 23 points....

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Roark on current run with the Nationals: "It is a blast"

September 17, 2013, 6:49pm

Nationals

It was certainly a smart move by the Nationals to move Tanner Roark from the bullpen back to a starting role in Triple-A Syracuse this season. And whether he was relieving or starting, Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams told manager Davey Johnson that Roark was a pitcher. Williams was right. In three starts for the Nationals, Roark has shown he can be successful in the big leagues. Combining his relief work with these three starts, Roark is now 7-0 following a stunning 4-0 victory...

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Johnson on Reds, Pirates, Rick Schu and young pitchers

September 18, 2013, 1:51pm

Nationals

Johnson on Reds, Pirates, Rick Schu and young pitchers

Manager Davey Johnson has been asked many times the last few weeks if he has checked the scoreboard. Today, Johnson was asked if he thought the Reds and Pirates were checking to see how the Nationals are doing. "They are watching it," Johnson said. 'There is no doubt about it. But it always goes down to what you do today. You only worry about things you can control. I am assuming the Reds are going to beat the Astros. Unless our boy (Brad) Peacock has a great game and tries to hand...

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Roark possibly laying claim to a 2014 rotation spot

September 18, 2013, 4:55am

Nationals

Roark possibly laying claim to a 2014 rotation spot

Is it too soon to start looking toward next season when the Nationals are still in the mix for a playoff spot, sitting 4 1/2 games back of the Reds with 11 to play? Maybe so. The Nats are red-hot, having now won 21 of their last 27 games, and they've, at the very least, made these final couple weeks pretty darn interesting as we see how things shake out in the standings. It wasn't too long ago that some were questioning whether the Nats would even break the .500 mark this season. Now...

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Nationals need stay on a wining run and get some help

September 18, 2013, 8:33am

Nationals

If the Nationals somehow find a way to make October's postseason, they could be the favorite to go to the World Series. They are the hottest team in the National League. The question is whether they will have enough time to complete their comeback. The best-case scenario is that the Nationals win their final 11 games and finish with 92 victories. Pittsburgh has 87 wins and the Reds 86. The Nationals winning their final 11 games isn't out of the question, but 9-2 is more realistic, especially...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals' place in D.C. baseball history

September 18, 2013, 5:27am

Nationals

According to the modern baseball catalog of knowledge, Baseball Reference, the official major league history of Washington baseball began in 1884 with the Washington Nationals and the Washington Statesmen playing that season. The Nationals finished with a record of 47-65 and the Statesmen were 12-51. That would turn out to be a fitting beginning to Washington baseball history. There would be two more defunct franchises and neither of them would have a winning season, and then in 1901 Ban...

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When Braves pitch to Span, outfielder comes through

September 17, 2013, 1:35pm

Nationals

When Braves pitch to Span, outfielder comes through

Nationals center fielder Denard Span extended his career-high hitting streak to 27 games with a base hit in the second inning, but he will prefer to tell you about his grounder that went through the legs of Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons. The error by Simmons allowed two runs to score as the Nationals secured a 6-5 comeback victory over the first-place Atlanta Braves. And more astounding, the Nationals did it against Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, who arrived with a 1.04 ERA and National...

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Tremendous postgame quotes from Haren (plus game two lineups)

September 17, 2013, 1:49pm

Nationals

Tremendous postgame quotes from Haren (plus game two lineups)

Dan Haren got robbed of a win today when the Braves came back to take a late lead in the first game of today's doubleheader. But the veteran right-hander couldn't seem to care much less about that. Given all that happened in the D.C. community yesterday with the tragic shooting at the Navy Yard, just blocks from Nats Park, Haren was more concerned with boosting fans' spirits and giving everyone a reason to smile again. And while his six innings of one-run ball weren't enough to lead the...

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Johnson on Roark's dominance and Nats' 4-0 win

September 17, 2013, 6:53pm

Nationals

Johnson on Roark's dominance and Nats' 4-0 win

As Davey Johnson sat down for his postgame press conference after tonight's 4-0 Nationals win, a win that wrapped up a doubleheader sweep of the Braves, Johnson asked the question that most Nats fans were probably asking themselves tonight. "Well, how 'bout Tanner Roark?" Johnson said with a smile. Yeah, how 'bout him? Roark improved to 7-0 with a win tonight after throwing seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk and striking out six. His ERA as a big leaguer now sits...