nationals

Martinez reflects on ejection and updates Eaton's status

April 08, 2018, 2:53pm

A little over 24 hours have passed since Nationals manager Davey Martinez was ejected from the 3-2 loss to the Mets. Martinez was tossed for the first time in his managerial career, arguing against the ejection of third baseman Anthony Rendon by home plate umpire Marty Foster. Since that incident on the field, Martinez has had some time to reflect. And he has heard and read a lot about the ejection on his phone and on television. "It was all over the news," Martinez said. "I'm not typically...

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Murphy still needs a week of running before playing games

April 08, 2018, 3:08pm

Nationals

Murphy still needs a week of running before playing games

Daniel Murphy's advancement in daily workouts - running sprints in the outfield, taking full rounds of batting practice and grounders at second base - may suggest the rehabbing Nationals veteran is nearly ready to begin playing in games. To anyone who is having that notion right now, manager Davey Martinez wants you to start pumping the brakes a bit. Despite the significant progress he's made in the last week, Murphy still has some significant hurdles to cross before he suits up for a...

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Game 9 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

April 08, 2018, 12:11pm

Nationals

It's been a very pleasant, if just a bit chilly, afternoon here in the nation's capital. Would've been a great day for a ballgame. Unfortunately the Nationals and Mets don't play til 8:08 p.m., after the sun has gone down and the temperatures drop. It's going to be in the low 40s for most of tonight's game, maybe even dipping into the 30s before the end of the game. Don't worry, though, at least the Metro closes at 11 p.m. ... OK, enough complaining for now. The Nationals kind of need to...

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Kiebooms light up box scores in Friday night minor league update

April 07, 2018, 3:41am

Nationals

Kiebooms light up box scores in Friday night minor league update

Friday night highlights for high Single-A Potomac included shortstop Carter Kieboom and third baseman Jake Noll each cranking solo homers. Designated hitter Austin Davidson contributed a two-run triple in a 9-2 victory over Wilmington. Right-hander Sterling Sharp (1-0) surrendered only one run in five innings, striking out six. Second baseman Bryan Mejia later added a two-run double while left fielder Telmito Agustin scored one with a double as well. Catcher Tres Barrera had an RBI double and...

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Kintzler struggles again, Severino surprises at the plate

April 07, 2018, 8:34pm

Nationals

Kintzler struggles again, Severino surprises at the plate

After a disastrous appearance Thursday that was capped by a grand slam, Brandon Kintzler vowed to get back to throwing his bread-and-butter pitch (sinker) instead of the off-speed pitch (slider) he inexplicably relied too much on that afternoon. The good news about Kintzler's return to the mound Saturday: He threw only one slider among the 15 pitches he threw during the top of the seventh. The bad news: He still gave up two runs to the Mets, turning the Nationals' 2-1 lead into a 3-2 deficit...

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Rendon, Nats lament quick ejection during latest loss

April 07, 2018, 1:33pm

Nationals

Rendon, Nats lament quick ejection during latest loss

Anthony Rendon didn't say a word - "I don't think my mouth even opened to chew gum," the mild-mannered Nationals third baseman said - but it was his actions and not his words in the third inning of today's 3-2 loss to the Mets that caught plate umpire Marty Foster's ire. When Foster saw Rendon step out of the batter's box after Steven Matz's 2-1 curveball up in the zone was called a strike, he told Rendon "we gotta play, you gotta get back in there," according to crew chief Joe West,...

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Frustrated Nats drop fourth straight, fall 3-2 to Mets

April 07, 2018, 12:04pm

Nationals

Frustrated Nats drop fourth straight, fall 3-2 to Mets

They kept their composure during three straight losses. By the fourth, the Nationals couldn't hold back their frustration any longer. Particularly with an umpire with a healthy strike zone on a cold afternoon in the District. Today's 3-2 loss to the Mets, in which the tying and go-ahead runs were scored off reliever Brandon Kintzler in the top of the seventh, leaves the Nationals with an even .500 record through eight games. More concerning, it leaves them 2 1/2 games behind New York in the...

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Rendon, Martinez ejected arguing strike three call (Nats lose 3-2)

April 07, 2018, 10:36am

Nationals

Rendon, Martinez ejected arguing strike three call (Nats lose 3-2)

For all his mild-mannered appearances in interviews, Davey Martinez has insisted all along he can get riled up with the best of them when he gets upset. And he just proved it in the bottom of the third inning at Nationals Park. Moments after Anthony Rendon was ejected following a borderline strike three call by plate umpire Marty Foster, Martinez came storming out of the dugout and earned the first ejection of his managerial career, tossing his cap and kicking dirt on the plate in a show that...

