nationals

Over-rested relievers may have to work today (Nats up 5-2)

July 04, 2019, 6:31am

Nationals starters have averaged more than 6 1/2 innings pitched over the last 11 games, with only one starter failing to at least get through the sixth. That's a good thing, and it's no surprise it has helped this team go 8-3 during the stretch. But it's also had a domino effect on the bullpen, which could be seen as positive or negative, depending on your point of view. Needing only a couple of innings every night from his bullpen, and almost always with his team up a handful of runs,...

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Doolittle admits he is "a little tired" from his recent workload

July 03, 2019, 6:29pm

Nationals

Doolittle admits he is "a little tired" from his recent workload

Sean Doolittle did it again, finding a way to record a save, as the Nationals edged the Marlins 3-1 to win the first two games of the series. But again, this save, his 19th on the season, was not easy. With one out in the top of the ninth and the Nats leading 3-0, the Marlins put together back-to-back-to-back singles to ignite a rally attempt against the Nationals closer. Doolittle bore down and struck out JT Riddle for the second out. But then CÃ©sar Puello was hit by a pitch to allow Neil...

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Strasburg's 14-strikeout gem lifts Nats over Miami again (updated)

July 03, 2019, 5:12pm

Nationals

Strasburg's 14-strikeout gem lifts Nats over Miami again (updated)

No matter how unimposing the opponent, it's just not that easy to keep winning every single night. Yes, the Nationals are facing an especially fortuitous portion of their schedule. But aside from one hiccup Saturday in Detroit, they are taking care of business like nobody's business. Tonight's 3-1 victory - made possible by 7 1/3 innings of brilliance from Stephen Strasburg, home runs from Brian Dozier and Matt Adams and late escape acts from both Fernando Rodney and Sean Doolittle - was the...

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Game 86 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

July 04, 2019, 5:18am

Nationals

There is nothing like baseball in Washington on July 4. And when that also coincides with the home team sitting in playoff position for the first time all season ... well, how does it get much better than that? Yes, the Nationals woke up this morning tied with the Cubs for the second wild card spot in the National League. A mere six weeks after falling to 12 games below .500, the second-worst record in the NL, they now own the fifth-best record in the league. Quite a turnaround. And they can...

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Scherzer goes on paternity leave but will start Saturday

July 03, 2019, 1:01pm

Nationals

Scherzer goes on paternity leave but will start Saturday

Max Scherzer is about to add the biggest event yet to his already eventful summer. With his wife, Erica, due to give birth to the couple's second daughter Thursday, Scherzer has been placed on the paternity leave list. The transaction allows the right-hander to take three days off to be with his growing family without missing a start, and it allows the Nationals to add an extra player (AdriÃ¡n Sanchez) to their bench in the interim. Scherzer has been anticipating this event all year, with a...

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Martinez still seeks answers for solving eighth inning (Nats win 3-1)

July 03, 2019, 1:29pm

Nationals

Martinez still seeks answers for solving eighth inning (Nats win 3-1)

The bullpen has had a lot more positive moments the last month which has helped a great deal in the team's 18-8 June. But the Nationals have still not found the complete answer for the eighth inning. Right-hander Wander Suero could not complete the eighth Tuesday night without allowing a run. The Nats' 2-1 lead went by the wayside when CÃ©sar Puello doubled and Miguel Rojas connected on a deep fly ball to left field. Game tied 2-2. Saturday night in the bottom of the seventh at Comerica...

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Game 85 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

July 03, 2019, 11:11am

Nationals

This is a series of rematches. Last night, it was a rematch between Patrick Corbin and Zac Gallen (at least until the storm hit). Tonight, it's a rematch between Stephen Strasburg and Sandy Alcantara, the same two right-handers who squared off Thursday night at Marlins Park, with Strasburg and the Nationals emerging victorious. That win made Strasburg 10-0 against Miami since late in the 2015 season, but he didn't exactly dominate. The Marlins scored three runs off him in the third, then...

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Scherzer named NL Pitcher of the Month

July 03, 2019, 11:17am

Nationals

Two days after he was named National League Player of the Week, Max Scherzer was named National League Pitcher of the Month. Apparently awards season has come early this year. Scherzer was honored for his utterly dominant June, during which he went 6-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 68 strikeouts with only five walks. It was a historic performance for a right-hander who has made plenty of history over the years. Scherzer became the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out at least 68 batters while...

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Soto leads Nats to 16-game homer streak, plus Taylor update

July 03, 2019, 4:10am

Nationals

Soto leads Nats to 16-game homer streak, plus Taylor update

The Nationals have now hit a homer in 16 consecutive games, setting a new club record. The 1999 Expos also hit a home run in 16 straight games. Juan Soto's two-run shot in the first inning gave the Nats a 2-1 lead. It was his 15th homer of the season. Last year, he hit 22 home runs. The Nats have combined to hit 28 homers in those 16 games. Soto had a homer and a triple in his first two at-bats. "All the guys, they're hitting the ball hard," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "The...

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Martinez goes into more detail on first base plan

July 02, 2019, 9:28pm

Nationals

Martinez goes into more detail on first base plan

Davey Martinez began his afternoon touting the positives of his logjam at first base, with Ryan Zimmerman back from the injured list to join the already productive Matt Adams and Howie Kendrick at a suddenly overcrowded position. "For me, this is a great problem to have," the Nationals manager said. "When Zim does play, Matty's on the bench ready to go. We can plop him into any situation at any time and drive in some big runs. Same thing with Howie." When just such a situation arose...

