nationals

Nationals sign 17 international free agents

July 03, 2018, 3:18am

On the anniversary of the signing of left fielder Juan Soto, the Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 17 international free agents on Monday. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and vice president of international operations Johnny DiPuglia made the announcement, which includes 12 players from the Dominican Republic. Moidesto Ullua, the same scout who found Soto, signed nine of those players. Soto was signed on July 2, 2015. Three years later, he was...

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Nats drop another one-run game, lose 4-3 to Red Sox (updated)

July 02, 2018, 6:23pm

Nationals

Nats drop another one-run game, lose 4-3 to Red Sox (updated)

The Nationals keep doing just enough to lose ballgames. When they need to drive in the tying runner in scoring position, they strand him. When they need to keep a deficit at one run, they give a run back. When they need to make sure all 27 outs they make are at the plate, they make one on the bases. Is it any wonder they keep losing one-run games? Add tonight's 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Red Sox to the mix. It's the Nationals' fifth straight loss by one run, their 16th of the season...

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Harper, Scherzer, Zimmerman named 2018 All-Star ambassadors

July 03, 2018, 10:06am

Nationals

Harper, Scherzer, Zimmerman named 2018 All-Star ambassadors

Major League Baseball has named three current Washington Nationals players as MLB All-Star Ambassadors - outfielder Bryce Harper, starting pitcher Max Scherzer, and infielder Ryan Zimmerman. Participating in the return of the MLB All-Star Game to the nation's capital, all three players will serve as Ambassadors, participate in events and help promote All-Star Week. Scherzer and Zimmerman will represent the hometown team at GEICO All-Star FanFest, the world's largest baseball interactive fan...

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Martinez preaching "less-is-more" approach (Nats lose 4-3)

July 02, 2018, 4:16pm

Nationals

Martinez preaching "less-is-more" approach (Nats lose 4-3)

When things aren't going well, Davey Martinez is a big believer in the "less-is-more" approach. He's a big believer in it, in part, because he saw it work firsthand last year in Chicago. The Cubs, you may have forgotten, entered the 2017 All-Star break two games under .500 and 5 1/2 games back in the National League Central. At some point that summer, manager Joe Maddon (with input from Martinez, his bench coach) decided to cancel batting practice and have his struggling players just show...

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Adams could return Wednesday, Harper working at first base

July 02, 2018, 1:39pm

Nationals

Adams could return Wednesday, Harper working at first base

The Nationals believe they could have Matt Adams back on their active roster Wednesday, with Ryan Zimmerman on track to return next week and Matt Wieters still shooting for a return right around the All-Star break. All three injured position players took at-bats in a simulated game this afternoon, facing a couple of minor leaguers the club brought in to pitch on a day with the heat index at 106. And all three emerged from the session feeling well, they and manager Davey Martinez said. Adams is...

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Juan Soto named National League Rookie of the Month

July 02, 2018, 10:51am

Nationals

Juan Soto named National League Rookie of the Month

The Nationals had a rough month of June, going 9-16. But they did have one shining star on offense in rookie outfielder Juan Soto. The 19-year-old left fielder was honored for his tremendous play as he received the National League Rookie of the Month award. How big a difference-maker was Soto? Soto hit .484 with two doubles, five homers, 14 runs and 13 RBIs in the Nats' nine wins. He had two game-winning RBIs and a stunning 1.642 OPS. His on-base percentage was .610 and he struck out only four...

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Game 83 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox

July 02, 2018, 11:27am

Nationals

It is scorching hot here in Washington, but the local ballclub is anything but hot. The Nationals just went 1-5 on a road trip through Tampa Bay and Philadelphia and have lost 12 of their last 16. They currently sit two games over .500, six games behind the Braves, three games behind the Phillies. And now they get three games against the Red Sox, owners of the second-best winning percentage in baseball. After all eight active relievers were used during Sunday's 13-inning loss at Citizens Bank...

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After string of one-run losses, Nats face tough test in Red Sox

July 01, 2018, 9:14pm

Nationals

After string of one-run losses, Nats face tough test in Red Sox

It's not that the Nationals are losing a lot of ballgames. It's how they're losing them. Though there have been a few blowouts along the way - most notably last Monday's 11-0 drubbing at Tampa Bay - most of the Nats' losses of late have been by the slimmest of margins. In fact, each of their last four losses has come by one run, each in low-scoring affairs that easily could have been won had they simply been able to produce one more well-timed hit. The final scores of the Nationals' four...

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Juan Soto named National League Rookie of the Month

July 02, 2018, 11:53am

Nationals

Following a month in which he hit .317 (26-for-82) with six doubles, six homers, 15 RBI, 18 walks and 19 runs scored in 24 games, Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was named the National League Rookie of the Month on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Soto, 19, led National League rookies in batting average (.317), on-base percentage (.440), slugging percentage (.610), OPS (1.050), home runs (6) and walks (18). He ranked second in doubles (6), hits (26) and was...

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Opposite dugout: Red Sox visit D.C. looking to stay atop AL East

July 01, 2018, 2:26pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Red Sox visit D.C. looking to stay atop AL East

Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 56-29 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.339 with 20 HR, 41 RBIs); DH J.D. Martinez (.324 with 25 HR, 100 hits); 3B Rafael Devers (78 hits, 47 RBIs); LF Andrew Benintendi (.284 with 20 2B, 53 RBIs); LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3, 4.11 ERA); RHP Rick Porcello (9-3, 3.60 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (2.16 ERA, 24 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 2: RHP Rick Porcello (9-3) vs. RHP Max Scherzer...

