Today's lineups plus a few fun facts

Today's lineups plus a few fun facts
With a win today, the Nationals would record their first four-game home sweep since their arrival in Washington in 2005. Is it possible for that note to both surprise me and not surprise me in the slightest? According to the Elias Sports Bureau, with yesterday's win, Edwin Jackson became the first player in modern baseball history (since 1901) to record at least one win in a starting role for at least seven different teams prior to his 29th birthday. Is it possible for that note to both...

On Nationals staff, competition is king

On Nationals staff, competition is king
Five days ago, Ross Detwiler went five shutout innings. The next day, Stephen Strasburg threw six shutout frames. Gio Gonzalez followed with seven scoreless innings. Jordan Zimmermann then tossed seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 13-inning win. Then yesterday, Edwin Jackson threw a complete game, allowing just one run. If it seems like the Nationals' starters are actively trying to one-up each other on a daily basis, it's because they are. The guys in the Nationals rotation are on fire...

A new side to Edwin Jackson

A new side to Edwin Jackson
Edwin Jackson had thrown a complete game before. He'd actually thrown four of them, including a no-hitter. But never had he been nearly this pitch-efficient when going a full nine innings. Jackson finished today's outing having thrown just 92 pitches in his nine frames of one-run ball, a far cry from his 149-pitch no-hitter back in 2010. Known for elevated pitch counts and having to work with runners on base, Jackson was a different guy today. He was able to pitch from the windup nearly...

Jackson's gem gives taxed bullpen needed rest

Jackson's gem gives taxed bullpen needed rest
Nationals starter Edwin Jackson's complete game was a gem unto itself: nine frames, two hits, one run, one walk and nine strikeouts. In only 92 pitches, Jackson handed the Nationals their first complete game of the season and a five-game win streak. He also gave a taxed bullpen a full day off. Following 23 innings of pitching, nine of those frames from the bullpen in the past two days, Saturday was a game for the relievers to be spectators, Jackson. "Because of the extra innings, this was...

Jackson closes out complete game in style

Jackson closes out complete game in style
When pitching coach Steve McCatty went out to talk to talk to Edwin Jackson after the Nationals righty had issued a four-pitch leadoff walk in the eighth inning, the conversation was pretty cut and dried. As McCatty puts it, it was like a scene out of the movie "Full Metal Jacket." "I went and asked him, 'How are you doing?' " McCatty said. "He says, 'I'm fine.' I say, 'Well, do you want this?' He goes, 'Yes.' I said, 'Well, if you want it, you tell me you want it.' And he...

Jackson the latest Nats starter to dominate (Nats win 4-1)

Jackson the latest Nats starter to dominate (Nats win 4-1)
Given the workload that the Nationals' bullpen had to handle last night, the team needed Edwin Jackson to step up and work deep into today's game. Jackson's done just that. The hard-throwing righty has worked seven incredibly impressive innings, allowing just a single run on two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Jackson has now retired 16 straight hitters and shockingly has needed just 66 pitches to get through the seven frames. Of the 66 pitches, a whopping 52 have been...

Club source: Triple-A prospect Tyler Moore to play left field in "near future"

Club source: Triple-A prospect Tyler Moore to play left field in "near future"
The Tyler Moore-to-the-outfield experience is about to begin. MASNsports.com has learned that Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs prospect Tyler Moore will switch from first base to the outfield for some games in the "near future." According to a club source, Moore will play left field. The exact game or games the power hitting prospect will assume his new position is still to be determined and the move to the outfield is not considered a permanent adjustment. Moore is off to a scorching start with...

Johnson confident Flores can deliver as best backup catcher in the league

Johnson confident Flores can deliver as best backup catcher in the league
Nationals manager Davey Johnson has felt since the beginning of spring training that Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores would share catching responsibilities. Ramos would get the lion's share of the starts, but Flores would also play more than on a token basis. The Ramos/Flores catching depth is a big strength for the Nationals this season. Both players are healthy and both are capable of breaking out a little bit. Both are capable of hitting home runs. Both call great games and have excellent...

LaRoche gives Nats lead over Reds

LaRoche gives Nats lead over Reds
In his 43 games played last season, Adam LaRoche had 15 RBIs. This season, in nine games, LaRoche already has 10 runs batted in. The Nationals first baseman added to his team-high RBI totals with a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning, giving Washington a 3-1 lead. LaRoche is now hitting .324 on the season and has exactly one-third of the Nationals' 30 RBIs this season. Think for a second about where this team would be through the first week and a half of the season without...

Nationals' Jayson gets it done on Friday the 13th

Nationals' Jayson gets it done on Friday the 13th
When Jayson Werth saw the sharp ground ball get through the infield, allowing the game-winning run to touch home, he tossed his bat aside, left the arm extended for a second and casually trotted down to first base. After 13 innings of minimal hits and missed offensive opportunities, was that the look of relief? "That was let's go home," Werth said. "Didn't want to go home without the win, though, that's for sure. You play that long and to lose, that stinks." Kristina Akra talks to...

