nationals

Nats lineup on a scalding Saturday (updated with Rockies lineup)

July 07, 2012, 8:59am

Yeah, it's a little bit warm in the nation's capital today. I don't envy Gio Gonzalez or Jeff Francis, the two starters who will be trying to fight through this heat at Nationals Park. It's bad enough trying to unstick myself from my chair in the press box, much less get a grip on a curveball. Here's the Nationals lineup today against Francis, who held the Nats in check in Denver last week: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian...

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Three straight losses will stick with Strasburg over the break

July 07, 2012, 6:54am

Nationals

Three straight losses will stick with Strasburg over the break

Those pesky Rockies. They have the second-worst winning percentage in baseball and have a winning record against just three teams this season. Those three teams: the 32-52 Astros, the 39-44 Brewers and the 48-33 Nationals, who own the best record in the National League. Colorado has now won three of the five games it's played with the Nats this season. Surprisingly, two of those three wins have come against Stephen Strasburg, who has registered losses in three straight starts. Strasburg...

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Nats hitters left shaking their heads (plus Strasburg quotes)

July 06, 2012, 7:51pm

Nationals

Nats hitters left shaking their heads (plus Strasburg quotes)

The overwhelming feeling in the Nationals clubhouse after tonight's game was simple: We let one slip away. Rockies rookie Drew Pomeranz had a good fastball tonight. It sat in the low-to-mid 90s and had some cut to it at times, and the lefty was able to both work the ball in on hitters and get some tailing action away. But when 91 percent of a guy's pitches are fastballs, you'd think it wouldn't be too hard to see the ball and drive it. The Nationals just couldn't do that this...

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Johnson talks Strasburg, offensive futility after 5-1 loss

July 06, 2012, 7:16pm

Nationals

Johnson talks Strasburg, offensive futility after 5-1 loss

First things first - after tonight's 5-1 loss to the Rockies, Davey Johnson clarified some earlier comments in which it sounded like he planned on pushing Stephen Strasburg back in the rotation coming out of the All-Star break. Turns out, what Johnson meant was that he'll decide when Strasburg will start next based on how much the righty works in the All-Star Game. Same goes with Gio Gonzalez, who also is a part of the National League All-Star roster. "I'm going to base when I pitch him...

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Tyler Colvin owns Stephen Strasburg (Nats fall to Rockies 5-1)

July 06, 2012, 4:33pm

Nationals

Tyler Colvin owns Stephen Strasburg (Nats fall to Rockies 5-1)

Tyler Colvin had never faced Stephen Strasburg coming into tonight's game. Colvin has now seen Strasburg twice. He's homered off him in both at-bats. The Rockies have a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, and it's entirely thanks to Colvin, whose solo home run in the second inning and two-run shot in the fourth have provided all the offense so far tonight. The second-inning home run wouldn't have happened if catcher Jesus Flores had been able to squeeze a foul pop up behind the plate two...

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Pregame nuggets from the Nationals' skipper

July 06, 2012, 1:56pm

Nationals

How will the Nationals prepare for the heat and humidity which figures to affect their starters to at least some extent over the next couple days? Manager Davey Johnson said - apparently half-joking, half-serious - that the fire department is on site at Nationals Park tonight. "We're contemplating IVs today," Johnson said. "Stay tuned." Braves starter Tim Hudson normally gets a bag of IV fluids on the day that he starts in order to fend off dehydration, something which Johnson was...

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Danny Espinosa could hit leadoff full-time in the near future

July 06, 2012, 2:43pm

Nationals

Danny Espinosa could hit leadoff full-time in the near future

For the last couple months, Davey Johnson has gone with a platoon at the leadoff spot. Danny Espinosa gets the start atop the order against left-handed starters, as is the case tonight with the Nationals facing Rockies lefty Drew Pomeranz, while Steve Lombardozzi hits first when the Nationals are facing a righty. Once Jayson Werth returns, however, Johnson will need to switch things up. Werth will take over in right field, moving Michael Morse to left and cutting down on Lombardozzi's...

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Getting a little distance within the division

July 06, 2012, 10:11am

Nationals

Getting a little distance within the division

As Giants first baseman Brandon Belt failed to secure a low, skipping throw and Adam LaRoche crossed first base safely in the ninth inning of last night's game, plating the game-winning run for the Nationals, a group of ballplayers about 650 miles away let out a frustrated groan. According to reporters in Atlanta, Braves players watching the end of last night's Nationals game on a clubhouse TV made a loud, exasperated noise and dropped a few expletives when it became clear the Nats had...

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Strasburg more than halfway to innings cap, looking for bounceback

July 06, 2012, 6:42am

Nationals

Strasburg more than halfway to innings cap, looking for bounceback

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg faces off against the Colorado Rockies Friday, looking to rebound from just three innings in the sweltering heat in Atlanta last week. His next start will likely be scheduled for Sunday, July 15 in Miami, following the All-Star game in Kansas City. If Strasburg averages six innings per outing, he will be at 99 innings after tonight and 105 frames following July 15. That would mathematically put him in for nine or 10 more starts the rest of the way,...

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Looking back on a convincing three-game sweep

July 06, 2012, 6:27am

Nationals

Looking back on a convincing three-game sweep

The Giants entered their three-game series with the Nationals holding the National League's second-best record. They were throwing a two-time Cy Young award winner and the top two starters in their rotation, both of whom entered the series with at least nine wins and a sub-2.90 ERA. San Francisco had gone 74-1 in its last 75 games in which it had held at least a three-run lead. The Giants left the nation's capital last night having dropped three straight to the Nats and no longer occupying...

