nationals

Game 64 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Scherzer to IL)

June 15, 2021, 11:55am

First, the news of the day, not totally unexpected: The Nationals have placed Max Scherzer on the 10-day injured list with groin inflammation. The move is retroactive to Saturday, so that means he'll be eligible to return one week from today against the Phillies. Again, no shocker here, and Scherzer certainly seems to expect he'll be good to go by then. With a chance to add another pitcher, the Nats purchased right-hander Justin Miller's contract from Triple-A Rochester, bringing back the...

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Nationals select contract of Justin Miller

June 15, 2021, 12:58pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Justin Miller and designated right-handed pitcher Rogelio Armenteros for assignment on Tuesday. Additionally, the Nationals placed right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to June 12) with groin inflammation. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Miller, 34, joins the Nationals after going 1-0 with five saves, a 0.55 ERA (1 ER/16.1...

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Scherzer progressing, but won't be ready to start Wednesday

June 14, 2021, 2:07pm

Nationals

Scherzer progressing, but won't be ready to start Wednesday

Though he says his injured groin has made significant progress in each of the last three days, Max Scherzer does not believe it would be smart for him to make his scheduled start Wednesday against the Pirates. The question now is whether the Nationals decide to place their ace on the 10-day injured list or try to get by for a few days and hope he can pitch later in the week. Scherzer went through some aggressive agility drills this afternoon before batting practice at Nationals Park, testing...

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Cavalli, Cronin promoted to Double-A; first All-Star votes revealed

June 14, 2021, 8:57am

Nationals

Cavalli, Cronin promoted to Double-A; first All-Star votes revealed

Cade Cavalli's dominant first six weeks of professional baseball have earned the Nationals' top prospect a quick promotion to Double-A. The Nats are moving Cavalli and Matt Cronin from high Single-A Wilmington up to Harrisburg, rewarding both pitchers for their impressive starts to the minor league season, a source familiar with the promotions confirmed. Cavalli, the organization's first-round draft pick last summer, has quickly rocketed up prospect lists by overwhelming the competition at...

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Schwarber is atypical - but productive - as leadoff hitter

June 13, 2021, 8:51pm

Nationals

Schwarber is atypical - but productive - as leadoff hitter

Kyle Schwarber doesn't exactly have fond memories of his initial attempt batting leadoff for the Cubs. "I stunk the first time I led off," he said Sunday during a Zoom session with Nationals reporters. "I was terrible. I'll be really honest: I stunk." Schwarber's memory is pretty accurate. He may have forgotten the two times he led off in 2015 and went 3-for-8 with a double and a stolen base. He probably remembers the 36 times he did it in 2017, during which he batted a scant .190 and...

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Game 63 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

June 14, 2021, 11:38am

Nationals

After going 3-3 against the two teams with the best records in the majors at the time (the Rays and Giants), the Nationals now host one of the worst teams in the majors the next three nights. And you've got to believe they believe they need to win at least two, if not all three, of these games. That's easier said than done, of course, especially with a lineup that has been so unproductive most of the time. Perhaps manager Davey Martinez found something over the weekend, though, with his new...

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Ross completes eight innings as Nats shut out Giants (updated)

June 13, 2021, 11:54am

Nationals

Ross completes eight innings as Nats shut out Giants (updated)

As their two aces departed early with injuries the extent of which aren't entirely known just yet, the Nationals were left with no choice but to call upon their longtime No. 5/6 starters to pick up the slack this weekend. Whether Erick Fedde and Joe Ross can continue to thrive under this new pressure for the long haul or not remains to be seen. Certainly, they need to prove they can do it every fifth day, not just once in a blue moon. But for these 24 hours on South Capitol Street, there is no...

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Scherzer hopes to avoid IL, but admits it may be needed

June 13, 2021, 8:49am

Nationals

Scherzer hopes to avoid IL, but admits it may be needed

Max Scherzer hopes to make his next scheduled start, but the Nationals ace admitted today he'll need to be able to complete a bullpen session Monday without being too restricted by his tweaked groin muscle in order to avoid a short stint on the injured list. "That I can definitely say: I have to be able to throw a bullpen tomorrow if I'm going to make the start," Scherzer said in a brief on-field interview shortly after he played catch prior to today's series finale against the Giants....

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What's the state of the Nats pitching staff entering Sunday?

June 12, 2021, 10:02pm

Nationals

What's the state of the Nats pitching staff entering Sunday?

So, after all that, what's the state of the Nationals pitching staff heading into today's series finale against the Giants? Not as bad as it could have been, all things considered. But there are still bullpen concerns. The Nats made it through Saturday's 15-inning doubleheader in one piece, thanks to Erick Fedde's five scoreless innings in the opener and Jefry Rodriguez's four scoreless innings in the nightcap. Now they'll turn to Joe Ross for today's nine-inning game. Originally...

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Game 62 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

June 13, 2021, 7:04am

Nationals

To say this series has featured very little offense would be the understatement of the year. Through three games and 24 innings of baseball, the Nationals and Giants have each scored three runs. Yes, three runs. So it's probably not unreasonable to say that the first team to score in today's series finale is going to be in great position to win the game. The Nats will need some quality and some length from Joe Ross, who more than anything just needs to avoid that one bad inning that has so...

