nationals

Martinez cautious with Robles, defines ElÃas' role next two games

October 13, 2019, 11:31am

Nationals manager Davey Martinez had an update on center fielder Victor Robles as he continues recovery from a tweaked right hamstring suffered in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. "We are going to run him a little bit today, get some treatment," Martinez said during a conference call. "Tomorrow he will participate in BP and do a little running. And we will see where we are at tomorrow. I'm not going to anticipate anything until he comes in tomorrow. But...

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Behind another gem, Nats take commanding lead in NLCS (updated)

October 12, 2019, 3:05pm

Nationals

Behind another gem, Nats take commanding lead in NLCS (updated)

ST. LOUIS - Another day, another no-hit bid by a member of the Big Four rotation. And thanks to those dynamite performances, plus a couple of clutch hits and more lights-out work from the back end of the bullpen, the Nationals are heading home in complete control of the National League Championship Series. If they win two of their next five games, they're going to the World Series. As closer Daniel Hudson put it earlier today - on a completely different, and far more important, matter: "Hey,...

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Martinez still doesn't want to chance it with Robles (Nats win 3-1)

October 12, 2019, 12:57pm

Nationals

Martinez still doesn't want to chance it with Robles (Nats win 3-1)

ST. LOUIS - Victor Robles strained his right hamstring eight days ago, way back in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. He still hasn't seen action since. Robles was out of the Nationals lineup for the fifth straight game this afternoon with an injury that has been described as "mild" but apparently not mild enough to risk taking the field for a postseason game. "For me, it's just about Victor's health and getting him healthy," manager Davey Martinez said. "I don't want him...

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Grateful to witness daughter's birth, Hudson rejoins Nats

October 12, 2019, 11:47am

Nationals

Grateful to witness daughter's birth, Hudson rejoins Nats

ST. LOUIS - Daniel Hudson boarded a flight in Phoenix at 6 a.m. Mountain time today, landing in St. Louis at 10:30 a.m. Central time. By 12:45 p.m., the Nationals closer was holding a press conference at Busch Stadium, detailing his whirlwind 48 hours that began with a Game 5 National League Division Series clinch in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, including the birth of his daughter, Millie, in Phoenix on Friday and now a chance to pitch in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series later this...

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Suzuki, Robles on roster but not in lineup for Game 1 (Nats win 2-0)

October 11, 2019, 4:54pm

Nationals

Suzuki, Robles on roster but not in lineup for Game 1 (Nats win 2-0)

ST. LOUIS - Neither Kurt Suzuki nor Victor Robles is in the Nationals lineup for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but both injured players remain on the active roster, suggesting there's reason to believe both will be ready to return soon. Suzuki, who took a fastball off his wrist and then his face in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the NL Division Series on Wednesday night, was still undergoing tests this afternoon, according to manager Davey Martinez. "I'll know more in...

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Behind SÃ¡nchez's brilliance, Nationals take Game 1 (updated)

October 11, 2019, 7:32pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez is not Max Scherzer. He's not Stephen Strasburg. And he's not Patrick Corbin. The rest of baseball may overlook him because of that, but the Nationals most definitely do not. Who cares if SÃ¡nchez doesn't have Strasburg's dominant stuff or Scherzer's adrenaline or Corbin's wipeout slider? He's got 14 years of big league experience, a vast repertoire of pitches few else in this sport can match, and the smarts and guts to use every one of them in any...

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With final four outs, Doolittle completes Nats' one-hitter

October 11, 2019, 10:00pm

Nationals

With final four outs, Doolittle completes Nats' one-hitter

ST. LOUIS - When the phone rang in the Nationals bullpen and he was instructed to begin warming up, Sean Doolittle didn't really have time to think about the significance of what was now happening. Yes, Doolittle knew what was going on. AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez had not yet allowed a hit to the Cardinals. Through 7 2/3 innings. Of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Chances are, if Davey Martinez came out of the dugout and signaled for him, the no-hitter was no longer intact. Or...

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NLCS Game 2 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

October 12, 2019, 9:19am

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - They got a one-hitter from their No. 4 starter and backup closer to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Now the Nationals send their No. 1 starter to the mound for Game 2, with their closer back in town and available to finish things off if the situation calls for it. Not a bad position to be in. Max Scherzer gets the ball, his first career postseason start in his hometown. It's hardly his first start in this ballpark, though. He's 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in five...

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Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

October 11, 2019, 3:10pm

Nationals

Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

ST. LOUIS - When Daniel Hudson left the Nationals in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, he hoped to spend only 24 hours in Phoenix for the birth of his daughter, then fly to St. Louis this morning and be ready to pitch tonight in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. But as anyone who's ever had a baby can attest, Mother Nature doesn't care about best-laid plans. When the baby's ready, the baby's ready. And in this case, the newest member of the Hudson family wasn't ready to...

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NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)

October 11, 2019, 12:20pm

Nationals

NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)

ST. LOUIS - It's 46 degrees. The wind chill is 39. It's not going to be pleasant at all. But none of that matters, because there's a ballgame tonight and the Nationals are playing in it. The Nats' first National League Championship Series gamesis going to present some challenges, and we're not just talking about the weather at Busch Stadium. The lineup and roster are missing three key players: Daniel Hudson, Kurt Suzuki and Victor Robles. Hudson, who flew from Los Angeles to Phoenix early...

