nationals

Barrett confident and effective in first game back, wants more

September 15, 2020, 7:19pm

The Nationals recalled Aaron Barrett Tuesday, and later that day the right-hander was in the game against the Rays at Tropicana Field, summoned in the sixth inning. Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe was on first and there was one out. Mike Brosseau singled on Barrett's two-seam fastball and suddenly the Rays had two men on. But the very next pitch, Barrett got Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a grounder to shortstop Trea Turner for an inning-ending double play. In the seventh, Barrett returned to the hill and gave...

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More from Sam Clay on the numbers of baseball

November 24, 2020, 3:08pm

Nationals

More from Sam Clay on the numbers of baseball

Here is more insight from pitcher Sam Clay from last week's Zoom call on the psychology of baseball. The free agent left-hander was signed by the Nats on Nov. 18 to a major league contract after spending his entire minor league career in the Twins organization. He had been a free agent for only 16 days before the Nationals snatched him up. Clay boasts an amazing number: only six homers allowed in over 405 innings. Clay was asked about the numbers of baseball, whether it is the straight...

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Winter ball updates on Robles and Barrera, plus other notes

November 23, 2020, 2:27am

Nationals

Winter ball updates on Robles and Barrera, plus other notes

Center fielder Victor Robles is hitting well in the first week of Dominican Winter League play, slashing .316 with a .908 OPS. He has one homer, two RBIs and only three strikeouts in 19 at-bats over five games for Aguilas Cibaenas. Emilio Bonifacio is hitting .300 in three games and Wilmer Difo is hitting .250 over five games. Right-hander Paolo Espino did not allow a run for Toros del Este in his first appearance, with one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Espino made his major league debut for...

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Nats open 2021 spring slate Feb. 27 hosting Astros

September 16, 2020, 9:49am

Nationals

Nats open 2021 spring slate Feb. 27 hosting Astros

Major League Baseball today announced that the 2021 Nationals spring training schedule will begin Saturday, Feb. 27 when they host the Astros at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches. The Nationals' 31-game spring slate features 15 home games, plus three other games as the visiting club against the Astros in their shared home stadium. The home schedule concludes March 28 at home against the Cardinals. The 2021 regular season commences for all 30 clubs on Thursday, April 1. The Nats also have...

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GarcÃa's homer in 10th lifts Nats to 4-2 win over Rays (updated)

September 16, 2020, 12:43pm

Nationals

GarcÃa's homer in 10th lifts Nats to 4-2 win over Rays (updated)

Luis GarcÃa went after the first pitch from Rays reliever Nick Anderson in the 10th inning and homered over the right-center field wall for his second big league homer as the Nationals survived Daniel Hudson's blown save for a 4-2 win over the Rays on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field. GarcÃa drilled Anderson's 94 mph fastball a few minutes after the Rays' Brandon Lowe had tied the game with a homer off Hudson in the bottom of the ninth. For Anderson, it was only the fifth hit he...

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Noll catching on in return to the Nats

September 17, 2020, 3:16am

Nationals

It has been a very good return to the Nationals for Jake Noll this week. So far, he has gone 2-for-3 with a pair of singles against Tampa Bay as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter. Triple-A Fresno manager Randy Knorr, one of the many coaches working with players at the Nats' alternate training site, told manager Davey Martinez that Noll was improving a lot over the past two months on offense and defense. But what really got Martinez's attention was when Knorr spoke about how Noll was...

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Nats reportedly interested in Kris Bryant and DJ LeMahieu

November 21, 2020, 2:34am

Nationals

Nats reportedly interested in Kris Bryant and DJ LeMahieu

The Nationals are working the phones, speaking with big-time free agents and well-known players, in an attempt to upgrade their offense for a team that ended up in last place in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. In back-to-back tweets Friday, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported the Nats are interested in trading for All-Star third baseman Kris Bryant and finding a way to sign touted free agent infielder DJ LeMahieu. The Nationals have pursued both players in the past, and could be looking to...

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Report: Nats in Rochester on 10-year deal, but Richmond still in play

November 21, 2020, 2:09am

Nationals

Report: Nats in Rochester on 10-year deal, but Richmond still in play

Two and a half years ago, the Nationals agreed to a two-year deal to have their Triple-A team play out of Fresno, Calif., after they lost their affiliation deal with Syracuse to the Mets. But now the Nationals have agreed to move to Rochester, N.Y., for what is reported to be a long-term affiliation. Kevin Reichard, founder and publisher of the Ballpark Digest, appearing on ESPN 95.7 FM Rochester on Friday, said Major League Baseball is looking for longer deals for each of its...

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Eaton on broken finger: "It's fitting for how my year has went"

September 18, 2020, 11:39am

Nationals

Eaton on broken finger: "It's fitting for how my year has went"

The Nationals placed outfielder Adam Eaton on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a fractured left index finger, which effectively ended his 2020 regular season. Eaton hurt the finger on a bunt attempt in Wednesday's game against the Rays. After the injury, Eaton tried to shake it off, play defense and stay in the game. But the finger began to swell up and he could not grip the ball as well as he wanted to, hampering his ability to throw. "I've been playing pretty pissed off lately, so I...

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Game 49 lineups: Nats at Marlins

September 18, 2020, 3:29pm

Nationals

Fresh off an impressive 5-0 win over the Marlins in Game 1 of their series-opening doubleheader, the Nationals go for the sweep by sending right-hander Wil Crowe (0-1, 7.50 ERA) to the hill for his third big league start. The Marlins will pitch left-hander Daniel Castano (0-2, 3.32 ERA). Castano took the loss in the Nats' 5-4 win on Aug. 22 at Nationals Park. As the opener, Castano allowed two runs on one hit with two walks and recorded only one out, a strikeout. Crowe allowed three runs on...