Nats' lineup has Ankiel in center, hitting seventh

Nats' lineup has Ankiel in center, hitting seventh
Rick Ankiel will make his 2012 debut this afternoon against the Reds after missing the first eight games of the season due to a left quad injury. The 32-year-old will bat seventh today and play center field after hitting .400 with three home runs during his rehab assignment. Ankiel said the quad is feeling good and he's ready to get back out and rejoin his teammates at the major league level. "The last few days, the first time I played nine, I felt like I was 100 percent then, so every day...

Ankiel reinstated from DL, Carroll designated for assignment

Ankiel reinstated from DL, Carroll designated for assignment
The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated center fielder Rick Ankiel from the 15-Day Disabled List and designated outfielder Brett Carroll for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel, 32, was originally placed on the 15-Day Disabled List (left quad) on April 3, retroactive to March 28. In eight games during his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg (four games), Single-A...

Nady shines as Nationals strong bench again shows its new-found strength

Nady shines as Nationals strong bench again shows its new-found strength
Nationals outfielder Xavier Nady was hoping for the call Friday. Just like he was hoping for a call few months back when the Nationals called him to spring training. With the team struggling to get anything off of Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, the door opened slightly when lefty and former Nationals' property Bill Bray was called on to pitch with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Cincinnati leading, 1-0. Manager Davey Johnson had selected left-handed batter Chad Tracy to face Arroyo....

Words of wisdom from Hall of Famer helped Davey Johnson mold his pitchers of today

Words of wisdom from Hall of Famer helped Davey Johnson mold his pitchers of today
"Nats Xtra" analyst Ray Knight talked on air last week about the Nationals' starting pitching staff in 2012 and how they could have at least three starters with the possibility of throwing 200 or more innings this season. Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Edwin Jackson add up to a trio that could combine for well over 600 innings this campaign, something that has recently been unheard of from the Nationals. After all, southpaw John Lannan was the best last year, reaching 184 2/3...

Forget the slow starts, LaRoche is in a zone

Forget the slow starts, LaRoche is in a zone
What's the difference between the 2012 Adam LaRoche and the Adam LaRoche that we've seen around this time in previous seasons? "He isn't struggling," manager Davey Johnson deadpanned. Well, yeah. There's that. LaRoche, typically a slow starter, has opened this season on a tear, hitting .345 with two homers and eight RBIs. He's tied for sixth in the majors in both homers and RBIs, at times, it seems like he's single-handedly kept the Nationals' offense afloat, with yesterday's...

Johnson talks after Nationals' 2-1 win in 13 innings

Johnson talks after Nationals' 2-1 win in 13 innings
Before we get to the fun stuff from another walk-off win, there's a roster move to pass along. The Nationals designated infielder Brett Carroll for assignment after the game, making room for Rick Ankiel on the 25-man roster. Ankiel will be activated from the disabled list and play tomorrow against the Reds. When manager Davey Johnson sat down for his postgame press conference, he let out a sigh and cracked a smile. "Where do you want to begin?" he said. Davey Johnson meets with the media...

Can Zimmermann get a little help, please? (we're heading to extras)

Can Zimmermann get a little help, please? (we're heading to extras)
The Nationals' hitters have to feel terrible for Jordan Zimmermann. Time and again, the guy goes out and pitches his butt off, and time and again, he doesn't get any run support. Zimmermann has left tonight's ballgame after yet another stellar outing, and leaves on the hook for yet another tough-luck loss. The righty went seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches, 71 for strikes, and leaves on the wrong end of a 1-0...

And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)

And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)
We're going to the 12th here at Nationals Park, as the Nats and Reds are still locked in a 1-1 tie. The two teams have combined for just the two runs and nine hits through 11. The Reds have failed to score since the fifth, and haven't recorded a hit the last six innings, either. The Nats, on the other hand, are now 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and have wasted an opportunity to bring in the game-winning run off typically-wild Reds righty Alfredo Simon for the second straight...

Ankiel to return tomorrow, serve as primary center fielder

Ankiel to return tomorrow, serve as primary center fielder
Rick Ankiel has rejoined the Nationals after a week-long rehab assignment as he works back from a lingering quad injury, and the veteran center fielder is set to come off the DL and enter the Nats lineup tomorrow. Manager Davey Johnson said that Ankiel took part in a team workout this afternoon and "looks good to go." "He's in great shape," Johnson said. "He had a great rehab program. Did awfully well. Talked to him in the training room earlier. He's feeling fine." Ankiel hit .400...

The streak is over

The streak is over
The Nationals entered tonight's game with their starting pitchers having thrown 19 consecutive scoreless innings. That streak reached 23 before coming to an end tonight in the fifth inning. The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the fifth after Jordan Zimmermann allowed a double to Willie Harris (remember him?) leading off the inning, and then Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo drove Harris home with a sac fly. Gio Gonzalez (seven innings), Stephen Strasburg (six innings) and Ross Detwiler (five...