Nationals manager Davey Martinez got emotional at the end of his pregame video call today, and said he was worried about himself and his players after the news that 14 Marlins players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Nats are scheduled to host the Blue Jays in a two-game series that begins tonight at Nats Park.
"My level of concern went from about an eight to a 12," Martinez said. "This thing really hits home now that you see half a team get infected and go from one city to...
The Blue Jays used the longball to build an early lead against Nationals veteran AnÃbal Sánchez in his first start of the season Monday night.
Teoscar Hernández led off the game with a solo homer to give Toronto a 1-0 advantage. It was Hernández's third career leadoff home run.
In the fourth inning, the Blue Jays enjoyed the longball again thanks to solo shots from Rowdy Tellez and Danny Jansen.
All three roundtrippers were the first homers of the season for those Blue Jays...
The Blue Jays used the longball to build an early lead against Nationals veteran AnÃbal Sánchez. Thanks to four solo homers and four double plays that kept the Nats offense from igniting, Toronto grabbed the series opener 4-1 on Monday night.
Setting the tone on the game's second pitch, Teoscar Hernández led off with a solo homer to right-center field to give Toronto a 1-0 advantage.
It was Hernández's third career leadoff home run, one of two homers for the slugger off of...
Nationals manager Davey Martinez had good news regarding the health of outfielder Juan Soto, who has been away from the team since July 23 after receiving a positive test for COVID-19. Martinez reported yesterday that Soto had already received one official negative test from Major League Baseball and the Nationals were awaiting the results of a second test.
"We did get another result back today," Martinez said on a video call Tuesday before the game against the Blue Jays. "He tested...
The Blue Jays got ahead of right-hander Austin Voth and the Nationals in the second inning on a home run from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Left fielder Emilio Bonifácio and center fielder Victor Robles went after Guerrero's long fly ball to left-center field. The two collided at the wall and the ball went over the fence for a home run.
Robles appeared to have the ball in his glove for a moment right before the two collided. Bonifácio went down on his back but got up with the help of Robles.
The...
The Nationals did not have a good start again Tuesday night. This time, it was an old friend who made them uncomfortable.
In his first start at Nationals Park since Sept. 5, 2018, right-hander Tanner Roark beat his former team as the Blue Jays dropped the Nats 5-1, sweeping the two-game series.
Roark spent six seasons with the Nats from 2013-2018, and was a member of three National East championship clubs. His three best seasons in the majors, going a combined 44-31, coincided with...
Nationals manager Davey Martinez opened his pregame video call with the announcement that Juan Soto has been cleared to return to play by Major League Baseball. Martinez confirmed the outfielder has had two negative lab tests in a row for COVID-19. But now there is still one more hurdle before the Nats can get him back to playing baseball.
"We're still waiting for clearance from the D.C. Health Department," Martinez said. "We hope to have him back Aug. 1, so he could work out with us...
Top Blue Jays prospect Nate Pearson went toe-to-toe with three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer Wednesday night at Nats Park in Toronto's "home" opener.
In the first three innings, Pearson allowed one hit and two walks but no runs, with two strikeouts. His fastball ranging from 96 to 98 mph.
In the first inning, Adam Eaton walked with one out and stole second base. He got to third with two outs but was stranded there on an Eric Thames' line drive out to left field.
In the third...
In pitchers' duel that continued into the late innings of a scoreless tie, the Nats bullpen took center stage. After the Nats finally got on the board, a pair of power relievers completed the shutout.
Daniel Hudson and Tanner Rainey combined to strike out six batters over the course of the final eight outs as the Nats notched a much-needed win in a 4-0 shutout of the Blue Jays in 10 innings.
Max Scherzer pitched into the eighth, but gave up a single and later a walk in that inning. With one...
The Nationals had to leave a lot of firepower on the bench in Thursday's series afternoon finale.
Howie Kendrick is recovering from tightness in his upper back, Eric Thames was not in lineup because the Nats were facing a left-hander and Juan Soto is still awaiting clearance from the D.C. Department of Health to return to the field for workouts.
Plus, the Nats were up against left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu, the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the National League Division Series for the Dodgers in...