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Crowe, bullpen struggle as Nats fall 14-3 in nightcap (updated)

September 18, 2020, 7:07pm

Nationals

Crowe, bullpen struggle as Nats fall 14-3 in nightcap (updated)

The nightcap of today's twi-night doubleheader was no fun for Wil Crowe and the bullpen as the Marlins jumped on the Nationals for six runs in the first three frames and cruised to a 14-3 victory at Marlins Park. Brian Anderson went 3-for-4 with a career-high three homers and seven RBIs. Corey Dickerson went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. The Marlins put together three four-run innings in the rout. The win allowed Miami to snap a two-game skid and split the twinbill. The Nats won the...

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Brock Holt on pitching for the first time in a big league game

September 18, 2020, 9:12pm

Nationals

Brock Holt on pitching for the first time in a big league game

In the bottom of the sixth inning Friday night in Miami, Nationals right-hander Aaron Barrett was called into pitch in a game the Marlins already led 10-3. Barrett hit Garrett Cooper with a pitch. As TV cameras went back for his reaction, it appeared the right-hander was shaking out his arm after that pitch that got away. Barrett then walked JesÃºs Aguilar on five pitches. Quickly, manager Davey Martinez and a Nats trainer went to the mound to check on Barrett. Martinez said after the game...

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Game 52 lineups: Nats at Marlins

September 20, 2020, 10:35am

Nationals

In Game 2 of today's doubleheader and the series finale, the Nationals send out left-hander Ben Braymer for his first major league start. Braymer has made two big league appearances, Aug. 28 and Sept. 15, and has gone 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. He has allowed six hits and walked two. Manager Davey Martinez said Braymer has been stretched out and he expects 60 to 75 pitches from him. The southpaw made 26 starts last season in the minors, going 4-10 with a 4.53...

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Nats moving Triple-A affiliate to Rochester (updated)

November 19, 2020, 3:47am

Nationals

Nats moving Triple-A affiliate to Rochester (updated)

The Nationals will play Triple-A baseball in Rochester, N.Y., in 2021, a club source has confirmed. The Nats' contract with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League expired after last season. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Nats ended up playing only 140 games affiliated with Fresno. There is no confirmation how long the Nats' contract is with Rochester. The Nats had a two-year deal in Fresno, and their Triple-A team was based in Syracuse, N,Y., from 2009-18. The...

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Martinez has offseason program set for impressionable GarcÃa

September 20, 2020, 11:44am

Nationals

Martinez has offseason program set for impressionable GarcÃa

For a young player in his rookie season, there will be highs and lows. There will be good plays and bad. But the one thing Nationals manager Davey Martinez wants Luis GarcÃa to remember: Relax, have fun and play the game. "I told him, 'Just be you,'" Martinez said via Zoom. "There is going to be conversations about the game that we have every day with him, whether it's with me, whether it's (bench coach) Tim Bogar, whether it's with (third base coach) Chip Hale. This is a learning...

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Clay can take on any role necessary in Nats bullpen

November 18, 2020, 12:13pm

Nationals

Clay can take on any role necessary in Nats bullpen

The Nationals added depth to their bullpen Wednesday with the signing of free agent Sam Clay. The left-hander has spent his entire career with the Twins organization, even reached the 60-man player pool this past season, but has yet to appear in a major league game. Clay was drafted out of Georgia Tech in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. The 27-year-old made it to Triple-A Rochester for 14 games in 2019. After all the time and work in the minors, Clay was excited and...

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Nats split twinbill thanks to 15-0 pounding of Marlins (updated)

September 20, 2020, 3:30pm

Nationals

Nats split twinbill thanks to 15-0 pounding of Marlins (updated)

After missing a catch at first base Sunday afternoon in Game 1 loss in a doubleheader against the Marlins, Eric Thames spoke about the frustration he's felt during this abbreviated season and how it has played out for the last-place Nationals. In Game 2, his teammates took out those frustrations on a difficult campaign, slamming five homers and collecting 18 hits in a 15-0 shellacking of the Marlins at Marlins Park, splitting the twinbill. "This game is unbelievable," said manager Davey...

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Kieboom could join GarcÃa playing winter ball in offseason

September 21, 2020, 11:02am

Nationals

Kieboom could join GarcÃa playing winter ball in offseason

Manager Davey Martinez went over the offseason program he has been putting together for Luis GarcÃa on Sunday, detailing work he wants the young second baseman to focus on. Martinez says similar programs are being assembled for pretty much everyone on the roster. "There are different programs for each individual player," Martinez said during the pregame Zoom video session with reporters. "We are going through all the stuff now, talking to strength coaches, trainers, trying to put together...

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Romero on track to return healthy for 2021, update on Lee

November 17, 2020, 11:34am

Nationals

Romero on track to return healthy for 2021, update on Lee

It was a thrilling moment for left-hander Seth Romero to finally get his first chance to pitch in the major leagues last season. The former University of Houston hurler appeared in three games this season for the Nationals, but a broken right hand ended his campaign prematurely. Romero spent September rehabbing the injury. In October, he continued his major league rehab at fall instructional league in West Palm Beach, Fla. Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman said Romero...

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Kieboom suffers bone contusion in left hand, listed as day-to-day

September 21, 2020, 6:51pm

Nationals

Kieboom suffers bone contusion in left hand, listed as day-to-day

In the bottom of the sixth in tonight's 5-1 Nationals win, third baseman Carter Kieboom was hit by a pitch on his left hand from a 95-mph sinker by Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Kieboom went down holding his hand. He then walked over to the top steps of the Nats dugout with assistance from Nats director of athletic training Paul Lessard. Kieboom appeared to be attempting to flex his hand and Lessard checked the bones on the back of his hand. Manager Davey Martinez told his third baseman to...