nationals

Off to fast start, Eaton continues building strength in knee

April 04, 2018, 8:08am

ATLANTA - Nationals left fielder Adam Eaton literally hit the ground running to begin the 2018 season, his first regular season play since April 28 of last year. That's the night Eaton suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery. He has rehabbed the past 10 months to get back to nearly 100 percent and has displayed the leadoff talent general manager Mike Rizzo envisioned when he made the deal for the sparkplug prior to the 2017 campaign. Eaton was rewarded for an outstanding first...

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Davey Martinez on impact of Kevin Long, plus more notes

April 04, 2018, 4:58am

Nationals

Davey Martinez on impact of Kevin Long, plus more notes

ATLANTA - The Nationals have raced out of the blocks with a 4-1 record, scoring 35 runs in their first five games. The lineup has been outstanding and has found ways to hit in several situations. Many could point to the work of hitting coach Kevin Long and how quickly he has become acclimated to his new team. "It definitely helps," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez of the relationship Long has with this hitters. "He's another guy. We talk about building relationships. He came in and...

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Liz Barr: Formidable foursome gets Nats off to fast start

April 04, 2018, 6:16am

Nationals

Liz Barr: Formidable foursome gets Nats off to fast start

Welcome back to baseball. You hear that sound in the air? The sound of home runs leaving the park, bags being swiped and an umpire ringing up a strike three call? That means the Nationals are at it again. They've been hitting, running and, most importantly, pitching. The Nationals arguably have the best four-man starting rotation in the National League, and after the first turn through the rotation, the starting pitching was on display. The group of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio...

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Cole gets dismantled as Nats fall for first time this season 13-6

April 03, 2018, 7:57pm

Nationals

Cole gets dismantled as Nats fall for first time this season 13-6

ATLANTA - Right-hander A.J. Cole struggled with consistency in his first start and the Braves took full advantage. Highlighted by a pair of three-run homers from Preston Tucker and Freddie Freeman, Atlanta scored nine runs in the first three innings and cruised to an emphatic 13-6 win. It was the Nationals' first loss of the season. The Braves pounded out 15 hits, including two homers and four doubles. It was the most runs the Nats had allowed since a 13-0 loss to Atlanta July 8, 2017 at Nats...

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Game 5 lineups: Nats at Braves

April 03, 2018, 9:48am

Nationals

ATLANTA - Right-hander A.J. Cole wants to be just like his buddies. The first four starters for the Nationals were 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA and the offense has provided their pitching staff with a league-leading 29 runs. The Nats pitching staff has allowed only 13 runs and other than the them, the Pirates are the only undefeated teams remaining at 4-0. Cole's major league debut came here in Atlanta back in 2015. The Nats made a miraculous comeback on April 28, 2015 to win 13-12 but Cole struggled...

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Martinez on lineup, Cole, Murphy, Hellickson and more

April 03, 2018, 2:35pm

Nationals

Martinez on lineup, Cole, Murphy, Hellickson and more

ATLANTA - The pregame drama for the Nationals and their 4-0 record was manager Davey Martinez submitting a lineup that originally had Bryce Harper batting second. About a half an hour later, Martinez switched the lineup back to Anthony Rendon at No. 2 and Harper in the No. 3 hole. "That was a misprint," Martinez said. "That's something I thought about. I kind of construct lineups a few days in advance. It's something that I was thinking about looking at and I must have said it. When I...

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Cole struggles and leaves before end of 4th (Braves win 13-6)

April 03, 2018, 4:28pm

Nationals

Cole struggles and leaves before end of 4th (Braves win 13-6)

ATLANTA - A fast start for both teams to begin play in game two. Ryan Zimmerman slammed a two-run shot off of Braves starter Julio Teheran in the first. Zimmerman deposited a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall in the top of the first. The Nationals also enjoyed a RBI groundout courtesy of Bryce Harper. The Braves quickly answered with four runs on three hits off of Nats starter A.J. Cole. The big blast a three-run shot by Preston Tucker. After one, the Nats trailed for the first time this...

