nationals

Nats waiting to name Scherzer as Thursday's starter

July 26, 2021, 1:58pm

In unveiling their rotation plan for this week's series in Philadelphia, the Nationals declined to name a starter for Thursday's game at Citizens Bank Park. That, of course, is Max Scherzer's spot, and the reason they haven't officially named him their starter yet is because they're waiting to see if his right triceps feels fine after a minor tweak last week. Scherzer went through a standard bullpen session this afternoon, and according to manager Davey Martinez, that session went well and...

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Hand coughs up lead in ninth, Nats are swept by O's (updated)

July 25, 2021, 12:26pm

Nationals

Hand coughs up lead in ninth, Nats are swept by O's (updated)

Caught in a bad riddle with no easy answer, the Nationals can't seem to decide whether they're struggling more to keep opposing hitters at bay or whether their sagging offense is putting additional unnecessary pressure on a pitching staff that's been stretched thin. Actually both are intertwined, and one swing of Ryan Zimmerman's bat almost proved enough to save the Nats from a sweep and momentarily end the debate and halt a three-game skid. Zimmerman hit a go-ahead three-run homer and...

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Nationals reinstate Joe Ross

July 26, 2021, 11:58am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Joe Ross from the 10-day Injured List and optioned outfielder Yadiel Hernandez to Triple-A Rochester on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ross, 28, went 5-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 16 starts prior to being placed on the Injured List with right elbow inflammation on July 8. His 16 starts to date are his most since starting 19 games during the 2016 season. In six starts...

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Strasburg seeing specialist, Ross to start Monday (plus notes)

July 25, 2021, 7:56am

Nationals

Strasburg seeing specialist, Ross to start Monday (plus notes)

Stephen Strasburg continues to recover his neck strain, and the right-hander will see another specialist Monday in hopes of figuring out how to combat the nagging problem. "He's scheduled to see someone tomorrow," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. The Nationals are trying to determine why Strasburg can play long toss without any problems, but feels the neck issue when he throws from a mound. "It's more of a comfort thing, like I said," Martinez...

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Martinez on Ross, Schwarber, Kieboom, Scherzer and trade talk

July 24, 2021, 2:33pm

Nationals

Martinez on Ross, Schwarber, Kieboom, Scherzer and trade talk

Right-hander Joe Ross came through his Friday bullpen session without any issues, and could be an option to start Monday's opener of a four-game series in Philadelphia, Nationals manager Davey Martinez said. Ross, who is 5-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 16 starts this season, has been on the injured list since July 8 with right elbow inflammation. "He threw the ball well (and) he feels well," Martinez said before Saturday's game in Baltimore during his Zoom session with reporters. "I saw him working...

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Orioles blasts upend Lester in 5-3 loss (updated)

July 24, 2021, 5:18pm

Nationals

Orioles blasts upend Lester in 5-3 loss (updated)

Though Davey Martinez may rely on a "Go 1-0 every day" mantra, the unspoken subtext of the Nationals manager's repetitive refrain is that his team must take care of business by asserting itself against weaker competition. Seeking to prove to general manager Mike Rizzo that they are contenders instead of pretenders, the Nats came to Camden Yards hoping to have their way with an inferior Orioles club in a weekend interleague series. Suffice it to say that it hasn't quite worked out as the...

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Game 98 lineups: Nats at Orioles

July 24, 2021, 6:49pm

Nationals

Needing a win to prevent a three-game sweep by the Orioles at Camden Yards, the Nationals today turn to a most unlikely pitcher to halt a three-game skid, secure a win in the season series against the Birds and provide some momentum heading into a four-game series in Philadelphia that could make or break Washington's campaign. Righty Paolo Espino (2-2, 3.00 ERA) is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in six starts this season, morphing from a journeyman to a trusted resource out of necessity. The 34-year-old...

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Game 97 lineups: Nats at Orioles (Scherzer scratched)

July 23, 2021, 6:29pm

Nationals

Game 97 lineups: Nats at Orioles (Scherzer scratched)

The Nationals need a stopper, someone to prevent a single loss from turning into a losing streak and give them some momentum against a weaker opponent. Facing the Orioles in the middle of three interleague games at Camden Yards, it seemed right-hander Max Scherzer (7-4, 2.83 ERA) would be just the tonic for what ails the Nats. In his career, Scherzer is 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.024 WHIP in 14 starts against the Orioles. In Baltimore, he's made seven starts and gone 4-0 with a 3.48 ERA and...

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Could Stevenson supplant Robles in center field?

July 23, 2021, 7:19pm

Nationals

Could Stevenson supplant Robles in center field?

Andrew Stevenson has played an important role for the Nationals since debuting in 2017. A left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield positions with a great glove and speed that also poses a threat on the basepaths is a manager's dream player off the bench. The only role Stevenson hasn't played is that of a regular starter, aside from filing in for players dealing with long-term injuries. Could that possibly be changing as we see him get more starts in center field over Victor...

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Triceps discomfort scratches Scherzer from start vs. Orioles

July 24, 2021, 1:29pm

Nationals

Triceps discomfort scratches Scherzer from start vs. Orioles

Neither Nationals manager Davey Martinez nor Max Scherzer believe the mild right triceps discomfort that caused the right-hander to be scratched from Saturday's starting assignment against the Orioles is anything serious. But out of an abundance of caution - which might as well be baseball's unofficial motto for 2021 - the Nats opted to let Scherzer rest and chose lefty Jon Lester to start the middle game of the three-game interleague series at Camden Yards. Martinez said Scherzer first felt...

