nationals

Nationals recognize surprising Braves are for real

May 31, 2018, 9:08pm

ATLANTA - The outcome of Thursday night's game wasn't going to make or break the Nationals' season. They were either going to increase their lead over the Braves to 1 1/2 games or cede first place in the division back to Atlanta and fall 1/2-game behind. Either way, it was only game No. 55 out of 162. And by the end of the weekend, they'll have played only 58 out of 162. There's a tremendous amount of baseball left to be played. So the Nationals weren't going to put too much emphasis on...

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How the Nats returned to first place in 57 days

May 30, 2018, 8:53pm

Nationals Orioles

How the Nats returned to first place in 57 days

BALTIMORE - It took until late into the night May 30, but the Nationals are back in first place in the National League East. The Nats won their sixth straight with a 2-0 dispatch of the Orioles on the road, behind eight shutout innings from Max Scherzer (9-1). The Mets grounded the Braves 4-1 in Atlanta, thanks to a pair of RBIs from Brandon Nimmo and AdriÃ¡n GonzÃ¡lez. Atlanta's loss and the Nats win provided Washington with a 1/2 game lead in the division at the start of play May 31. It...

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Nationals drop opener to Braves 4-2, fall out of first place (updated)

May 31, 2018, 6:15pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - The mild-mannered crowd of 22,380 at this second-year ballpark in the suburbs didn't much convey it, but tonight's game between the Nationals and Braves was the biggest matchup of these division rivals in at least four years, with first place at stake. Then again, the visiting club that has ruled the National League East for the better part of six seasons now didn't exactly put on its best show in the opener of this four-game series. Despite two early runs that seemed to set the...

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Ryan Sullivan: Tough roster decisions looming for Nationals

June 01, 2018, 5:29am

Nationals

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators' Twitter account last Thursday announced that Nationals players Matt Grace, Brian Goodwin and Daniel Murphy would begin rehabilitation assignments last weekend. Adam Eaton starts his rehab at Harrisburg today. The healthy return of each player is a positive for the Nationals, but could lead to some difficult roster decisions for manager Davey Martinez. According to Martinez, Goodwin is expected to return first, followed by Grace, Murphy and finally Eaton, who...

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Runs aplenty early on in big series opener (Nats lose 4-2)

May 31, 2018, 4:45pm

Nationals

Runs aplenty early on in big series opener (Nats lose 4-2)

ATLANTA - In the opener of their big weekend series with the Braves, the Nationals have played some small ball to get on the board. Atlanta, on the other hand, has piled up hits to take the lead. The Nats scored two runs in the first three innings with the benefit of only three hits, all singles. Rather, it was two walks, two stolen bases (one of them a double-steal) and two productive outs that helped make those two early runs possible. Back-to-back walks by Trea Turner and Bryce Harper put...

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Madson returns to roster, Goodwin appears to be next up

May 31, 2018, 2:52pm

Nationals

Madson returns to roster, Goodwin appears to be next up

ATLANTA - The Nationals are getting the first of their key injured players back tonight, with Ryan Madson activated off the disabled list. And more appear to be coming, with Brian Goodwin likely joining the club this weekend and Daniel Murphy and Matt Grace not too far behind. Madson was added back to the active roster in time for tonight's opener against the Braves, the strained right pectoral muscle that sidelined him for two weeks having healed. The veteran setup man was able to make it...

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Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves (Madson activated)

May 31, 2018, 11:42am

Nationals

Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves (Madson activated)

ATLANTA - And a very pleasant good afternoon to you from SunTrust Park, here in beautiful unincorporated Atlanta. The hometown Braves have been among the biggest surprises in baseball so far, with the youngest roster in the sport playing an exciting brand of ball and (until last night) holding first place in the National League East division. That changed last night when the Nationals finished off their sweep of the Orioles and the Braves lost to the Mets, but that doesn't make this weekend's...

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Opposite Dugout: Braves host Nationals with NL East lead at stake

May 30, 2018, 7:37pm

Nationals

Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season)Record: 32-23 Last 10 games: 5-5 Players to watch: 2B Ozzie Albies (14 HR, 34 RBIs), 1B Freddie Freeman (.335 with 9 HR, 40 RBIs), RF Nick Markakis (.332, 38 RBIs), LHP Sean Newcomb (5-1, 2.75 ERA), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-3, 2.55 ERA), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (9 saves, 2.38 ERA) Series vs. Nationals: 3-2 Pitching probables: May 31: RHP Tanner Roark (2-4) vs. LHP Sean Newcomb (5-1), 7:35 p.m., MASN2June 1: RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-4) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz...

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Scherzer tweaks fastball in 2-0 win, strikes out 12 as Nats sweep O's

May 30, 2018, 6:50pm

Nationals

Scherzer tweaks fastball in 2-0 win, strikes out 12 as Nats sweep O's

BALTIMORE - Max Scherzer was outstanding again facing Baltimore. The right-hander twirled eight shutout innings against the Orioles, allowing only two hits in lifting the Nationals to a sweep of the series in a 2-0 win. Since joining the Nats, Scherzer (9-1) has now pitched at least eight innings in four of his five starts against the Birds. He struck out 12 batters on Wednesday night, the third most he has punched out this season. He managed at least one strikeout in every inning. Manager...

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Game 54 lineups: Nats at Orioles

May 30, 2018, 11:33am

Nationals Orioles

BALTIMORE - For the fourth consecutive road series, the Nationals have the chance for a series sweep after winning the first two games of a three-game set. The Nats are riding a five-game win streak and have won nine in a row on the road. The road streak is tied with the 2011 Nationals, who won nine in a row from Sept. 12 to Sept. 26, 2011. And for the first time in his young career, left fielder Juan Soto is going to leadoff. Last night the 19-year-old produced his first three-hit major league...