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Max Scherzer named National League Pitcher of the Month

July 03, 2019, 10:15am

Nationals

Max Scherzer named National League Pitcher of the Month

Following a month in which he went 6-0 with a 1.00 ERA (5 ER/45.0 IP) and 68 strikeouts and five walks in six starts, Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named National League Pitcher of the Month for June on Wednesday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Washington's surge during the month of June was led by Scherzer, who put together an historic calendar month in addition to helping the Nationals to wins in each of his starts. Some notable...

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Turner works long at-bat to plate Gomes for the walk off winner 3-2

July 02, 2019, 8:57pm

Nationals

Turner works long at-bat to plate Gomes for the walk off winner 3-2

After Wander Suero blew a save in the eighth, the Nationals found a way to win the game anyway, scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth thanks to an outstanding at-bat from Trea Turner. With two outs, Turner's double to the right-center field gap scored Yan Gomes from first base and the Nats walked off the Marlins 3-2 at Nationals Park. The Nats have won four straight over the Fish and 11 of their last 14 overall to go two games above .500 (43-41) for the first time this season. Juan Soto hit...

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Turner's walk-off double rewards Corbin on emotional night

July 02, 2019, 7:24pm

Nationals

Turner's walk-off double rewards Corbin on emotional night

Patrick Corbin led the Nationals out of the dugout shortly before 7:05 p.m. tonight for what should have been an ordinary start against the Marlins, the opener of the final homestand of the season's first half, an opportunity to continue to lift his team during its slow climb up the standings. Before he tossed his first warm-up pitch, though, Corbin knelt down behind the rubber and with his index finger wrote the number 45 in the dirt. Astute observers also would have noticed the left-hander...

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Nats net seven international players (Nats win 3-2)

July 02, 2019, 3:54pm

Nationals

Nats net seven international players (Nats win 3-2)

The Nationals announced the signing of seven international free agents today, including top-20 international prospect right-handed pitcher Andry Lara from Coro, Venezuela. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Lara is 16 years old and was signed by Ronald Morillo, reportedly for a $1.25 million signing bonus. Lara is rated as the No. 16 international free agent by MLB Pipeline. The other two Venezuelan signees: left-hander Franklin Marquez and outfielder Roismar Quintana. The Nationals signed four players...

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Martinez said Corbin emotional at loss of "best friend" Skaggs

July 02, 2019, 2:05pm

Nationals

Martinez said Corbin emotional at loss of "best friend" Skaggs

The baseball world today is continuing to mourn the death of Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs. Manager Davey Martinez began his pregame meeting with the media with a statement from the Nationals: "On behalf of the Washington Nationals, our family here, myself, players, coaches, our heartfelt condolences to Tyler's family, the Anaheim Angels. It's a tough ordeal. Regardless of teams we play on, this is a baseball family. He's part of it. I wish the family well. Like I said, our...

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Rendon admits injury may keep him out of All-Star Game

July 02, 2019, 1:55pm

Nationals

Rendon admits injury may keep him out of All-Star Game

Anthony Rendon admitted today what has been suspected for several weeks: He's playing through an injury that has kept him from running at full speed all the time. And this undisclosed injury may prompt the Nationals third baseman from skipping his first-ever All-Star Game next week. Rendon wouldn't offer any specifics about his current physical condition except to acknowledge it has been affecting him for some time and has been noticeable to those who have watched him play at less than 100...

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Venters made mechanical adjustment to return to form

June 30, 2019, 5:37am

Nationals

Venters made mechanical adjustment to return to form

DETROIT - Left-hander Jonny Venters made his Nationals debut Saturday with five big outs to keep his team in the game. Venters arrived at a critical moment. The 27,716 at Comerica Park were riled up after the Tigers had rallied to tie the game at 3-3 with one out in fifth. Miguel Cabrera was standing at first base after delivering a two-run single. The outing did not start out the way he had planned, however, when Venters hit Christin Stewart with his first pitch thrown. Cabrera went to second...

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Nationals agree to terms with seven international free agents

July 02, 2019, 3:47pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with seven international free agents on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President of International Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LHP Aldonis, Pablo:B/T: L/L, Height: 6-1, Weight 160, age 17, date of birth 3/21/02, hometown: Tamayo, signing scout: Modesto Ulloa SS Garcia, Juan:R/R, 6-0, 170, 16, 2/17/03,La Romana, Riki Vasquez SS Martinez,...

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Game 84 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

July 02, 2019, 11:19am

Nationals

It's a familiar matchup tonight on South Capitol Street, where the Nationals and Marlins meet again, one week after they faced off in Miami. Even the pitching matchup is the same, with Patrick Corbin opposing Zac Gallen for the second time in six days. Corbin has been outstanding in two starts against the Marlins this season - one run, seven hits, 14 strikeouts in 16 innings - so he certainly figures to have a plan of attack for tonight's matchup. Sadly, the left-hander will be pitching with...

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Homestand offers chance for Nats to go into break on a tear

July 01, 2019, 9:11pm

Nationals

Homestand offers chance for Nats to go into break on a tear

Their 4-2 week against a pair of division rivals was important. But so was their just-completed, 5-1 week on the road against a couple of cellar dwellers. And all of that merely leads into this final week of the season's first half, in which the Nationals have a golden opportunity to keep up their sustained momentum against some very beatable competition and perhaps even head into the All-Star break in playoff position for the first time in 2019. On paper, the Nationals' upcoming homestand...