nationals

Rough night for Gray-Ruiz battery in loss to Phillies (updated)

August 30, 2021, 6:44pm

The Nationals wanted so much for this to be a memorable night, the first of many featuring Josiah Gray on the mound and Keibert Ruiz behind the plate. And there will be many more nights featuring the young battery and centerpieces of last month's blockbuster trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. No matter how their story turns out, whether in glory or failure, Gray and Ruiz won't have reason to look back on tonight's proceedings with much fondness. Gray slogged his way...

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Game 131 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

August 31, 2021, 11:56am

Nationals

There isn't nearly as much anticipation for tonight's game as there was Monday night, when Keibert Ruiz made his Nationals debut with Josiah Gray on the mound. But that doesn't mean tonight's game isn't significant. Ruiz, remember, is an everyday player. At a premium position, where he'll have an impact on the outcome of every game. So in some ways it may be more interesting to see how the 23-year-old catcher handles tonight's contest, both at the plate against Phillies left-hander Matt...

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Nationals announce roster moves

August 31, 2021, 1:21pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals made the following roster moves on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Â· Recalled outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Triple-A Rochester Â· Recalled right-handed pitcher Wander Suero from Triple-A Rochester Â· Placed right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan on the Paternity List Â· Optioned outfielder Victor Robles to Triple-A Rochester Stevenson, 27, had a .375/.375/.500...

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Game 130 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

August 30, 2021, 11:25am

Nationals

If you were going to rank the games of most significance for the Nationals over the remainder of this season, tonight's series opener against the Phillies might rank at the top. That's what you get when you pair Keibert Ruiz's club debut with a Josiah Gray start. It's a nice coincidence - or is it? - that Ruiz's debut coincides with Gray's start. The two biggest names acquired at the trade deadline, both from the Dodgers in the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner blockbuster, have worked together...

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Barrera heading to Triple-A, Adams starts learning first base

August 30, 2021, 2:30pm

Nationals

Barrera heading to Triple-A, Adams starts learning first base

Keibert Ruiz's arrival in Washington has a domino effect on the Nationals catching corps, which has suddenly grown in size and promise in the last month. The 23-year-old top prospect is going to start most days the rest of the season, manager Davey Martinez revealed today, which means far less playing time for anyone else behind the plate. The plan, then, for now: Tres Barrera is headed back to Triple-A Rochester, where he will continue to catch on a daily basis, while Riley Adams becomes the...

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Made-over Nats eager for arrival of yet another acquisition

August 29, 2021, 2:18pm

Nationals

Made-over Nats eager for arrival of yet another acquisition

When Keibert Ruiz joins the Nationals later today, he'll need to work the clubhouse like a D.C. politician, introducing himself to teammates who have only heard second-hand of his exploits and connecting with pitchers of all experience levels eager to forge a relationship with their new batterymate. There's not a stack of "Hello, My Name Is" cards at the clubhouse entrance, but there could be. Ruiz will become the sixth new player added to the roster from outside the organization over the...

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Nationals recall Keibert Ruiz

August 30, 2021, 11:46am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled catcher Keibert Ruiz from Triple-A Rochester on Monday and optioned catcher Tres Barrera to Triple-A Rochester following the game on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ruiz, 23, is the consensus top prospect in Washington's Minor League system and is the No. 13 overall prospect in baseball according to Baseball America and the No. 19 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com. He joins the...

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Nationals end road trip with a thud in 9-4 defeat (updated)

August 29, 2021, 12:39pm

Nationals

The Nationals ended a nine-game road trip with a thud Sunday afternoon, managing just one hit against a rookie pitcher and falling 9-4 to the New York Mets to finish their 11-day trek with a 3-6 record. Nationals starter Erick Fedde pitched in trouble for much of the afternoon, but much of the traffic was of his own making. He hit two batters, yielded a home run and balked home a run. Josh Bell homered twice and Juan Soto also went deep for the Nationals, Bell taking the team lead in the...

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Game 129: Nats at Mets

August 28, 2021, 12:09pm

Nationals

Erick Fedde (6-8, 4.91 ERA) has already set a career high in victories, innings pitched and strikeouts this season. Now he'll try to get a little closer to .500 and cement himself as a rotation piece for the Nationals next season. The right-hander has gone 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in his last three starts, winning his past two decisions after going 10 straight decisions without a victory. Fedde is still seeking his first career triumph over the Mets, after going 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.357 WHIP...

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Nationals announce Ruiz will be promoted to majors on Monday

August 29, 2021, 8:00am

Nationals

The Nationals aren't waiting to get a look at promising young catcher Keibert Ruiz, who will be promoted from Triple-A Rochester for Monday night's opener of a three-game home series against the Phillies, the club announced this morning. "He's playing really well down there," manager Davey Martinez said in his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "We want to get him here, get him settled, let him get some at-bats down at Rochester. (General manager Mike Rizzo) and I, we sat around and we...