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Eaton to begin rehab games on Friday, Soto to lead off tonight

May 30, 2018, 2:37pm

Nationals

Eaton to begin rehab games on Friday, Soto to lead off tonight

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced that outfielder Adam Eaton (out with an ankle injury since April 9) will go out on a rehab assignment beginning on Friday, most likely with Double-A Harrisburg at home. "He ran today, looked really good," Martinez said. "So he's getting ready to go out to rehab this weekend. He'll get first maybe two at-bats, maybe three and then we'll go from there. We haven't decided where to go yet. Based on weather, we'll see where we send...

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Scherzer and Harper get going again (Nats win 2-0)

May 30, 2018, 4:12pm

Nationals Orioles

Scherzer and Harper get going again (Nats win 2-0)

BALTIMORE - It is very difficult to beat the Nationals' Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper on the same night. Unfortunately, about 33 times this season opponents will have to contend with just that dilemma. That was what faced the Orioles on Wednesday night. Scherzer struck out six batters, including the last four batters he faced, in the first three frames. Harper crushed his 18th homer, a solo shot off of a 3-2 pitch from Orioles starter David Hess, in the third inning. Chris Davis singled with...

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With contributions from many, Nats have climbed back in NL East

May 29, 2018, 9:49pm

Nationals

With contributions from many, Nats have climbed back in NL East

BALTIMORE - For a few minutes Tuesday night, the Nationals found themselves tied for first place in the National League East division. And with the Braves trailing the Mets late, the Nats were on the verge of taking over sole possession of the top spot in the division for the first time since the season's first week. A Mets bullpen collapse prevented that from happening, and so as they wake up this morning the Nationals still remain 1/2-game behind Atlanta. Not that anyone inside the clubhouse...

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Nationals reinstate Ryan Madson

May 31, 2018, 11:32am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Ryan Madson from the 10-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Madson, 37, returns to the active roster after missing 12 games with a pectoral strain. In 10 games prior to being placed on the disabled list, Madson pitched a 1.00 ERA (1 ER/9.0 IP) while striking out nine batters and...

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The long list of firsts continue early on for Juan Soto

May 30, 2018, 4:12am

Nationals

The long list of firsts continue early on for Juan Soto

BALTIMORE - The firsts for a new major league player normally play out over the course of a season and beyond. But when you are 19-year-old Juan Soto, you get all the boxes checked in the first nine days. Soto added to his spectacular start with a 3-for-3 Tuesday night, his first three-hit game of his career, as the Nationals got by the Orioles 3-2 for their fifth consecutive win. His average is .393. Soto also stole his first base, threw out his first batter from left field on a 7-6-2 outfield...

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Newcomers and old standbys deliver for Nats bullpen in win

May 29, 2018, 7:41pm

Nationals Orioles

Newcomers and old standbys deliver for Nats bullpen in win

BALTIMORE - As he watched his team squander opportunity after opportunity to tack on runs and give themselves something more than a 3-2 cushion this evening, Davey Martinez couldn't help but start worrying this was going to come back to haunt his Nationals before their game against the Orioles was complete. "You always think that when you have so many chances to score runs and you can't," the first-year manager said. "But the bullpen held their own today." Yes, they did. As they've been...

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Liz Barr: April gloom and doom give way to May resurgence by Nationals

May 30, 2018, 5:50am

Nationals

We like to focus on the bad. All of our articles and tweets are about what the Nationals are doing wrong, how they are struggling and where they need to improve. I'm as guilty of doing this as anyone. But here's the bottom line that we're ignoring: The Nationals are actually good. In the midst of all their injuries and offensive struggles, the Nationals snuck up on us and became good again. The month of May was a revelation. So far this month they've gone 18-6, which is the best in...

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Hellickson and Reynolds haunt former team in Nats' 3-2 win

May 29, 2018, 7:17pm

Nationals Orioles

Hellickson and Reynolds haunt former team in Nats' 3-2 win

BALTIMORE - The Nationals edged the Orioles 3-2 thanks to an impressive homecoming for former Orioles Jeremy Hellickson and Mark Reynolds. Hellickson (2-0) allowed two runs over five innings and Reynolds slammed his sixth homer of the season as the Nats ran their record on the road o 18-8. The 31-22 overall record now challenges for the top spot in the National League East. Hellickson went 2-6 with a 6.97 ERA over 10 starts for the Orioles in 2017. Reynolds fared better, hitting 60 homers in...

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Harper and Machado go Yards to start (Nats win 3-2)

May 29, 2018, 3:59pm

Nationals

Harper and Machado go Yards to start (Nats win 3-2)

BALTIMORE - Bryce Harper and O's shortstop Manny Machado got Tuesday's game off to a hot start with solo homers in their first at-bats. In the top of the first, Harper's blast came on the third pitch of the game from Orioles starter Dylan Bundy. Harper got a hold of a 91-mph fastball and deposited it in the right field seats. It was his 17th of the season. In the bottom of the frame, Machado crushed a Jeremy Hellickson offering into the left field stands for his 16th of the season. In the...

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Ex-Orioles give Nats lead, bullpen hangs on for 3-2 win

May 29, 2018, 6:20pm

Nationals Orioles

Ex-Orioles give Nats lead, bullpen hangs on for 3-2 win

BALTIMORE - A couple of ex-Orioles helped the Nationals take a 3-2 lead tonight at Camden Yards. A bunch of relievers then made sure that razor-thin lead held up the rest of the way. Behind five strong innings from Jeremy Hellickson, Mark Reynolds' latest homer and then four scoreless innings from their ever-changing bullpen, the Nationals eked out a one-run victory to earn their second straight win in this Battle of the Beltways series and fifth straight win overall. Hellickson and Reynolds,...