nationals

Eighth inning dooms Nationals again in 6-5 loss to Mets

April 06, 2019, 12:23pm

NEW YORK - There isn't much you can definitively say about a baseball season after only seven games, but here's one point that appears safe to say even at this super-early juncture: Every single National League East game - perhaps except for those involving the Marlins - is going to be an absolute grind in 2019. It's April 6 and already the Nationals have played seven games against the Mets and Phillies, and every single one has felt like a late-September showdown with postseason berths on...

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Martinez sticking with batting order for now (Nats lose 6-5)

April 06, 2019, 8:40am

Nationals

Martinez sticking with batting order for now (Nats lose 6-5)

NEW YORK - If the season was two or three weeks old, perhaps Davey Martinez would construct his lineup based on trends instead of track records. But the season is only one week old, and so for now, the Nationals manager is going to put his faith in track records over trends. The trends suggest Victor Robles shouldn't be hitting ninth and Brian Dozier shouldn't be batting second. But with only six games of evidence to make decisions on, Martinez believes the right path right now is to stick...

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Saturday morning thoughts

April 05, 2019, 4:31pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - Some Saturday morning thoughts before the Nationals and Mets resume their weekend series at Citi Field ... * Davey Martinez opened the season with Victor Robles batting ninth because he liked the idea of using the rookie center fielder as a "second leadoff hitter," someone who could occasionally set the table for Adam Eaton and Trea Turner. Well, that plan may actually be working out too well so far. Robles has led off an inning eight times, and he's gone 5-for-8 with two doubles...

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Game 7 lineups: Nats at Mets

April 06, 2019, 6:30am

Nationals

NEW YORK - And we're back. It's been a very odd schedule to begin this season, with three days off already. But now the Nationals finally get into a consistent routine, with five consecutive game days beginning this afternoon at Citi Field. The Nats will look to make it three in a row and get over the .500 mark for the first time this season. They'll have Patrick Corbin on the mound to make his second start, each of them against the Mets. The new lefty was solid his debut Sunday afternoon, a...

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How Strasburg is pitching effectively with less velocity

April 04, 2019, 7:29pm

Nationals

How Strasburg is pitching effectively with less velocity

NEW YORK - Stephen Strasburg is a flamethrower. At least, that's the mental image most folks have when they first think of the Nationals right-hander. They remember the way Strasburg lit up the radar gun as a rookie in 2010, and even after returning from Tommy John surgery the following year. Ask the casual observer how hard Strasburg throws his fastball, and the answer probably falls in the 96-98 mph range. Except that's not who he is anymore. After maintaining his elite velocity through...

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C. Kieboom, Noll notch first Triple-A base hits; Difo making progress

April 06, 2019, 2:44am

Nationals

C. Kieboom, Noll notch first Triple-A base hits; Difo making progress

Last night, Reno defeated Fresno 7-5 ,but shortstop Carter Kieboom and third baseman Jake Noll each contributed on their first Triple-A base hits. Kieboom connected on a double and Noll an RBI single. Juan Soto said he has known Noll for quite some time because they came up to the big leagues together. Noll was optioned to Fresno when the Nationals reinstated Howie Kendrick from the injured list Thursday morning. "I feel very happy for him because we played together in the minor leagues,"...

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Beleaguered bullpen steps up to close out tough win

April 04, 2019, 2:23pm

Nationals

Beleaguered bullpen steps up to close out tough win

NEW YORK - It was the dominant storyline of the season's first week, and it promises to remain that way through this first road trip of 2019. The Nationals are going to live and die by their bullpen, and after dying a few times at home against the Mets and Phillies, they were brought back to life by the beleaguered relief corps this afternoon during a 4-0 victory at Citi Field. "Like I said before, if we're going to do this, I got to trust the bullpen to get the job done," manager Davey...

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Soto taking Martinez's advice to get on base

April 05, 2019, 3:28am

Nationals

Soto taking Martinez's advice to get on base

Juan Soto did not get extra-base hits or up his RBI total Thursday in the Nationals' 4-0 win at Citi Field against Mets flame thrower Noah Syndergaard. But he did something that was still very important to the offense. Soto walked once and scored two runs, going 1-for-3. Soto's walk led off the second inning, one of the best examples this season of the Nats manufacturing a run to take an early lead. Ryan Zimmerman walked to push Soto to second base. A wild pitched from Syndergaard moved Soto...

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Bruised SÃ¡nchez expects to make next start (Nats win 4-0)

April 04, 2019, 9:55am

Nationals

Bruised SÃ¡nchez expects to make next start (Nats win 4-0)

NEW YORK - AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez was sporting a bruise on his right hip this morning at Citi Field, but the Nationals right-hander has made it known he'll be ready to make his next scheduled start. SÃ¡nchez, who was struck by Andrew McCutchen's third-inning comebacker during Wednesday's game in Washington, gave up two runs and put four runners on base in the fourth, then after attempting a few warm-up tosses in the fifth had to depart. "The way I throw, because of my hip, it hurt me,"...

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Strasburg dominates early, bullpen comes up big late in 4-0 win

April 04, 2019, 12:30pm

Nationals

Strasburg dominates early, bullpen comes up big late in 4-0 win

NEW YORK - Stephen Strasburg was brilliant. And his teammates did just enough against Noah Syndergaard to take a lead into the latter innings of today's matinee at Citi Field. But as anyone who has watched only a few moments of Nationals baseball in 2019 already knew, none of this would matter if the majors' most beleaguered bullpen couldn't find a way to do its job and close out a victory. So as impressive as Strasburg's 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball was, and as impressive as Victor...

