nationals

Karns adjusting to big league life on and off the mound

June 02, 2013, 9:34am

ATLANTA - There are a lot of differences between life at Double-A and here in the majors. You stay at plush hotels in the big leagues, compared to Holiday Inns and motels at stops on minor league road trips. You have to pack and carry your bags in the minors, while your baseball bags are packed for you and your luggage is delivered to your hotel room in the bigs. You get fresh, tasty, healthy food options at every stop in the majors, while such options are sometimes lacking in the minor...

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McCatty: Karns set for next step in series finale versus Braves

June 02, 2013, 2:54am

Nationals

McCatty: Karns set for next step in series finale versus Braves

Right-hander Nathan Karns gets his second major league start for the Nationals today in Atlanta. After yesterday's excruciating 2-1, 10-inning setback against the Braves, a solid outing and a win are huge to the psyche of a banged-up team. His opening start was solid, as he went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs. He kept his team in the game and the Nats eventually won. Really, that is all he needs to do today. But, of course, he would like more than that. Nationals pitching coach Steve...

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Karns hanging in, Werth seeming ready, Espinosa not happy (Karns done)

June 02, 2013, 11:01am

Nationals

Karns hanging in, Werth seeming ready, Espinosa not happy (Karns done)

ATLANTA - Nathan Karns has allowed six hits through his three innings of work thus far this afternoon and he's been working out of the stretch for the vast majority of his time on the mound. He's still managed to allow just three runs through three frames, however, and one of those runs was unearned. Karns, making just his second big league start, got Andrelton Simmons to shoot a ground ball to third base leading off the bottom of the first, but Ryan Zimmerman's throw to first was well...

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Harper admits he should have landed on DL more than a month ago

June 02, 2013, 8:48am

Nationals

Harper admits he should have landed on DL more than a month ago

ATLANTA - Sitting on the bench watching his team play without him is an unfamiliar position for Bryce Harper. Harper is used to being on the field, sprinting around the bases, diving for balls and doing everything he can to help his team win. Now Harper finds himself on the 15-day disabled list after the bursitis in his left knee failed to clear up in the five days the Nationals played without him but still kept him on the active roster. The Nats relented and put Harper on the DL yesterday,...

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Espinosa at second, Moore in right vs. Braves

June 02, 2013, 7:36am

Nationals

Espinosa at second, Moore in right vs. Braves

ATLANTA - Danny Espinosa, who is just 2-for-15 (.133) since returning to action Wednesday, is in the Nationals lineup this afternoon to face the pitcher who broke his wrist. Espinosa suffered the injury when he was hit by a Paul Maholm pitch earlier this season, and now the Nats second baseman faces the Braves veteran left-hander for the first time since. Tyler Moore is in right today with a lefty on the mound and rookie Nathan Karns will make his second career start. Jhonatan Solano is...

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More reactions to the walk-off

June 02, 2013, 6:01am

Nationals

ATLANTA - You can pass a share of the blame a number of different ways for last night's 2-1 Nationals loss to the Braves, if you're the blaming type. You can blame the Nationals hitters for scratching out just five hits and going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. You can blame Ian Desmond, Roger Bernadina and Danny Espinosa for failing to get the go-ahead run across despite having runners at second and third with none out against Craig Kimbrel in the top of the ninth. You can blame...

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Johnson discusses Nats' missed opportunities in 2-1, 10-inning loss

June 01, 2013, 7:48pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' missed opportunities in 2-1, 10-inning loss

ATLANTA - Still wearing the baggy throwback Negro League jersey he and the Nationals donned during tonight's game, Davey Johnson looked like a man who was running out of answers while meeting with reporters after tonight's 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Braves. With the game tied in the top of the ninth inning, Johnson's Nats put two runners in scoring position with none out against Braves All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. Ian Desmond, Roger Bernadina and Danny Espinosa were then retired in...

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Henry Rodriguez on his outing, plus a late Strasburg update

June 01, 2013, 8:17pm

Nationals

Henry Rodriguez on his outing, plus a late Strasburg update

ATLANTA - The description of Stephen Strasburg's injury that Davey Johnson provided earlier today was a little vague, so we got an update on Strasburg's condition following tonight's game from Nationals head trainer Lee Kuntz. Kuntz clarified that an MRI earlier today revealed that Strasburg has a Grade 1 strain to his right lat, down low, near where the muscle meets the oblique. According to Kuntz, the injury is not actually to Strasburg's oblique, which was the initial diagnosis. As...

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A golden opportunity blown, extras coming (Nats lose 2-1)

June 01, 2013, 6:10pm

Nationals

A golden opportunity blown, extras coming (Nats lose 2-1)

ATLANTA - It's not often you can get to put up a crooked number on Craig Kimbrel. The flame-throwing Braves closer has a career 1.54 ERA and makes some of the best hitters in baseball look like children in the batter's box. The Nats had a chance to take the lead off Kimbrel in the top of the ninth tonight, however, but they failed to cash in, and it's still 1-1 as we go to the 10th inning. Ryan Zimmerman led off the top of the ninth with a broken-bat bloop single to center off Kimbrel,...

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Johnson on Rendon at second base, Davis on his call-up (and more)

June 01, 2013, 3:43pm

Nationals

Johnson on Rendon at second base, Davis on his call-up (and more)

ATLANTA - Jayson Werth finds himself in Woodbridge, Va., again tonight, as he'll suit up for high Single-A Potomac for the third straight night as part of his rehab assignment. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said the plan is for Werth to play a full nine innings tonight, and if everything goes well, Werth would then rest tomorrow and be ready to return to the Nationals on Tuesday when they open a series against the Mets. Ross Detwiler is not as close to returning to action, however....

