Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen

Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen
The decision was made a few days ago. And to hear Davey Martinez talk about it, it wasn't that tough of a decision: Max Scherzer will start Tuesday night's National League wild card game. Martinez delivered the news to his ace a few days ago, and his reaction was probably what you assume it was. "I can't exactly say what he said to me, but he was excited," Martinez said with a laugh. "He's ready." Though Scherzer will be on the mound to start the winner-take-all game against either the...

Taylor's case for a spot on wild card roster

Taylor's case for a spot on wild card roster
Michael A. Taylor has been mostly an afterthought this season, relegated to part-time duties early on, then the minor leagues for more than two months, then relegated to virtually no playing time with expanded September rosters. And yet the 28-year-old outfielder might just have as strong a case as anyone to make the Nationals roster for Tuesday night's National League wild card game. And he might just prove to be quite valuable for a key moment in that game. With a full pitching staff...

Martinez believes Zimmerman can flourish in new role, even into 2020

Martinez believes Zimmerman can flourish in new role, even into 2020
Ryan Zimmerman started and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the Nationals' 6-3 series finale win over the Phillies on Thursday at Nats Park. It was only his third start since Sept. 17. During that span, Zimmerman has come into games as a pinch-hitter or late-inning defensive replacement. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said coming into a game as a pinch-hitter and excelling is difficult proposition. Because instead of having four or five at-bats in a game to get into a groove, you...

Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Indians
When the 2019 schedule was announced way back when, this final series featuring an interleague matchup stuck out like a sore thumb. Nobody wants to finish up the season with interleague games, but as long as the two leagues have 15 teams apiece, Major League Baseball has no choice but to do this. So the Nationals and Indians drew the short straw and will face each other this weekend. It's a really important weekend for both teams, of course. The Nationals are trying to secure home field...

Nationals announce 2019 awards

Nationals announce 2019 awards
The Washington Nationals announced the winners of the fourth-annual end-of-season awards as voted on by members of the local media. Third baseman Anthony Rendon was voted 2019 Nationals Player of the Year, while right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg was named Pitcher of the Year. Left-handed pitcher Sean Doolittle was given the 'Good Guy' Award, given to a player who is exceptionally accommodating to the media and involved in the community. The players will receive their awards from Mark...

Strasburg looking for strong finish to regular season (Nats up 5-1)

Strasburg looking for strong finish to regular season (Nats up 5-1)
Whether his next start comes in the wild card game, the National League Division Series or not until 2020, Stephen Strasburg took the mound today needing to close out his strong regular season on a high note and help set the stage for whatever is next for the Nationals. Strasburg got off to a fantastic start against the Phillies, facing the minimum through three scoreless innings, striking out five of the nine batters he faced. Strasburg, possibly a candidate to start Tuesday night's wild card...

Strasburg dominates as Nats sweep five from Phillies

Strasburg dominates as Nats sweep five from Phillies
We don't know yet when Stephen Strasburg will make his next start for the Nationals. Or his first career relief appearance. Or perhaps whether he'll take the mound again in 2019 at all. That dilemma will be resolved in the coming days by Davey Martinez and his coaching staff, not to mention the Nationals players who take the field Tuesday night in the National League wild card game and determine whether this wild season is extended to at least 166 games instead of only 163. For now, let's...

Clemente made a big impact on Martinez and his family

Clemente made a big impact on Martinez and his family
Today Major League Baseball is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Day and Roberto Clemente Day. Clemente was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played right field for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 15-time All-Star died tragically in a plane crash while on his way to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year's Eve, 1972. He was 38. Clemente, as a baseball player and humanitarian, had a tremendous impact on Nationals manager Davey Martinez and his family. "Growing...

Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)

Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)
The Nationals, as they have made clear for the last 36 hours, are motivated to get home field advantage for the wild card game. While they intend to give most of their weary lineup regulars and relievers at least one day off this week, they're still attempting to win as many games as they can in an attempt to ensure Tuesday night's winner-take-all contest is played on South Capitol Street. But it's no longer a formality who they will face in that game, no matter if at home or on the...

Game 159 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 159 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
Nationals manager Davey Martinez rested stars Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon on Wednesday and the Nats still won 5-2 over the Phillies. Second baseman Brian Dozier led off for the first time this season and delivered a late homer in the win. Now the Nats go for a five-game series sweep of the Phillies with the idea of resting another one or two players as Tuesday's wild card game draws near. The Nats (89-69) want to keep winning to make sure they host that game. They lead the Brewers (88-70)...

Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)

Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)
The day-after-clinch game is always a tricky matter. All the moreso when the team in question still has something left to play for over the season's final few days. The Nationals wanted to take it easy tonight, less than 24 hours after they clinched a spot in next week's wild card game. They also wanted to maintain their slim lead over the Brewers for home field advantage next Tuesday night. They found a way to accomplish both during a 5-2 victory over the Phillies. A game that started off...

