nationals

Opposite dugout: Surging Cardinals have sights set on postseason spot

August 12, 2018, 1:42pm

Manager: Mike Shildt (1st season) Record: 63-55 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 3B Matt Carpenter (.277 \ with 32 HR, 65 RBIs); C Yadier Molina (.290 \ with 53 RBIs, 95 hits); 1B JosÃ© MartÃnez (.299 with 114 hits); LF Marcell Ozuna (.272 with 122 hits, 62 RBIs); RHP Miles Mikolas (12-3, 2.74 ERA); RHP Jack Flaherty (6-6, 3.22 ERA); RHP Bud Norris (2.85 ERA, 22 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: Aug. 13: LHP Tommy Milone (1-1) vs. RHP...

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Murphy finding stroke, still terrorizing Cubs (Nats lead 1-0)

August 12, 2018, 5:23pm

Nationals

Murphy finding stroke, still terrorizing Cubs (Nats lead 1-0)

CHICAGO - Daniel Murphy has been terrorizing the Cubs since the 2015 National League Championship Series, and he's been up to his old tricks this weekend at Wrigley Field. Murphy, finally feeling healthy and confident in his swing after a long recovery from knee surgery, had seven hits in his first 10 at-bats of the Nationals' series against the Cubs. That included a single down the left field line in the top of the second tonight, one that advanced Ryan Zimmerman from first to third and put...

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Rendon sits again, Doolittle ready to throw off mound

August 12, 2018, 3:25pm

Nationals

Rendon sits again, Doolittle ready to throw off mound

CHICAGO - Anthony Rendon is out of the Nationals lineup for the second straight day, but manager Davey Martinez expressed some level of confidence his starting third baseman won't need to miss a third straight game. Rendon, who was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the first inning Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, is available to come off the bench for tonight's series finale against the Cubs. That would most likely be if the Nats needed him in the field, though, not as likely if he was...

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Roark extends himself, wins fourth straight

August 11, 2018, 8:25pm

Nationals

Roark extends himself, wins fourth straight

CHICAGO - When Tanner Roark walked off the mound following a scoreless bottom of the seventh Saturday afternoon, he was greeted at the top of the dugout steps by Davey Martinez, who proceeded to have a conversation with the pitcher. When that conversation ended, Roark got a fist-bump from his manager and went back into the dugout. He didn't get a handshake or any hugs from teammates. In the current etiquette of baseball, this could only be deciphered to mean one thing: Roark was coming back to...

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Game 118 lineups: Nats at Cubs

August 12, 2018, 12:19pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - We've seen no shortage of wacky and wild stuff this summer from a Nationals team that seems to vacillate from contender to pretender on a daily basis. So who knows which version we'll see tonight on Sunday Night Baseball. But we do know we're going to see a marquee matchup: Max Scherzer vs. Cole Hamels. Yes, it's Cy Young Award vs. World Series MVP winner, with the fate of this weekend series at stake. Scherzer is trying to make a case for his third straight (and fourth overall)...

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Zimmerman vanquishes Wrigley demons in Nats' 9-4 win (updated)

August 11, 2018, 3:02pm

Nationals

Zimmerman vanquishes Wrigley demons in Nats' 9-4 win (updated)

CHICAGO - There are few hitters havens in baseball like Wrigley Field, provided the wind isn't blowing in and the temperature isn't 43 degrees. But there's no park in the majors that has haunted Ryan Zimmerman like the Friendly Confines on the corner of Clark and Addison, at least in recent years. Ever since he became manager of the Cubs in 2015, there is no member of the Nationals lineup Joe Maddon has been more willing to pitch to than Zimmerman. So much so that he once walked Bryce Harper...

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Zimmerman finally delivering behind Harper (Nats up 9-1)

August 11, 2018, 1:10pm

Nationals

Zimmerman finally delivering behind Harper (Nats up 9-1)

CHICAGO - The Bryce Harper-Ryan Zimmerman 1-2 punch doesn't exactly have a storied history at Wrigley Field. This, of course, is the venue where two years ago the Cubs did everything they could to avoid pitching to Harper and instead go after Zimmerman, who simply could not make them pay for the strategy. So when Anthony Rendon was scratched from today's game with a bruised left wrist, it may have surprised some that Davey Martinez decided to tweak his lineup by moving Harper into the No. 3...

