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

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...

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

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...

NLDS Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

NLDS Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers
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...

Doolittle and Hudson becoming a thing as Nats surge to Game 5

Doolittle and Hudson becoming a thing as Nats surge to Game 5
Nationals manager Davey Martinez had hoped he would be able to get seven innings out of his starter, Max Scherzer, in Monday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. If that could occur, he would then turn it over to Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson in the final two innings. The scenario played out to an extent in Game 2. In that game, Stephen Strasburg finished six innings. Then, Martinez went to Doolittle, Scherzer and Hudson to get three innings and preserve the...

Zimmerman not done delivering big moments for Nats

Zimmerman not done delivering big moments for Nats
Ryan Zimmerman was sitting next to Max Scherzer in the interview room at Nationals Park late Monday night, the pair of 35-year-olds talking about their immense contributions to their team's stave-off-elimination victory in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, when the inevitable question was raised. "Zim, your contract's expiring, and this could be your last game before a home crowd," the out-of-town reporter began. "Did you have any extra oomph at your at-bats, especially with...

Scherzer empties tank for seven innings in Nats' 6-1 win

Scherzer empties tank for seven innings in Nats' 6-1 win
The Nationals had left-hander Sean Doolittle warming up in the seventh inning. His club was facing elimination but led 6-1 in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers at Nationals Park. Max Scherzer had allowed only three hits and one run in six frames against the vaunted Dodgers lineup. He had thrown 82 pitches. But then he fought through the seventh, firing 27 more pitches, and willed his team within six outs of a must-win game The Dodgers' Corey Seager flew out to...

Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)

Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)
The Nationals' chances of beating the Dodgers in this National League Division Series have always rested on the shoulders of the very best players on their roster. They don't have the depth to compete with the 106-win champions of the NL West, but they do have the star power at the top of their roster to make them sweat. And so with their season hanging by a thread tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-five series, the Nats turned to the best they had to keep the 2019 campaign alive and well for...

Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again

Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again
Victor Robles took a full round of batting practice this afternoon. He was not, however, in the Nationals lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with club officials not wanting to take any chances he might severely injure his already strained right hamstring. "He's still a little bit sore," manager Davey Martinez said. "He'll be available to pinch-hit, but that's it." Robles, who hurt himself trying to run out a bunt during Game 2 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, did...

Zimmerman: "I feel lucky" to be with Nationals

Zimmerman: "I feel lucky" to be with Nationals
Ryan Zimmerman returns to the Nationals starting lineup tonight at first base for Game 4 of the National League Division Series with his club trailing the Dodgers two games to one in the best-of-five series. He will bat sixth behind second baseman Howie Kendrick. Tonight will be Zimmerman's 23rd postseason game. He has a career .294/.338/.500 slash line in the playoffs, with five doubles, five walks, three homers and 10 RBIs. He has a pretty good track record in big games, especially a game of...

Rendon evens Game 4 with sacrifice fly (Nats win 6-1)

Rendon evens Game 4 with sacrifice fly (Nats win 6-1)
The Dodgers were able to jump out on top early against the Nationals in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Facing Max Scherzer, Justin Turner blasted a solo homer to left-center field on a 95.5 mph fastball. Turner's second postseason homer came on an 0-1 pitch with two outs in the top of the first. He now has nine career postseason homers, which is third all-time in Dodgers history. Scherzer got out of the inning allowing just that one run. Corey Seager had a double in the second...

No offense, but it's not just about the bullpen for the Nats to survive

No offense, but it's not just about the bullpen for the Nats to survive
The Nationals need to win tonight to extend their season. Much of the talk has been about their bullpen struggles all season, but the bottom line in this National League Division Series against the Dodgers is that if the offense doesn't get going tonight, it will be all over anyway. So far in the NLDS, the Nats have managed just eight runs on 18 hits over the three games, and were shut out once. The Nats have not scored more than four runs in any of the three games. They trail in the...

Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5

Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5
Imagine you were presented with this scenario on May 24. Or July 24. Or even Sept. 24, for that matter. The Nationals are facing the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with Max Scherzer on the mound, needing to win to force a Game 5 in which they'd have Stephen Strasburg on the mound. Would you have taken that opportunity? Just know this: The Nationals themselves are happily taking it. "I think we're really comfortable right now, even though our backs are against the...

NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
This is the fourth time the Nationals have trailed two games to one in a best-of-five series. Twice in the past, they've gone on to win Game 4 (Jayson Werth's walk-off homer in 2012, Stephen Strasburg's dominant start at Wrigley Field in 2017) and force a Game 5. Once they lost and were eliminated (Aaron Barrett and Matt Thornton in San Francisco in 2014). What does tonight hold in store for us? Well, Max Scherzer is on the mound, and if he's in peak form, obviously the Nationals have a...

Corbin on how Dodgers feasted on his normally elusive slider

Corbin on how Dodgers feasted on his normally elusive slider
With the Nationals clinging to a 2-1 lead after five innings in pivotal Game 3 of the National League Division Series, manager Davey Martinez opted to have left-hander Patrick Corbin relieve starter Aníbal Sánchez. "Aníbal was at 87 pitches. He gave us all he had. We were at a good spot in the lineup where we thought Corbin could get through it," Martinez said. "And his stuff was good, he's throwing 94 (mph), slider was good. I think he left one ball up. But he had every hitter...

After seven-run sixth, Nationals' season on brink (updated)

After seven-run sixth, Nationals' season on brink (updated)
In electing to start Aníbal Sánchez tonight for Game 3 of the National League Division Series and hold Max Scherzer back for Game 4, the Nationals mapped out what felt like a viable path to victory. They were confident in Sánchez's ability to hold the Dodgers lineup in check, but they also were confident in Patrick Corbin's ability to replace him at some point and serve as tonight's much-needed bridge from starter to back end of the bullpen. So when the very scenario they had...

Robles' MRI reveals mild right hamstring strain

Robles' MRI reveals mild right hamstring strain
Victor Robles will not start in tonight's National League Division Series Game 3 due to a mild strain of his right hamstring. Nationals skipper Davey Martinez said Robles is available as an "emergency" pinch-hitter. "He had a MRI and it's a very, very mild strain," Martinez said. "His right hamstring. If need be, on an emergency (basis), he'll be available to pinch-hit. As we all know how Victor plays, he wanted to play today, but I really believe that it's best that ... we get him...

When they most needed it, Dodgers manufacture a rally to take command of NLDS

When they most needed it, Dodgers manufacture a rally to take command of NLDS
The Nationals pitchers held power-hitting Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger to a single and a double with no RBIs on Sunday night. The only problem? Both hits came in the same inning. The Dodgers scored seven runs in the sixth inning to beat the Nationals 10-4 in Game 3 of their National League Division Series before 43,423 at Nationals Park. The Dodgers lead the best-of-five series two games to one and need one more win to advance to their fourth consecutive NL Championship Series, against...

Soto's early homer sets tone in Game 3 (Nats fall 10-4)

Soto's early homer sets tone in Game 3 (Nats fall 10-4)
Juan Soto blasted a two-run shot over the center field wall to put the Nationals on top in the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Nats Park. Soto became the eighth player in Major League Baseball history under 21 to hit a home run in a postseason game. Aníbal Sánchez has six strikeouts, including punching out the side in the second. The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the first. Sánchez allowed two walks and a single to Justin Turner, but got out of the...

Scherzer: Holding back for Game 4 "probably the best thing"

Scherzer: Holding back for Game 4 "probably the best thing"
The conversation took place late Friday night, after the Nationals had hung on for a dramatic 4-2 win over the Dodgers to even up their best-of-five National League Division Series. Max Scherzer, who made a surprise 14-pitch relief appearance to help make that win possible, and Davey Martinez met in the Dodger Stadium clubhouse to decide when the ace would next start: Game 3 tonight or Game 4 on Monday. The decision wasn't complicated. The already well-rested Aníbal Sánchez would start...

NLDS Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

NLDS Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
The Nationals now look to get greedy after knotting the best-of-five National League Division Series at one game apiece with a thrilling 4-2 win over the Dodgers on Friday night in Los Angeles. Now they enjoy home field advantage with the next two games at Nationals Park. The Nats have decided on Aníbal Sánchez as their Game 3 starter. Max Scherzer, who was scheduled to start today, threw 14 pitches in a shutout eighth inning in Game 2. Sanchez has not pitched since Sept. 25 and has...