nationals

Game 75 lineups: Phillies at Nats

June 23, 2018, 8:18am

With a glut of healthy outfielders, it was a forgone conclusion that Michael A. Taylor would be the odd man out. Bryce Harper needs to play to get untracked, Juan Soto continues to sizzle and Adam Eaton can be a difference-maker at the top of the Nationals lineup when healthy. But instead of being the square peg trying to fit into the proverbial round hole, Taylor has made the most of the opportunities he's had, and is making manager Davey Martinez's choices more complicated. But even though...

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SolÃs sees slight mechanical tweak necessary, adjusting to new work load

June 22, 2018, 7:58pm

Nationals

SolÃs sees slight mechanical tweak necessary, adjusting to new work load

In Friday's 12-2 loss to the Phillies, there were plenty of facets in the Nationals' game that didn't go well. The starting pitching was unable to get through five innings. The offense put together only two runs, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. And the bullpen allowed six runs on eight hits, including two homers, with four walks and six strikeouts. Left-hander Sammy SolÃs was able to put away the first two hitters in the eighth. But then a walk opened the door to a...

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Nats say it's still early, but they should beware recent history

June 22, 2018, 8:28pm

Nationals

Nats say it's still early, but they should beware recent history

After losing a mid-June game in frustrating fashion and staring up at two teams in front of them in the standings for the first time, the Nationals manager insisted this was no time to panic. "I don't worry about that," the skipper said. "It's a little too early for me to start watching the scoreboard." After a different mid-June loss that left them hovering just over the .500 mark and firmly behind the division leaders, a Nationals veteran looked at the bright side. "We're in a good...

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Roark points to one mechanical issue after a few inconsistent starts

June 22, 2018, 7:39pm

Nationals

Roark points to one mechanical issue after a few inconsistent starts

Right-hander Tanner Roark had his second straight start where he was not able to get through the fifth inning as the Phillies dropped the Nationals 12-2. Last Sunday in Toronto, Roark allowed four runs on eight hits over four innings. Tonight back in D.C., Roark (3-8) surrendered six runs, the most he has allowed in one game this season, over 4 1/3 innings, with seven hits, four walks and seven strikeouts. Roark said he studied his mechanics on video after he got back to the clubhouse and...

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Nats thumped by Phillies 12-2 in opener, drop into third place

June 22, 2018, 6:35pm

Nationals

Nats thumped by Phillies 12-2 in opener, drop into third place

It's not a make-or-break series, not in late June, but if the Nationals wanted to remind the Phillies in tonight's weekend opener on South Capitol Street that they're still top dogs in the division, they didn't do a particularly convincing job. With another laborious and ineffective start from Tanner Roark and another lackluster performance from their lineup, the Nats were roughed up by rivals from up Interstate-95, falling 12-2 and falling into third place in the National League East. The...

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OdÃºbel Herrera solves Roark early (Nats fall to Phillies 12-2)

June 22, 2018, 4:19pm

Nationals

OdÃºbel Herrera solves Roark early (Nats fall to Phillies 12-2)

The Phillies got to Tanner Roark in the first inning thanks to a leadoff walk to CÃ©sar HernÃ¡ndez and a single by OdÃºbel Herrera. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Carlos Santana unleashed a two-run single. Roark then settled in and struck out four batters in a row. In the second, Juan Soto greeted right-hander Zach Eflin with a double down the third base line. Michael A. Taylor added a run-scoring double almost to the same place, past third baseman Jesmel ValentÃn to score...

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Martinez wants baserunners to be "aggressively smart"

June 22, 2018, 1:43pm

Nationals Orioles

Martinez wants baserunners to be "aggressively smart"

Part of the Nationals recent adjustments on offense has been focused on trying to figure out other ways to score besides the long ball. The home run numbers are down in June. The Nationals 10 homers this month is dead last in the National League. 19-year-old Juan Soto is responsible for four of those 10 homers. Conversely, the Nats have stolen 16 bases in the month of June, tied with Milwaukee for the most in the senior circuit. Their 59 overall stolen bases are tops in the National League,...

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Strasburg throwing again, Hellickson ready for start at Potomac

June 22, 2018, 1:39pm

Nationals

Strasburg throwing again, Hellickson ready for start at Potomac

Two weeks removed from his last start, Stephen Strasburg is throwing again, his right shoulder inflammation having cleared up enough to allow the Nationals right-hander to get back to baseball activities. Strasburg has thrown off flat ground in the outfield twice this week, most recently this afternoon. It was only a light game of catch, and there are several steps left for him to take before he could return from the disabled list, but it's nonetheless an encouraging sign that his injury does...

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Opposite Dugout: Phillies ready to see a whole lot of Nationals

June 21, 2018, 8:36pm

Nationals

Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 39-33 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: CF OdÃºbel Herrera (.299, 12 HR, 41 RBIs), LF Rhys Hoskins (41 RBIs), 1B Carlos Santana (41 RBIs), 2B CÃ©sar HernÃ¡ndez (.262, 10 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (36 RBIs), RHP Zach Eflin (4-2, 3.43 ERA), RHP Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.55 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: June 22: RHP Tanner Roark (3-7) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 23: RHP Erick Fedde (0-2) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (8-2),...

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Game 74 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

June 22, 2018, 11:24am

Nationals

So, as you know, it's been raining all day here in town. But as I type this, the rain has mostly halted, and they're currently working on the infield with the tarp off. And the forecast suggests that perhaps they can actually start tonight's game on time, though it probably won't stay dry all evening. In other words ... your guess is as good as mine. The Nationals are facing the Phillies for only the second time this season, having won 2-of-3 here in May and having not yet even made an...

