nationals

Nationals release 2020 spring training schedule

August 19, 2019, 9:48am

The calendar hasn't even flipped to September, but Major League Baseball is already thinking ahead to spring training 2020. The Nationals' Grapefruit League schedule was released this afternoon, and includes 31 dates - 15 home games at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla., and 16 road games. Of course, since the Astros and Nationals share the same home field for spring games, some of those road games require no travel. That's the case for the spring opener, when...

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Looking at Nationals' options in the ninth inning

August 18, 2019, 5:46pm

Nationals

It's hard to believe Nationals manager Davey Martinez isn't aware of the angst and frustration three simple words - "He's our closer" - cause for a fan base tired of watching ninth-inning leads frittered away. For the three weeks Sean Doolittle has been struggling to lock down games, Martinez has dug his heels in and drawn a line in the sand, holding firm that the southpaw will remain his closer because he's the best option to protect a lead with three outs to go. When Matt Williams...

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Nats respond to defeat with barrage of longballs in 16-8 victory

August 18, 2019, 2:21pm

Nationals

Nats respond to defeat with barrage of longballs in 16-8 victory

It was as fair question to ask: After Saturday night's - er, early Sunday morning's - demoralizing 15-14 loss to the Brewers in 14 innings, how would the Nationals respond? Apparently soul-crushing defeats and lack of restorative sleep result in prodigious displays of home run power. The Nationals took full advantage of their home park's launching pad characteristics in warm, humid weather, muscling up to hit eight homers in a 16-8 rout of the Brewers that secured a series victory. "What I...

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Baseball taking notice of Robles and his game-changing defense

August 19, 2019, 4:55am

Nationals

Baseball taking notice of Robles and his game-changing defense

It happened in a flash. With Reds pinch-hitter JosÃ© Peraza standing at first base, thanks to a walk, center fielder Victor Robles came on for a ball in shallow right field to pick up a single off the bat of Reds outfielder Jesse Winker. Peraza saw how far Robles had to go toward the right field area and took his cue to round second base and charge for third. Robles gathered the ball, and with his momentum still pushing him toward the right field line, turned and fired a strike to third...

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Feeling fine, Scherzer preparing to pitch Thursday (Nats win 16-8)

August 18, 2019, 9:56am

Nationals

Feeling fine, Scherzer preparing to pitch Thursday (Nats win 16-8)

Max Scherzer has long posited that the day after an activity - be it long toss, simulated game or bullpen session - is the most important component to the evaluation of an injury. So after throwing a 65-pitch simulated game Saturday, how the right-hander felt this morning would go a long way toward determining if he'll ramp up his normal schedule toward a Thursday start in Pittsburgh or continue his recovery from the rhomboid strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list on July 29...

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As season heads into home stretch, Braves don't look so invincible

August 18, 2019, 9:22pm

Nationals

As season heads into home stretch, Braves don't look so invincible

On June 10, the Atlanta Braves beat Pittsburgh 13-7 to move into a first-place tie in the National League East. They built a six-game lead by the All-Star break and on July 15, their lead was 7 1/2 games, largest of the season. A second consecutive division title seemed inevitable. Now, as baseball enters the final six weeks, the Braves face a new reality: They aren't the same dominating team that went 20-8 in June. They aren't the team that's playing the best. Although they beat the Dodgers...

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Knee issue lands struggling Doolittle on injured list

August 18, 2019, 9:12am

Nationals

Knee issue lands struggling Doolittle on injured list

The Nationals won't be answering incessant questions about closer Sean Doolittle's recent ineffectiveness - well, for at least another 10 days or so. Doolittle was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday morning with right knee tendinitis, hours after coughing up four runs in one-third of an inning and failing to protect an 11-8 lead in the ninth inning. The Nationals went on to lose 15-14 in 14 innings Saturday night. Manager Davey Martinez and Nationals medical personnel met with Doolittle...

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Doolittle, Martinez will reconsider closer's workload

August 17, 2019, 10:00pm

Nationals

Doolittle, Martinez will reconsider closer's workload

Sean Doolittle insisted before Saturday night's game, he was good to pitch. As soon as he actually tried to pitch in the top of the ninth, he realized he didn't have what he needed to be effective. "Tonight, man, I just didn't have anything," the Nationals closer said. "So, yeah, we're going to have to figure something out. I'm going to have to figure something out. Because this team, they deserve better right now." What had been looming as a potential problem for a while now has...

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Game 123 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

August 17, 2019, 9:09am

Nationals

The Nationals close out a weekend series with the Brewers this afternoon, hoping resurgent right-hander Erick Fedde can deliver another strong outing and a series victory over the Brewers. Fedde's start - and his ability to give the Nats some length - takes on additional importance after Saturday night's 15-14 loss to the Brewers in 14 innings. The bullpen had to cover 10 innings after righty AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez went only four frames, and it's possible the Nationals will make a move before...

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Wildest game of year ends with loss in 14th (updated)

August 17, 2019, 8:47pm

Nationals

Wildest game of year ends with loss in 14th (updated)

Who knows how this wild 2019 season will end for the Nationals, whether they'll catch the Braves and win the National League East, whether they'll hold onto one of the league's two wild card berths or whether they'll collapse and miss the playoffs altogether. Here's what we can say unequivocally about the 2019 Nationals: They do not quit. No game is ever out of reach. No matter how demoralized they may be at one moment, they refuse to stay down until they've used up every last...

