Whether it came via a Max Scherzer gem, an offensive explosion, a grind-it-out nailbiter or even a rain-shortened affair, the Nationals knew only one thing when they took the field today: They needed to win this game against the Braves, one way or another.
They got their wish, but it didn't come easily to a team that sure could've used a relaxing day at the park. Instead, a combination of clutch hits, a gutsy performance from a less-than-perfect Scherzer, some outstanding defense, two rain...
The Nationals knew they couldn't stick with a six-man bullpen for long. They just needed to figure out how to clear a roster spot to address that need.
They found a way today, trading outfielder Brian Goodwin to the Royals for minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan, then recalling left-hander Sammy SolÃs from Triple-A Syracuse to give themselves a full relief corps again.
Goodwin, a member of the Nationals since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011 and a key member of last season's...
The Nationals are going to have to wait a while longer to try to get over Friday night's loss to the Braves and everything else that accompanied it.
Tonight's game at Nationals Park was postponed a full five hours before scheduled first pitch, with heavy rain dousing the area all morning and expected to continue straight through the evening.
No makeup plans were immediately announced, but a Sunday doubleheader doesn't appear to be a viable option because the forecast remains lousy and the...
The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse. Additionally, they acquired Minor League right-handed pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Brian Goodwin on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Solis, 29, returns to the Nationals after appearing in five games with Syracuse where he tossed scoreless relief in three of the five outings. Solis...
More on Friday night's 8-5 loss to the Braves that was not related to the Stephen Strasburg-Max Scherzer dugout dustup ...
* Davey Martinez's most delicate lineup decisions as the second half of the season opens is at first base, with Ryan Zimmerman back off the disabled list but Matt Adams remaining one of the team's most productive hitters.
Martinez didn't hesitate to start Adams on Friday night, opting to go with the hot-hitting lefty slugger against Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez....
The Braves took down the Nationals 8-5 thanks to an offense that collected 12 hits, including five doubles and two homers, while grabbing the first game of a critical three-game set to begin the second half of the 2018 season.
The Nationals appeared to be ready to duke it out with Atlanta after the Braves plated two in the first frame.
Adam Eaton walked to lead off the bottom of the first. Trea Turner laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Eaton to second. Bryce Harper singled to put runners at...
The Nationals' 8-5 loss to the Braves had ended only minutes earlier when Davey Martinez summoned Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer to his office and closed the door. It would be roughly 15 minutes before that door reopened, and though no one was revealing the precise details of what was said during that meeting, it was clear the session was necessary after what transpired in the dugout during the top of the fifth.
Strasburg, who had just been removed by Martinez after allowing six runs in 4...
They said and did all the right things before the game. They went through a spirited afternoon workout that included a focus on defense and baserunning. They all wore customized shirseys with their regular numbers on the back but the world "NATIONALS" replacing their last names. They spoke of the need to play as one and to treat every remaining series on the schedule as critical.
Then the Nationals took the field and opened the second half of their season with an 8-5 loss to the Braves that...
Nationals assistant general manager and vice president Doug Harris has been battling leukemia since 2015. In May of 2017, it appeared he had defeated the cancer, with the bone marrow transplant appearing to take full effect.
But the cancer was not completely eliminated. The next step for Harris is a doctor-recommended CAR-T cell therapy, which is still in trial research. The therapy is extremely expensive. His wife, Lisa, has set up a GoFundMe page to try to offset the cost.
The Harrises are...
The Braves moved quickly to score first against the Nats right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Ronald Acuña Jr., singled and stole second. Ozzie Albies doubled to score Acuña. Freddie Freeman's grounder to third base was enough to score Albies because first baseman Matt Adams had to stretch to the ground to catch the throw from third baseman Anthony Rendon.
The Nationals were aggressive in their own right in the bottom of the first against Braves starter AnÃbal Sánchez. Adam Eaton walked...
