Nats can't muster enough offense to support Fedde in 3-1 loss

Nats can't muster enough offense to support Fedde in 3-1 loss
The Nationals continue to get excellent starting pitching. But as has too often been the case, great starting pitching doesn't count for much without competent offense and defense. So even though Erick Fedde continued the rotation's strong run this afternoon over 5 2/3 impressive innings, the Nationals were left to stew over a 3-1 loss to the Padres because they managed only seven hits against Tyson Ross and San Diego's bullpen and also saw the decisive two runs score on a drive to deep...

Soto moved up in lineup, Torres dropped from roster (Nats lose 3-1)

Soto moved up in lineup, Torres dropped from roster (Nats lose 3-1)
He homered and singled in his first major league start. He singled and walked three times in his second major league start. So when it came time to figure out where to bat Juan Soto in his third major league start, Davey Martinez decided to throw a new challenge at the 19-year old: The No. 2 spot in the lineup. Soto will hit in that prime position today against the Padres, sandwiched in between Trea Turner and Bryce Harper in the latest display of confidence from the Nationals in a kid who was...

Hellickson keeps Padres off the board in 2-1 Nats win

Hellickson keeps Padres off the board in 2-1 Nats win
Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson was solid again for the Nationals in a 2-1 walk-off win over the Padres. He was not credited with the decision, but Hellickson only allowed one run on five hits over 5 1/3 innings with one walk and five strikeouts. His ERA has dipped to 2.13. Franchy Cordero's solo homer in the fourth was the extent of the scoring for the Padres. It appeared that the Padres might have figured out what Hellickson was doing after facing him recently. The first time through the...

Erick Fedde has seen an uptick in his fastball velocity at Syracuse

Erick Fedde has seen an uptick in his fastball velocity at Syracuse
Although it has not been officially announced, right-hander Erick Fedde is expected to make his first Major League start of the season in Wednesday's series finale against the Padres. Fedde had struggled a bit in his most recent starts, allowing five earned runs in three separate outings spanning from May 2-12. Manager Davey Martinez did not make the official announcement of which pitcher the Nationals would go with Wednesday following the club's 2-1 walk-off series winner over the...

Game 48 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

Game 48 lineups: Nats vs. Padres
It's been a while since we've seen Erick Fedde in a big league game. The Nationals' top pitching prospect made three starts here last summer with mixed results, and then was shut down with a forearm strain. Fedde has returned this season with increased velocity, though, and even though his 4.57 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse isn't going to turn any heads, club officials have been pleased with his progress. Fedde today will get his first opportunity to show how far he's come when he makes his...

No homers, but impressive patience from Soto

No homers, but impressive patience from Soto
Did the Padres give Juan Soto the Barry Bonds/Bryce Harper treatment in his second big league start? San Diego manager Andy Green insisted it wasn't by design, but of the 14 pitches his staff threw to the 19-year-old Nationals phenom Tuesday night, 12 were out of the strike zone. And all 12 came during three plate appearances, each resulting in a four-pitch walk. "We definitely didn't go in there and say: 'We're going to pitch around him,' " Green told reporters. "We didn't execute to...

Liz Barr: Hellickson deserves a chance to go deeper in starts

Liz Barr: Hellickson deserves a chance to go deeper in starts
The Nationals rotation has been nothing but dominant this season. It is leading the National League in just about every fathomable category, including innings pitched and pitches per start. Nats starters have been going deeper, staying in longer, and pitching more than anybody else. That is, except for Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson has been a blessing, and he's been the perfect fit for that fifth rotation spot. He is putting up fabulous numbers; so far this season, he has not given up more...

After brutally difficult month, Taylor finally gets his moments

After brutally difficult month, Taylor finally gets his moments
As 25,700 fans roared in the stands, as Juan Soto scampered across the plate and as a stream of Nationals came bursting out of the dugout and made a beeline for him, Michael A. Taylor simply stood on second base. He gazed out toward center field, where his double off the wall had just given the Nationals a 2-1, walk-off win over the Padres and rather than jump for joy took a breath and seemed to be contemplating the whole situation more than celebrating it. The moment lasted only a second or...

Taylor leads Nats to 2-1 win with his arm and then his bat

Taylor leads Nats to 2-1 win with his arm and then his bat
There's a reason Michael A. Taylor remains in the Nationals lineup, even when his batting average drops into the .180s and his strikeout totals pile up. He's in there because of his defense. And if he happens to deliver a big hit in a key moment ... well, they'll take that, too. So on a night in which offense was at an extreme premium, the Nationals needed Taylor to come up big in both departments. And because of his pure athletic skill, he nearly single-handedly beat the Padres. Three...

Taylor's walk-off double off center field wall lifts Nats to 2-1 win

Taylor's walk-off double off center field wall lifts Nats to 2-1 win
The game was delayed 10 minutes because of big rain storm that came through the area a couple of hours before first pitch. Although the Padres are hitting the ball hard against right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, they have only singles from Jose Pirela in the first and Raffy Lopez in the second. Left-hander Eric Lauer is off to a good start for San Diego, having not allowed a base hit to the Nationals in two frames. Bryce Harper got to second base in his first at-bat thanks to a pop-up catch error...

