nationals

Turner and Suzuki break down what's working at the plate

August 29, 2020, 9:30pm

After going 5-for-5 Saturday night in the Nationals' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox, Trea Turner is now riding a career-high 14-game hit streak. On Saturday, Turner connected for a ground-rule double in his first at-bat. He followed that up with another double in the third inning. He has four doubles in the series, in a span of six at-bats. Before the sixth inning Saturday night, he had already collected four hits. Here is a rundown of each of Turner's at-bats Saturday at Fenway Park: 1. Double, fly...

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Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies

August 31, 2020, 9:39am

Nationals

The Nationals continue their 11-game road trip in Philadelphia tonight as they open a four-game set against the Phillies. The Nats went 1-2 in Boston and 0-2 last week against the Phillies in D.C., and are now 6-6 on the road. Tonight's pitching matchup features right-hander Erick Fedde (1-2, 3.57 ERA) opposing the Phillies right-hander Spencer Howard (0-1, 6.17). Last week against the Phillies, Fedde took the loss in an 8-3 setback, giving up four runs on seven hits over five innings with one...

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Martinez says Voth will remain in rotation, start Friday

August 31, 2020, 1:01pm

Nationals

Martinez says Voth will remain in rotation, start Friday

Manager Davey Martinez is not giving up on right-hander Austin Voth. Pitching coach Paul Menhart, Voth and Martinez are working on trying to figure out how to get some more movement and cutting action on Voth's fastball. Voth wants to be able to alter the spin rate so that opposing hitters have a tougher time picking up his fastball. Martinez confirmed today that Voth will remain in the rotation and start one of the two games of the doubleheader Friday in Atlanta. "He's going to throw...

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Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going

August 31, 2020, 7:15pm

Nationals

Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going

Trea Turner is beyond the zone. He's on a different level. So is Juan Soto. Now if only the Nationals could figure out how to get everyone else in the lineup to join them on the same night. Turner went 4-for-5 with a homer and a run scored in Monday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. His average is a league-best .377 and his OPS is 1.077. According to statistics compiled by Ryan Spaeder, Turner is hitting .515 over his last 72 plate...

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Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat

August 31, 2020, 7:46pm

Nationals

Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat

Juan Soto has popularized the "Soto Shuffle" between pitches as he sizes up the pitcher and what he might throw him during each at-bat. But a lot of times between pitches, it looks like Soto is having a conversation with the umpire or the catcher. Is he talking to them, asking where the pitch was? What is he saying to them during the at-bat? Are they having actual conversations during each at-bat? Soto says he exchanges nothing more than "hellos" with the umpires. But against the Phillies,...

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Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming

September 01, 2020, 1:12pm

Nationals

Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming

Tonight's Nationals lineup again has Michael A. Taylor playing center field, replacing starter Victor Robles. Manager Davey Martinez said he noticed Robles appeared to be a bit fatigued during the weekend series at Boston. "I just wanted to give Victor a couple of days off," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I talked to him. Victor is a high-energy guy. We all know that. I just wanted him to get two days off. I look at some of his numbers and his bat speed has gone...

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GarcÃa adjusting quickly at the plate and in the field

September 01, 2020, 8:29pm

Nationals

GarcÃa adjusting quickly at the plate and in the field

Luis GarcÃa, 20, is gaining valuable experience as he goes along in his first season in the major leagues. With each game, GarcÃa has moments when he looks the part and moments when it's clear he is still learning. On Tuesday night in the Nationals' 6-0 loss to the Phillies, GarcÃa delivered on a one-out double against Phillies starter Aaron Nola, but then later struck out twice on a steady diet of knuckle-curves. "Once he goes through this league and he understands what they are...

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Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers

September 02, 2020, 1:24pm

Nationals

Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers

Some fans have asked the question with the Nationals at 12-21 and in last place in the National League East: Why not just call up all the prospects and see what you have for 2021 and beyond? Manager Davey Martinez was asked about third baseman Carter Kieboom, who started the season with the Nationals but since Aug. 26 is back at the alternate training site working on his hitting and his approach at the plate. "When we assessed Carter at the time, he was trending downward," Martinez said...

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Scherzer's frustration shows in dugout during Nats' loss

September 02, 2020, 7:55pm

Nationals

Scherzer's frustration shows in dugout during Nats' loss

The frustration boiled over for Max Scherzer after allowing a run in the sixth inning Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Scherzer had just surrendered a solo homer to Jay Bruce that extended the Phillies lead to 3-0, which turned out to be the final margin. After the inning finished, the Nationals ace was shown on the Phillies broadcast slamming his glove down in the dugout. "Frustrated," Scherzer said after the game on his Zoom video call. "Look, tensions are high. You want to go out there...

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Martinez moves Eaton to leadoff spot to try to energize lineup

September 03, 2020, 10:33am

Nationals

Martinez moves Eaton to leadoff spot to try to energize lineup

In an effort to jump-start an offense that has not scored a run in two games, Nationals manager Davey Martinez has moved right fielder Adam Eaton into the leadoff spot for today's series finale in Philadelphia. Martinez hopes that this will create more opportunities for his two hottest hitters, Trea Turner and Juan Soto, to drive in runs. "I talked to him last night," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I wanted to see if we could get somebody up there, get something...