The Nationals got two of their key injured players - Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman - back from the disabled list today. They'll have to wait a bit longer for Sean Doolittle to join them on the active roster.
Doolittle, eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list today, has made significant progress in his recovery from a pinched nerve in his left foot, but he said he's not quite ready yet.
"Today was a good day," the Nats closer said. "I did some light jogging, and it was the...
The Nationals reinstated first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the disabled list on Friday, but he was not in the lineup for the first game of their series against the second-place Braves. Matt Adams got the start at first base and batted sixth in the order against veteran right-hander AnÃbal Sánchez. Zimmerman had been on the DL with a right oblique strain.
Zimmerman is a career .208 (11-for-53) against Sánchez; Adams has never faced him. But Nationals manager Davey Martinez said it was...
Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season)
Record: 52-42
Last 10 games: 3-7
Who to watch: 2B Ozzie Albies (.281 with 20 HR, 55 RBIs); RF Nick Markakis (.323 with 61 RBIs, 120 hits); 1B Freddie Freeman (.315 with 61 RBIs, 114 hits); CF Ender Inciarte (88 hits, 23 SB); RHP AnÃbal Sánchez (4-2, 2.60 ERA); LHP A.J. Minter (3.20 ERA, 4 saves)
Season series vs. Nationals: 6-4
Pitching probables:
July 20: RHP AnÃbal Sánchez (4-2) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-6); 7:05 p.m., MASN2July 21: LHP Sean...
Monday night, Nationals fans and the world saw Bryce Harper pump up the crowd, get charged up during his home run hitting barrage and then show genuine emotion during the postgame news conference following an electric late comeback to win the 2018 Home Run Derby in Washington, D.C.
Many felt that display of emotion looked like the Harper they saw from 2012 to 2017, where he showed a youthful exuberance and energy every game. That way of playing the game defined the personality of his team and...
And away we go again. The second half of the season commences tonight, with the Nationals hosting the Braves for a big three-game series. Then again, every series is going to be big the rest of the way, with the Nats needing to make up a 5 1/2-game deficit and catch both the Braves and Phillies in the National League East.
As expected, the Nationals will open the second half with two key figures returning from the disabled list: Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman. Strasburg makes the start...
The challenge facing the Nationals over the final 66 games of the season is significant. They not only have to make up a 5 1/2-game deficit to win their third consecutive National League East title, they have to leapfrog over two division rivals to do it. Which means there's little margin for error, beginning with this weekend's three-game series against the second-place Braves.
Thing is, Davey Martinez has been a part of something like this before. Only one year ago.
The Cubs came out of the...
The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 10-day disabled list and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 60-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Wander Suero to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse last Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Strasburg, 29, returns to the...
As the major league season resumes, the question looms: Can the inconsistent Nationals overtake the Phillies and Braves to win another National League East championship?
The Nationals, who have lost in the NL Division Series in four different seasons, will have all they can do to get back to the postseason. They start tonight at home against the Braves.
The Nationals, who have been bounced from the postseason in the first round in four different seasons by four different teams, are season...
Whew, have you recovered from All-Star Week in D.C. yet? Honestly, I haven't. That was both an exhilarating and an exhausting few days.
Fortunately, we all still get a condensed All-Star break before the Nationals return to action Friday night for their second-half opener and the opener of a big series with the Braves. We'll look ahead to all that Friday morning, but today let's take one look back at the now-completed first half of the season. (Yeah, technically they've already played 60...
Right-hander Max Scherzer started the 89th All-Star Game and finished two innings. He allowed an Aaron Judge solo shot, one of only two hits in his outing. Scherzer struck out four batters and walked one.
The AL defeated the NL 8-6 in 10 innings thanks to All-Star Game MVP Alex Bregman's tiebreaking solo homer in the 10th. The 14 runs were the most combined runs scored in an All-Star game since 2002.
The walk Scherzer allowed came in the top of the first. After striking out Mookie Betts and...



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