Sánchez solid part of the Nats' big four after his third straight win

Sánchez solid part of the Nats' big four after his third straight win
It is easy to see why fans go back and forth about which Nationals pitcher should start the upcoming wild card game Tuesday night. Max Scherzer? Most likely. Stephen Strasburg? Solid choice. Patrick Corbin? Very effective. But Aníbal Sánchez has also demonstrated he can keep the score down and go long into games. The right-hander did that again Wednesday night with seven strong innings in the Nats' 5-2 win over the Phillies. The Nats have won nine of their last 10 games against the...

Martinez on rest for Turner and Rendon; how lineup looks next five games

Martinez on rest for Turner and Rendon; how lineup looks next five games
As expected after clinching a postseason berth Tuesday, the Nationals starting lineup looked a bit different for Wednesday night's game against the Phillies with Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon getting the day off. But Juan Soto, Adam Eaton and Howie Kendrick remain in the lineup. "I still want to play these games to win," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "But we got to be smart about giving guys some days off. Today is no Anthony, no Trea. Both deserve days off, obviously. We'll see...

Harper nets extra-base hit early off Sánchez (Nats win 5-2)

Harper nets extra-base hit early off Sánchez (Nats win 5-2)
Phillies left-hander Drew Smyly has not allowed the Nationals a hit in the first three innings, striking out six. The Nationals have yet to get a runner on base. Nationals right-hander Aníbal Sánchez gave up a single to Adam Haseley in the second inning, but nothing else. He has struck out three. The first three innings took 40 minutes. Bryce Harper doubled to begin the fourth inning. Rhys Hoskins followed with an RBI single, snapping an 0-for-26 skid. Mid-fourth, the Phillies lead the...

With clinch completed, Nats must choose wild card starter

With clinch completed, Nats must choose wild card starter
For nearly six months, the Nationals couldn't afford to look beyond that night's game, recognizing the importance of winning every single contest to get back into a race after a 19-31 start left them staring up at a sizeable deficit in the standings. Now that they've clinched a postseason berth, they can finally afford to start thinking more about what's ahead next week than what's in front of them tonight. The Nationals are going to play Tuesday night in the National League wild card...

Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
It's the day after a clinch, and that always makes for some, uh, interesting lineup decisions. Like Brian Dozier leading off. Or Asdrúbal Cabrera playing third base. Or Wilmer Difo starting at shortstop. All of those are true of the Nationals lineup tonight, and understandably so. Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner can definitely benefit from at least one (if not more) days off. Truth be told, this lineup has more regulars in it than you might expect under the circumstances. Including all three...

Doolittle returning to form provides Martinez with options

Doolittle returning to form provides Martinez with options
With less than a week remaining in the regular season and a potential postseason game looming, the Nationals needed to see closer Sean Doolittle return to form. The anchor of their bullpen had dealt with right knee tendinitis for most of August. He had not been himself for a while. Whether because of overuse or general fatigue, the left-hander was not getting the velocity and swing-and-miss results he had demonstrated all season, the backbone of his effectiveness. But finishing Tuesday's first...

Because they stuck together in May, Nats will play in October

Because they stuck together in May, Nats will play in October
The ultimate optimist to the end, Davey Martinez insisted Tuesday night that he never doubted his 2019 Nationals would make it to the postseason, even after their infamous 19-31 start that had some questioning whether the second-year manager should lose his job. "You know what? I imagined it in spring training. I really did," Martinez said. "And I said it, May 24, I said this team is going to bounce back and turn it around. I thought we hit the bottom then. But this team, we get everybody...

Nationals announce 2019 minor league awards

Nationals announce 2019 minor league awards
The Washington Nationals selected the following players as their 2019 Minor League Players of the Year: * Player of the Year - Outfielder Yadiel Hernandez * Pitcher of the Year - Left-handed pitcher Tim Cate * Defensive Player of the Year - Infielder Luis García * Baserunner of the Year - Infielder/Outfielder Cole Freeman * Seventh annual Bob Boone Award Winner - Catcher Jakson Reetz These players will be honored in a ceremony during 2020 Spring Training. Hernandez, 31, paced Washington's...

Strasburg on Nationals' return to postseason: "It's so special"

Strasburg on Nationals' return to postseason: "It's so special"
The celebration for all of the veterans rolled along in the Nationals clubhouse for quite some time after their 6-5 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a chance to step back and soak it all in. This will be his third postseason to pitch in. He was shut down famously in 2012, but pitched in the 2014 and 2017 postseasons. "It's so special. It's just a testament to the guys that we have in this clubhouse," Strasburg said. "We never stopped believing. It...