nationals

Scherzer's emphasis on hitting another phase to his unbeatable success

August 07, 2018, 3:54am

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer gets the nod for game two tonight against the Atlanta Braves as he puts his 15-5 and 2.33 ERA on the line in a crucial divisional matchup. He also puts his .292 batting average and .333 on-base percentage on the line as well. His .283 average as a pitcher is second only to Colorado's German Marquez (.350) in the National League. His 14 overall base hits are second most in his career. He had 15 base hits in 2015 and that was 69 at-bats. Nationals manager...

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Marty Niland: Nats need streak like they had in 2014 to get back in the race

August 05, 2018, 5:51am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats need streak like they had in 2014 to get back in the race

The Nationals have played their best baseball of the season since the All-Star break, and especially since Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline, yet they're still looking up at Atlanta and first-place Philadelphia in the National League East standings. What they really need right now is a winning streak, one like the amazing 10-game run they put together four years ago this month that secured their place at the top of the division. Like this season, the Nats were under the guidance of a...

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Martinez on getting production from the pitcher's spot in the batting order

August 06, 2018, 2:30am

Nationals

Martinez on getting production from the pitcher's spot in the batting order

Nationals manager Davey Martinez believes he has a pitching staff that can also hit, can put the bat on the ball, move runners and have a positive effect on game for the offense. Martinez said the pitcher's spot can change a game and allow him to flip his lineup over instead of it being the end of an inning. "Well, it's been huge. Tanner (Roark two starts ago) driving in some big runs for us. It gives you options when you know the pitcher can swing the bat. He can't hit, so we got to bunt....

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Roark rounding into form right as Nationals need it

August 05, 2018, 1:43pm

Nationals

Tanner Roark isn't No. 1 on the list of "Most Important Nationals for the Remainder of the Season," but he's on the list somewhere, and probably closer to the top than the bottom. The Nats have been built to win behind consistently great starting pitching for many years now, and typically as Roark has gone so has the team as a whole. So among the most significant developments of the second half to date has been the reemergence of the wily right-hander as a guy who can be counted on to...

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Nats hold off Reds 2-1, get long-awaited one-run victory

August 05, 2018, 12:16pm

Nationals

Nats hold off Reds 2-1, get long-awaited one-run victory

The Nationals have shown they can win some lopsided games, riding big offensive showings to big victories. If, however, they're going to pull off a late-season surge, they're going to have to start winning some tight ballgames when there's little-to-no margin for error. Like today's series finale against the Reds, in which the Nationals held a one-run lead in the fourth inning and then tried to make it hold up the rest of the afternoon. It wasn't easy, but the challenge facing the Nats...

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Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

August 05, 2018, 6:51am

Nationals

After a long day and night at the ballpark on Saturday, the Nationals return to the ballpark today for what amounts to a pretty big series finale with the Reds. Obviously, every game is big at this point, but consider that the Nats need to win today to win the series. And carry some positive momentum into their critical upcoming four-games-in-three-days series with the Braves. Which leads into a seven-game road trip to Chicago and St. Louis. So, yeah, a win today would help a lot of things....

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Hellickson on his cutter; Soto on success in both games of twinbill

August 04, 2018, 8:36pm

Nationals

Hellickson on his cutter; Soto on success in both games of twinbill

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said the second game of the doubleheader turned back into starter Jeremy Hellickson's favor Saturday night when he started to use his fastball more. The Reds were looking for his off-speed stuff, but when he regained his confidence in his fastball, results arrived. The Nats defeated the Reds 6-2, and Hellickson recorded his fifth win of the season. He allowed only two runs on four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. Hellickson agreed with his...

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Harper back in lineup after Saturday night plunking (Nats up 2-1)

August 05, 2018, 9:05am

Nationals

Harper back in lineup after Saturday night plunking (Nats up 2-1)

Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals' lineup for today's series finale against the Reds, a development that was very much uncertain when the star outfielder left the ballpark Saturday night with a barking right knee. Harper was hit by a pitch square on the kneecap during the bottom of the sixth inning of the Nats' 6-2 win over Cincinnati. He remained in the game and did take his position in right field to begin the top of the seventh but then was removed after laboring to track down a...

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Harper leaves game; Madson "didn't mean to hit" Votto in win

August 04, 2018, 7:17pm

Nationals

Harper leaves game; Madson "didn't mean to hit" Votto in win

The Nationals dropped the Reds 6-2 by scoring early and getting a solid performance from Jeremy Hellickson, who went 5 2/3 innings for his fifth win of the season. Coupled with a 7-1 setback in game one, the Nats ended up splitting the day-night twinbill. The concern after the game was the status of star outfielder Bryce Harper, who had to leave in the top of the seventh after getting hit by pitch from Austin Brice with two outs in the sixth. Harper said the pitcher apologized afterwards. "He...

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Bats keep pressure on Harvey early (Nats win 6-2)

August 04, 2018, 4:03pm

Nationals

Bats keep pressure on Harvey early (Nats win 6-2)

The Reds jumped on top in the first, thanks to a leadoff homer by JosÃ© Peraza. His sixth homer of the season came on an 0-1 pitch. Jeremy Hellickson then got out of the rest of the inning and went onto hold the Reds scoreless the next two frames. Against Matt Harvey, the Nationals scored a run on two hits in each of their first two innings. In the first, Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon contributed back-to-back doubles to get the Nats on the board. In the second, the Nats took their first lead...