Madson throws for first time since landing on DL

Madson throws for first time since landing on DL
When Ryan Madson made three appearances in four days against the Diamondbacks earlier this month, his velocity up from previous outings, the veteran reliever was as encouraged as he had been all season about the way he was pitching and the way his arm felt. Then on the flight home from Arizona, Madson felt a cramp in his right pectoral muscle. And a week later, having not pitched in a game since, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list. "I didn't feel it pitching, or during the game,"...

Eaton reports he is "healthy", plus updates on Zimmerman and Murphy

Eaton reports he is "healthy", plus updates on Zimmerman and Murphy
I checked in with Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton, who is rehabbing his ankle surgery. Last week he was sporting a cast on his left ankle that went all the way up to his knee. Today he rolled down his ankle sock to show no tape and just the scar from his surgery. No swelling. Eaton said he is continuing rehab from the surgery and is getting back into baseball-related activities. "We do different things every day," Eaton said. "You throw, you run too. You just ramp it up and get her going....

Game 47 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

Game 47 lineups: Nats vs. Padres
Don't shoot the messenger here, but I feel obligated to inform you that there's a line of thunderstorms approaching from the west as we speak, and so there's a chance tonight's game is going to be impacted. Doesn't appear like this is going to be a complete washout, but the start could be delayed, depending on the timing of this whole thing. Assuming they do play, though, Jeremy Hellickson will be on the mound seeking to duplicate his dominant performance against the Padres from two weeks...

Gonzalez deals out a workmanlike seven innings in 10-2 rout

Gonzalez deals out a workmanlike seven innings in 10-2 rout
The long layoff didn't seem to bother left-hander Gio Gonzalez on Monday night. With all the rainouts the last week, he was the only starter who got to pitch on a weekday. He pitched five-plus innings in the rain-shortened 3-3 tie with the Yankees a week ago today. Fast forward six days. Gonzalez displayed very little rust early with a 1-2-3 first inning on his way to seven strong innings against San Diego in a 10-2 rout. Gonzalez was in such a groove on the mound, in fact - he allowed only...

Collins tosses scoreless inning in long-awaited MLB return

Collins tosses scoreless inning in long-awaited MLB return
Tim Collins doesn't particularly enjoy waiting around for his name to be called out of the bullpen. Life as a reliever is tough enough, all the more so when you find yourself in a major league bullpen for the first time in four seasons as the left-hander did Monday night. Thankfully, Collins' name was called during the Nationals' 10-2 victory over the Padres. He had to wait until the top of the eighth, but at least he didn't have to wait until Tuesday night as he feared he might. "The...

With one big blast, Soto makes a memory for parents, Nats

With one big blast, Soto makes a memory for parents, Nats
When he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning Sunday afternoon for the first at-bat of his major league career, Juan Soto understandably felt a little out of sorts. "I was really nervous," the 19-year-old outfielder said. "I was just saying: 'Oh, my god. ...' I was just trying to breathe down and do my job." The previous 24 hours had been a whirlwind for Soto, who the previous night was told he was being called up to the big leagues straight from Double-A Harrisburg, where he had only...

Reynolds wraps up Padres with two homers on Soto's special night

Reynolds wraps up Padres with two homers on Soto's special night
The Nationals easily dropped the San Diego Padres 10-2 on a night when 19-year-old Juan Soto launched the first homer of his career, which also was his first Major League hit only in his second overall at-bat. The club belted four homers, two of them by veteran Mark Reynolds, who has played in 1,528 more games than Soto. What a find Reynolds has been for the Nats. Unsigned as the season began, he finally inked a free agent deal with the Nats April 17 and reported to Triple-A Syracuse. Following...

Behind Soto's historic homer, Nats cruise to 10-2 win over Padres

Behind Soto's historic homer, Nats cruise to 10-2 win over Padres
All it took to get an injury-depleted Nationals lineup going was the addition of 19-year-old Juan Soto. Well, that and a matchup with a Padres left-hander making only his second start of the season. Behind Soto's historic first career homer, plus a pair of additional blasts by Mark Reynolds and Bryce Harper, the Nationals jumped all over San Diego fill-in starter Robbie Erlin and cruised to a 10-2 victory to earn their first win in eight days. Making his first big league start on the day after...

Juan Soto first hit no doubt three-run shot (Nats lead 10-2)

Juan Soto first hit no doubt three-run shot (Nats lead 10-2)
The Nationals 19-year-old sensation Juan Soto made his first Major League hit one to remember. His three-run shot to the opposite field, well over the 377 marker in left-center, off of San Diego left-hander Robbie Erlin, boosted the Nats to a 3-0 lead. The blast came off a 90 mph fastball first pitch. The home run traveled 422 feet and came off the bat at 107 mph. Trea Turner and Bryce Harper added RBI doubles. An inning later, Mark Reynolds added a solo homer. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez...

Soto gets first chance to start, Eaton starts throwing again

Soto gets first chance to start, Eaton starts throwing again
Davey Martinez wanted to give a heads-up to Juan Soto about his plans for tonight's game, so the first-year manager texted the 19-year-old slugger this morning and told him he would be in the Nationals' lineup for the first time, starting in left field and batting sixth against the Padres. A few hours later, when Martinez arrived in the clubhouse at Nationals Park, Soto immediately greeted him with a smile. "He was the first guy I saw when I came in," Martinez said. "He shook my hand, gave...