nationals

Everything goes Nats' way in blowout of Braves (updated)

May 29, 2019, 6:33pm

ATLANTA - Draw up a best-case scenario for the first five innings of tonight's game from the Nationals' perspective. Now multiply whatever outcome that came to mind by a factor of three. And then think up an even better scenario than that. Seriously, what more could the Nationals have done through five innings tonight at SunTrust Park? They scored 14 runs, batting around in both the top of the first and top of the second. They saw AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez retire all 15 batters he faced in his...

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Denaburg doing well, but starting point for summer yet to be announced

May 29, 2019, 3:18pm

Nationals

Denaburg doing well, but starting point for summer yet to be announced

With the season two months old, the Nationals No. 1 selection from last season, Mason Denaburg, is continuing to make good progress in West Palm Beach, Fla. The right-hander told me in March that he is 100 percent healthy. Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba said that all systems are go for Denaburg. "He's in Florida pitching in our extended spring training camp and progressing well," Scialabba said. The latest update for Denaburg, 19, has him at full strength and...

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Hellickson shut down with sore shoulder (Nats up 14-4)

May 29, 2019, 3:17pm

Nationals

Hellickson shut down with sore shoulder (Nats up 14-4)

ATLANTA - The Nationals have shut down Jeremy Hellickson from throwing after the right-hander was continuing to experience shoulder soreness while on the injured list. Hellickson, who went on the IL on May 21 with a strained right shoulder, was already throwing long toss that afternoon and believed he could keep himself sharp during what he hoped would be a brief stint off the active roster. But the right-hander wasn't responding to the throwing sessions as well as he wanted, so the club...

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Nationals sign veteran lefty Venters to minor league deal

May 29, 2019, 2:23pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - In their ongoing search for more bullpen help, the Nationals are taking a flier on veteran Jonny Venters, hoping the former Braves lefty can rediscover the form that made him effective last season but eluded him this year. The Nats signed Venters to a minor league contract and assigned him to Double-A Harrisburg, where he'll attempt to get himself on track and perhaps merit a promotion at some point. "He's a prominent left-handed pitcher who pitched well in some high-leverage...

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Doolittle ditches toe tap, returns to peak form

May 28, 2019, 10:24pm

Nationals

Doolittle ditches toe tap, returns to peak form

ATLANTA - The toe tap was gone. The results were back to normal. Sean Doolittle looked like his old self again Tuesday night during a scoreless bottom of the ninth that preserved the Nationals' 5-4 win over the Braves. He faced four batters, struck out three of them and emerged with his 10th save in a game his team desperately needed. And for the first time in 2019, he did it without his front foot touching dirt before taking his full stride toward the plate. That seemingly innocuous move...

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Game 56 lineups: Nats at Braves

May 29, 2019, 11:45am

Nationals

ATLANTA - The Nationals, as surely you know by now, have not swept a series yet this season. Shoot, they just finally completed their first three-game winning streak last weekend. But if they can beat the Braves again tonight, they will have crossed that off list at last. Yes, it's only a two-game series, but beggars can't be choosers. A win tonight would be no small task. The Nationals would have to win a game started by AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez, something they've done only twice in nine...

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Strasburg dominates for seven, Doolittle closes out Braves (updated)

May 28, 2019, 6:43pm

Nationals

Strasburg dominates for seven, Doolittle closes out Braves (updated)

ATLANTA - They got the dominant start they needed from Stephen Strasburg. They got both the power and the patience they needed from their lineup to give them a late lead. They got a near-disaster in the eighth inning from one of the usual suspects out of the bullpen. But when they got an overdue clean ninth inning from Sean Doolittle, the Nationals escaped SunTrust Park with a 5-4 victory over the Braves that felt as needed as any victory they've had in a while. "Gosh darn it, that was a...

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Nationals reinstate AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez

May 29, 2019, 11:21am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez from the 10-day injured list and optioned right-handed pitcher James Bourque to Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. SÃ¡nchez, 35, returns to the Nationals after being placed on the 10-day injured list on May 17 with a left hamstring strain. In nine starts prior to his injury, he was 0-6 with a 5.10 ERA (24 ER/42.1 IP) and...

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SÃ¡nchez will return to start Wednesday's finale (Nats up 4-2)

May 28, 2019, 2:16pm

Nationals

SÃ¡nchez will return to start Wednesday's finale (Nats up 4-2)

ATLANTA - They waited to make a final decision until after tonight's game, but the Nationals did decide to start AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez in Wednesday night's series finale against the Braves, believing the right-hander's hamstring is fully healed even if he hasn't built his arm all the way back up to a full workload yet. SÃ¡nchez, who strained his left hamstring May 16 against the Mets, was slated to go through a pregame workout this evening at SunTrust Park. If he got through this workout...

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More on Sunday's win over the Marlins

May 26, 2019, 9:17pm

Nationals

More on Sunday's 9-6 victory over the Marlins, which gave the Nationals their first three-game winning streak of the season ... * Howie Kendrick's value to this team can't be overstated. The veteran utility man has come through so many times for the Nationals when they've needed him to, and has proven to be so much more than a nice bat off the bench. Kendrick, who got things started Sunday with a solo homer in the bottom of the second and then drove in two more runs in the third, now has 28...