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Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory

September 03, 2020, 5:38pm

Nationals

Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory

Overshadowed a bit in the 6-5 10-inning loss for the Nationals at Philadelphia on Thursday was the overall effectiveness of the Nats bullpen. Starter AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez lasted only 3 1/3 innings. From there, the Nats relievers compiled 6 1/3 innings, allowing the Phillies only two runs on just two hits. The bullpen struck out 10 batters. Both Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey struck out the side. It all started with Wander Suero, who worked 1 2/3 innings after SÃ¡nchez's struggles. He kept...

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Finnegan raising money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

September 04, 2020, 10:31am

Nationals

Finnegan raising money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan has put his name on an initiative to help children diagnosed with cancer. Finnegan is urging fans to donate to a campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation called Vs. Cancer, either in a lump sum or by pledging an amount for every strikeout Finnegan records for the remainder of the season. A co-worker of Finnegan's father, William Finnegan, told the right-hander about the organization. "Just trying to raise anything we can for this great cause,"...

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Game 37 lineups: Nats at Braves

September 04, 2020, 2:52pm

Nationals

In the second game of the Nationals' doubleheader against the Braves, right-hander Wil Crowe will make his second major league start, looking to help the Nats stop a week-long skid. With the 7-1 loss in the opener, the Nats have lost a season-high seven games in a row, their longest losing streak since June 18-25, 2016. On Aug. 22, despite allowing only two earned runs, Crowe took a 5-3 loss to the Marlins in the second game of a doubleheader. He tossed 3 2/3 innings, scattering six hits,...

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Late homer, Taylor's bunt key in Nats' 10-9 win (updated)

September 04, 2020, 6:38pm

Nationals

Late homer, Taylor's bunt key in Nats' 10-9 win (updated)

The Nationals offense finally got off to a good start, scoring seven times in the first three innings Friday night. But the Braves used a dramatic Freddie Freeman grand slam to tie the game in the fourth. With the way things had gone for the Nats during their seven-game losing streak, many wondered if the Braves would again just finish them off. Not so fast, said the Nats' hottest hitter, Trea Turner. His solo homer in the sixth broke the tie, helping to steer the Nats to a 10-9 victory in a...

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Game 39 lineups: Nats at Braves

September 06, 2020, 6:27am

Nationals

The Nationals are seeking a series win today in the final game of four at Truist Park against the first-place Braves. The Nats dropped Atlanta 10-4 Saturday night to win consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 10-11. One reason the Nats find themselves in last place in the National League East is that they went 6-16 between those back-to-back wins. At the start of play Sunday, the Nats trail the Braves by 8 1/2 games in the division and are 6 1/2 games back of the final NL wild card...

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Rizzo says new contract for Martinez is top priority

September 06, 2020, 8:43am

Nationals

Rizzo says new contract for Martinez is top priority

The Nationals made it official yesterday, announcing a new multi-year contract extension for general manager Mike Rizzo. His previous contract was set to expire Oct. 31. Under Rizzo's guidance, the Nats won the 2019 World Series and earned National League East titles in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Rizzo said it is exciting to be able to have the assurance of at least three more years on the job, and news of the extension came as a relief as he continues to work to get the Nats back into the...

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Another Freeman grand slam dooms Nats in 10-3 defeat (updated)

September 06, 2020, 12:18pm

Nationals

Another Freeman grand slam dooms Nats in 10-3 defeat (updated)

Freddie Freeman had no grand slams to his credit prior to the Braves' series this weekend against the Nationals at Truist Park. Now he has two. Atlanta ran away from a close game with four runs in the sixth inning thanks to the second grand slam by Freeman in two days and the Braves dispatched the Nats 10-3. Atlanta blasted 12 homers over the four games. The Nats also walked nine batters in the game, allowing the Braves extra baserunners, and finished 3-8 on the 11-game road trip. Marcell...

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Martinez pleased Rizzo endorses new contract for skipper

September 07, 2020, 4:00am

Nationals

Martinez pleased Rizzo endorses new contract for skipper

Now with Mike Rizzo in the fold for at least three more seasons, the general manager said he wants to get a new deal done for his World Series-winning manager, Davey Martinez. The skipper confirmed that Rizzo had come to him saying he will see if he can work with the Lerner family on going further than the club option in Martinez's contract for 2021 and just build a whole new deal. "He did mention something to me last night," Martinez said during the postgame Zoom video session with...

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Martinez on Soto, GarcÃa, Cabrera, Scherzer, Difo and more (updated)

September 07, 2020, 10:59am

Nationals

Martinez on Soto, GarcÃa, Cabrera, Scherzer, Difo and more (updated)

Manager Davey Martinez did not have a definitive answer during his pregame media access today as to when left fielder Juan Soto will return to the Nationals lineup. Soto has been dealing with a sore elbow and has missed a couple of games. "He's going to come in, he's going to do some activation stuff," Martinez said during his Zoom video session with reporters. "We will see how he feels." Second baseman Luis GarcÃa was pulled in the middle of Sunday's game at Atlanta because of heel...

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Scherzer executes curveball and changeup to perfection in 6-1 win

September 07, 2020, 6:02pm

Nationals

Scherzer executes curveball and changeup to perfection in 6-1 win

Nationals starter Max Scherzer commanded his fastball well, mixing in an improved curveball and changeup for seven shutout innings in a 6-1 victory over the first-place Rays at Nationals Park. "I always want to get through seven innings," Scherzer said during his postgame Zoom video session with reporters. "If I can get out there and get deep into a game, seven innings, it allows our bullpen guys to only have to try to get six outs. That's always a huge goal of mine, to get deep into a ball...