nationals

Why Cabrera's at second and Ross is in the 'pen (Nats win 5-4)

October 22, 2019, 2:50pm

HOUSTON - For the first time in a while, Davey Martinez had a lineup decision to make today. With Howie Kendrick serving as designated hitter for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park, the Nationals manager needed to choose between AsdrÃºbal Cabrera or Brian Dozier to start at second base. He chose Cabrera, opting for a more consistently productive bat over a more consistently effective defensive player. "I like the left-handed bat, obviously today," Martinez said. "And...

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World Series Game 1 lineups: Nats at Astros

October 22, 2019, 12:31pm

Nationals

World Series Game 1 lineups: Nats at Astros

HOUSTON - The Nationals are playing in the World Series tonight. Yes, that's a true statement. What seemed elusive for so long is reality. At 8:08 p.m. Eastern time, Trea Turner will step into the batter's box and face Gerrit Cole, at which point the 115th Fall Classic will be underway and Washington baseball history will forever be changed. We've had nearly a week to rehash what happened in the National League Championship Series and preview what could happen in this World Series. None of...

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Nats make two bullpen changes for World Series

October 22, 2019, 9:33am

Nationals

Nats make two bullpen changes for World Series

HOUSTON - The Nationals made some tweaks to the fringes of their roster for the World Series, but as we've seen throughout this extended postseason run to date, the National League champs fully intend to stick with the core group of big-name pitchers and lineup regulars in search of their first title. The Nats added two new relievers for the Fall Classic in Joe Ross and Wander Suero, dropping Austin Voth and Roenis ElÃas from their NL Championship Series bullpen. The addition of Ross is a...

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Key vets ready to empty the tank one last time for World Series

October 21, 2019, 9:23pm

Nationals

Key vets ready to empty the tank one last time for World Series

HOUSTON - When they take the field tonight for the first time as World Series participants, once the players have been introduced, once the anthem has been sung, once the ceremonial first pitch has been thrown, the Nationals will embark on their 11th game of this postseason. They'll do with Max Scherzer on the mound for the fifth time, fourth as a starter. There's a decent chance they'll be summoning Patrick Corbin out of the bullpen for the fourth time, to go along with two starts. They'll...

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Nats must decide who starts Game 3, who starts at second base

October 21, 2019, 4:03pm

Nationals

Nats must decide who starts Game 3, who starts at second base

HOUSTON - The decision to start Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series was easy for Davey Martinez and the Nationals. The tougher decision is how to line up Patrick Corbin and AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez after that, not to mention how to assemble a lineup for these games in an American League ballpark. Martinez didn't reveal the rotation plan beyond Game 2, and it sounds like the Nationals genuinely don't know yet who they'll give the ball to for Game 3 in D.C. on...

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Hudson and Doolittle fine with sharing closing role

October 21, 2019, 10:38am

Nationals

Hudson and Doolittle fine with sharing closing role

The strength of the Nationals bullpen heading into the World Series boils down to Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle. Hudson has been a difference maker for the 'pen since his arrival July 31 in a trade with the Blue Jays. Hudson not only provided an arm that could close games but also brought the endurance to be a reliever that could extend past one inning if needed. Doolittle said Hudson's addition changed everything for him. Doolittle missed 12 games in late August due to right knee...

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Scherzer gets ball for Game 1 of World Series (updated)

October 21, 2019, 12:34pm

Nationals

Scherzer gets ball for Game 1 of World Series (updated)

HOUSTON - The Nationals could've gotten cute with their World Series rotation, sticking with the order that led them to a National League Championship Series sweep of the Cardinals and saved up their two best horses for potential Games 6 and 7. In the end, manager Davey Martinez decided to keep thing simple and just go with his best guys right out of the chute against the Astros' comparable aces. Max Scherzer will start Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Tuesday night, with Stephen Strasburg on...

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Nats vs. Astros: World Series tale of the tape

October 20, 2019, 8:08pm

Nationals

Nats vs. Astros: World Series tale of the tape

The matchup is now set. After a thrilling Game 6 victory over the Yankees late Saturday night, the Astros captured their second American League pennant in three years and thus advanced to the 2019 World Series to face the very well rested Nationals, who today will work out and meet with a throng of media members at Minute Maid Park, with Game 1 of the Fall Classic set for 8:08 p.m. Tuesday. This World Series may not appeal as much to casual observers and television executives as, say,...

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How the 2001 D-backs served as a model for the 2019 Nats

October 19, 2019, 10:56pm

Nationals

How the 2001 D-backs served as a model for the 2019 Nats

Mike Rizzo has worked in professional baseball for 36 seasons, and until this current campaign he had worked for a team that reached the World Series only once. That was in 2001 with the Diamondbacks, for whom Rizzo served as scouting director. It's Rizzo's favorite team, from a professional standpoint, and for good reason. It provided him his lone World Series ring, which he wears in public only one day a year: Draft day, to remind him what the whole point of this crazy endeavor is. That...

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A primer on the Astros, Nationals' opponent in World Series

October 21, 2019, 5:40am

Nationals Orioles

A primer on the Astros, Nationals' opponent in World Series

The Astros will play in their third World Series, and their second in three years, when the Fall Classic opens Tuesday night in Houston's Minute Maid Park. The Astros won 107 games and are champions of the American League West. They beat Tampa Bay in a five-game American League Division Series and then beat the Yankees in the AL Championship Series, just as they did in 2017. It's well documented that Washington is playing in the World Series for the first time since 1933 and trying to win its...

