nationals

Soto working on defensive form to match hitting stroke

June 20, 2018, 9:27pm

Juan Soto reached the big leagues in near-record time because of his supremely advanced offensive skills. The Nationals knew his defensive skills in the outfield weren't on par at this point, but they figured that would come with time. Now that Soto appears to be here to stay, though, the Nats are trying to give him a crash course in some fundamentals in left field. It hasn't necessarily paid off yet, but they hope it does soon. Wednesday afternoon, long before the rest of the team took the...

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Game 72 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

June 20, 2018, 11:24am

Nationals Orioles

The Nationals scored nine runs last night, so you can understand why Davey Martinez is going with the same lineup tonight (aside from a swap of catchers, and of course pitchers). That does mean, however, that Michael A. Taylor is again on the bench, despite the fact he's 12-for-22 with a .600 on-base percentage and 1.236 OPS the last two weeks. That lineup is going up against right-hander Andrew Cashner, one of the Orioles' big offseason signings who like the rest of the team has been...

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Long night ends with Nats shut out for fourth time in nine games

June 20, 2018, 8:24pm

Nationals Orioles

Long night ends with Nats shut out for fourth time in nine games

The diehard few who decided to wait out a 2-hour, 43-minute rain delay tonight at Nationals Park were rewarded for their patience with an offer from the club to move down to the best seats in the house for the final five innings of this game. By night's end, you couldn't help but wonder if those fans would happily have remained in their original nosebleed seats in exchange for a more inspiring offensive performance from the home team. Alas, that's a lot to ask for right now out of a...

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Nats fall behind before rain strikes in fourth (lose 3-0)

June 20, 2018, 4:10pm

Nationals Orioles

Nats fall behind before rain strikes in fourth (lose 3-0)

With a major line of storms approaching from the west, the Nationals and Orioles got underway on time tonight, both clubs fully aware the odds of nine innings being played before the rain hit were dubious. And so this may have become a race to get five innings in, ensuring this would be an official game in the event it could not be continued. Which made Mark Trumbo's second-inning blast all the more significant for the Orioles. Trumbo's two-run homer off Gio Gonzalez gave Baltimore a quick...

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Martinez insists Taylor will play despite recent stretch on bench

June 20, 2018, 2:07pm

Nationals Orioles

Martinez insists Taylor will play despite recent stretch on bench

There has been no more productive hitter on the Nationals roster over the last two weeks than Michael A. Taylor. Since June 6, he's sporting a monstrous .545/.600/.636 offensive slash line, tops on the roster in each of those categories. So why has the hottest hitter on the team started only six of the team's 12 games during this stretch, none of the last three? The answer involves a combination of recent matchups with opposing pitchers, the emergence of Juan Soto as an offensive force in his...

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Eaton getting more comfortable every day, at plate and in field

June 19, 2018, 9:35pm

Nationals Orioles

Eaton getting more comfortable every day, at plate and in field

Nearly all of Adam Eaton's tenure with the Nationals has been spent trying to get comfortable, whether that was in the form of assimilating into a new roster and clubhouse last season or twice trying to get back into daily action after missing significant time due to injury. It's an ongoing process, but through it all the dynamic outfielder has remained a consistently productive hitter. Eaton has now played 40 total games for the Nationals the last two seasons combined, with major knee and...

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Rodriguez will need to mix in more pitches to get better

June 20, 2018, 4:24am

Nationals Orioles

Rodriguez will need to mix in more pitches to get better

Right-hander Jefrey Rodriguez didn't fare as well in his first major league start for the Nationals as he did in his first outing in Atlanta, but there were still some positive moments. "It definitely felt better, more normal for me," Rodriguez said through team interpreter Octavio Martinez. "I've always been a starter so that first outing for me in the big leagues I came out of the bullpen that was a first time for me. But today I was able to take my time, prepare myself a little better...

