Eury Perez working on consistent groove in Harrisburg

Eury Perez working on consistent groove in Harrisburg
Center fielder

New outfield alignment will sacrifice defense for offense

New outfield alignment will sacrifice defense for offense
When Michael Morse returns to the Nationals, which should be in mere days, he'll give the team an offensive jolt. This is the guy who led the Nats in batting average (.303), home runs (31) and RBIs (95) last season, a guy whose slugging percentage was 99 points higher than anyone else on the Nationals' roster. When Morse returns to the Nationals, however, he'll also give the team an interesting outfield alignment, one no one could have possibly envisioned the Nats would have in early...

Morse plays five innings in right field during rehab game

Morse plays five innings in right field during rehab game
For the first time since re-aggravating a strained lat and being shut down in early April, outfielder Michael Morse played the field during a rehab game with Single-A Potomac tonight. Morse played five innings in right field and went 0-for-3 at the plate, making him 3-for-9 with a double and a walk in his three games with the P-Nats. Most importantly, however, he told reporters in Woodbridge, Va., that he felt no issues with his lat muscle while making a long throw from the warning track....

Marty Niland: Losses to Marlins tough to swallow, but Nats have bigger fish to fry

Marty Niland: Losses to Marlins tough to swallow, but Nats have bigger fish to fry
For Nationals fans, the only thing uglier than that rotating home run display in Marlins Park is the result of the series just concluded there: a three-game sweep that soured what had been a fine National League East road trip. With at least one series now in hand against each NL East opponent, the Nats have an 11-6 overall division mark - 4-2 against Philadelphia, 2-1 against the Mets and 3-0 against Atlanta. The only blemish is a 2-3 record against the new-look Marlins, continuing the Nats'...

A strong start, a disappointing finish (plus Morse update)

A strong start, a disappointing finish (plus Morse update)
Any time you end up with a winning road trip, you'll take it. It's not easy winning on the road in this league, especially when you're playing in a division where every team has an above-.500 record. But when you start a tough nine-game road trip against division opponents by going 5-1 and then proceed to lose your final three games before heading home, it takes some of the wind out of your sails. It takes even more wind out of said sails when, on that nine-game road trip, you have to put...

Nationals to hold baseball equipment drive this weekend

Nationals to hold baseball equipment drive this weekend
Gloves, bats, balls, catchers' equipment, bases, shoes, helmets, or anything you have to spare. With the aim of providing local youth an increased opportunity to play baseball and softball, the Nationals will collect baseball equipment in conjunction with the Baseball Tomorrow Fund this Sunday when they play the Braves at Nationals Park. Fans are encouraged to donate new and used equipment to benefit the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DCDPR) and Major League Baseball initiative. In...

Washington Nationals and Baseball Tomorrow Fund to host baseball equipment collection

Washington Nationals and Baseball Tomorrow Fund to host baseball equipment collection
On Sunday, June 3, the Washington Nationals will team up with the Baseball Tomorrow Fund to host a baseball equipment collection during the Nationals-Braves series at Nationals Park. Fans are invited to donate new and used baseball equipment to benefit the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DCDPR) as part of the ongoing commitment from Major League Baseball, its clubs and players to increase opportunities for youth participation in baseball and softball. In conjunction with...

Dave Nichols: Morse's return, daunting June on tap for Nationals

Dave Nichols: Morse's return, daunting June on tap for Nationals
The Nationals find themselves in an enviable position. Clinging to the National League East lead by a half-game over the Miami Marlins on the last day of May, they expect to get cleanup hitter Michael Morse back as early as Friday when they start a three-game weekend series with the Atlanta Braves. Morse, who is with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals this week on a rehab assignment, went 3-for-6 with a walk and an RBI over two games so far as a designated hitter. He's scheduled to play...

Looking back at last night

Looking back at last night
It's kind of hard to believe, given his impressive 3.17 ERA and six quality starts in 10 outings, but Edwin Jackson still has just one win on the season. Over his last five starts, Jackson has allowed just 10 earned runs in 33 2/3 innings (a 2.67 ERA) with a .212 batting average against, a 0.96 WHIP and a 24/7 strikeout to walk ratio. He's 0-2 in that five-game span. The poor guy can't buy a victory. Jackson had another shot at one last night, leading 1-0 in the sixth inning, but allowed...

Hagerstown's Matt Purke goes five innings in pro debut (updated)

Hagerstown's Matt Purke goes five innings in pro debut (updated)
Left-hander Matt Purke made his professional debut Wednesday at Greensboro for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Purke allowed a controversial two-run homer that appeared foul, and an RBI double, leaving after five innings with the Suns down 5-3. He finished scattering seven hits, allowing five runs, five walks and struck out one on an estimated 83 pitches. The home run appeared close to being or could have been a foul ball, according to a club source. Manager Brian Daubach argued the...

