nationals

Game 55 lineups: Nats at Phillies

June 05, 2021, 9:35am

The Nationals managed to turn two runs and six hits into a win Friday night. They did so thanks to Max Scherzer's dominance over 7 2/3 innings, then Daniel Hudson and Brad Hand's relief work after that. In order to win today in Philadelphia, they're either going to need a comparable effort from Joe Ross and any relievers who follow him or a much more complete offensive showing. A more complete offensive showing would be nice, especially against Phillies right-hander Spencer Howard, who...

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Gomes sits for third straight day, Sunday starter still TBD

June 05, 2021, 11:41am

Nationals

Gomes sits for third straight day, Sunday starter still TBD

Yan Gomes is out of the Nationals lineup for the third straight day with a tight right hamstring, and until the veteran catcher can comfortably squat behind the plate for an entire game without being hindered, he'll remain out of the Nationals lineup. "This is going to be a day-to-day thing with him," manager Davey Martinez said in his Zoom session with reporters before today's game in Philadelphia. "The position he plays, with him squatting and stuff, I just want to make sure that he can...

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Scherzer's start may have made Nats' Sunday starter plan clearer

June 04, 2021, 9:33pm

Nationals

Scherzer's start may have made Nats' Sunday starter plan clearer

Every team is bound to run into this conundrum over the course of a 162-game season: The need for a replacement starting pitcher. With off-days, rainouts and injuries - all while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic this season and last - it happens more often than managers would like. But that comes with the job. Nationals manager Davey Martinez has been dealing with this issue for the better part of the last week, trying to figure out a starter for Sunday's series finale against the Phillies...

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Ross not perfect enough to overcome weak lineup (updated)

June 05, 2021, 3:19pm

Nationals

Ross not perfect enough to overcome weak lineup (updated)

The Nationals pitching staff has been far from perfect through the season's first two-plus months, but too often that group has seemingly done enough to emerge victorious only to take a loss because its cohorts in the lineup weren't able to provide ample support. This afternoon in Philadelphia, Joe Ross and Kyle McGowin collectively gave up three hits and six total baserunners through seven innings. You'd think that would be enough to put the Nats in position to win. Or at least to have a...

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Avila sticks to fundamentals to seal victory over Phillies

June 04, 2021, 8:53pm

Nationals

Avila sticks to fundamentals to seal victory over Phillies

Baseball is an easy game, right? Throw ball, hit ball, catch ball. Tag runner out with ball when not on a base. At least that's how easy Alex Avila made it seem while making the heads-up play of the game Friday night to preserve the Nationals' 2-1 win over the Phillies. The stage was set for some late-inning drama. Entering the ninth inning, the Nationals had a 2-1 lead - thanks to Max Scherzer's stellar start and Juan Soto's sixth-inning home run - and were facing the heart of the Phillies...

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Nats add to minor league pitching depth by signing lefty Rogers

June 04, 2021, 9:47pm

Nationals

Nats add to minor league pitching depth by signing lefty Rogers

The Nationals made a small, yet not totally insignificant move Friday in an effort to replenish their minor league pitching depth. The organization signed left-hander Josh Rogers to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester. The Red Wings announced the signing Friday afternoon. Rogers was released by the Orioles on Monday after four appearances (two starts) with Triple-A Norfolk. He went 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA, 1.558 WHIP and 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his short time...

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Scherzer wins duel with Wheeler as Nats beat Phillies (updated)

June 04, 2021, 6:11pm

Nationals

Scherzer wins duel with Wheeler as Nats beat Phillies (updated)

The script couldn't have gone any better for manager Davey Martinez and the Nationals on Friday night. Unsure of his starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale in Philadelphia, and needing length from his next two starters to preserve the bullpen, Martinez turned to Max Scherzer to provide one of his usual deep outings to start this series against a division rival. And Scherzer did just that, winning a pitchers' duel with Phillies starter Zack Wheeler and helping the Nationals take the...

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Schwarber back in left field, Gomes sits again with hamstring issue

June 04, 2021, 2:03pm

Nationals

Schwarber back in left field, Gomes sits again with hamstring issue

It's easy for baseball players and fans alike to be superstitious. So when manager Davey Martinez said the other day that the Nationals were finally "healthy," it wasn't hard to imagine all of the shaking of heads and palming of foreheads around the region, expecting another injury to happen after some good health news. Well, that's what the Nationals got Friday afternoon before their series opener against the Phillies. And I'm not even referring to Stephen Strasburg's latest trip to the...

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Game 54 lineups: Nats at Phillies

June 04, 2021, 1:03pm

Nationals

Tonight will be the Nationals' 54th game of the season, which means we are at the one-third mark of the 2021 campaign. At 23-30, the Nationals are tied with the Marlins, six games back of the division-leading Mets, but only two games back of this weekend's opponent, the Phillies. Yet another opportunity for the Nats to gain some ground in the National League East. And they have the right guy on the mound to get them started. Max Scherzer looks to carry over his fantastic May into June...

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Nats go silent at the plate, can't win series in Atlanta (updated)

June 03, 2021, 11:09am

Nationals

Nats go silent at the plate, can't win series in Atlanta (updated)

If they were going to produce a three-game winning streak and win a key road series against a division rival, the Nationals were going to need quality and length today from Patrick Corbin, plus a continuation of the power display their lineup showed the previous 48 hours. They almost got the first. They didn't come close to getting the latter. Corbin was outstanding for five innings, but wilted during a four-run bottom of the sixth that spoiled his start, and the Nationals lineup was rendered...