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Kelley's 2018 debut displays renewed confidence and strength

April 02, 2018, 8:48pm

Nationals

Kelley's 2018 debut displays renewed confidence and strength

ATLANTA - Just ask Shawn Kelley about his pitching last season: He knew it wasn't close to what he was capable of delivering. Kelley struggled through injury and rough outings, stumbling to a career-worst 7.27 ERA. This followed back-to-back seasons of 2.45 and 2.67 ERAs. The right-hander landed on the disabled list several times last season with a strained lower back, strained right trapezius muscle and, finally, bone chips in his right elbow. Fast forward to 2018. Kelley watched as the Nats...

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Severino looks the part of sage veteran in return to Nats

April 03, 2018, 5:01am

Nationals

Severino looks the part of sage veteran in return to Nats

ATLANTA - It was only his 36th game in the major leagues, but Nationals catcher Pedro Severino looked like the veteran catching Tanner Roark's first start and win of 2018, and going 2-for-2 at the plate in an 8-1 dispatch of the Braves to open their series at SunTrust Park. Roark spun seven masterful innings, keeping pace with the Nats' amazing starting pitching to begin the season. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Roark have combined to pitch 25 1/3 innings and have allowed...

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Roark, Harper and Severino highlight Nats 8-1 win over Braves

April 02, 2018, 7:44pm

Nationals

Roark, Harper and Severino highlight Nats 8-1 win over Braves

ATLANTA - Three players who had yet to appear in a Nationals game in 2018 came up big in an 8-1 series-opening victory over the Braves at SunTrust Park. Tanner Roark, Pedro Severino and Shawn Kelley made significant contributions, coupled with a mammoth three-run homer by Bryce Harper, lifting the Nats to their fourth straight win to begin the season. The Nationals are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history. Roark (1-0) tossed seven innings, allowing only one run. Kelley fired a shutout...

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Murphy moves on to field running; Hellickson update

April 02, 2018, 3:50pm

Nationals

Murphy moves on to field running; Hellickson update

ATLANTA - Daniel Murphy moved from the treadmill to running on the field today, another positive update as the veteran recovers from offseason microfracture right knee surgery that has placed him on the disabled list to begin the season. "I thought it went well," Murphy said of running on the field. "Well, the grass doesn't really move. But obviously it's more realistic. As far as being limited in my pace I would say no. Yeah, same pace." Murphy said his rehab focus continues to be about...

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Wieters on DL stint, Severino starts versus Braves

April 02, 2018, 3:08pm

Nationals

Wieters on DL stint, Severino starts versus Braves

ATLANTA -- Starting catcher Matt Wieters has a mild left oblique strain and has been place on the 10-day disabled list. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said the injury was suffered in the fifth inning of Wieters last game against the Reds. "We don't want to take a chance," Martinez said. "He's got a very slight, mild strain in his oblique. Rather than let it become a really big issue, we figured we'd give it the 10 days and get it taken care of and get him going again." Wieters said he...

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Game 4 lineups: Nats at Braves

April 02, 2018, 9:14am

Nationals

ATLANTA - Right-hander Tanner Roark did not get a chance to contribute in the 2017 National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Tonight at SunTrust Park, Roark will make his first appearance in a game that counts since October 1 of last year against the Pirates. This will also be his first start since September 27 at Philadelphia. Last season started off slowly for Roark, he pitched better as the season progressed and finished 13-11 with a career-high (or low) 4.67 ERA. In 2016, he...

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Adam Eaton named National League Player of the Week

April 02, 2018, 11:24am

Nationals

Adam Eaton named National League Player of the Week

ATLANTA - Outfielder Adam Eaton raced out of the gates quickly offensively for the Nationals, highlighted by a 5-for-5 game Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati. Today he was rewarded for the effort with the National League Player of the Week honor. Eaton dropped an impressive slash line of .615/.643/1.231 over the weekend in Cincinnati with seven runs scored. He went 8-for-13, with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs. The Nationals won all three games. The award is all the more impressive in...