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Rendon has wrist contusion, plus more injury updates

August 11, 2018, 11:03am

Nationals

Rendon has wrist contusion, plus more injury updates

CHICAGO - When Anthony Rendon was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the top of the first Friday afternoon, the Nationals third baseman waved off a trainer and remained in the game. Rendon played all nine innings of the Nats' 3-2 loss to the Cubs. He batted three more times, driving a ball to the warning track in left field that was caught. He made three plays in the field. All appeared to be fine. But after the game ended, Rendon could be seen leaving the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley...

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Glover, Suero could ascend into late-inning roles

August 10, 2018, 7:21pm

Nationals

Glover, Suero could ascend into late-inning roles

CHICAGO - For all the difficulty Sammy SolÃs and Greg Holland had in the sixth and seventh innings, ultimately costing the Nats the game, Koda Glover and Wander Suero pitched exceptionally well after that. And in doing so may have earned their manager's trust to start pitching in big situations like the ones SolÃs and Holland failed in at Wrigley Field. After Holland walked in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh, manager Davey Martinez summoned Glover to enter from the bullpen...

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Game 117 lineups: Nats at Cubs (Rendon scratched)

August 11, 2018, 8:32am

Nationals

Game 117 lineups: Nats at Cubs (Rendon scratched)

CHICAGO - Another day, another opportunity for the Nationals to change the script of a season that has pretty much followed one path. And not the path this team wanted to follow. After their latest agonizing loss, the Nats will try to reverse the trend this afternoon at Wrigley Field and take the second game of this weekend series. They'll be hoping Tanner Roark can continue his recent reversal of trends - 3-0, 0.82 ERA his last three starts - and do his part to help beat the Cubs. It's...

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Rehab program likely leaves Strasburg return two weeks away

August 10, 2018, 9:48am

Nationals

Rehab program likely leaves Strasburg return two weeks away

CHICAGO - Stephen Strasburg is ramping up his throwing program, but the right-hander still appears to be at least two weeks away from rejoining the Nationals rotation. Strasburg, who has made only one start since June 8 due to shoulder and neck ailments, is slated to throw a "heavy" bullpen session Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. If that goes well, manager Davey Martinez said he'll throw a simulated game on Wednesday in St. Louis. And then if that goes well, he'll make a minor league...

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Wrigley wind helping Hellickson keep ball in park (Nats down 3-2)

August 10, 2018, 11:36am

Nationals

Wrigley wind helping Hellickson keep ball in park (Nats down 3-2)

CHICAGO - The Nationals are hitting singles and doubles against Kyle Hendricks so far today, and reaping the benefits of it. The Cubs are trying to hit homers off Jeremy Hellickson, and paying the price on a windy day at Wrigley Field. Four innings into the opener of a key weekend series, the Nationals hold a 2-0 lead thanks to six hits off Hendricks (five singles and a double) and zeroes off Hellickson (despite two deep drives that probably would've been homers under different weather...

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Nats let another close one slip away, fall 3-2 to Cubs (updated)

August 10, 2018, 1:31pm

Nationals

Nats let another close one slip away, fall 3-2 to Cubs (updated)

CHICAGO - The stakes perhaps felt a little higher, given the opposition, the location and all the familiar faces that have worn both clubs' uniforms in the last two seasons. But today's series opener at Wrigley Field felt remarkably familiar for a Nationals team that has found itself in situations just like this all summer long and consistently has shown itself unable to emerge victorious. Early offense, but a bunch of squandered opportunities to tack on needed runs later? Check. Dominance...