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Liz Barr: Taylor has earned his way back into Nats lineup

June 19, 2018, 3:59pm

Nationals

Liz Barr: Taylor has earned his way back into Nats lineup

Michael A. Taylor has been absolutely on fire of late. The man who was once under the Mendoza line has raised his batting average almost forty points in just over two weeks. It's phenomenal what Taylor has been able to do this month. At the beginning of June, Taylor was hitting just .204 and struggling mightily in just about every aspect offensively. But since the calendar turned, Taylor has become a new hitter. This month, in 14 games (nine starts), Taylor has hit a sizzling .429, scored...

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Herrera holds Orioles at bay with shutout inning in D.C. debut

June 19, 2018, 7:21pm

Nationals Orioles

Herrera holds Orioles at bay with shutout inning in D.C. debut

Right-hander Kelvin Herrera arrived at 3:30 p.m. eastern time into Washington, D.C. Six hours later, he recorded his first hold as the Washington Nationals came back to beat the Orioles, 9-7. He recorded three outs on six pitches: getting Jonathan Schoop, Danny Valencia and Trey Mancini in order. "I saw velocity, which is what you see," shortstop Trea Turner said. "I've seen him pitch for a while now, not all the time, but I watched that 2015 World Series when they won, and he's...

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Nats secure first season series win over O's since 2007 (updated)

June 19, 2018, 6:06pm

Nationals Orioles

Nats secure first season series win over O's since 2007 (updated)

The hits finally came, in rapid succession, both from guys who have been hitting recently and from guys who haven't been doing it for a while. And then after turning the rest of the game over to their newly reconfigured bullpen, the Nationals looked like the best version of themselves again, outlasting the Orioles for a 9-7 victory that ensured a small bit of history for the home club. Having now beaten their Beltway rivals in all four head-to-head meetings in 2018, the Nationals ensured their...

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Adams lands on DL with fractured left index finger

June 19, 2018, 2:19pm

Nationals

$Adams lands on DL with fractured left index finger$

Just when it looked like they were getting healthier, the Nationals found out today they're losing another key regular for some time. Matt Adams, who while trying to bunt Friday in Toronto took a pitch off his left hand, has been diagnosed with a fractured left index finger and placed on the 10-day disabled list. The Nationals aren't offering any firm timetable for Adams to return, but he won't be able to swing a bat until the facture is completely healed, and only after that will he be able...

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Martinez: Herrera understands important role with Nats, "excited to be here"

June 19, 2018, 2:28pm

Nationals

Martinez: Herrera understands important role with Nats, "excited to be here"

Former Royals closer Kelvin Herrera arrived at Nationals Park and into his new clubhouse and was quickly welcomed by a pair of former teammates in relievers Tim Collins and Ryan Madson. Herrera had spent all eight seasons of his career in Kansas City, so when he first heard the news, he had to take a step back. "Yeah, it was very quick," Herrera said through team interpreter Octavio Martinez. "They let me know about 6:20 p.m. (local time). It was unexpected for me and everything happened so...

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Rodriguez allows early two-run shot (Nats win 9-7)

June 19, 2018, 3:55pm

Nationals Orioles

Rodriguez allows early two-run shot (Nats win 9-7)

Tonight the Nationals open a three-game set against their beltway rivals to the North, the Baltimore Orioles. The Nats swept the Orioles in three games at Camden Yards to close out May and have won five in a row dating back to 2017. Trea Turner got the scoring going with a solo homer in the second inning. The homer to left-center was off of Orioles starter David Hess, and was Turner's eighth of the season. It was Turner's first homer since June 3 against the Dodgers. The Orioles answered back...

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Roster decisions await Nationals before tonight's game

June 18, 2018, 9:56pm

Nationals

Monday was an eventful day on South Capitol Street. The Nationals split a pseudo-doubleheader with the Yankees. Juan Soto hit a home run five days before making his major league debut. Kelvin Herrera was acquired from the Royals for three minor leaguers. Today might not quite rival that, but it figures to be a newsworthy day at the ballpark nonetheless, with multiple roster moves on tap before the Nationals and Orioles open the second half of this year's Battle of the Beltways. It begins with...