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Heavily used Madson delivers in an emergency for Nats

April 01, 2018, 7:00pm

Nationals

Heavily used Madson delivers in an emergency for Nats

CINCINNATI - The plan was to give both Brandon Kintzler and Ryan Madson the day off. Both had pitched in Friday's season opener. Both had warmed up in the bullpen during Saturday's nailbiter, even though neither was needed in the game. But when Sammy SolÃs failed to retire the first four Reds batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth Sunday evening, and with the bases loaded and nobody out in what had become a three-run game, Nationals manager Davey Martinez thought back to the...

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With quick strikes from the top, Nats lineup feasts all weekend

April 01, 2018, 4:29pm

Nationals

With quick strikes from the top, Nats lineup feasts all weekend

CINCINNATI - There were home runs, four of them during today's 6-5 victory over the Reds, and four more during Saturday's blowout win. The Nationals are going to hit a lot of home runs this season, given the thunder they have up and down their lineup. But everything they did offensively this weekend during a season-opening sweep at Great American Ball Park began with one simple act from the first batter they sent to the plate. Adam Eaton led off Friday's game with a single to right, then...

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Pitcher batting eighth for first time since 2011 (Nats win 6-5)

April 01, 2018, 1:20pm

Nationals

Pitcher batting eighth for first time since 2011 (Nats win 6-5)

CINCINNATI - In their first 13 seasons of existence, the Nationals submitted a starting lineup with their pitcher batting eighth only 11 times, all of them coming in succession in mid-June 2011. Unable to find a consistently effective leadoff man, former manager Jim Riggleman decided to shake things up, move Jayson Werth to the No. 1 spot, slide everybody else up a slot and bat guys like Roger Bernadina or Ian Desmond ninth behind the pitcher. Whether because of the change or not, the Nationals...

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Marty Niland: Nats fans demand more than, "Wait'll next year and hope"

April 01, 2018, 10:22am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats fans demand more than, "Wait'll next year and hope"

Baseball is said to be a timeless game. The rhythm of the game and the season bring generations together, and phrases like "Bang! Zoom!" and "See you later!" have a special meaning around here in the spring, summer and fall. Year after year, we pack the ballpark, gather around the television, tune in to broadcasts, even shuttle the kids to Little League practice and games, united by traditions and the history behind them. But as enduring as the national pastime is supposed to be, it has...

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Opposite dugout: Braves hoping to turn tide against Nationals

April 01, 2018, 7:35am

Nationals

Manager: Brian Snitkner (3rd season) Record: 2-1 Who to watch (2017 stats): 1B Freddie Freeman (.307/.403/.586 with 28 HR, 71 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.304, 22 SB), RF Nick Markakis (.275, 76 RBIs), RHP Julio Teheran (11-13, 4.49 ERA), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (.283 ERA, 14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (9-10 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 2: RHP Tanner Roark (13-11, 4.67 ERA in 2017) vs. LHP Sean Newcomb (4-9, 4.32 ERA in 2017), 7:35 p.m., MASN2 April 3: RHP A.J. Cole...

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SolÃs delivers big outs in first relief opportunity

April 01, 2018, 11:22am

Nationals

SolÃs delivers big outs in first relief opportunity

CINCINNATI - Davey Martinez knows he can't rely exclusively on his three best relievers this season, especially early on when workloads have to more diligently be monitored. Someone else from the eight-man 'pen is going to have to step up and deliver in key situations. So consider Saturday's performance by Sammy SolÃs a significant one, not only for the role it played in the Nationals' 13-7 over the Reds but perhaps for the trust it may earn the left-hander in his new manager's eyes...