nationals

Could signing of Chris Young come into play sooner than later?

April 06, 2013, 6:52am

It is just one game, but it did happen. Dan Haren got rocked and Zach Duke did not fare much better. Depth is critical for each major league team, especially pitching depth, if you expect to make a deep run into October. Last season, the Nationals allowed double-digit runs only two times in their first 156 games. The 15 runs allowed Friday night at Great American Ballpark were the most given up by Washington in a shutout since 2000. The most runs the Nationals allowed in any one game all of...

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A night to forget in Cincinnati

April 05, 2013, 6:25pm

Nationals

Dan Haren got smacked around, allowing four longballs and six runs overall in just four innings in his Nationals debut. Zach Duke, Henry Rodriguez and Ryan Mattheus combined to give up nine runs in relief. The Nats put up just five hits and were shut out by a trio of Reds pitchers. Kurt Suzuki and Ian Desmond both committed fielding errors. Pretty much nothing went right for Davey Johnson's boys in tonight's 15-0 loss to the Reds. In fact, this is the most lopsided loss in the Nationals'...

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What's happening with Haren?

April 06, 2013, 5:20am

Nationals

It's probably safe to assume that Dan Haren's Nationals debut didn't go quite as he'd planned. Yeah, I'd say that's a fair assumption. Haren got hit all over the Great American Ballpark last night, allowing nine hits and six runs in just four innings of work. He surrendered four home runs, this from a guy who had allowed just 1.1 homers per nine innings over the course of his previous 10 years in the majors. This performance comes after a spring in which Haren pitched to a 6.39 ERA in...

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Back-to-back homers have Nats trailing for first time in 2013 (it's gotten ugly)

April 05, 2013, 3:57pm

Nationals

Back-to-back homers have Nats trailing for first time in 2013 (it's gotten ugly)

The Nationals are in an unfamiliar position: They're actually trailing for the first time this season. Back-to-back home runs by Todd Frazier and Zack Cozart off Dan Haren in the second inning have given the Reds a 2-0 lead and put the Nats in a hole. Haren had struck out two straight hitters prior to the homers, getting Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce swinging. But within two pitches, he trailed by two. Frazier teed off on the first pitch he saw, a 90 mph fastball, sending it to the second...

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Getting ready for a much tougher test

April 05, 2013, 9:19am

Nationals

The Nationals limited the Marlins to one run in 27 innings over the last four days. Washington outscored Miami 11-1 and held its division rivals to a .167 batting average. After three games against a clearly inferior opponent, the Nats will now get much more of a test. Tonight, they open a three-game set against the Reds, a team that won the NL Central by a whopping nine games last season and posted 97 victories overall. Cincinnati has gotten off to a nice start to the season, taking two of...

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Friday's Nationals-Reds lineups

April 05, 2013, 11:48am

Nationals

The Nationals open a three-game weekend series in Cincinnati tonight, with right-hander Dan Haren taking the hill and making his first regular season start in a Washington uniform. After all those two-hour bus rides to Jupiter, Fla., in spring training, the flight to Cincy must have seemed like a snap. Here's the Nationals lineup for tonight's 7 p.m. game: CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki RHP Dan...

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Zimmermann and Harper discuss Nats' 6-1 win

April 04, 2013, 4:28pm

Nationals

Zimmermann and Harper discuss Nats' 6-1 win

Jordan Zimmermann ruined it. He ruined the Nationals' shot at 1,458 consecutive shutout innings. Might as well just cancel the season. Zimmermann went six innings today, allowing eight hits and one run. He walked two and struck out one, rounding out a line that's not incredibly impressive by his standards outside of just the one run surrendered, but Zimmermann said he actually felt pretty sharp today. "I felt good, it was the best I felt in a long time," Zimmermann said. "It was just...

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Werth's mammoth blast early signal wrist might be just fine

April 04, 2013, 4:05pm

Nationals

Werth's mammoth blast early signal wrist might be just fine

Right fielder Jayson Werth was 0-for-8 in the first two games of the season. There were some that might have questioned whether his surgically repaired wrist was not quite 100 percent just yet. On Thursday at Nationals Park, Werth crushed a three-run homer to left field that erased many of those doubts, lifting the Nationals to a 6-1 win and a series sweep of the Marlins. "I think you guys are a little but more worried about my wrist than anybody else," Werth said, speaking to reporters....

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The DH debate

April 04, 2013, 7:54pm

Nationals

Three games into the season, the Nationals stand alone with the best record in baseball. They have a well-rounded, talented roster to thank for that. They also have the Miami Marlins to thank for that. Let's be honest. The Nats are the only undefeated team left in the majors after their three-game sweep over the Marlins. Now, it's on to Cincinnati to face a Reds team that took two of three from the Angels this week. After that, it's the White Sox coming to D.C. for the Nats' first...

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Paul McCartney's "Out There" tour to play Nationals Park on July 12

April 05, 2013, 8:05am

Nationals

Paul McCartney announced today that he will perform at Nationals Park - home of the Washington Nationals - on Friday, July 12, 2013 as part of the "Out There" World Tour. Tickets and parking will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m., online at nationals.com/McCartney and by phone at 888.632.6287. The show will be held rain or shine and will be promoted by Live Nation. "It's an honor to welcome Sir Paul McCartney to Nationals Park," said Andrew Feffer, COO of...