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Previewing a weekend series with the Phillies

June 21, 2018, 9:44pm

Nationals

Previewing a weekend series with the Phillies

Hard as this may be to believe, the Nationals' season is nearly half complete. They've now played 72 games, a full 44.4 percent of the regular season. Just as hard to believe, the Nats have only played three games to date against the Phillies, their geographically closest division rivals. And they haven't even been to Citizens Bank Park yet in 2018 (that will finally happen next weekend.) So this weekend's head-to-head matchup on South Capitol Street provides the Nationals their first...

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Ryan Sullivan: Carter Kieboom's breakout season is being noticed

June 22, 2018, 6:18am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Carter Kieboom's breakout season is being noticed

We are witnessing an outstanding season from a Nationals prospect unable to legally buy beer. If you immediately think this is yet another article about Juan Soto, I promise you it is not. Although he might deserve it, the 19-year-old Soto started the year at Single-A Hagerstown and is now batting cleanup in the major league. Yet somehow overlooked in the Soto tsunami, the Nationals have another prospect breaking out in their system in Carter Kieboom. Washington's first-round pick in 2016 out...

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Scherzer allows two homers, but fires seven strong innings

June 21, 2018, 6:52pm

Nationals Orioles

Scherzer allows two homers, but fires seven strong innings

It was unusual to see right-hander Max Scherzer allow a pair of home runs and uncork a wild pitch in Thursday's start versus the Orioles. But the fact that matters the most is that the Nationals' ace gave his club a chance to win the game. And that is exactly what the Nationals did, dropping the Orioles 4-2 and winning the series, thanks to a timely two-run double from rookie sensation Juan Soto in the eighth inning. "Hey, we won the ballgame," Scherzer said. "That's what matters. That's...

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Harper has a different view and outlook on recent struggles

June 22, 2018, 4:33am

Nationals Orioles

Harper has a different view and outlook on recent struggles

It has been a tough couple of weeks that has stretched into a difficult month for Nationals slugger Bryce Harper. But in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Orioles, Harper displayed some of the technique and strategies manager Davey Martinez wanted to see from his most important player. Martinez felt if Harper was put back in the leadoff spot, where he worked earlier in the season, that it would play a part in him working counts a bit more and seeing more pitches. Before Thursday's game, Martinez...

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With "unbelievable poise," Soto delivers from cleanup spot

June 21, 2018, 7:21pm

Nationals Orioles

With "unbelievable poise," Soto delivers from cleanup spot

Among the plethora of compliments bestowed upon Juan Soto in his first month in the big leagues, perhaps this latest one from the mouth of his manager tonight is most meaningful. "He's got unbelievable poise," Nationals manager Davey Martinez said, "no matter what the situation is." Martinez already knew that before Soto stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth tonight, the Nats' game with the Orioles on the line, and watched the 19-year-old deliver the two-run double that...

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Harper sets table, Soto drives him in to secure Nats' 4-2 win

June 21, 2018, 5:47pm

Nationals Orioles

Harper sets table, Soto drives him in to secure Nats' 4-2 win

When the Nationals really needed to deliver a late rally to pull out a close ballgame, they turned to Bryce Harper to set the table and Juan Soto to drive him in. Hey, these are strange times in the nation's capital. What used to work can't be counted on to work anymore. Sometimes you've got to try something different. Davey Martinez did just that tonight, moving the slumping Harper to the leadoff spot in the hopes he would draw more walks and not worry about driving in runs, then moving...

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Kintzler, Hellickson ready for rehab assignments

June 21, 2018, 1:36pm

Nationals

Kintzler, Hellickson ready for rehab assignments

Brandon Kintzler and Jeremy Hellickson each have passed significant throwing tests in the last few days and now are set to face minor league hitters this weekend in a final tune-up before returning to the Nationals' active roster. Kintzler threw a bullpen session Wednesday, his first since going on the disabled list with a flexor strain in his right forearm. The reliever focused on throwing fastballs during that mound session, so he'll do another round Friday and focus on his off-speed...

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Harper back to leadoff spot; could Taylor play shortstop?

June 21, 2018, 1:57pm

Nationals Orioles

Harper back to leadoff spot; could Taylor play shortstop?

Following their 3-0 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday, the Nationals have now been shut out four times since June 10. With the offense searching for some consistency, Nationals manager Davey Martinez decided to put Bryce Harper back into the leadoff spot in Thursday's series finale against the Orioles, something he tinkered with earlier in the season when Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon were out of the lineup. Martinez said the main reason was to try to jump-start Harper, who has hit only .125...

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Orioles hit two early homers off Scherzer (Nats win 4-2)

June 21, 2018, 4:09pm

Nationals

Orioles hit two early homers off Scherzer (Nats win 4-2)

When the Nationals were rolling offensively, it was their power that separated them from other teams. But recently the offense has stagnated, evidenced by a lack of home run production. As MASNsports.com's Mark Zuckerman tweeted tonight regarding the Nats' power numbers, the Nats have been outhomered by 18 in June. #Nats have been out-homered 27-9 this month. That's a bit of a problem. -- Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) June 21, 2018 That trend repeated itself again early in their series...

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Game 73 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

June 21, 2018, 11:02am

Nationals Orioles

The Nationals look for the series win against the Orioles tonight after Wednesday's rain-delayed 3-0 setback. Nationals manager Davey Martinez is mixing up the lineup again: Bryce Harper is leading off and Juan Soto gets the shot at the cleanup spot, making his first career start there. Michael A. Taylor returns to the lineup and is batting sixth. Right-hander Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.06 ERA) opposes Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.48 ERA). Scherzer has lost two starts in a row. His...