nationals

Game 29 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (Soto scratched)

May 01, 2019, 11:14am

It's a new month, and the Nationals can only hope things go better in May than they did in April. One way to try to make that happen? Dominant performances from the top of their rotation. They're sending Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to the mound the next two days against the Cardinals, so the table is certainly set for this to happen. Scherzer was fantastic in his last start against the Padres, striking out 10 while allowing only two runs in seven innings. He did surrender a homer to...

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SÃ¡nchez happy with outing except for two costly walks in 3-2 setback

April 30, 2019, 7:21pm

Nationals

SÃ¡nchez happy with outing except for two costly walks in 3-2 setback

Right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez appeared to be well on his way to his first victory with the Nationals until the fourth inning Tuesday night. The Cardinals scored three runs on three hits with the benefit of two walks in that frame. That was all they would need as they erased an early 2-0 deficit to come back and beat the Nats 3-2. SÃ¡nchez worked five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and a season-high seven strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches, 60 for strikes, striking...

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Depleted lineup again struggles during 3-2 loss (updated)

April 30, 2019, 6:14pm

Nationals

Depleted lineup again struggles during 3-2 loss (updated)

The bullpen has managed to straighten itself out over the last three days. The rotation, while not pitching up to its lofty potential, is mostly giving the team a chance to win. The Nationals lineup? Well, that has now become the roster's biggest problem area. With three key regulars on the injured list and several others struggling mightily to produce with any consistency, the Nationals just aren't doing enough at the plate these days. And so they squandered a golden opportunity to win a...

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After familiar April, Nationals need a bounceback May

April 30, 2019, 8:13pm

Nationals

Amid all the questions that were being asked of him following Tuesday night's 3-2 loss, Davey Martinez had one question for the assembled media in his postgame press conference. "Is tomorrow May 1?" the Nationals manager asked. "I can't wait until tomorrow." The calendar indeed has turned, and not a moment too soon for a Nats club that just endured through an awfully frustrating April (plus a couple days in March prior to that). Losers in eight of their last 11 games, the Nationals now...

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Eaton and Robles hit back-to-back homers (Nats lose 3-2)

April 30, 2019, 4:04pm

Nationals

Eaton and Robles hit back-to-back homers (Nats lose 3-2)

Nationals right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez is seeking his first win with his new team. After starting the season 0-3, SÃ¡nchez faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night. He was lights-out deceptive in the first three frames, allowing one hit and striking out six. In the bottom of the third, Adam Eaton and Victor Robles connected on back-to-back solo homer off of Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright. For Eaton it was on a first pitch and was his second homer of the season. Robles...

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Jennings wants to pitch every day; Fedde's key role still undecided

April 30, 2019, 2:16pm

Nationals

Jennings wants to pitch every day; Fedde's key role still undecided

With Anthony Rendon moving to the injured list, the Nationals purchased the contract of veteran southpaw reliever Dan Jennings from Double-A Harrisburg. Jennings had a 4-5 record with a 3.22 ERA in 72 appearances last season with Milwaukee. The Senators were in Reading, Pa., when Jennings was told he had to get to D.C. "After the game they told me, then it became a scramble to get here," Jennings said. "I took an Uber here from Reading. I think the guy was a little surprised when he picked...

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Once situation became a "stalemate," Nats placed Rendon on IL

April 30, 2019, 2:11pm

Nationals

Once situation became a "stalemate," Nats placed Rendon on IL

When Anthony Rendon took a pitch off his left elbow April 20 in Miami, the Nationals knew he was in pain. But they also believed the star third baseman, who had suffered only a bad bruise, wouldn't need more than a handful of days to make it back. And so they kept Rendon on their active roster, electing to play with a short bench while waiting for him to heal. Rendon did heal enough to return to the lineup Friday, a full six days after suffering the injury. But after an 0-for-3 performance...

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Game 28 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

April 30, 2019, 11:13am

Nationals

If you've been following, you knew this was coming: Anthony Rendon is now on the injured list. The Nationals officially placed the third baseman on the 10-day IL with a bruised left elbow today, a move that's backdated the maximum three days allowed but now prevents him from being activated until May 7 at the earliest. The Nats are using that roster spot to help the bullpen, purchasing the contract of left-hander Dan Jennings, who had just recently been signed to a minor league deal. To clear...

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Rendon to injured list, Nats purchase contract of Jennings

April 30, 2019, 11:03am

Nationals

Rendon to injured list, Nats purchase contract of Jennings

The Nationals finally had to give up on hoping Anthony Rendon could quickly get back from a left elbow injury. The Nats placed Rendon on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow contusion on Tuesday prior to their second game against the Cardinals. The team has purchased the contract of left-hander Dan Jennings from Double-A Harrisburg to add depth to the bullpen. To make room for Jennings on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-hander Austin Adams for assignment. Rendon's status is...

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"Uncharacteristic" walks doom Corbin in the end

April 29, 2019, 7:05pm

Nationals

"Uncharacteristic" walks doom Corbin in the end

One inning was all it took for the Cardinals to turn the tables on left-hander Patrick Corbin and the Nationals. Down 3-0 in the fifth, St. Louis tallied six runs on five hits and two walks as 10 batters came to the plate. Marcell Ozuna provided the highlight knock, a two-run single that pushed the Cards to a 4-3 lead. Corbin (2-1) said the key to the inning unraveling were the two walks issued to Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong. Coupled with a single allowed to Paul Goldschmidt, those free...

