nationals

Nationals Ryan Zimmerman confident rehab game has him ready to return

May 02, 2013, 8:24am

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was able to pass a big test in his return from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday on a cool night at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Zimmerman played third base for the Potomac Nationals in his lone rehab start to test the recovery of a sore hamstring, and despite an 0-for-3 performance, he felt his swing and timing are back. "Everything feels good," Zimmerman said. "I think seeing some live pitching was good. I saw pretty much every pitch,...

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Leaving Atlanta on a positive note

May 02, 2013, 10:21pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - In case you missed the final out of last night's 3-1 Nationals win, you missed a postgame celebration that's starting to grow in popularity. For years now, Rafael Soriano has untucked his jersey after notching a save. Last night, MASN's cameras caught Ian Desmond

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An early lead and a crisp Dan Haren (Werth leaves game in fifth)

May 02, 2013, 4:07pm

Nationals

An early lead and a crisp Dan Haren (Werth leaves game in fifth)

ATLANTA - The Nationals have now retired 29 of the last 30 Braves hitters to come to the plate. Dan Haren has faced just one over the minimum through three crisp innings tonight. Strangely enough, the only batter to reach base during this 30-batter stretch was tonight's Braves starter, Kris Medlen, who Haren walked on five pitches. Outside of that meeting with Medlen, Haren's been absolutely cruising. He's needed just 30 pitches to get through his three innings so far, and 20 of those...

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A heck of an outing from Haren (Nats win 3-1, salvage a split)

May 02, 2013, 5:07pm

Nationals

A heck of an outing from Haren (Nats win 3-1, salvage a split)

ATLANTA - After four starts to begin the season that ranged from average to ugly, Dan Haren might be turning a corner. Haren has been tremendous tonight, throwing seven frames of one-run ball against the Braves, allowing just three hits and striking out three. Perhaps even more remarkable than the pitching line has been Haren's efficiency. He's needed just 69 pitches to get through his seven innings of work, and 47 of those pitches have been strikes. That's an average of 9.9 pitches per...

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Johnson talks after Nats pick up a satisfying split (with Werth update)

May 02, 2013, 7:21pm

Nationals

Johnson talks after Nats pick up a satisfying split (with Werth update)

ATLANTA - Two nights ago, after an 8-1 Nationals loss, Davey Johnson started his postgame session with reporters by asking whether he really needed to discuss another defeat at the hands of the Braves. Tonight, Johnson was more than happy to talk about the Nats' second win over Atlanta in as many nights. "That was fun," a smiling Johnson said to open his postgame press conference. Dan Haren went eight innings, allowing just one run on four hits in what was far and away his best start as...

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Hearing from Haren after his best start as a National

May 02, 2013, 7:46pm

Nationals

Hearing from Haren after his best start as a National

ATLANTA - If you've read any of Dan Haren's quotes following a start or seen his postgame interviews on MASN, you've probably noticed that Haren is as self-aware and honest a player as you'll find in the majors. If Haren stinks, he'll tell you he stinks. If he needs to stop messing around and throw more strikes, he'll say so. Tonight, following his eight-inning gem in a 3-1 Nationals win over the Braves, Haren discussed what went right in his outing while also reflecting on what had...

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Robbie Ray continues to pitch well early for Single-A Potomac

May 02, 2013, 8:10am

Nationals

Robbie Ray continues to pitch well early for Single-A Potomac

Left-hander Robbie Ray received a no-decision Wednesday that might have been a bit overshadowed in the high Single-A Potomac Nationals' 3-2 loss to Carolina at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Ray did walk four batters, but did a very nice job of getting out of potential jams with seven strikeouts over five innings. He scattered four hits and allowed two runs. His pitches were so accurate at painting the edge of the plate that the Mudcats arguing of those close calls got a batter and their...

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Harper, Werth in Nats' lineup (updated with quotes, injury updates)

May 02, 2013, 1:31pm

Nationals

Harper, Werth in Nats' lineup (updated with quotes, injury updates)

ATLANTA -- We're still waiting for the Nationals' official lineup, but both Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth are set to take batting practice, and barring any setbacks, they'll be in the Nats' starting nine. Harper suffered a nasty bruise on his left side after colliding with the right field wall Tuesday and he needed to leave last night's game in the sixth inning after a check-swing aggravated the injury. Werth has missed the last two games with a sore left ankle and hamstring...

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List of league's elite starters might grow one name longer

May 02, 2013, 6:24am

Nationals

List of league's elite starters might grow one name longer

ATLANTA - When Kurt Suzuki came over to the Nationals in the middle of last season after a trade with Oakland, there was one pitcher he was especially excited to work with. He had seen plenty of highlights of Stephen Strasburg on TV and had an idea what to expect from the Nationals' ace. He had already caught Gio Gonzalez when the left-hander was with the A's. There was another Nats starter with whom Suzuki wasn't too familiar. But one of Suzuki's former teammates with the A's, Josh...

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Still waiting on Nats' lineup

May 02, 2013, 11:40am

Nationals

ATLANTA - We're still waiting to see whether Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth will find their way into the Nationals' lineup for tonight's series finale against the Braves. The lineup has not yet been posted, likely because team trainers are evaluating one or both of the Nats' ailing outfielders. Harper left last night's game following a check swing in a sixth-inning at-bat. He was diagnosed with a bad bruise on his left side. The Nationals' leader in nearly every offensive category had...