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Corbin can't sustain command in loss to Orioles (updated)

July 23, 2021, 5:54pm

Nationals Orioles

Corbin can't sustain command in loss to Orioles (updated)

It's been an up-and-down season for Patrick Corbin so far in 2021. After struggling out of the gate, he seemed to have fixed his issues for a couple of starts. Then they resurfaced before a couple of strong outings ahead of the All-Star break. But Corbin did not get the second half off on the right foot after giving up six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Padres last Saturday. And although it looked like Corbin was going to redeem himself with strong command early Friday night,...

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Nationals recall infielder Carter Kieboom

July 24, 2021, 11:38am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Carter Kieboom from Triple-A Rochester and placed infielder Jordy Mercer on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to July 21) with a left calf strain on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kieboom, 23, hit .236 with seven doubles, five homers, 23 RBI, 26 walks, one stolen base and 26 runs scored in 44 games for Triple-A Rochester. He hit safely in seven of his last 11 games, going...

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Game 96 lineups: Nats at Orioles

July 23, 2021, 11:34am

Nationals Orioles

This season's edition of the Battle of the Beltways concludes this weekend in Baltimore after the Nationals swept the Orioles in D.C. in May. Manager Davey Martinez has been asked a lot recently about how he can use Josh Bell and Ryan Zimmerman in the same lineup, with Bell getting some reps in left field during batting practice recently and Zimmerman trying to get his swing back from earlier in the year. That won't be a problem this weekend, though, in an American League ballpark. Bell is...

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Rizzo's plan for Cavalli doesn't appear to include D.C. in 2021

July 22, 2021, 6:59pm

Nationals

Rizzo's plan for Cavalli doesn't appear to include D.C. in 2021

There may no prospect in baseball, certainly no pitching prospect, whose stock has risen around the sport this season more than Cade Cavalli. The Nationals felt all along they had something special in their 2020 first-round draft pick. Now the rest of the industry is catching on and recognizing the right-hander's immense talent and potential, which was on full display during the All-Star Futures Game in Colorado last week. Cavalli is not, however, a finished product yet. Not even close, given...

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Strasburg backed down after continued issues with neck

July 23, 2021, 2:01pm

Nationals

Strasburg backed down after continued issues with neck

A frustrating 21 months since being named the 2019 World Series Most Valuable Player continues for Stephen Strasburg, who once again experienced neck pain while throwing during his latest bullpen session. The veteran right-hander was able to throw a bullpen session and then long toss earlier this week, but his second bullpen session caused more discomfort in his neck and forced the Nationals to keep him from throwing for now while they try to work out the next steps. "So Strasburg, once again,...

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Thursday morning Nats Q&A

July 21, 2021, 9:32pm

Nationals

The All-Star break ended one week ago, and suffice to say, it's been an awfully eventful first week back for the Nationals. There's been some good. There's been some bad. And there's been some chaos, as well. This is a critical stretch of the season for the Nats, who begin the day six games back of the Mets, still five games under .500 at 45-50. They've got a day off, then open a three-game weekend series in Baltimore on Friday as the final push to the July 30 trade deadline...

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Game 95 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

July 21, 2021, 12:56pm

Nationals

The Nationals find themselves in a position to sweep the Marlins tonight, and that's exactly the position they hoped to be in at the start of this critical week. They've taken advantage of a softer schedule, and now they'll try to take complete advantage of it and win their third straight over Miami, fourth straight overall. Erick Fedde gets the start, and he'll look to do what Jon Lester and Paolo Espino did before him: Shut out the Marlins without issuing any walks. That latter part is...

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Nats can't get ahead in regulation, lose in 10th (updated)

July 21, 2021, 6:26pm

Nationals

Nats can't get ahead in regulation, lose in 10th (updated)

They waited all night for the hit that would break a deadlocked ballgame. Just one hit at the right moment to drive in the go-ahead run and put them on a path to sweep the Marlins. And when the Nationals couldn't get the job done during nine innings of traditional baseball, they were left to try to do it in extra innings of non-traditional baseball. Which didn't suit them very well. It was Miami that pushed across two runs in the top of the 10th off closer Brad Hand, while the Nats went down...

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As Gomes and Avila rehab, Barrera earning starts behind plate

July 21, 2021, 2:28pm

Nationals

As Gomes and Avila rehab, Barrera earning starts behind plate

When the All-Star break arrived and they found themselves without either of their two experienced catchers due to injury, the Nationals elected not to go with a pair of rookies and instead signed 37-year-old RenÃ© Rivera, who had recently been released by Cleveland. And then they thrust Rivera right into the lineup for Friday's second-half opener against the Padres, then again Saturday night. Rivera was back behind the plate Sunday for the resumption of the previous night's suspended game,...

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Nats won't decide to buy or sell until right before deadline

July 20, 2021, 9:36pm

Nationals

Nats won't decide to buy or sell until right before deadline

If their general manager is to be believed, the Nationals have nine more days to prove they deserve to be trade deadline buyers and not sellers. Mike Rizzo, taking questions from beat reporters Tuesday for the first time since April, outlined a two-pronged approach he plans to take as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. He could decide to buy or he could decide to sell. And it all depends on how his team plays during this critical stretch and what the standings look like at the end of...