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Nats notes: Decision time on Rendon, bullpen suddenly hot

April 29, 2019, 7:53pm

Nationals

Nats notes: Decision time on Rendon, bullpen suddenly hot

Just about every day over the last week-plus, Davey Martinez has been asked if Anthony Rendon will be available to pinch-hit that night, and the Nationals manager has almost always answered in a hopeful manner. Martinez, though, sounded less hopeful when asked about the possibility Monday afternoon as the Nationals prepared to face the Cardinals with their star third baseman still out of the lineup with a bruised left elbow. "He's going to take swings later on in the day, and we'll see,"...

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Nats open daunting stretch with 6-3 loss to Cards (updated)

April 29, 2019, 6:11pm

Nationals

Nats open daunting stretch with 6-3 loss to Cards (updated)

They slogged their way through a rough stretch against less-intimidating competition, and now the Nationals were opening a 13-game stretch against three division leaders and another team that came within one game of reaching the World Series last fall. It's going to require improvement in all facets of the game for the Nats to emerge successful from this daunting stretch. And though they got some much needed improvement in one key area - the bullpen - tonight, it meant little when their...

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Why Rendon isn't on IL but Zimmerman is

April 29, 2019, 1:45pm

Nationals

Anthony Rendon has played once in the last nine days, leaving the Nationals a man short on their active roster. But if you assumed that would've convinced the team to place its star third baseman on the injured list by now, you'd be wrong. Though his bruised left elbow continues to prevent him from fully extending when he swings, Rendon believes he's only a day or two away from returning to action. So the Nationals continue to put off an IL move, not wanting to risk losing him for even more...

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Rosenthal heads to Florida to try to figure out control issues

April 29, 2019, 2:08pm

Nationals

Rosenthal heads to Florida to try to figure out control issues

Nationals reliever Trevor Rosenthal is heading to extended spring training in West Palm Beach, Fla., to begin a throwing program as he looks to recover from a viral infection that placed him on the 10-day injured list. "We just want to get him healthy, get him ready, get him back," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "We laid out a plan for him to go down there. He's going to start a throwing program and get him built up and get him back hopefully as soon as possible." Rosenthal was at...

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Corbin helps his own cause to start rally (Nats fall 6-3)

April 29, 2019, 3:59pm

Nationals

Corbin helps his own cause to start rally (Nats fall 6-3)

The Nationals got after Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha with three runs in the second inning. The rally was sparked by Wacha's counterpart, left-hander Patrick Corbin, who put together was of the most impressive at-bats of the season. With one out, Matt Adams singled to right field. One batter later, Brian Dozier singled. Yan Gomes walked to load the bases. Corbin battled back from an 0-2 count to get to a full count versus Wacha. He had to foul off four pitches to stay alive for nine...

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Youngest Nationals make history with trio of home runs

April 28, 2019, 8:49pm

Nationals

As Carter Kieboom rounded the bases following his game-tying homer in the fifth inning - this on the heels of Victor Robles' solo homer the previous inning, that on the heels of Juan Soto's three-run blast the inning prior to that - Davey Martinez paused to consider what the three youngest players on the Nationals roster had just accomplished. "I sat there, and I go, '20, 21, 21: That's pretty cool,' " Martinez said. "I started thinking, 'Has that been done before?' " The answer: No,...

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Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

April 29, 2019, 11:17am

Nationals

The Nationals just completed a stretch in which they went 6-9 against the Pirates, Giants, Marlins, Rockies and Padres. Now they open a 16-game stretch in which they'll face the Cardinals, Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers and Mets. Suffice it to say, they need to play better in every facet of the game if they are going to survive this. It doesn't help matters that tonight they don't have Anthony Rendon in the lineup for the seventh time in eight games with a bruised left elbow. As of this moment,...

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Nationals' issues negated by other NL East teams with their own problems

April 29, 2019, 11:35am

Nationals

The Nationals' first month of the season has been mediocre, but they are lucky none of the other three teams expected be National League East contenders are playing well either. The Mets and Braves can score, but each has pitching issues, the Mets in the rotation and the Braves in the bullpen. And the Nationals' bullpen struggles are documented well, although Erick Fedde and the relievers pitched well in a much-needed victory Sunday against San Diego. The Phillies rotation is coming together....

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Grace believes slight adjustment in delivery has led to recent groove

April 29, 2019, 3:12am

Nationals

Grace believes slight adjustment in delivery has led to recent groove

Left-hander Matt Grace has been the go-to middle-relief choice by manager Davey Martinez. Grace had some outings that didn't go as well as he would have liked to begin the season, but now is on a streak of no runs allowed in six of his last seven appearances, including three in a row. The only thing about the appearances he would change is the four walks allowed. Grace said he made a couple of tweaks to his delivery that seemed to have helped. He has whittled his ERA down from 20.25 to...

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Adams' titanic blast in 11th caps Nats' big comeback (updated)

April 28, 2019, 1:41pm

Nationals

Adams' titanic blast in 11th caps Nats' big comeback (updated)

It took just about every ounce of intestinal fortitude the Nationals had in them just to get into position to win this afternoon, whether overcoming an early six-run deficit, asking their three youngest players to ignite a rally with a historic trio of homers or asking a couple of longtime rotation prospects to deliver a bunch of scoreless innings out of the bullpen. It was an impressive display of gumption on the Nationals' part. But it still left them in an uncomfortably familiar position:...