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Gonzalez on 7-1 loss to Reds: "It's hit or miss right now"

August 04, 2018, 12:51pm

Nationals

Gonzalez on 7-1 loss to Reds: "It's hit or miss right now"

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez was inconsistent in the first inning in game one of their doubleheader against the Reds. After fighting his way through six batters, allowing three hits and only one run, it looked like he would be able to use that confidence to build into the second frame. But it just got worse from there. The Reds connected on a three-run shot by Phillip Ervin in the second, to pull away for a 7-1 victory in game one of a split doubleheader at Nats Park. "They came out,...

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Rodriguez likely Tuesday; Strasburg update (Nats fall 7-1)

August 04, 2018, 8:21am

Nationals

Rodriguez likely Tuesday; Strasburg update (Nats fall 7-1)

With a doubleheader today and a doubleheader Tuesday, manager Davey Martinez will have to be a bit creative in deciding where to place a starter for the Tuesday games against Atlanta. Max Scherzer will start one of those games. It would make sense based on past results that Scherzer will be the starter for the night cap. So who will start game one Tuesday? "We are probably going to need a pitcher," Martinez said. "Definitely for Tuesday. We haven't decided yet. I think right now if you look...

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Game 109 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

August 04, 2018, 7:12am

Nationals

The Nationals' momentum from their four-game winning streak was temporarily halted last evening due to inclement weather. Standing pat at the deadline has Davey Martinez's club rolling, albeit against a disappointing Mets' squad, and currently to the team dead-last in the NL Central. Gio Gonzalez's start last night got pushed back a day and he gets the nod in the first matchup of today's twinbill against the Reds. He's in the hunt for his first victory since May 28 against Baltimore....

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Miller's versatility becoming critical with exits of Kintzler, Kelley

August 03, 2018, 3:34pm

Nationals

Miller's versatility becoming critical with exits of Kintzler, Kelley

Reliever Justin Miller pitched a scoreless seventh inning Thursday night, taking over for starter Max Scherzer in the Nationals 10-4 win over the Reds in the series opener. He allowed one two-out single, but then got Jose Peraza to pop up weakly to catcher Matt Wieters to end the inning. Wieters bumped fists with Miller as if to say 'good job!" as the big right-hander worked his way back to the dugout. It symbolized the importance of Miller to the Nationals relieving corps. His position has...

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Harper in nice rhythm after Home Run Derby, reversing recent trend

August 03, 2018, 1:42pm

Nationals

Harper in nice rhythm after Home Run Derby, reversing recent trend

Nationals manager Davey Martinez elected to place first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the No. 7 hole in the lineup in Friday's matchup against the Reds. This is the first time Zimmerman will bat seventh in a game this season. Zimmerman has started 24 games in the No. 7 hole, out of 1,536 career major league starts. Martinez said the emphasis wasn't on Zimmerman being dropped down that far in the order, but rather the groupings of hitters he wanted to keep in place. Adam Eaton, Trea Turner,...

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Nats-Reds game postponed, day-night doubleheader Saturday

August 03, 2018, 3:32pm

Nationals

Nats-Reds game postponed, day-night doubleheader Saturday

With one round of rain having already swept through shortly before scheduled first pitch and another round expected later this evening, the Nationals' game against the Reds has been postponed. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, with the makeup game now at 1:05 p.m. and a separate ticket required for the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. game. Gio Gonzalez and Anthony DeSclafani, tonight's scheduled starting pitchers, will take the mound for the 1:05 p.m....

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Wieters relieved, determined to improve after trade deadline

August 03, 2018, 2:14pm

Nationals

Wieters relieved, determined to improve after trade deadline

Like everyone else in the Nationals clubhouse, Matt Wieters was well aware of the dilemma his team's front office faced earlier this week as the July 31 trade deadline approached. And Wieters knew he might be affected more than just about anyone else, given his struggles the last two seasons and the sense general manager Mike Rizzo might be seeking a catching upgrade. So when 4 p.m. Tuesday came and went and Wieters realized that his situation - like the majority of the roster - hadn't...

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Nats' offensive numbers looking more familiar since break

August 02, 2018, 7:45pm

Nationals

Nats' offensive numbers looking more familiar since break

Levelheaded ballplayers like to espouse the belief that everything will even out over a 162-game season, and numbers that may look subpar in May or July inevitably will resemble career norms come late September. "They're called averages for a reason," these players will say. If you believe in that mantra, you like what you've seen from several key Nationals of late. And you probably believe it's going to continue over the season's final two months. Take Bryce Harper, for example, who...

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Game 109 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

August 03, 2018, 11:25am

Nationals

The Nationals haven't enjoyed a four-game winning streak since the final week of May, when they managed to sweep the Marlins and Orioles in successive road series. More than two months later, they finally have a chance tonight to put "W4" in the "Streak" column of the standings. It'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound. He's coming off a strong start in Miami but still is seeking his first win since May 28 over Baltimore (during the aforementioned winning streak). The lefty did beat the Reds...

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Fedde says he has benefited from throwing sessions with Strasburg

August 02, 2018, 8:32pm

Nationals

Fedde says he has benefited from throwing sessions with Strasburg

Right-hander Erick Fedde reports he has been throwing for about one week. He has been on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation since July 5. Fedde expected to throw from 115 feet Thursday prior to the Nats' 10-4 win over the Reds. Fedde detailed his pitching progression as he looks to get back to starting. "I have been playing catch with Strasburg, so that's been fun, too. Hopefully, in the next week or so I'll be back on the mound." Fedde has thrown from 90 feet, and every...