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NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize

October 10, 2019, 10:19pm

Nationals

NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize

ST. LOUIS - As cathartic as Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium was - and how could it not be, given the massive roadblock they finally overcame in their fifth try - the Nationals were in no mood to rest on their laurels and take satisfaction out of their first postseason series win in club history. No, there was a good night's sleep still to get, then a flight to catch to St. Louis, then another good night's sleep before they take the field again for their first ever appearance in the National...

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Nats' ability to not panic early pays dividends later

October 11, 2019, 3:16am

Nationals

Nats' ability to not panic early pays dividends later

In Game 5 of the National League Division Series, the Nationals had two hits and two walks in the first five innings against Dodgers starter Walker Buehler. They had struck out four times. Then in the sixth, they finally pieced together back-to-back hits. Anthony Rendon doubled and Juan Soto singled to plate a run. Even with the difficulties in mounting early rallies, the Nats did make Buehler work. He ended up having to throw 117 pitches. Buehler had been even more lethal in Game 1. The...

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Reliving the key moments from an instant classic

October 10, 2019, 12:24am

Nationals

Reliving the key moments from an instant classic

LOS ANGELES - Sean Doolittle was trying to run through the final moments of an epic baseball game that propelled the Nationals to the National League Championship Series for the first time in club history. There was a strikeout of A.J. Pollock. Then a ground ball by Max Muncy. Then Michael A. Taylor's diving catch of Justin Turner's sinking liner to center, which had to be reviewed before umpires officially declared the game over. And then a mad celebration, with Doolittle right in the middle...

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In NLCS vs. Nationals, Cardinals may have edge in defense and bullpen

October 11, 2019, 6:14am

Nationals

The Cardinals host the Nationals in the first two games of the National League Championship Series on Friday and Saturday at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals, in the postseason for the first time since 2015, beat the Braves 13-1 with a history-making 10-run first inning in Game 5 of their NL Division Series in Atlanta. Ironically, the explosion of runs was 51 years ago to the day that Detroit scored 10 runs in the sixth inning against the Cardinals in a 13-1 Game 6 World Series win in the original...

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Martinez gives positive updates on Suzuki and Robles

October 10, 2019, 12:31pm

Nationals

Martinez gives positive updates on Suzuki and Robles

Nationals manager Davey Martinez had good news on the status of catcher Kurt Suzuki, who was hit twice on one pitch from Walker Buehler in the seventh inning of Wednesday night's Game 5 against the Dodgers in the National League Division Series. "Suzuki had an X-Ray on his hand, and it came back negative," Martinez said via conference call prior to boarding a charter flight to St. Louis, where the Nats will face the Cardinals in the NL Championship Series beginning tomorrow night. "He says...

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Nats' miraculous comeback one for the ages

October 09, 2019, 9:21pm

Nationals

Nats' miraculous comeback one for the ages

The Nationals pulled off a miraculous comeback against the best team in the National League in their second straight elimination game. Of course they did. After all, all they did was win for the last 4 1/2 months of the season. And, oh, did they win: 78 of their last 118 games for a .661 winning percentage since May 24. Thanks to a grand slam by Howie Kendrick in the 10th inning, the Nats shocked the top-seeded Dodgers 7-3, winning the best-of-five series NL Division Series before a stunned...

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With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)

October 09, 2019, 8:42pm

Nationals

With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)

LOS ANGELES - On a warm morning in West Palm Beach in February 2018, Davey Martinez did something that raised a few eyebrows and made even more eyes roll. He gathered his Nationals team together and then directed everyone to watch as coaches Bobby Henley and Tim Bogar rode in on a pair of camels. The point, Martinez explained, was to offer a simple metaphor. This Nationals franchise he had just taken over as manager had been unable to get past the first round of the postseason, falling four...

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Robles getting better, not ready to start yet (Nats win 7-3 in 10)

October 09, 2019, 3:58pm

Nationals

Robles getting better, not ready to start yet (Nats win 7-3 in 10)

LOS ANGELES - The fate of the Nationals' season will be determined without Victor Robles patrolling center field. Robles, who suffered what the team called a mild right hamstring strain during Game 2 of the National League Division Series, remains out of the lineup for tonight's do-or-die Game 5 against the Dodgers. The 22-year-old rookie, who rated as one of the best defensive outfielders in the majors this season, worked out Tuesday and showed signs of progress, according to manager Davey...

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Why this Game 5 could be different from the other Game 5s

October 08, 2019, 6:24pm

Nationals

Why this Game 5 could be different from the other Game 5s

LOS ANGELES - That the Nationals find themselves here, in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, is not at all surprising. This is the norm for this franchise, having now been in this exact position four times in the last eight years, three in the last four. And yet this one feels entirely different than those that came before. The end result - a heartbreaking loss, after leading at some point - may wind up feeling familiar. Too familiar. But the circumstances entering this Game 5 do...

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NLDS Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

October 09, 2019, 1:44pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - And so it has come to this. Nationals. Dodgers. Game 5 of the National League Division Series. They wouldn't have had it any other way. The winner goes to the NL Championship Series, against either the Braves or Cardinals, whose Game 5 should be wrapping up right around the time this one starts. Reminder: The Nats would not get home field advantage against either opponent, so Games 1-2 would be on the road, with Games 3-5 in D.C., then potential Games 6-7 back on the road. First...