Against Johnson, Nats face another tough test

Against Johnson, Nats face another tough test
Last night, the Nationals squared off against Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez, who still has never lost to the Nats in what's now 19 career starts. Who do the Nats face tonight as they look to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Fish? None other than Josh Johnson, who has never lost to the Nationals in 14 career starts. Fantastic. Johnson has gone 7-0 with a 3.14 ERA in his career against Washington, striking out 82 Nats over 83 innings pitched. The righty's 2012 numbers have been...

Quite a way to notch a first major league RBI (another miss in Miami)

Quite a way to notch a first major league RBI (another miss in Miami)
It might not be the sexiest way to drive in a run, but true baseball fans will love the way Corey Brown recorded his first major league RBI tonight. With Ian Desmond sprinting down the third-base line toward the plate with one out, Brown was called on to square around and convert a suicide squeeze. He got a 1-1 changeup from Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez and deadened it in front of the plate, forcing catcher John Buck to come out and make a play on the ball. Desmond scored easily, giving the...

Despite rain-shortened rehab game, Morse "felt great"

Despite rain-shortened rehab game, Morse "felt great"
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Despite a rain-shortened game, Nationals outfielder Michael Morse was able to get two plate appearances in for high Single-A Potomac Nationals in their game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium. Morse walked and struck out, finishing 0-for-1 in a pair of opportunities, before the rain arrived and suspended the game in the top of the fifth with two outs. Potomac was leading 3-0. Morse said he "felt great" and it was still a worthwhile...

Rachel Levitin: The shirts on fans' backs tell a story

Rachel Levitin: The shirts on fans' backs tell a story
There was a time back in 2005 when I worked at a Major League Baseball team apparel store for extra money before leaving for college. This store specialized in Chicago Cubs gear, but it was that store that garnered my appreciation for team logos and memorabilia from the past. Numerous retailers attempt to recreate some of the most unique logos in baseball history on caps, t-shirts, jerseys, plaques, and just about anything you can think of - and the novelty to that is the fact that baseball is...

Komatsu returns, Tracy won't for a while

Komatsu returns, Tracy won't for a while
The Nationals are getting back outfielder Erik Komatsu, the 2011 Rule 5 pick who had stints with the Cardinals and Twins this season.

Purke to make pro debut Wednesday morning in Greensboro

Purke to make pro debut Wednesday morning in Greensboro
Nationals pitching prospect Matt Purke will make his professional debut Wednesday for Hagerstown, according to a club source. Purke will start for the Suns, the Nationals' Single-A affiliate, as they finish up a three-game series Wednesday morning at Greensboro. Game time 10:45 a.m. No details on if Purke is on an innings limit or pitch count for this first start. For Purke, 2012 has been spent exclusively in extended spring training, where the left-hander has been working since April. The...

In-game update for Michael Morse at Potomac with walk and strikeout

In-game update for Michael Morse at Potomac with walk and strikeout
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Nationals left fielder Michael Morse, batting third, is the designated hitter for the Potomac Nationals in their contest against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In the bottom of the first with two outs, against Pelicans' right-hander Roman Mendez, Morse walked on a 3-2 count. He swung and missed with the count 2-0 and then fouled back the fourth pitch to the screen. Morse was left on base when cleanup hitter David Freitas flied out to left to end the inning. Morse said...

Looking back on a wild holiday weekend

Looking back on a wild holiday weekend
No, I'm not talking about my trip to Vegas, which was lots of fun but will not be discussed in this space. I can tell you that I'm back on the East Coast in one piece, sunburn-free and with more money than when I left. So that's all good news. Not much went down Nationals-wise while I was away, unless you count an injury to the Nats' top pinch hitter, a change in the starting rotation, a sweep of a hot division rival, another (yes, another) Nats catcher being knocked out of a game due to...

Solano activated, Espinosa gets a day off

Solano activated, Espinosa gets a day off
The Nationals have officially called up catcher Jhonatan Solano from Triple-A Syracuse, giving them a third catcher on the 25-man roster and providing some insurance in case Jesus Flores isn't able to return from a hamstring injury as quickly as hoped. Solano, who batted .250 with two doubles, two RBIs and eight runs scored in 13 games with Syracuse this season, will wear No. 23. The 26-year-old threw out 40 percent of runners trying to steal (4-of-10) for the Chiefs this season Carlos...

Nationals' Morse batting third as designated hitter tonight in Potomac rehab tilt

Nationals' Morse batting third as designated hitter tonight in Potomac rehab tilt
The Potomac Nationals have announced their lineup for tonight's 7::05 p.m. matchup with Myrtle Beach. Michael Morse bats third: Blake Kelso 3B Adrian Sanchez 2B Michael Morse DH David Freitas C Ricky Hague SS Justin Bloxom 1B Michael Taylor CF JP Ramirez RF Kevin Keyes LF LHP Matt Grace (2-6, 6.70) His future rehab schedule is predicated on how batting practice and the game goes tonight. I will have updates throughout (twitter: @bkerr32) and postgame beast-blog.