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Schwarber sits to rest sore knee, Sunday's starter is TBD

June 03, 2021, 7:48am

Nationals

Schwarber sits to rest sore knee, Sunday's starter is TBD

When Kyle Schwarber walked into Davey Martinez's office this morning in Atlanta, the Nationals left fielder told his manager his right knee was still sore after a hard landing while attempting to make a diving catch Wednesday night. Martinez told Schwarber he wouldn't be starting this afternoon's series finale against the Braves, but to get treatment on his knee, and then if he thinks he can pinch-hit later in the game, to let him know. "I couldn't even get the words out," Martinez...

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With a key single, then two blasts, Soto found his swing

June 03, 2021, 7:48pm

Nationals

With a key single, then two blasts, Soto found his swing

Juan Soto became Juan Soto again - not on the two-run homer he hit for the Nationals in the eighth inning Tuesday night in Atlanta, not on the two-run homer he hit in the fifth inning Wednesday night in Atlanta. Juan Soto became Juan Soto again when he took an outside fastball from Braves left-hander Max Fried and hit a line drive single to left in the top of the fourth Tuesday, driving in a pair of teammates. The ball left his bat at a modest 93.7 mph and traveled a mere 245 feet in the...

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Nationals win the late innings to beat Braves (updated)

June 02, 2021, 6:45pm

Nationals

The Nationals hadn't been in very many games like this in 2021. Back-and-forth affairs with late-night swings of leads and emotions were the norm during their championship run in 2019 and also were a regular occurrence during their disappointing 2020 season. This year? Most games saw one team take an early lead and hold it late, with very little late drama. That made tonight's contest down in Atlanta feel like some kind of blast from the past. An old-fashioned, tension-filled showdown with a...

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Gomes' return to top throwing form making a big difference

June 02, 2021, 9:59pm

Nationals

Gomes' return to top throwing form making a big difference

There's no secret to Yan Gomes' success throwing out baserunners this season. Just a lot of hard work and some attention to getting the ball out of his hand as quickly as possible. Whether it's complicated or not, the mere fact Gomes is throwing out so many opponents is music to the Nationals' ears. After struggling mightily in this department in recent years, they're finally reaping the benefits of a catcher who can stop the running game cold in its tracks. With another pinpoint throw...

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Game 53 lineups: Nats at Braves

June 03, 2021, 6:17am

Nationals

The Nationals have a chance this afternoon to take three of four from the Braves, and who saw that coming a few days ago? They've put themselves in position with a combination of power at the plate (four homers the last two nights), one gutsy start on short rest (Jon Lester) and a whole lot of innings out of their bullpen (11 innings the last two nights). Now if they're going to take the series in this early start in Atlanta, they're going to need quality innings out of Patrick Corbin. At...

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Strasburg placed on 10-day IL with neck strain (updated)

June 02, 2021, 1:53pm

Nationals

Strasburg placed on 10-day IL with neck strain (updated)

The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day injured list with a neck strain after sending the right-hander back to Washington for an MRI. Kyle McGowin, who was already in Atlanta as part of the club's traveling taxi squad, was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take Strasburg's roster spot and provide another fresh arm for tonight's game against the Braves, in which Jon Lester will be starting on short rest the day after Strasburg's 1 1/3-inning start added more strain to the...

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Nationals announce promotional schedule for remainder of 2021 season

June 03, 2021, 5:30am

Nationals

With the battle for another National League East title well underway, the Nationals are thrilled to welcome all fans back to Nationals Park, just in time for summer! In May, the Government of the District of Columbia approved the team's request to operate at 100% capacity starting Thursday, June 10, to coincide with the beginning of the team's next homestand. As the Nationals reopen the ballpark to full capacity, the team is excited to announce additional promotions and the return of...

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Strasburg's latest ailment has ripple effect on entire staff

June 01, 2021, 10:14pm

Nationals

Strasburg's latest ailment has ripple effect on entire staff

For all the positive things that happened Tuesday night during the Nationals' 11-6 win in Atlanta, the departure of Stephen Strasburg in the bottom of the second with yet another physical ailment was by far the most significant development of the evening. And it's not simply because of what this means for Strasburg, who reported tightness in his right trapezius muscle and will undergo an MRI this morning, according to manager Davey Martinez. This also has a domino effect on several other...

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Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves

June 02, 2021, 1:51pm

Nationals

We've seen the Nationals put together isolated offensive explosions this season. Seven times they've scored seven or more runs. How have they done in their next game? They've averaged three runs. So there's been an issue with sustaining offensive success. Tonight the Nats will try to finally do that and put together back-to-back big performances at the plate in the wake of their 11-6 victory Tuesday night. As was the case then, they're facing a left-hander, this time Drew Smyly. He's got...

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Strasburg exits early, Nats pick him up with 11-6 win (updated)

June 01, 2021, 7:15pm

Nationals

Strasburg exits early, Nats pick him up with 11-6 win (updated)

On a night when Stephen Strasburg once again looked off and was pulled in the second inning - officially due to a tight trapezius muscle in his upper right back that will require an MRI in the morning - the Nationals found themselves faced with a dilemma. Having already lost five straight with a lineup that has turned the act of driving in a run into the most daunting task in the world, they could've packed their proverbial bags and departed with heads hung low. Or they could brush off...