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Another gutsy pitching effort, but an extra-inning loss (updated)

June 12, 2021, 6:25pm

Nationals

Another gutsy pitching effort, but an extra-inning loss (updated)

That the Nationals found themselves with a real chance to win Friday night after Max Scherzer departed 12 pitches in with a tweaked groin was fairly remarkable. And that they found themselves again with a real chance to win tonight after giving surprise call-up Jefry Rodriguez the start against the Giants was fairly remarkable in itself. That after all that, they didn't win either game? Well, that's downright agonizing. But hardly surprising during this season of offensive offense. And...

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Fedde returns from COVID-19 IL, leads Nats to win (updated)

June 12, 2021, 12:15pm

Nationals

Fedde returns from COVID-19 IL, leads Nats to win (updated)

A long day of baseball for the Nationals began with a flurry of roster moves, moves necessitated both by pitcher usage and pitcher injury in the last 48 hours. After Max Scherzer departed Friday night's start 12 pitches in with a tweaked groin and Daniel Hudson had to go on the 10-day IL this morning with right elbow inflammation, they had no choice but to summon whatever healthy arms they had available to them just to get through the 14 innings on today's schedule. Really, though, the...

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Game 60 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

June 12, 2021, 8:04am

Nationals

Here's some good news to begin your Saturday: The clouds are beginning to clear out of the region and there is no forecast of rain today. The Nationals and Giants should have no trouble playing both ends of today's 14-inning doubleheader. That's about the only good news, unfortunately. The Nats just announced a swath of roster moves, a couple of them quite unexpected. Here's the full list: * Right-hander Daniel Hudson was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. *...

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Notes on additional fans, Robles' spot in order and a Nats alum

June 11, 2021, 9:04pm

Nationals

Notes on additional fans, Robles' spot in order and a Nats alum

Pressed unexpectedly into service when Max Scherzer sustained a groin injury while pitching to his second batter in Friday night's game, Paolo Espino barely had time to process what had happened as he began his warmups on the mound at Nationals Park. Espino took over for Scherzer and - save for a slider that didn't really break that Buster Posey hammered over the fence for the only run in a 1-0 win - throttled the Giants over the course of a 3 1/3-inning stint that lowered his ERA to 2.78 and...

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Hudson's IL stint highlights flurry of roster moves

June 12, 2021, 9:49am

Nationals

Hudson's IL stint highlights flurry of roster moves

The Nationals made a flurry of roster transactions in advance of today's doubleheader against the Giants, most of them necessitated by their need to have fresh arms for the 14 innings scheduled on the heels of what turned into a bullpen game after Max Scherzer departed with a tweaked groin after recording only one out. The promotions of right-handers Jefry Rodriguez (who may start tonight's second game) and Andres Machado (designated as the 27th man for both games) from Triple-A Rochester...

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Game 61 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

June 12, 2021, 1:48pm

Nationals

The Nationals pitching staff is by no means in great shape right now, but it's in better shape than it might've been had Erick Fedde not delivered five scoreless innings in the opener of today's doubleheader against the Giants. That performance has given Davey Martinez the luxury of starting Jefry Rodriguez in the nightcap but not needing the right-hander to go too deep if he's not up for it. You may remember Rodriguez from 2018, when he pitched in 14 games (eight starts) and posted a 5.71...

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Scherzer's injury exit further taxes 'pen in 1-0 loss (updated)

June 11, 2021, 5:28pm

Nationals

Scherzer's injury exit further taxes 'pen in 1-0 loss (updated)

Max Scherzer knew what the Nationals needed him to do Friday night, and the right-hander was game. In true ace fashion, he took the ball, expected to give a team desperately in need of some length a deep start and get the delayed opener to a four-game series against the Giants off to a good start. Everything was fine - until it wasn't. And that didn't take very long. Scherzer lasted only 12 pitches, getting just one out and throwing six strikes, before an undisclosed injury forced him from...

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Injury forces Scherzer from game after only 12 pitches

June 11, 2021, 3:29pm

Nationals

Injury forces Scherzer from game after only 12 pitches

Any hopes the Nationals had of using a deep start by Max Scherzer to rest their weary bullpen went quickly by the wayside in the first inning of Friday night's game against the Giants. Like 12 pitches. Scherzer departed after throwing a high-and-outside ball on a 2-2 pitch to Brandon Belt. The right-hander hopped awkwardly on the mound, squatted as if trying to flex a hamstring and then called for the trainers. Manager Davey Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard joined...

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Nationals announce roster moves

June 12, 2021, 7:46am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced the following roster moves Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements: * Returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde from the Injured List * Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez * Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Andres Machado, optioned him and selected him as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader * Optioned...

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Game 59 lineups: Giants at Nats

June 11, 2021, 6:58am

Nationals

Well, the Nationals will try again tonight to send Max Scherzer to the mound to open a four-game series against the Giants. The Nationals have a ragged bullpen, even with an unscheduled off-day from Thursday night's rainout, and need length from Scherzer, and that has a good chance of happening. For his career, the right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.131 WHIP in 10 career starts against San Francisco. In nine of his 12 starts this season, Scherzer has thrown at least six innings, and...