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Decision looming for final spot in rotation (Nats trail 6-5)

August 17, 2019, 4:12pm

Nationals

Decision looming for final spot in rotation (Nats trail 6-5)

Rotation depth, such a problem area for the Nationals last season and early this season, hasn't been an issue over the last month. That's thanks to the lights-out performances of Erick Fedde and Joe Ross, who have allowed the Nats to continue to thrive even while Max Scherzer has been on the injured list. Now, though, the organization faces a surprisingly tricky decision with Scherzer close to returning from his back injury. And the potential return of two other right-handers from long-term...

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Scherzer on track to return Thursday after simulated game

August 17, 2019, 1:34pm

Nationals

Scherzer on track to return Thursday after simulated game

Max Scherzer built his arm up this afternoon in his second simulated game of the week, throwing 64 pitches over four innings. And as long as he recovers well from this latest throwing session, the Nationals ace will be lined up to return to the rotation next week in Pittsburgh. Scherzer looked strong and felt strong during today's four-inning simulated game against teammates, according to manager Davey Martinez. Facing Gerardo Parra and Yan Gomes, he threw an average of 16 pitches per inning,...

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Game 122 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

August 17, 2019, 11:19am

Nationals

It's Season Plan Holder Appreciation Day here at Nationals Park. It's also Max Scherzer Simulated Game No. 2 Day. These two events are going on simultaneously, which is both cool (the fans are able to watch this) and awkward (Dan Kolko, Bo Porter and Alex Chappell are holding a Q&A as Scherzer pitches directly behind them). Anyways, tonight's game ... the Nationals are riding a five-game winning streak into this evening's contest. They'll look to improve to a season-best 12 games over...

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Corbin went back to his slider for key outs in Nats' 2-1 win

August 16, 2019, 7:18pm

Nationals

Corbin went back to his slider for key outs in Nats' 2-1 win

It was not a pitch-efficient type game for Patrick Corbin Friday night against Milwaukee, but that did not seem to bother him one bit. Neither did getting behind in counts or watching Brewers hitters take so many pitches. In the end, the Nationals southpaw went to his best pitch to get him out of jams again and again. The slider is his signature pitch, and it helped Corbin rack up four inning-ending strikeouts when he needed them most. With Corbin and the bullpen on point and Anthony Rendon...

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Nats' new relievers better than Braves' additions since Aug. 1

August 17, 2019, 3:53am

Nationals

Nats' new relievers better than Braves' additions since Aug. 1

The Nationals and Braves both attempted to improve their bullpens at the July 31 trade deadline. So far, the Nats have gotten the better end of the deals. Even without Roenis ElÃas for most of the last three weeks due to injury, the additions of Hunter Strickland and Daniel Hudson have outshone the Braves acquisitions of Chris Martin, Mark Melancon and Shane Greene. In Friday night's nail-biting 2-1 Nationals win over the Brewers, Hudson and Strickland bridged shutout seventh and eighth...

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Rendon's clutch doubles enough to lift Nats to win (updated)

August 16, 2019, 6:06pm

Nationals

Rendon's clutch doubles enough to lift Nats to win (updated)

The Nationals totaled only three hits tonight. Turns out that was enough, because two of them were Anthony Rendon RBI doubles. The man who has made a name for himself with clutch two-baggers delivered the pair of clutch doubles his team needed tonight. The Nationals rode those RBI doubles, including the go-ahead hit in the bottom of the eighth, to a 2-1 victory over the Brewers on a night when they had to scrap and claw for everything. "I tell the guys: 'Hey, it only takes one more than the...

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Zimmerman in Richmond on rehab assignment

August 16, 2019, 1:44pm

Nationals

Zimmerman in Richmond on rehab assignment

Ryan Zimmerman is beginning a rehab assignment tonight for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators down the road in Richmond, Va., against the Flying Squirrels. Zimmerman is playing first base and batting third in the lineup behind left fielder Andrew Stevenson and shortstop Luis Garcia. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor is batting cleanup. "He's in Richmond with Harrisburg," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He will probably play five or six innings today and then we will see how he...

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Scherzer will pitch another simulated game Saturday

August 16, 2019, 1:30pm

Nationals

Scherzer will pitch another simulated game Saturday

Max Scherzer will take the mound at Nationals Park on Saturday. But he'll again be facing teammates, not the Brewers. Despite the ace's insistence he's ready to come off the injured list, the Nationals have decided he needs at least one more simulated game to build up his endurance. Scherzer threw only 32 pitches over two simulated innings, plus warm-up tosses in the bullpen and between innings, on Tuesday afternoon. The following day he pronounced himself healthy and insisted he was ready...

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Rendon helps get offense going, Corbin battles (Nats win 2-1)

August 16, 2019, 4:12pm

Nationals

Rendon helps get offense going, Corbin battles (Nats win 2-1)

Left-hander Patrick Corbin did a nice job of fighting out of a major jam in the top of the third. The Brewers got on the board first with a solo homer well over the center field wall from shortstop Orlando Arcia. Pitcher Adrian Houser came up next and singled for his first major league base hit. Lorenzo Cain also singled. With two men on, Corbin struck out Keston Hiura and Christian Yelich. On the Yelich strikeout, Cain stole second base. After Ryan Braun was walked to load the bases, Corbin...

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Decision day for Nationals and Scherzer

August 15, 2019, 8:37pm

Nationals

It's decision day for the Nationals, who must figure out when and where Max Scherzer will next pitch. If it's up to Scherzer, the answer to the first question is "Saturday" and the answer to the second question is "at Nationals Park against the Brewers." But it's not up to the ace of the staff. Davey Martinez, Mike Rizzo and the club's medical staff will have the final say on the plan for Scherzer, who believes he's ready to return from the injured list ASAP. The Nationals have not...