nationals

Johnson feels Storen is back in 2011 form (Haren hit hard early)

June 22, 2013, 8:05am

The start of the 2013 season has been a bit of a rocky one for Drew Storen. Storen, who saved 43 games for the Nationals in 2011 and then came back from elbow surgery last season to post a 2.37 ERA in 37 games, went through a stretch this season where he either allowed an earned run or an inherited runner to score in five of seven games. His ERA sat at 5.21 on May 25, and manager Davey Johnson had started avoiding using Storen against left-handed hitters recently because of a new bullpen...

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Johnson recaps Nats' 2-1 win

June 21, 2013, 7:08pm

Nationals

It was clear to all watching that Stephen Strasburg wanted no part of pitching coach Steve McCatty or assistant trainer Steve Gober coming out to the mound to check on him in the seventh inning of tonight's 2-1 Nationals win. Two starts removed from a stint on the disabled list due to a lat strain, Strasburg had stretched his side a bit after allowing a two-out double to Josh Rutledge in the seventh, prompting McCatty and Gober to hop out of the dugout and go ask Strasburg if his side was...

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Plenty of strong pitching performances

June 21, 2013, 11:20pm

Nationals

Multiple times within the last few weeks, the Nationals have earned a big win, and the topic of conversation has turned to whether that victory could be a momentum-starter, something to give the Nats a jolt and get them on an extended run. Each time, the Nats have followed that up with a loss, or a string of a few losses. I'm not going there again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice ... Instead of getting back into whether the Nats will be able to build off their 2-1 win over the...

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Strasburg has become the new Zimmermann (Nats win 2-1)

June 21, 2013, 4:36pm

Nationals

Strasburg has become the new Zimmermann (Nats win 2-1)

Last season, Jordan Zimmermann went out start after start and delivered. He put up a 2.94 ERA over his 32 starts and got just 12 wins all season. The Nationals struggled mightily to score runs in Zimmermann's starts, and his win total suffered. This season, Stephen Strasburg has gotten the Jordan Zimmermann treatment. Strasburg came into tonight's outing getting the second-lowest run support of any qualified starter in the majors, receiving just 2.69 runs per start. He had a 2.50 ERA...

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Ryan Mattheus believes he is four weeks away from returning

June 21, 2013, 2:22pm

Nationals

Ryan Mattheus believes he is four weeks away from returning

Right-hander Ryan Mattheus was able to throw two sets from 60 feet to test his right hand, which he broke in San Diego back on May 20. Mattheus was upbeat following the workout. "It is a step in the right direction," Mattheus said. "To catch the last few days has been better than I thought it would be. No issues with the hand. Not really getting on it yet, but the ball feels good coming out of my hand." Mattheus said the Nationals will now lengthen out the throwing program nice and slow...

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Harper on track to begin rehab assignment Tuesday at Potomac

June 21, 2013, 1:55pm

Nationals

Harper on track to begin rehab assignment Tuesday at Potomac

Bryce Harper continues to progress as he rehabs the bursitis in his left knee, and if all goes well over the next few days, Harper should be able to head out on a rehab assignment on Tuesday. Harper did some running in the outfield and took some full swings in the indoor batting cage yesterday, and he was set to do the same today. The swelling in Harper's knee has not returned despite the increased activity, which is obviously a good sign. The plan for now, according to manager Davey...

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Strasburg on mound for Game 2 vs. Rockies

June 21, 2013, 12:16pm

Nationals

Strasburg on mound for Game 2 vs. Rockies

The Nationals are sending Stephen Strasburg to the mound tonight, as he looks to match Jordan Zimmermann's dominant outing last night and lead the Nats to their third straight win. Over 13 starts this season, Strasburg has pitched to a 2.50 ERA despite having just three wins to show for his effort. The Nats will face Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who is 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA on the season. For the Rockies CF Dexter Fowler 2B DJ LeMahieu LF Carlos Gonzalez RF Michael Cuddyer C Wilin...

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More on Zimmermann's growth and All-Star chances (draft pick note)

June 21, 2013, 6:41am

Nationals

More on Zimmermann's growth and All-Star chances (draft pick note)

Ian Desmond said last night that if he was picking the starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team, Jordan Zimmermann would be his guy. What are the chances of that happening? Well, Zimmermann is now tied for the major league lead in wins with 10. He has a miniscule 2.26 ERA, fifth-best in the NL behind Clayton Kershaw, Jeff Locke, Shelby Miller and Matt Harvey. Zimmermann has thrown three complete games (tied with Adam Wainwright for the major league lead), his 0.93 WHIP ranks...

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Zimmermann on Zimmermann, plus other postgame quotes

June 20, 2013, 7:57pm

Nationals

Zimmermann on Zimmermann, plus other postgame quotes

The All-Star Game is just a few weeks away now. And if Jordan Zimmermann's 10-3 record and 2.26 ERA aren't doing enough to convince people that the 27-year-old right-hander belongs in the Midsummer Classic, his teammates are sure going to lend him some vocal support. "Oh absolutely. Yeah, no question," Adam LaRoche said, when asked whether Zimmermann deserves his first All-Star Game selection. "He's had, I don't know, maybe two rough outings. Other than that, he's absolutely dominated....

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LaRoche hoping his hits, team offense will help "spark something"

June 20, 2013, 6:50pm

Nationals

LaRoche hoping his hits, team offense will help "spark something"

First baseman Adam LaRoche would be the first to admit the last couple of weeks have not been very much fun for him at the plate. Heading into Thursday's game against Colorado, LaRoche was batting .156 (5-for-32) in those past 10 games. Manager Davey Johnson sensed his veteran was scuffling a bit at the plate and gave him Monday's game at Philadelphia off. He did have a pinch-hit at-bat in that game, but went 0-for-1. Now, in his last three starts, he has six hits. Thursday was the best of...