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How Doolittle's routine was altered but still resulted in a save

June 19, 2018, 4:24am

Nationals

How Doolittle's routine was altered but still resulted in a save

The pair of rainouts from mid-May against the Yankees set up an unusual day of baseball and challenged normal routines, especially for the Nats' closer, Sean Doolittle. The Nationals won the suspended game, 5-3. The Yankees took the second game of the night, 4-2. In the first game, the Nats and Yankees resumed play in the bottom of the sixth. The Nats benefitted from a two-run shot from rookie Juan Soto to break the 3-3 tie. The home run hit the last row of the second deck in right field, one...

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Opposite dugout: Struggling Orioles are looking for answers

June 12, 2018, 7:50pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Struggling Orioles are looking for answers

Manager: Buck Showalter (9th year) Record: 20-50 Last 10 games: 1-9 Who to watch: SS Manny Machado (.310/.377/.567 with 18 HR, 53 RBIs ), 3B Danny Valencia (.283/.350/.462), CF Adam Jones (16 doubles, 10 HR, .293/.313/.457), RF Mark Trumbo (.261/.320/.420), RHP David Hess (4.13 ERA), RHP Brad Brach (10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: June 19: RHP David Hess (2-3) vs. RHP Jefry Rodriguez, 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 20: RHP Andrew Cashner (2-8) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05...

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Relievers thrilled with trade for Herrera, who will set up Doolittle

June 18, 2018, 7:36pm

Nationals

Relievers thrilled with trade for Herrera, who will set up Doolittle

Kelvin Herrera has been among the best closers in the American League this season, one of the best relievers, period, in the majors for several seasons. Sean Doolittle has been among the best closers in the National League this season, one of the best relievers, period, in the majors for several seasons. They're now teammates, along with Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler, each a proven quality late-inning reliever with closing experience. How, then, will this all shake out? And is there any...

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Game 71 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

June 19, 2018, 11:29am

Nationals Orioles

It was scorching hot this afternoon ... and then a storm of biblical proportions broke out and doused the entire area. What does that mean for tonight's opener of Part 2 of the Battle of the Beltways at Nationals Park? Stay tuned, but it does appear as though the rain will be clearing out before scheduled first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Assuming that first pitch does happen, it'll be Jefry Rodriguez on the mound making his first career start, his second career major league appearance. The lanky...

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Opposite dugout: Injuries, stagnant offense have Nationals fighting extra hard

June 18, 2018, 12:40pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Injuries, stagnant offense have Nationals fighting extra hard

Manager: Dave Martinez (1st season) Record: 38-32 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: RF Bryce Harper (19 HR, 43 RBIs); SS Trea Turner (.256 with 25 RBIs, 20 SB); LF Juan Soto (.325 average with 6 HR, 14 RBIs); CF Michael A. Taylor (53 hits, 21 SB); LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-3, 3.01 ERA); RHP Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.06 ERA); RHP Sean Doolittle (1.47 ERA, 18 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: June 19: RHP David Hess (2-3) vs. Jefry Rodriguez (0-0), 7:05 p.m., MASN2June 20: RHP Andrew...

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Nats acquire Royals closer Herrera for three minor leaguers

June 18, 2018, 4:05pm

Nationals

Nats acquire Royals closer Herrera for three minor leaguers

Seeking to bolster their bullpen with another proven late-inning reliever, the Nationals have finalized a deal for Royals closer Kevin Herrera, the club announced this evening. The Nationals will be sending three minor leaguers to Kansas City for Herrera, the 28-year-old right-hander with 57 career saves and a 1.05 ERA in 27 appearances this season. Included in the package are third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez (rated the organization's 10th-best prospect), outfielder Blake Perkins (rated 11th)...