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Nats claim left-hander Xavier Cedeno, option him to Triple-A (with lineups)

April 23, 2013, 11:20am

Nationals

Nats claim left-hander Xavier Cedeno, option him to Triple-A (with lineups)

The Nationals have added another left-handed reliever to their organization, claiming Xavier Cedeno off waivers from the Astros and optioning him to Triple-A Syracuse. Cedeno, 26, posted an 11.37 ERA over five appearances spanning 6 1/3 innings with Houston this season. He allowed 10 hits and 11 runs (eight earned) with seven walks, three strikeouts and hit two batters. Last season, Cedeno's numbers were far better. He worked in 44 games with the Astros, putting up a 3.77 ERA over 31...

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An uplifting story, plus a Chris Young update (Nats trail)

April 23, 2013, 3:57pm

Nationals

An uplifting story, plus a Chris Young update (Nats trail)

A large group of Nationals players and coaches made their way over to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda this afternoon, giving some injured veterans a thrill and getting quite a cool experience themselves. Eleven Nats players made the trip, a group that included Adam LaRoche, Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmond, Chad Tracy, Tyler Moore, Steve Lombardozzi, Ryan Mattheus, Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, Craig Stammen and Zach Duke. Bench coach Randy Knorr and bullpen coach Jim Lett...

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Harrisburg's solid lineup one reason for quick start

April 07, 2013, 5:02am

Nationals

Harrisburg's solid lineup one reason for quick start

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators dropped Bowie 6-1 Saturday behind big hits from Rick Hague and Steven Souza, Jr., and a spectacular one-two punch on the mound by Paul Demny and Trevor Holder. Destin Hood smacked his first double of the season and Souza crushed his first homer to get the scoring going. Demny went five innings for the win and Holder an amazing four innings for the save. Justin Bloxom had an RBI double and Hague a two-run single. Demny struck out six and allowed just two hits...

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A.J. Cole shows flashes of brilliance in Potomac debut

April 08, 2013, 6:29am

Nationals

A.J. Cole shows flashes of brilliance in Potomac debut

Right-hander A.J. Cole showed flashes of how dominant he could be in his first start with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals on Sunday. Cole struck out the side in the first inning, but later allowed a few hits and runs, going 5 1/3 innings. All seven strikeouts were swinging. He used a lot of fastballs and Lynchburg started to figure out the timing, according to a source. He has a spike curve, a slider and changeup. One question might be is how much he will integrate the slider and...

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Harrisburg places Matt Skole on disabled list with wrist injury (updated)

April 08, 2013, 8:34am

Nationals

Harrisburg places Matt Skole on disabled list with wrist injury (updated)

Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Matt Skole has been placed on the disabled list with hairline fracture in his left wrist, according to a team source. Skole is expected to miss three to four weeks. Skole was injured Friday night when his arm was hit by a runner on a play up the baseline. Justin Bloxom is a good possibility to be moved to first base while Skole recovers. The team announced that outfielder Jerad Head had been called up from extended spring training. The Nationals'...

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Nationals rotating Rendon between three infield spots in Harrisburg

April 10, 2013, 1:33pm

Nationals

Double-A Harrisburg's Anthony Rendon played second base yesterday, and will play third base, his natural position, tonight. The switching of infield positions serves an intended purpose. According to a club source, the Nationals are playing Rendon each week in a "4-2-1" rotation, with four games at third base, two games at second base and one game at shortstop. The rotation is not "set in stone," according to the source, and is not considered permanent, but provides Rendon with some...

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Hagerstown outfielder Wander Ramos placed on disabled list

April 11, 2013, 1:22pm

Nationals

Hagerstown outfielder Wander Ramos placed on disabled list

Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns outfielder Wander Ramos has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, according to a club source. The injury does not appear to be serious, and they will take a precautionary measure to rest the hamstring this early in the season. The 22-year-old Ramos (who turns 23 in two weeks) was hitting .200 (2-for-10) in four games, with two RBIs, a run scored and three walks. Outfielder Will Piwnica-Worms has been called up from extended spring...

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Walters making a name for himself in Syracuse

April 13, 2013, 12:57pm

Nationals

Walters making a name for himself in Syracuse

It was another snapshot moment in time for the Nationals organization. In a late February spring training game in Florida, the Nationals faced off against All-Star David Wright and the Mets. But as you looked out on the diamond, it wasn't Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper doing battle with New York. Instead, it was the best of the Nationals' prospects. Guys like Anthony Rendon, Nathan Karns, Matt Skole, Destin Hood, Eury Perez and others. And there at shortstop...

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Updates on injuries to prospects Higley, Souza

April 14, 2013, 9:42pm

Nationals

Updates on injuries to prospects Higley, Souza

The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns placed outfielder J.R. Higley on the disabled list Sunday and Andruth Ramirez was activated. Higley fouled a ball of his foot. His injury is being evaluated further by the Nationals. Higley was hitting .273 in nine games, with two doubles, one triple and four RBIs. The Double-A Harrisburg Senators placed outfielder Steven Souza Jr., on the disabled list Sunday. Catcher Jeff Howell was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. Catcher Kris Watts was activated from the...

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Martinson earns Carolina League Player of the Week honors

April 16, 2013, 12:51pm

Nationals

Martinson earns Carolina League Player of the Week honors

Many around minor league baseball, and scouts I talk to, believe high Single-A Potomac Nationals shortstop Jason Martinson deserves to be playing in Double-A. This week he demonstrated he certainly deserves attention for his play at Potomac, earning Carolina League Player of the Week honors. Martinson started the season hitting .303 (10-for-33), with a .429 on-base percentage and a .788 slugging percentage through nine games. The 24-year-old Texas State product had a pair of doubles, one...