nationals

David Huzzard: Jordan Zimmermann's great start makes waiting on long-term deal a smart move

June 12, 2013, 5:47am

Before the start of the 2013 baseball season, the Washington Nationals and Jordan Zimmermann were at a crossroads. The Nationals would have liked to have extended him in the same manner they did Gio Gonzalez before his 21-win season. If Zimmermann had been paying attention to that and to the money that right-handed aces such as Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, Felix Hernandez, and Justin Verlander were commanding, then he was smart to turn aside the Nationals' advances to commit to a long-term...

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Haren and Span doing the job early (Nats lose 8-3)

June 11, 2013, 6:06pm

Nationals

Haren and Span doing the job early (Nats lose 8-3)

Dan Haren got smacked around pretty good his last time out, allowing five runs on seven hits in just four innings of work in a loss to the Mets. Haren was left incredibly frustrated with himself after the game, saying he felt like he was letting his team down. Tonight, Haren's the one frustrating the Rockies. The veteran right-hander has pitched four scoreless innings thus far tonight, allowing just two runners to reach base in that span. Haren's retired 11 of the last 12 Rockies hitters...

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Nats acquire RHP Ian Dickson from Cubs for Henry Rodriguez (Karns optioned)

June 11, 2013, 8:00pm

Nationals

Nats acquire RHP Ian Dickson from Cubs for Henry Rodriguez (Karns optioned)

A week after designating right-hander Henry Rodriguez for assignment, the Nationals have traded the flame-throwing but inconsistent 26-year-old to the Cubs for minor league right-hander Ian Dickson. Dickson's numbers are far from impressive; the 22-year-old has posted a 6.88 ERA in 11 games (35 1/3 innings) for high Single-A Kane County this season. A 35th-round pick of the Cubs back in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Lafayette College, Dickson has struck out 8.2 batters per nine...

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Harper to rest a week after getting cortisone, PRP shots in knee

June 11, 2013, 3:36pm

Nationals

Harper to rest a week after getting cortisone, PRP shots in knee

Bryce Harper will miss at least another week due to bursitis in his left knee, a diagnosis that was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews upon Harper's visit to the renowned orthopedic surgeon on Monday. According to MASN's Julie Alexandria, who is with the Nationals out in Colorado, Harper was given a cortisone shot in the inflamed bursa sac in his left knee yesterday, and was also given a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) shot, as well. That news was passed along to reporters by Nationals head trainer...

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Nationals acquire right-hander Ian Dickson from Cubs in exchange for right-hander Henry Rodriguez

June 11, 2013, 7:56pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Ian Dickson from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Dickson went 2-2 with one save and posted 8.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (32 K/35.1 IP) in 11 games/three starts this season with Kane County of the Single-A Midwest League. The 22-year-old is 5-5 with one save and a 6.06 ERA in 26...

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Nats sign veteran righty Mark Lowe to minor league deal (with lineups)

June 11, 2013, 1:22pm

Nationals

Nats sign veteran righty Mark Lowe to minor league deal (with lineups)

The Nationals added some bullpen depth today, signing veteran right-handed reliever Mark Lowe to a minor league deal. The team announced that Lowe has been assigned to Triple-A Syracuse. Lowe started this season with the Angels, posting a 9.26 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. He allowed 11 hits, walked 11 and struck out seven in his 11 appearances with the Angels. Over his eight-year big league career, the 30-year-old Lowe has a 4.17 ERA. He's coming off a fairly strong 2012 season, in which he...

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Looking at the impact of the two new lefties

June 11, 2013, 9:53am

Nationals

Looking at the impact of the two new lefties

Asked recently whether he's more comfortable with the current makeup of the Nationals bullpen than he was earlier in the season, manager Davey Johnson responded with a fairly resounding, "Yeah." A large part of that is due to the presence of two guys who many Nats fans had never heard of coming into this season - Fernando Abad and Ian Krol. The two left-handers haven't been on the Nats' major league roster for too long, but they've already made a fairly significant impact. Abad (a...

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Waiting to hear on Harper

June 11, 2013, 5:28am

Nationals

A day after Bryce Harper went to Florida to get a second opinion on his swollen left knee from Dr. James Andrews, we're still waiting on the details of Andrews' findings. The Nationals have been pretty quiet on the Harper front so far, choosing not to release much information to this point, but we should know more today on what lies ahead as far as treatment options on Harper's knee and the rehabilitation process needed to get Harper back on the field. One sign that Harper received some...

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Go head-to-head with Ryan Zimmerman in the CareFirst Fan Challenge

June 10, 2013, 4:04pm

Nationals

Go head-to-head with Ryan Zimmerman in the CareFirst Fan Challenge

So maybe you can't knock 95 mph fastballs out of Nats Park. Can't glove line drives at the hot corner like Ryan Zimmerman either? Well, that's OK because MASN's giving you the chance to challenge Zimmerman at your own game. With the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Ryan Zimmerman Fan Challenge, we're giving you the chance to submit a video to our Facebook page challenging the third baseman to anything. Think you can eat more hot wings than him in a minute? Can you paint a better picture...

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Strasburg return would change a lot for the Nationals

June 10, 2013, 5:38pm

Nationals

The Nationals need their leader back. Injuries hit the Nationals pretty hard this season. Bryce Harper being out has made it difficult for the offense to look scary. Every opposing pitcher has to contend with how to pitch Harper or pitch around him. Several times when others were not rolling, Harper was the igniter for the offense. His homer when others can't even connect on a base hit made all the difference to altering the momentum of a game and giving the Nationals a chance. Stephen...