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Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves

May 28, 2019, 11:44am

Nationals

ATLANTA - The Nationals have already faced the Mets 13 times this season. They've faced the Phillies eight times. They've faced the Marlins seven times. Tonight, they finally face the Braves for the first of 19 head-to-head matchups this season. And it's only a two-game series before they pack up and leave for Cincinnati. Weird schedule, to say the least. The Braves, seeking back-to-back division titles, got off to a ragged start themselves. And they've had their share of bullpen woes. But...

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Updates on SÃ¡nchez, Zimmerman, Doolittle and Rosenthal

May 27, 2019, 8:30am

Nationals

Updates on SÃ¡nchez, Zimmerman, Doolittle and Rosenthal

One uncomfortable theme early in the season for the Nationals has been their inability to win when Max Scherzer starts, going 2-9 in those games. Scherzer has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of those 11 starts, three or fewer earned runs in nine of those starts. In his first meeting with the Marlins April 20, Scherzer allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in a 9-3 loss. Manager Davey Martinez addressed the importance of playing well for Scherzer today as the club...

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Two unearned runs late deny Scherzer the win again in 3-2 loss

May 27, 2019, 1:37pm

Nationals

Two unearned runs late deny Scherzer the win again in 3-2 loss

Right-hander Max Scherzer did his job again, keeping the Marlins from a big inning, but two unearned runs late were the deciding factor in a 3-2 Nationals loss on Memorial Day at Nats Park. It was too bad for Scherzer, because he was able to rebound from the last time he took on the Marlins in Miami, on April 20. The 9-3 loss that day was his worst outing of the season, in which he allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. This time the Marlins saw him well early on again,...

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Nats finally get first three-game win streak of year (updated)

May 26, 2019, 1:05pm

Nationals

Nats finally get first three-game win streak of year (updated)

It took two months of agonizing starts and stops, encouraging moments followed by devastating meltdowns, series with contenders and series with also-rans. But this weekend it finally happened: The Nationals won three games in a row. It's a modest achievement, to be sure. But the Nationals were the only team in the majors that had yet to win back-to-back-to-back games in 2019. And though it happened against the worst-in-baseball Marlins, that matters not a bit to a ballclub that simply needs to...

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Marlins see Scherzer well early on again (Nats fall 3-2)

May 27, 2019, 10:02am

Nationals

Marlins see Scherzer well early on again (Nats fall 3-2)

The Marlins have been able to see Nationals right-handed starter Max Scherzer fairly well to begin, connecting on five hits in the first three frames, with at least one single in each inning. Miami did the same thing to Scherzer in the teams' first meeting April 20 at Marlins Park, scoring three runs on six hits in the first three frames. The Marlins won that game 9-3. On Memorial Day, Neil Walker was 2-for-2 with an RBI single to score Garrett Cooper in the top of the third. Scherzer has...

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Game 54 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

May 27, 2019, 2:13am

Nationals

With Sunday's 9-6 win over the Miami Marlins, the Nationals have an opportunity for their first four-game series sweep of the season and their first four-game series winner since May 10-13, 2018 at Arizona. The last four-game sweep at home was April 30-May 3, 2018 over the Pirates. The last time the Nats swept a four-game set versus a divisional opponent was April 11-14, 2016 over the Braves. Outfielder Juan Soto continued his hitting run with another single in the ninth inning Sunday. His...

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Rosenthal remains on rehab with Harrisburg (Nats up 9-0)

May 26, 2019, 10:59am

Nationals

Rosenthal remains on rehab with Harrisburg (Nats up 9-0)

Trevor Rosenthal enjoyed a clean inning of relief in his latest rehab appearance. Now the Nationals need to see him do it again. Rosenthal retired the side on 18 pitches, throwing 10 strikes, in a scoreless inning Saturday night for Double-A Harrisburg. It was his sixth outing while rehabbing, officially from a viral infection but practically from his inability to throw strikes while pitching for the Nationals throughout April. Rosenthal's command woes have popped up more than once while...

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Robles sticking with bunt technique despite close shave

May 26, 2019, 8:57am

Nationals

Robles sticking with bunt technique despite close shave

The bunt is a big part of Victor Robles' game. He has seven bunt singles already this season, three more than any other player in the major leagues. The hit-by-pitch, unfortunately, also is a big part of Robles' game. He has been plunked eight times already this season, third-most in the majors. And sometimes these two truths are connected, with potentially frightening results. As was the case during the bottom of the fourth Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park. With runners on first and...

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Nationals sign veteran reliever Kontos to minor league deal

May 25, 2019, 9:03pm

Nationals

In their neverending quest to improve the majors' worst bullpen, the Nationals have acquired another veteran with considerable experience. The Nationals signed right-hander George Kontos on Saturday to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Fresno's roster, where he'll attempt to earn his way into Washington's bullpen. Kontos, 33, owns a career 3.10 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in 350 big league games, the vast majority of those with the Giants. He bounced around three organizations...

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Game 53 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

May 26, 2019, 6:55am

Nationals

We've wondered countless times this season if the Nationals might be able to build and then sustain some positive momentum. And inevitably the answer has been an emphatic no. So even though they've won two straight over the Marlins, it would be wholly irresponsible to start talking about any kind of positive momentum at this point. However, if the Nats can do today what they haven't been able to do all year - win three consecutive games - perhaps we can finally proclaim momentum to have been...