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Gonzalez, Hudson locked in a duel (updated)

June 01, 2013, 5:02pm

Nationals

Gonzalez, Hudson locked in a duel (updated)

ATLANTA - Two of the National League East's top starters are duking it out here at Turner Field tonight, as Gio Gonzalez and Tim Hudson have both allowed just a single run and two hits through five innings. The Nationals and Braves are knotted 1-1 as we go to the top of the sixth. Gonzalez has five strikeouts to Hudson's two thus far, but Hudson has needed just 72 pitches to get to this point, while Gonzalez has thrown 81 pitches through his five frames. The Braves got on the board first...

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Johnson discusses Strasburg's injury, Harper landing on DL

June 01, 2013, 2:51pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Strasburg's injury, Harper landing on DL

ATLANTA - A day after Stephen Strasburg left his outing against the Braves just two innings in, the Nationals have a bit more clarity on his injury, but the timetable surrounding when he'd be able to return is still uncertain. Manager Davey Johnson said that Strasburg underwent an MRI back in D.C. today, which revealed a slight strain in his back/side. The Nationals have not yet determined whether Strasburg will be able to make his next start, instead choosing to monitor his progress over...

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Tonight's Nats, Braves lineups

June 01, 2013, 11:56am

Nationals

ATLANTA - Davey Johnson is going with the same lineup from 1-8 in the batting order tonight, leaving Steve Lombardozzi in the No. 2 spot, Roger Bernadina in the No. 6 spot and Danny Espinosa hitting seventh. Lombardozzi will play left field for the second straight game while Bernadina will play right. Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.90 ERA) starts tonight for the Nats. Gonzalez is coming off a rough start his last time out, when he allowed eight hits, four runs and four walks over 5 2/3 innings in a...

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The importance of Nathan Karns

June 01, 2013, 7:25am

Nationals

Right-hander Nathan Karns made it through his first start with the Nationals and did his job, keeping his team in the game. Karns gets his second start Sunday in Atlanta. With lingering injuries to Ross Detwiler (oblique) and now Stephen Strasburg (oblique), Karns is not going anywhere. Suddenly, the right-hander with only 10 starts above high Single-A ball is critical to the Nationals, who are treading water as June begins. "The first one just came by and it was a complete shock," Karns...

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Harper "likely" headed to DL, Davis coming up (roster move official)

June 01, 2013, 8:27am

Nationals

Harper "likely" headed to DL, Davis coming up (roster move official)

ATLANTA - The list of Nationals players on the disabled list will probably be growing shortly, as Bryce Harper is "likely" heading to the DL with bursitis in his left knee, a team source confirmed. The Nationals will be bringing up right-handed reliever Erik Davis from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Harper's spot on the active roster and provide support to a bullpen that will likely be without Craig Stammen and Tyler Clippard today after those two had heavy workloads last night. Harper has...

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Nationals place outfielder Bryce Harper on DL, recall right-hander Erik Davis from Syracuse

June 01, 2013, 11:01am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 27, with left knee bursitis and recalled right-handed pitcher Erik Davis from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Davis went 1-2 with seven saves and a 3.00 ERA in 21 relief appearances this season with the Chiefs, posting 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (27 K/24.0...

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Leftovers from last night, plus roster and rotation speculation

June 01, 2013, 5:55am

Nationals

Leftovers from last night, plus roster and rotation speculation

ATLANTA - For those who might've been out enjoying their Friday night and didn't catch yesterday's series opener between the Nationals and Braves, you missed quite a bit of action at Turner Field. As we await the details of a roster move that will bring right-handed reliever Erik Davis to the big leagues for the first time in his career and likely force either Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg to the disabled list, I've got some bonus quotes from an upbeat Nats clubhouse last night. Craig...

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Right-hander Erik Davis joining Nationals

May 31, 2013, 9:19pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - This incredibly eventful night in Nationals land just won't end. Right-handed reliever tweeted that he's getting called up to the big leagues. At this late hour, I'm not confident that I'll be able to get confirmation on the particulars of the roster move, but I can tell you there were rumblings that Davis was an option to get called up earlier in the week. The two most likely candidates to land on the disabled list to make room for Davis on the Nationals' 25-man roster are...

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Hearing from Johnson, Stammen and Suzuki after Nats' thrilling 3-2 win

May 31, 2013, 8:30pm

Nationals

Hearing from Johnson, Stammen and Suzuki after Nats' thrilling 3-2 win

ATLANTA - This is why sports are so great. You look at the line score from tonight's game and see that the Nationals won 3-2 and might assume that it was a nice, quiet, uneventful ballgame. Uh, not exactly. The Nationals lost their ace to an injury after two innings; they had a reliever retire all 12 batters he faced; they had their leadoff hitter smack two triples; they had another reliever hit two batters in an inning; they had their catcher feel like he might have broken his collarbone...

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Strasburg has strained right oblique

May 31, 2013, 7:56pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg will leave the Nationals in Atlanta and fly back to D.C. after he was diagnosed with a strained right oblique, an injury that knocked him from tonight's 3-2 Nats win after just two innings. It turns out that Strasburg has been feeling discomfort in the oblique for a few starts now, but while it had improved as he got deeper into his past outings, his right side only tightened up more as he went deeper into tonight's game. He finished off the second inning and then...