For the first time in over a week, Nationals slugger Juan Soto was back playing baseball at Nats Park today.
The 21-year-old had been out of action since July 23 following a positive COVID-19 test result. He was cleared to return today, and got in a half a dozen at-bats during the Nats' simulated game.
Soto grounded out a couple of times to begin the sim game, struck out, but then cranked a double and unloaded a solo homer off Nats reliever Kyle McGowin during the five-inning intrasquad...
Nationals infielders Howie Kendrick and Trea Turner sat out Saturday's simulated game. Kendrick is still nursing upper back tightness, and manager Davey Martinez wanted to give his shortstop a day too.
"He just sat out," Martinez said, referring to Turner, during this afternoon's Zoom call. "He plays every day, every inning, so he just wanted a couple days off. Probably be back out there tomorrow. Howie said he felt better today. He's going to see how he feels tomorrow. He might get a...
James Bourque started Saturday's sim game at Nats Park. It was good for the right-hander to get some work in, because the Nationals will have five days between their last game, against the Blue Jays, and their next matchup, Tuesday against the Mets.
Bourque pitched an inning against the Yankees July 25 and then 1/3 of an inning July 28 against the Blue Jays. So he will go a minimum of seven days without game appearances. And he's not the only one. Saturday was an important opportunity for...
Nationals second baseman Starlin Castro is getting acclimated to his new teammates, even if that is made more difficult because of social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's kind of weird," Castro said during a Zoom call late last week. "It's kind of really weird. But the good thing is, we've got like what, two weeks, three weeks in spring training to meet each other, to meet all the guys before all these things get crazy. We keep talking. I try to keeping knowing all the...
The Nationals have reinstated outfielder Juan Soto and right-hander Wander Suero from the injured list, and optioned Andrew Stevenson to the alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va.
Soto has been out since July 23, but appeared in three summer training games, going 4-for-10 (.400) with two doubles and two RBIs.
"He will be available to pinch-hit today," said manager Davey Martinez during today's pregame Zoom call. "Just probably want to give him another day or two. We will see. He's...
Howie Kendrick had not played in a game since July 28. Recently, manager Davey Martinez said the veteran was dealing with upper back tightness, so the skipper decided to rest him.
Following their game against the Blue Jays July 30, the Nationals had five days off because their series with the Marlins was postponed. Kendrick was able to get about four at-bats in during their intrasquad game Sunday. The rest and then a final warmup appeared to pay dividends for Kendrick on Tuesday night in his...
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Juan Soto will return to the lineup tonight for the final game of the two-game set against the Mets. The skipper was assured that Soto was ready to go. He will play left field and bat in the cleanup spot against Mets starter Rick Porcello.
"I talked to him last night," Martinez said on the pregame Zoom video call. "He did everything yesterday and he felt good. He said he is ready. He took a bunch of swings yesterday. I know he ran, he did some outfield...
After missing the first 13 days of the regular season, Juan Soto took the field for the first time in 2020 for a game that counted, going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in the Nationals' 3-1 setback against the Mets at Nats Park Wednesday night.
Despite the loss, Soto was happy to finally return and play after being away from the team due to a positive test result for COVID-19.
"It feels good to be back, be with the team, try to have fun in the game and everything," Soto said during a...
In order to get down to the league-mandated 28-man roster by noon ET today, the Nationals optioned right-hander James Bourque to their Fredericksburg site and designated for assignment veteran Emilio Bonifácio.
With the return of Wander Suero, Bourque's appearances would have diminished. Bourque appeared in two games, most recently 1/3 of an inning July 28 against the Blue Jays in which he walked Teoscar Hernández and induced a groundout by Cavan Biggio to end the ninth inning.
On July...
Third baseman Carter Kieboom has played in four games for the Nationals this season, showing great patience at the plate and an eye for the strike zone.
Kieboom is batting .417 (5-for-12) with four walks and one RBI. His on-base percentage is .563 and his OPS is .979. If he played a minimum amount of games, that OPS would rank 13th in the National League.
On July 30 against the Blue Jays in a 6-4 victory, Kieboom went 2-for-2 with two walks and enjoyed a span of reaching base six consecutive...