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June is over, time for a new beginning for Nats in July

July 01, 2018, 6:16pm

Nationals

June is over, time for a new beginning for Nats in July

The best news of the day for the Nationals is June is finally over. The Nats went 9-16 in June this season. After getting used to an offense based on power, the Nats offense slowed down to crawl in the year's sixth month. The Nats finished with 20 homers in June, and that was after hitting seven in one game on Friday in 17-7 win over the Phillies. Even with that late push, the Nats home run total was good for only 12th place in the National League. By contrast the Dodgers hit 55 homers in...

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Nats lose marathon in 13, drop another series to Phillies (updated)

July 01, 2018, 2:10pm

Nationals

Nats lose marathon in 13, drop another series to Phillies (updated)

PHILADELPHIA - The temperature was approaching triple digits, the heat index had long since surpassed it, and what remained of a crowd of 22,051 at Citizens Bank Park was saving its last ounce of energy for the moment when either the Nationals or Phillies would break their longstanding deadlock and score the run that would win this game. That moment finally came in the bottom of the 13th, with both teams having exhausted their pitching staffs and something needing to give. It gave when Andrew...

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Marty Niland: Celebrating baseball's evolution and sense of community

July 02, 2018, 5:41am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Celebrating baseball's evolution and sense of community

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden's baseball roots aren't in Washington, but she knows the sense of pride that baseball fans in the nation's capital feel toward their team and national pastime. "They represent the capital, and the team in the capital, and this is the all-American game," she said, previewing the Library of Congress' new exhibit, "Baseball Americana," which opened Friday amid the buildup to the 89th All-Star Game on July 17 at Nationals Park. Washington baseball fans can...

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A statistical look at the season's first half

July 01, 2018, 4:45am

Nationals

A statistical look at the season's first half

PHILADELPHIA - June has come to an end, and not soon enough for a Nationals club that just went 9-16 in the last month. The calendar change also coincides with the halfway point of the regular season. Yes, the Nats have played 81 games now. And I'm not sure anyone expected their record at this juncture to be 42-39. That's simply not going to cut it. Eighty-four wins almost certainly isn't getting them into the playoffs. To get to 90, they'll have to play .593 ball the rest of the way, which...

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Murphy's availability becoming daily dilemma for Martinez

July 01, 2018, 9:08am

Nationals

Murphy's availability becoming daily dilemma for Martinez

PHILADELPHIA - Some 12 hours after explaining Daniel Murphy was available only in an emergency, Davey Martinez wrote out a lineup card that included Murphy as his starting second baseman for the first time this season. What changed from Saturday night to Sunday morning? The two principals offered up their explanations today as the Nationals prepared to face the Phillies for the seventh time in the last 10 days, seeking only their third head-to-head win. The process began Thursday, when Murphy...

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Three injured regulars to face live pitching Monday (3-3 after 12)

July 01, 2018, 10:35am

Nationals

Three injured regulars to face live pitching Monday (3-3 after 12)

PHILADELPHIA - Matt Adams, Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters will all move a step closer to returning to the Nationals' active roster Monday when they face live pitching in a simulated game before their teammates face the Red Sox in Washington. Adams, Zimmerman and Wieters will face a couple of minor league pitchers the Nationals are flying into town for the occasion. It's the first time each will have batted against a live pitcher since going on the disabled list, but that doesn't mean all...

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Same lineup, old results for Nats in 3-2 loss to Phillies (updated)

June 30, 2018, 5:27pm

Nationals

Same lineup, old results for Nats in 3-2 loss to Phillies (updated)

PHILADELPHIA - When Chip Hale asked Davey Martinez for tonight's lineup, the Nationals manager looked at his bench coach with a skeptical eye. Uh, they scored 17 runs and launched seven homers Friday night. They were going with the exact same lineup tonight, no need to ask. Past success, especially fleeting past success, of course does not guarantee future success. Martinez knew this, but he also knew you don't tempt the baseball gods after a game like that. So he instructed Hale to fill out...

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SolÃs surprised, upset by demotion to Triple-A

June 30, 2018, 1:34pm

Nationals

SolÃs surprised, upset by demotion to Triple-A

PHILADELPHIA - Sammy SolÃs knew the Nationals were going to need to drop one of their nine relievers today to make room for starter Jeremy Hellickson. He just didn't expect to be the one who got dropped. SolÃs, though, was the only one of those nine relievers on the current roster who still had a remaining option and thus could be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers. So the club made the decision to demote the guy who leads their staff and ranks second in the...

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Game 82 lineups: Nats at Phillies

July 01, 2018, 7:08am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - As is the case across much of the country today, it is blazing hot here in Philly. Temperatures are expected to approach triple digits this afternoon, making for quite an uncomfortable setting at Citizens Bank Park as the Nationals wrap up their four-game series with the Phillies and try to get July off to a positive start after a bad June. There are some interesting nuggets in today's lineup. Bryce Harper and Juan Soto have essentially swapped swaps, with Soto batting third and...

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Notes on Zimmerman, Read, Strasburg, Robles, Ross (Nats lose 3-2)

June 30, 2018, 2:56pm

Nationals

Notes on Zimmerman, Read, Strasburg, Robles, Ross (Nats lose 3-2)

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals made another set of transactions today in addition to the ones that allowed Jeremy Hellickson to come off the disabled list at the expense of Sammy SolÃs. They also moved Ryan Zimmerman to the 60-day DL so they could reinstate minor league catcher Raudy Read after he completed his 80-game suspension for a positive drug test. Read, whose suspension was handed down in early February after he tested positive for the performance enhancing drug Boldenone, saw his term...