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Nationals bench gets boost with Kendrick's return

April 04, 2019, 8:28am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Howie Kendrick officially was activated off the injured list this morning, giving the Nationals the right-handed pinch-hitter they've missed for nearly 11 months. Kendrick, who spent the last month rehabbing from a strained left hamstring suffered during spring training, already had completed his long rehab from the ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered last May. The 35-year-old utilityman's absence was noted throughout the 2018 season, and his return today is being welcomed...

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Game 6 lineups: Nats at Mets

April 04, 2019, 6:31am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Hello from Citi Field, where the Mets host the Nationals in their home opener only one week after the Nats hosted the Mets in their home opener on South Capitol Street. It was a short night for the Metropolitans, who had a 6:05 p.m. game in Miami and didn't arrive back in New York until 2 a.m. The Nationals are a bit more rested after taking the train up from D.C. following yesterday afternoon's wild win over the Phillies. They've also got some fresh blood on the roster: Howie...

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Another bullpen meltdown, but another walk-off win

April 03, 2019, 1:04pm

Nationals

Another bullpen meltdown, but another walk-off win

The day began with words of encouragement from the general manager to the embattled bullpen he assembled. "The bullpen's struggling. There's no other way to put it," Mike Rizzo said. "We need to be more aggressive in the strike zone. We need to follow the game plan. We need to perform like the back of their baseball card says. ... We feel good about the skill set of them. Now we have to put the skill set into the performance and get the guys that we signed to perform like they're supposed...

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Eaton believes "things need to change"; Miller picking up slack in 'pen

April 04, 2019, 4:01am

Nationals

Eaton believes "things need to change"; Miller picking up slack in 'pen

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Wednesday that he was not thrilled with the way his team is playing baseball right now. The club has started 2-3, the bullpen has struggled to record outs, the defense has made mistakes and the baserunning has caused opportunities to be taken off the board. The skipper deemed the 9-8 victory Wednesday over the Phillies as a "bittersweet win." Right fielder Adam Eaton, who had a single, a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's come-from-behind win,...

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Nationals reinstate Howie Kendrick

April 04, 2019, 6:28am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals reinstated infielder Howie Kendrick (left-hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Jake Noll to Triple-A Fresno on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kendrick, 35, missed the first five games of the 2019 season with a left-hamstring strain suffered on March 5. Kendrick returns to action after rupturing his right Achilles tendon on May 19, 2018. At the time of the injury,...

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Despite 9-8 win, Martinez "not thrilled" with Nats' play

April 03, 2019, 2:20pm

Nationals

Despite 9-8 win, Martinez "not thrilled" with Nats' play

Nationals manager Davey Martinez was happy his club mounted a late comeback to beat the Phillies 9-8 Wednesday, but is not pleased with how the team is playing baseball through its first five games. "Oh, we needed it," Martinez said. "And it's kind of a bittersweet win. I'm not thrilled about how we're playing, but I'm happy that the boys kept pushing. It's a testament to them. But we gotta start playing better. We worked all spring on doing the little things, and we gotta make it...

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Turner lands on IL, Sanchez recalled, Kendrick ready Thursday

April 03, 2019, 9:01am

Nationals

Turner lands on IL, Sanchez recalled, Kendrick ready Thursday

The Nationals officially placed Trea Turner on the 10-day injured list today, and though they are offering no firm timetable for his return the club is prepared to be without its starting shortstop for a significant stretch that figures to last at least a month. "We saw the X-ray, we put him on the injured list and we'll see how he progresses," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "And when the bone heals, we'll have him start baseball activities and then get him back as soon as we...

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Rendon and Zimmerman homer to set tone (Nats win 9-8)

April 03, 2019, 9:34am

Nationals

Rendon and Zimmerman homer to set tone (Nats win 9-8)

The Phillies got going in the first against Nats starter AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez. With one out, Jean Segura singled, Bryce Harper was intentionally walked and Rhys Hoskins singled Segura home to make it 1-0 Phillies. J.T. Realmuto laid down a bunt that Sanchez deftly fielded and threw him out at first, but Harper scored to make it 2-0. In the bottom of the first against Aaron Nola, Anthony Rendon hit his second homer of the series. After a Juan Soto double, Ryan Zimmerman golfed a two-run shot...

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Rizzo looking for answers from "struggling" bullpen

April 03, 2019, 8:42am

Nationals

Rizzo looking for answers from "struggling" bullpen

General manager Mike Rizzo went over the injury report prior to Wednesday's series finale against the Phillies but also touched on the problems the bullpen is having keeping opponents off the board late in games. In the Mets series, the Nationals bullpen allowed eight runs on 11 hits in the eighth inning alone. It has been only four games, but individual numbers have been somewhat brutal. Matt Grace's ERA is 20.25 in three games. Jeremy Hellickson allowed three hits last night, including...

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On Tuesday's atmosphere, Turner's injury, Soto's struggles

April 02, 2019, 9:09pm

Nationals

On Tuesday's atmosphere, Turner's injury, Soto's struggles

Some morning-after thoughts following an eventful and emotional night at the ballpark, with the Nationals and Phillies turning right around to play today's series finale this afternoon ... * Nats players were genuinely surprised by the crowd's reaction to Bryce Harper in his first game back in town as a visiting player. They didn't necessarily expect a standing ovation. But they certainly didn't expect the loudest boos they've ever heard directed at one player since this ballpark...