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Nationals sign three more draft picks

June 21, 2013, 7:40am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with three additional players selected in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft: right-handed pitcher Nicholas Pivetta (fourth round), right-handed pitcher John Simms (11th round) and right-handed pitcher Andrew Cooper (12th round). Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Nationals Director of Scouting Kris Kline made...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 5-1 win

June 20, 2013, 7:20pm

Nationals

The first thing Davey Johnson said as he approached the podium for his postgame press conference after tonight's 5-1 win over the Rockies wasn't related to Jordan Zimmermann's stellar eight-inning outing or Adam LaRoche's three-hit, two-RBI night. It related to Anthony Rendon's eighth-inning error that put the potential game-tying run in the on-deck circle and brought Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez up with two runners on and one out. "My second baseman gave me a heart attack," Johnson...

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Injury updates for Wilson Ramos and Ryan Mattheus

June 20, 2013, 1:58pm

Nationals

Injury updates for Wilson Ramos and Ryan Mattheus

Manager Davey Johnson had injury updates for catcher Wilson Ramos and right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus. Ramos has been on the disabled list since May 16 with a hamstring injury. He had a setback last week running the bases but Johnson said the catcher is making better progress this week. "I keep reading the reports every day that he is catching bullpens, taking batting practice, he is running the bases," Johnson said. "We are just being very cautious because he was injured a second time...

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Yet another gem from Zimmermann (Nats win 5-1)

June 20, 2013, 5:50pm

Nationals

Yet another gem from Zimmermann (Nats win 5-1)

In his eight innings of work tonight, Jordan Zimmermann got into very little trouble. He allowed just two runners to get into scoring positing through the seventh and set down 16 straight hitters at one point. Zimmermann was cruising, pounding the strike zone and setting down the Rockies with relative ease. In the eighth, the right-hander finally needed to work his way out of a jam, albeit one that was partially created by some shaky defense. After Zimmermann walked Josh Rutledge with one...

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Desmond does it again (Wheels LaRoche strikes again)

June 20, 2013, 3:53pm

Nationals

Desmond does it again (Wheels LaRoche strikes again)

Two of Ian Desmond's last three swings have resulted in home runs. Last night, Desmond led the Nationals to a 6-2 win with an 11th-inning grand slam. Tonight, Desmond launched a 1-1 changeup from Roy Oswalt into the left field seats in the second inning to give the Nats a 1-0 lead over the Rockies. Desmond now has 11 homers on the season, third-most among major league shortstops and second-most on the Nats behind Bryce Harper, who has 12. Desmond also leads all active shortstops in...

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Johnson: Harper "close" to getting into rehab games

June 20, 2013, 1:51pm

Nationals

Johnson: Harper "close" to getting into rehab games

Barring any setbacks with his injured left knee, Bryce Harper should be back playing rehab games sometime in the near future. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said today that Harper, who is dealing with bursitis in his knee, did some running in the outfield at Nats Park today and will do some hitting in the cages. As long as Harper's knee doesn't swell up tomorrow, Johnson believes that the Nationals outfielder could head out on a rehab assignment soon. "I talked to Bryce, he looked...

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Nats, Rockies lineups for tonight's series opener

June 20, 2013, 11:37am

Nationals

Nats, Rockies lineups for tonight's series opener

The Nationals will go with the same lineup in today's series opener against the Rockies that they ran out last night against the Phillies. With Roger Bernadina still dealing with some type of issue with his left eye, Steve Lombardozzi will play left field again tonight. Bernadina was scratched from last night's game due to the eye, which Bernadina said was bothering him when he woke up yesterday morning. Johnson had hoped to have Bernadina in the lineup today because he's hitting .353 with...

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Bench composition still a work in progress

June 20, 2013, 6:10am

Nationals

Bench composition still a work in progress

If you've followed the Nationals with any type of regularity this season, you've probably read quotes from Davey Johnson where he discusses how tough he thinks it is for young players to occupy bench roles on a major league team. Johnson knows that Tyler Moore and Steve Lombardozzi haven't produced much from an offensive perspective at the big league level this season. Moore's level of play was low enough that the Nats optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse last weekend in order to get him on...

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Plenty of postgame notes and quotes after Nats' 6-2, 11-inning win

June 19, 2013, 8:28pm

Nationals

Plenty of postgame notes and quotes after Nats' 6-2, 11-inning win

PHILADELPHIA - Had the Nationals not rallied from a run down in the top of the ninth inning, had Jayson Werth not tied the game against Jonathan Papelbon with two outs, the bus ride from Philly back to D.C. would've been a quiet and long one. With a loss tonight, the Nats would have fallen three games below .500 for the first time this season. They would've dropped eight games behind the Braves. They would've finished their road trip 3-6, including losses in each of their last four...

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Rachel Levitin: Desmond solidifying his status as Nats' leader

June 20, 2013, 5:08am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Desmond solidifying his status as Nats' leader

In the early days of his career with the Nationals, shortstop Ian Desmond racked up more errors than web gems. Presently, he's solidifying himself as a leader in the Nats clubhouse. It's a role that seems to suit him now that he's growing into himself as a player and maturing as an adult. With the heart of the Washington batting order not doing its job on a consistent basis and the Nats struggling to find a stream of positive momentum, Desmond is leading this team. Fresh off an 11th-inning...