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Johnson on Marlins: "It was good to spank them this series"

April 04, 2013, 4:11pm

Nationals

Johnson on Marlins: "It was good to spank them this series"

It's no secret that the Marlins are rebuilding this season and will likely contend for the worst record in baseball. You look up and down Miami's roster and there really isn't much top-notch talent beyond Giancarlo Stanton. Still, games aren't played on paper. Beyond that, the Marlins have traditionally played the Nationals tough, including last year, when the teams split the season series despite the Nats winning the division and the Marlins coming in last in the National League East. So...

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Johnson sees Zimmerman's defense improving with repaired shoulder

April 04, 2013, 10:13am

Nationals

Johnson sees Zimmerman's defense improving with repaired shoulder

The Nationals are off to a 2-0 start with some important solo homers and quality pitching. But manager Davey Johnson also gives a lot of the credit for the first two wins to improved defense. Johnson said he notices a big difference because Ryan Zimmerman's surgically repaired shoulder has responded well. "No question about it," Johnson said. "It is kind of hard to improve on the infield. But the infield is improved because Zimm is healthier over there. You guys probably haven't noticed...

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Werth goes deep as Nats break it open (Nats sweep Marlins)

April 04, 2013, 2:30pm

Nationals

Werth goes deep as Nats break it open (Nats sweep Marlins)

Davey Johnson was asked before today's game whether he feels he needs to monitor Jayson Werth's left wrist, which doctors expect won't be full strength until after the season ends. That's the wrist Werth broke last May, the one that he says limited his power stroke upon his return to the lineup last year. Johnson said Werth felt like the wrist was pretty weak coming into spring training but that it's gaining strength lately. Given the home run Werth just crushed into the left field...

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The shutout streak is over, Harper gets dinged up (Nats lead after six)

April 04, 2013, 12:40pm

Nationals

The shutout streak is over, Harper gets dinged up (Nats lead after six)

The Nationals will not play an entire season without allowing a run. The Marlins will not go the whole year without having a runner touch home plate. The dreams are dead. After pitching a scoreless first inning this afternoon, Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed a leadoff homer to Miami center fielder Justin Ruggiano, ending the Nationals' streak of consecutive scoreless innings to begin the season at 19. Stephen Strasburg, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano combined for a shutout on...

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Nats sign Chris Young to minor league deal

April 04, 2013, 9:51am

Nationals

Nats sign Chris Young to minor league deal

Chris Young is back with the Nationals. After opting out of his initial minor league deal with the Nats on March 25, Young has returned to the organization, agreeing to terms on a new minor league deal this afternoon. Young, 33, will throw a couple bullpen sessions down at the Nationals' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., and then will report to Triple-A Syracuse to join the rotation there. His new deal does not contain an opt-out clause, according to a source. Young posted a 2.25 ERA in...

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Bryce Harper's older brother, Bryan, begins season tonight for Hagerstown

April 03, 2013, 8:40pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper's older brother, Bryan, begins season tonight for Hagerstown

He has got one of the most famous brothers in all of baseball. He is a southpaw looking to make it to the majors. He has played for a national champion. But all the questions come back to his talented younger brother, Bryce. Left-hander Bryan Harper of the Hagerstown Suns says that is all good, because his dream is to someday join his brother with the Nationals. "I will at least have the opportunity to play with him at some point," Bryan said. "That is one driving factor. Obviously,...

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Marlins-Nationals lineups for series finale

April 04, 2013, 8:39am

Nationals

The Nationals will look for a sweep of the Marlins this afternoon at Nationals Park, with Jordan Zimmermann attempting to match the stellar efforts of Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez over the Nats' first two games. Zimmermann is 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins and is without a win against them at home. Left-hander Wade LeBlanc will take the mound for Miami. LeBlanc went 2-5 with a 3.67 ERA last season in 25 games (nine starts) with the Marlins. Over four...

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Nationals agree to terms with right-hander Chris Young on minor league contract

April 04, 2013, 9:17am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chris Young on a minor-league contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Young rejoins the Nationals organization, the club he signed a minor-league contract with on February 21, 2013. On March 26, after going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four Grapefruit League starts for Washington, the Nationals unconditionally released Young at his...

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Rachel Levitin: My first opening day was well worth the wait

April 04, 2013, 5:17am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: My first opening day was well worth the wait

For the first 25 years of my life, Major League Baseball's opening day was a romanticized fantasy played out in my head. It was an all-elusive game that one day I'd attend, though I didn't know when, where, why, or how. Growing up mere minutes from Wrigley Field was always such a tease, but I knew dad would never take us kids out of school for the game no matter how hard I begged. I'll also venture to guess that tickets to a Wrigley Field opening day game weren't exactly cheap even back in...

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Joining a pretty exclusive club

April 03, 2013, 9:53pm

Nationals

Michael Morse smacked another home run last night for the Mariners, giving him three in the last two days. The former Nationals slugger has four hits on the season. Three have left the yard. That man sure can hit. Morse better keep going deep, though. He's got Gio Gonzalez right on his tail in the home run department. For those who haven't gotten a chance to make it out to Nats Park yet, it appears the team is going to be using the song "Take on Me" as part of its seventh-inning stretch...