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Nats lineup vs. Rockies, Pomeranz

July 06, 2012, 11:33am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg will oppose Drew Pomeranz tonight at Nationals Park in the opener of a three-game set between the Nats and Rockies. Pomeranz hasn't notched a win in six major league outings this season, but he did deliver a strong start his last time out, allowing just an unearned run on two hits over six innings. That was his first start back in the big leagues after a stint at Triple-A. They're calling for 97-degree temperatures at first pitch tonight, so it will be interesting to see...

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Harper's prediction, LaRoche's speed and an awesome celebration

July 05, 2012, 8:47pm

Nationals

Harper's prediction, LaRoche's speed and an awesome celebration

When Ian Desmond hit his solo home run off Matt Cain in the seventh inning, cutting the Giants' lead to 5-2, Bryce Harper turned to Adam LaRoche, who was seated next to him on the bench. "We're going to win this game," Harper said. "Just be ready for it." If Harper finds himself out of a job anytime soon, he could replace Miss Cleo. Danny Espinosa immediately followed Desmond's homer with one of his own, and by the time the seventh inning ended, Cain was out of the game and the...

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Tale of the helmet snatchers

July 05, 2012, 1:06pm

Nationals

When Ian Desmond returns to the Nationals dugout after hitting a home run, he gets the usual handshakes and high fives. But if you watch MASN, you'll see another courtesy extended a player who returns after circling the bases or some other significant offense accomplishment. The batting helmet on a player's head doesn't stay there for long. In a sea of arms, a teammate's hands reach out and pluck the headgear. What started as a simple congratulatory maneuver has become a celebratory rite...

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Marty Niland: Washington looking for new All-Star memories

July 06, 2012, 4:31am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Washington looking for new All-Star memories

With the Nationals playing better than ever at the midpoint of the 2012 season, they'll be well represented at next week's All-Star Game, where Washington could find some new memories to cherish. Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Ian Desmond give the Nats their largest and most accomplished contingent since baseball returned to the nation's capital in 2005. This group has the potential to leave the biggest mark the city has ever made on the Midsummer Classic. Plenty of All-Stars have worn...

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Harrisburg's Pucetas tweaks knee but "should be fine"

July 05, 2012, 7:10pm

Nationals

Harrisburg's Pucetas tweaks knee but "should be fine"

Right-hander Kevin Pucetas was moving swiftly through his seventh start of the season Thursday before an injury forced him to leave Double-A Harrisburg's contest against Bowie. Pucetas retired the first seven hitters he faced, striking out four, walking none and not allowing a hit or run in 2 1/3 innings. He faced seven batters and threw 31 pitches, 21 for strikes. Harrisburg eventually won the game 8-6. The Senators led 1-0 when Pucetas departed. It was unfortunate that Pucetas had to...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 6-5 walk-off win

July 05, 2012, 8:00pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 6-5 walk-off win

Over the first six innings of tonight's ballgame, the Nationals managed just one run and four hits. Over the final three frames, they put up five runs on eight hits. There was a clear shift in the seventh inning, when Matt Cain began to tire. With his pitch count rising and the muggy conditions possibly beginning to wear on him, Cain served up back-to-back homers to Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa in the seventh. Pinch hitter Mark DeRosa then doubled, and he came around to score on Bryce...

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Detwiler gets smacked around (Nats walk off with 6-5 win)

July 05, 2012, 4:46pm

Nationals

Detwiler gets smacked around (Nats walk off with 6-5 win)

In five innings of work, Ross Detwiler allowed 11 hits and two walks. Yep, 13 baserunners in five innings. Somehow, despite all the grey, pinstriped players moving around the bases so far tonight, Detwiler managed to hold the Giants to just three runs. I'm not entirely sure how the Nationals lefty did it. He did benefit from a slick 5-4 double play in the fourth and has twice struck out Giants pitcher Matt Cain to end an inning. Still, he's incredibly lucky to be trailing just 3-1 as we...

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Nationals Storen says command was "good" in first rehab start

July 05, 2012, 6:52pm

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Drew Storen was pleased with his first appearance in a minor league rehab game since his recovery from elbow surgery to remove a bone chip. Storen started for high Single-A Potomac against Frederick on Thursday. He pitched a scoreless first inning, facing three batters and not allowing a hit or run. Storen induced a groundout and flyout in the short stint at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. After the outing, Storen said there is still work to do, but said he is on...

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Your latest Jayson Werth update

July 05, 2012, 2:23pm

Nationals

The last couple days, Jayson Werth has been back in his familiar spot in right field. OK, it's only been during batting practice, as Werth has been shagging fly balls of the bats of his teammates. But still, Werth has at least started to return to baseball activities more than eight weeks after breaking his left wrist in a game against the Phillies. Werth still feels a little discomfort in his wrist when he extends it in a hitting motion, so the team won't have him start swinging a bat just...

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Freese wins NL Final Vote, Harper gets a breather

July 05, 2012, 1:22pm

Nationals

Freese wins NL Final Vote, Harper gets a breather

Instead of heading to Kansas City over the All-Star break, Bryce Harper will be going to Las Vegas. Despite plenty of fan support in the voting on MLB.com and on Twitter, Harper came up short in a bid to earn the final spot on the National League All-Star team. Cardinals third baseman David Freese won the NL portion of the Final Vote, while Rangers starter Yu Darvish was the American League choice. Harper ended up coming in third in the NL voting, behind Freese and Atlanta's Michael Bourn....