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Nats want to make sure Big Four can handle workload of long series

October 21, 2019, 3:48am

Nationals

Nats want to make sure Big Four can handle workload of long series

With the Nationals facing off against the Astros for the 2019 World Series crown, it is matchup that features the two best starting staffs in baseball. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin face off against Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke. And don't forget about AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez. The Nats have the staff to keep them in games, the major key to their run in these playoffs. "Obviously, a dream staff," said catcher Kurt Suzuki. "Three guys that strike out over...

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Nats have several decisions to make before start of Series

October 19, 2019, 10:12am

Nationals

Nats have several decisions to make before start of Series

This extended break between the National League Championship Series and the World Series offers the Nationals a chance to rest their overworked pitchers and a chance to figure out how to make sure their hitters stay in a rhythm without facing live pitching in actual games for six days. It also offers ample opportunity for the Nats to consider all their roster, lineup, bullpen and bench options for either potential opponent. Maybe too much opportunity. "Do our homework," general manager Mike...

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Martinez commemorates each win so Nats can remember this historic run

October 19, 2019, 6:47pm

Nationals

Martinez commemorates each win so Nats can remember this historic run

There is a long hallway between the coaches' and manager's offices and the training area next to the Nationals clubhouse on field level at Nats Park. Along this wall is a collection of baseballs positioned on a long single shelf that runs down the hallway. Each ball represents a win the Nats enjoyed so far in 2019. Written on each baseball are the names of one or more players who, in the estimation of manager Davey Martinez, were the most valuable in each of those victories. What the skipper...

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Nats trying to maintain edge during long break before World Series

October 18, 2019, 4:51pm

Nationals

Nats trying to maintain edge during long break before World Series

On Tuesday night, they celebrated like they'd never celebrated before. Which was appropriate, considering they'd never won the National League pennant before. So what did the Nationals do on Wednesday? "Nothing," reliever Sean Doolittle said. "Nothing. I woke up at like 11, I took the dogs for a walk and grabbed some bagels from Bethesda Bagels, and then realized that I didn't have anything to do. So I went back to bed and slept until 5:30." Suffice it to say, the Nats happily took a day...

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Scherzer likely to start Game 1 with Strasburg for Game 2

October 18, 2019, 7:11pm

Nationals

Scherzer likely to start Game 1 with Strasburg for Game 2

The Nationals are waiting until Tuesday to make their debut in World Series and they enjoy a rested starting rotation, almost assuredly beginning with Max Scherzer in Game 1 and Stephen Strasburg in Game 2 in Houston or New York. General manager Mike Rizzo all but confirmed that setup on 106.7 The Fan this week and then at Friday's workout open to the media. The 115th Fall Classic begins with Game 1 on Tuesday night at 8:08 p.m. Eastern time. Game 2 will be Wednesday night at 8:07 p.m. Eastern...

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Revisiting our opening day predictions

October 17, 2019, 9:59pm

Nationals

So, traditionally we've run this feature right after the Nationals' season ends. But until now, that's always happened by this point of the year. Obviously, the season isn't over yet. But since all but one of the prediction categories from opening day has already been settled, and since we're still trying to fill this long gap between National League Championship Series and World Series, this feels like a good time to revisit our annual media predictions. In case you don't remember, a...

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Taylor on going from Double-A to World Series: "I know I'm a big leaguer"

October 17, 2019, 11:37am

Nationals

Taylor on going from Double-A to World Series: "I know I'm a big leaguer"

An important part of the Nationals' run to the 2019 World Series has been their depth. During the season, Howie Kendrick, AsdrÃºbal Cabrera and Gerardo Parra were valuable substitutes for Ryan Zimmerman or other infield/outfield days off due to workload or a nagging injury. That seamless transition for a game, a week or longer helped the Nats maintain their run of 82-40 since their four-game sweep at the hands of the Mets in late May. In the postseason, outfielder Victor Robles went down...

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Time off often the enemy of momentum for playoff teams

October 18, 2019, 8:00am

Nationals

Time off often the enemy of momentum for playoff teams

After sweeping the Cardinals to win the National League pennant, the Nationals are a team hot to play in the World Series. There's only one problem: The Nationals aren't sure if they going to start the World Series in Houston or New York. While the Astros and Yankees play for the American League pennant, the Nationals return to spring training mode in the quiet of Nationals Park, hoping to maintain the sharpness that helped them sweep the Cardinals in the National League Championship...

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Thursday morning World Series Nats Q&A

October 16, 2019, 7:48pm

Nationals

We're in uncharted waters here, folks. Everything from here on out is brand new, and there's no road map to show us the way. The Nationals are going to the World Series for the first time ... but they're now in Day 2 of a six-day layoff before they take the field again at either Minute Maid Park or Yankee Stadium. What do we do to fill all this free time? We answer your questions, that's what we do! I know you've got plenty of them stored up, whether looking back on the regular season or...

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15-year journey to the World Series was worth the wait

October 16, 2019, 9:26am

Nationals

15-year journey to the World Series was worth the wait

On March 30, 2008, a wide-eyed young third baseman named Ryan Zimmerman christened the brand-new Nationals Park with a walk-off homer against Braves reliever Peter Moylan. In that moment, as the 23-year-old "Face of the Franchise" circled the bases to a thunderous roar, it was impossible not to wonder if this was merely first of many more thrilling moments to come in that ballpark. Surely there would be pennant races and October clinchers and maybe even a World Series contested on these...