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MLB announces Nationals nicknames for Players' Weekend

August 10, 2018, 2:52am

Nationals

The Major League Baseball announced for August 24-26 games the players will wear special uniforms with their nicknames instead of last names on their backs. Here are the nicknames for the Nationals: Matt Adams: "BIG CITY" Joaquin Benoit: "JACK" Wilmer Difo: "EL DE" Sean Doolittle: "DOC" Adam Eaton: "SPANKY" Erick Fedde: "FEDDECCINI" Koda Glover: "BEAR" Gio Gonzalez: "DOUBLE G" Matt Grace: "GRACEY" Bryce Harper: "MONDO" Jeremy Hellickson: "HELLY" Kelvin Herrera: "K 40"...

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Taylor gourmet: center fielder stellar at offense and defense

August 10, 2018, 2:50am

Nationals

Taylor gourmet: center fielder stellar at offense and defense

Michael A. Taylor played the part of "super sub" Thursday, contributing on offense and defense to a help the Nationals earn a split of their four-game set with the Braves, 6-3. Taylor smacked a solo shot and made a spectacular diving catch of a dying bloop shot off the bat of Kurt Suzuki as the Nats earned their 59th win of the season. At the start of the game, both Taylor and Adam Eaton provided key outfield assists to prevent the Braves from scoring runs. Manager Davey Martinez sighted the...

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Game 116 lineups: Nats at Cubs

August 10, 2018, 7:35am

Nationals

CHICAGO - It's a warm, sunny day at the corner of Clark and Addison, but the wind's actually blowing in, a rarity at Wrigley Field given the other conditions. That could help keep the ball in the park, which of course benefits the pitchers in today's series opener between the Nationals and Cubs. Jeremy Hellickson is the kind of pitcher who looks for groundballs, so he won't complain about the conditions this afternoon. The right-hander still faces a stiff challenge, of course, in the Cubs...

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Opposite dugout: Cubs host streaking Nats in Windy City for three-game weekend series

August 09, 2018, 6:53pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Cubs host streaking Nats in Windy City for three-game weekend series

Manager: Joe Maddon (4th season) Record: 66-48 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Javier BÃ¡ez (25 HR, 88 RBIs, 19 SB), LF Kyle Schwarber (20 HR, 48 RBIs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (17 HR, 74 RBI), 3B David Bote (.338), RHP Pedro Strop (2.74 ERA, 8 SV) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-0 Pitching probables: Aug. 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (5-2) vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks (8-9), 2:20 p.m., MASNAug. 11: RHP Tanner Roark (6-12) vs. LHP Jon Lester (12-4), 4:05 p.m., MASNAug. 12: RHP Max Scherzer (15-5) vs. LHP...

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Ryan Sullivan: A night to remember in the MASN broadcast booth

August 10, 2018, 6:47am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: A night to remember in the MASN broadcast booth

On Wednesday evening, I was fortunate enough to spend my birthday attending the Nationals game and to sit with Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo in the MASN broadcast booth from the second through the fifth innings. You might assume my lofty position as a MASNsports.com guest blogger was my ticket to this invitation, but actually, several months back at the Nats Clubhouse Social event, I was the lucky winner of this opportunity as a raffle prize. As a diehard baseball fan that has spent a bit...

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SÃ¡nchez leaves prematurely with calf injury (Nats win 6-3)

August 09, 2018, 10:07am

Nationals

SÃ¡nchez leaves prematurely with calf injury (Nats win 6-3)

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed a solo homer to Nick Markakis that led off the top of the second inning. The Braves have managed at least one base hit each inning, but to Gonzalez's credit, he wiggled out of those threats to allow just one run through three frames. Braves right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez pitched two innings, allowing only one base hit from Trea Turner, a single in the first. But he was replaced by Wes Parsons to begin the third. The right-hander made his major league debut...

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Gonzalez gains momentum in seven innings, Nats win 6-3

August 09, 2018, 1:05pm

Nationals

Gonzalez gains momentum in seven innings, Nats win 6-3

In a game they had to win, left-hander Gio Gonzalez dug down deep to deliver a convincing seven-inning gem as the Nationals split their series with the second-place Braves, 6-3. The win for the southpaw snapped a personal seven-game losing streak dating back to May 28 at Baltimore. Gonzalez allowed only a second inning Nick Markakis solo shot and walked one over those seven frames, striking out three, and scattering five other hits. The Nats enjoyed RBIs from six different players in their...