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Cavalli gives up five runs in brief Triple-A debut

August 28, 2021, 8:38pm

Nationals

Cavalli gives up five runs in brief Triple-A debut

The Nationals promoted Cade Cavalli to Triple-A this week because they wanted to see how their top pitching prospect would handle more experienced hitters with a better sense of the strike zone. And in his debut Saturday night for Rochester, the young right-hander got a taste of what's still in store for him before he's ready to pitch in the big leagues. Cavalli was pulled after giving up five runs, all with two outs, in the bottom of the third during what ended up a 5-3 loss to the Syracuse...

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Bullpen can't finish the job this time, Nats lose 5-3 (updated)

August 28, 2021, 6:36pm

Nationals

Bullpen can't finish the job this time, Nats lose 5-3 (updated)

Having already used up four young relievers to win Friday's game by the slimmest of margins, Nationals manager Davey Martinez had little choice but to turn to another group tonight after getting a solid start from Sean Nolin, hoping these bullpen arms could likewise protect a one-run lead against the Mets. That proved too tall a task for Ryne Harper and Mason Thompson, who combined to allow three runs during the decisive bottom of the seventh that sealed the Nats' fate in a 5-3 loss at Citi...

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Avila finally begins rehab assignment in Florida

August 28, 2021, 1:40pm

Nationals

Avila finally begins rehab assignment in Florida

It had been nearly two months since Alex Avila last appeared in a ballgame, nearly two months since the 34-year-old catcher was thrust into emergency second base duties and wound up straining both of his calves in the process. Add a mandatory quarantine period after testing positive for COVID-19, and Avila had been stuck on the sidelines far longer than anyone could've imagined at the time. Today, though, Avila finally was back in uniform in an organized game. Beginning a minor league rehab...

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Could surprisingly productive Escobar figure into '22 plans?

August 27, 2021, 9:02pm

Nationals

Could surprisingly productive Escobar figure into '22 plans?

Alcides Escobar enters the day with a .277 batting average, .335 on-base percentage and .699 OPS. That may not knock anyone's socks off, but it's still the most productive the veteran infielder has been at the plate in a long time. Escobar, who didn't play in the big leagues in 2019 or 2020 and only joined the Nationals in July after the club suffered a sudden rash of injuries to its infielders, hasn't owned a batting average this high since 2014, when he was a mainstay in a Royals lineup...

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Game 128 lineups: Nats at Mets

August 28, 2021, 12:25pm

Nationals

Friday night proved to be a fun, and arguably important, win for the Nationals, who got to see four inexperienced relievers thrive in a pressure situation and hang on to beat the Mets, 2-1. Tonight? Well, it might require a bit more offense to emerge victorious again. That's because Sean Nolin takes the mound for his third start for the Nats, his second against the Mets. The journeyman left-hander hasn't exactly dazzled since his promotion from Triple-A. He gave up four runs on eight hits in...

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Nats bullpen comes through in 2-1 win over Mets (updated)

August 27, 2021, 6:35pm

Nationals

Nats bullpen comes through in 2-1 win over Mets (updated)

Earlier this summer, as the Mets were holding onto their lead in the National League East and the Nationals were starting to make their move up the standings, these late-season matchups between the two rivals loomed large. Perhaps they'd be played in front of packed houses in D.C. and New York, everyone hanging on every pitch with a division title potentially at stake. When the Nats walked into Citi Field this evening, though, the stakes bore no resemblance to what anybody on either side...

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Game 127 lineups: Nats at Mets

August 27, 2021, 11:51am

Nationals

If you go back about six weeks, back when the Nationals were still wondering if they'd be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, one of the arguments supporting them to go for it was the Mets' schedule. New York, despite leading the National League East most of the season, was going to face an absolute gauntlet in mid-August, with 13 consecutive games against the Dodgers and Giants. If the Nats could just stay close until then, the thought went, they would have a chance to surpass them...

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Nationals requiring full-time staffers to be vaccinated

August 27, 2021, 2:16pm

Nationals

The Nationals have become one of baseball's first teams to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, a club official confirmed this afternoon. The Nats informed all full-time staff members earlier this month they would be required to provide proof of vaccination or valid reason to be exempted. The deadline for employees to do so was Thursday. "Like many organizations, the Washington Nationals decided to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all full-time staff," the club said in a...

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Is September promotion in the cards for Ruiz?

August 26, 2021, 1:55pm

Nationals

Is September promotion in the cards for Ruiz?

Keibert Ruiz is making the Nationals take notice, but even a sizzling start at Triple-A Rochester since arriving in a trade deadline deal with the Dodgers might not be enough to earn the 23-year-old catcher a look-see in D.C. in September. Ruiz is slashing .314/.360/.614 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 18 games since joining the Red Wings, including back-to-back two-homer games on Aug. 24 and 25. Both MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America rank him as the organization's top prospect. But with...

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Marlins reel in Corbin in 7-5 Nationals loss (updated)

August 26, 2021, 6:43pm

Nationals

After each of his 24 previous starts this season, Patrick Corbin has plopped himself down in front of a laptop in the Nationals Zoom room and patiently tried to explain what did - or more likely didn't - work in each outing. But time is running out for the veteran southpaw to figure out how to return to form, and no one would blame Corbin if he was at a loss for words after another disheartening start. Trying to follow up his best start of the season - when he allowed a run on three hits over...