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More on Moore

June 10, 2013, 11:06am

Nationals

I'll say this: Tyler Moore took the news of his demotion like a pro last night. It's probably pretty easy for a guy who has just gotten sent down to the minor leagues to wallow in self-pity or make up excuses for his poor performance. Moore could've cited his inconsistent playing time as a reason for his .149 average and .464 OPS. He could've snuck out of the clubhouse before reporters entered or had a negative attitude about needing to go back down to Triple-A Syracuse to try and get his...

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Ted Leavengood: The third No. 1 truly arrives

June 11, 2013, 6:08am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: The third No. 1 truly arrives

Anthony Rendon leapt high into the air to snare a line drive during Sunday's game. It was not until the slow motion replay was available that the athletic nature of the play could be appreciated. Rendon was easily three feet or more off the ground when the ball settled into his outstretched mitt. His standing leap was one that most basketball players would covet. It was the kind of play that Danny Espinosa has been making routinely at second base for the past three seasons. When Rendon made...

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Injury-plagued Nats have struggled, while other teams battling DL have flourished

June 11, 2013, 5:44am

Nationals Orioles

Injury-plagued Nats have struggled, while other teams battling DL have flourished

The Nationals have injuries, but several teams have made the injury excuse obsolete this season. The Cardinals have the best record in baseball, even though they have four starters - Jake Westbrook, Chris Carpenter, John Gast and Jamie Garcia - on their disabled list, as well closer Jason Motte and shortstop/leadoff batter Rafael Furcal. The Yankees are contending the American League East even though they have two shortstops - Derek Jeter and Eduardo Nunez - on the disabled list. Their DL...

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Some leftovers from a long day of ball

June 10, 2013, 6:53am

Nationals

I almost didn't recognize my own house when I finally returned to the front doorstep last night. After spending nearly 15 straight hours at Nationals Park yesterday, I was starting to believe I'd need to eventually curl up and grab some shut-eye in the press box. I'm not sure the stadium employees would've enjoyed that too much. After a rough, deflating, extra-inning loss to the Twins on Friday night, the Nationals were happy campers last night. They picked up two big wins yesterday to...

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Johnson discusses Nats' doubleheader sweep

June 09, 2013, 7:56pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' doubleheader sweep

Nationals players and coaches showed up to the ballpark before 10 a.m. today. So did reporters, but that's neither here nor there. About 14 hours later, the Nats will file out of the home clubhouse at Nats Park exhausted and a bit physically worn down, but they'll at least have two more wins in the standings than they did when they arrived this morning. They'll also be back to .500 and will head out on their nine-game road trip in a much better mental state than if they would have dropped...

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Marty Niland: Werth the straw that stirs Nats' drink

June 10, 2013, 7:37am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Werth the straw that stirs Nats' drink

The Nationals have been hit hard in recent weeks by injuries to key players like Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos, Ross Detwiler and Stephen Strasburg. But perhaps the most important injury to hit the Nats this season was the hamstring injury that kept Jayson Werth out of the lineup from May 3 until last Tuesday's game against the Mets. The Nats missed not only his talent on the field, but his leadership in the clubhouse. Now it's apparent by the team's improved intensity that they're reaping the...

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Nationals option 1B/OF Tyler Moore to Triple-A Syracuse

June 10, 2013, 5:03am

Nationals

Following Sunday's doubleheader, the Washington Nationals optioned first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Moore, 26, batted .158 with five doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI, six walks and seven runs scored in 38 games this season with Washington.

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Nats throttle Twins 7-0 in Game 1 of doubleheader

June 09, 2013, 12:24pm

Nationals

Nats throttle Twins 7-0 in Game 1 of doubleheader

Boy, did they need this. The Nationals' bats exploded in a five-run fifth inning, they got seven scoreless innings from Jordan Zimmermann, and they beat the Twins 7-0 in the first game of today's split doubleheader. Led by Ian Desmond, who had three hits and two RBIs, the Nationals pounded out 14 hits and turned a scoreless game after three innings into a seven-run game after five. Anthony Rendon drove in three, Jeff Kobernus had his first two major league hits, and the top seven starters...

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Detwiler rehab goes well, on track for June 13 return

June 09, 2013, 10:16am

Nationals

Detwiler rehab goes well, on track for June 13 return

Left-hander Ross Detwiler's injury rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac went well Saturday in Woodbridge, Va. Detwiler went 3 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing one earned run with no walks and four strikeouts. He tossed 60 pitches, 38 for strikes. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the rehab was a positive step for Detwiler. "Yeah, he felt good during the start and after the start," Rizzo said. "We'll see how he feels today and if all checks out today, he...

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Bullpen success a big part of series win over the Twins

June 09, 2013, 7:42pm

Nationals

Bullpen success a big part of series win over the Twins

One theme that helped the Nationals stay in, and then eventually win, the series against the Minnesota Twins was the bullpen getting the job done. In Game 1 and Game 3, the Nationals went to their bullpen 13 separate times. On Saturday, the Nationals used everyone in the bullpen but Xavier Cedeno. After Gio Gonzalez pitched through six innings, manager Davey Johnson employed, in order, Fernando Abad, Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard, Rafael Soriano, Erik Davis, Ian Krol and Craig Stammen. The...