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Cole pushed back, Hellickson still in Florida

April 07, 2018, 9:02am

Nationals

Cole pushed back, Hellickson still in Florida

A.J. Cole will remain in the Nationals rotation for now. But he'll be pushed back a couple of days. With Jeremy Hellickson continuing to breathe down his neck. Friday's off-day afforded the Nats the opportunity to adjust their rotation, and they've decided to have Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg remain on a five-day schedule and start Monday and Tuesday against the Braves. Cole now will slot in behind Strasburg and start Wednesday's series finale against Atlanta, hoping for much better...

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Romero designated, Montero goes on paternity list

April 07, 2018, 7:33am

Nationals

Romero designated, Montero goes on paternity list

The combination of a short bench, better-than-expected weather and the pending birth of a player's child led the Nationals to make a flurry of roster moves before today's game against the Mets. Already playing with a four-man bench to begin the season, the club was facing the possibility of even fewer options after Adam Eaton tweaked his ankle during Thursday's home opener. Though the dynamic leadoff man says he feels "great" and is expected back in the lineup Sunday, the Nationals decided...

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Game 8 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

April 07, 2018, 5:24am

Nationals

It's cold. It's gray. It's windy. But it's dry at Nationals Park, and it appears it's going to stay that way the rest of the day. So there will indeed be baseball this afternoon, the second game of this weekend series against the Mets, who are off to a 5-1 start and the (extremely early) top spot in the National League East division. Given the conditions, this should be a good day to be a pitcher, especially a left-handed pitcher since the wind is blowing in from left field. And wouldn't...

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Nationals recall Matt Reynolds and select the contract of Jhonatan Solano

April 07, 2018, 6:15am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled infielder/outfielder Matt Reynolds and selected the contract of catcher Jhonatan Solano from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. Additionally, they placed catcher Miguel Montero on the paternity list and designated for assignment left-handed pitcher Enny Romero. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Reynolds, 27, joins the Nationals for his first Major League assignment of the season as well as his first...

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Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released

April 06, 2018, 7:06am

Nationals

The Nationals have announced the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs roster for the 2018 season. It will be the Nats' final season in Syracuse, though it is not known where their Triple-A affiliate will be located next season. Syracuse opens its season tonight at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Randy Knorr is the manager. The pitching coach is Brad Holman and the hitting coach is Brian Daubach. Top prospect Victor Robles is in the outfield. Erick Fedde and Austin L. Adams, who are on the Nats' 40-man roster, are...

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Kintzler regrets using off-speed pitches in four-run inning

April 06, 2018, 11:12am

Nationals

Kintzler regrets using off-speed pitches in four-run inning

The vast majority of Brandon Kintzler's appearances this season should come with the Nationals leading, or perhaps tied, late in games. But the right-hander hadn't pitched in a week, and with the club off Friday, manager Davey Martinez wanted to make sure he and fellow bullpen stalwarts Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle got some work in Thursday regardless of the score. So it was that Kintzler found himself on the mound for the top of the seventh, the Nationals trailing the Mets 4-2, the...

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Friday morning Nats Q&A

April 05, 2018, 7:11pm

Nationals

So I sense a little bit of angst out there among the Nationals faithful. Is that a fair reading of public opinion following three straight losses, including Thursday's 8-2 dud against the Mets in the home opener? The Nationals looked great for four games; they've looked far-from-great in three games since. The top of the order is hitting, the rest of the lineup, not so much. The two aces got battered around a bit the last two days. And the bullpen remains a work in progress. And now we've...

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Strasburg not down after 8-2 setback, laments two pitches

April 06, 2018, 3:05am

Nationals

Strasburg not down after 8-2 setback, laments two pitches

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was pretty satisfied with his work in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Mets, but would want back two pitches and a misstep. Strasburg gave his team a chance. The Nationals were down only 4-2 when he departed. Yoenis CespÃ©des hit a solo shot in the fourth on a low four-seam fastball. Michael Conforto gave the Mets a 4-2 lead on a two-run shot in the fifth. That pitch was a 97 mph four-seam fastball on a 1-2 count. "I thought my stuff was pretty good," Strasburg...

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Ryan Sullivan: Grace is best-kept secret in Nationals 'pen

April 06, 2018, 5:35am

Nationals

Recently, an entertainer in World Wrestling Entertainment named Buddy Murphy began calling himself "professional wrestling's best-kept secret." With all due respect to his creative catchphrase, I believe we should start calling Nationals reliever Matt Grace "D.C. baseball's best-kept secret." Last season, Grace was quietly effective for the Nationals, producing a 4.32 ERA, 1.360 WHIP and 31 strikeouts against 18 walks over 50 innings pitched. An eighth-round pick by Washington in the 2010...

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Zimmerman and Turner react to failed sixth-inning rally

April 05, 2018, 1:30pm

Nationals

Zimmerman and Turner react to failed sixth-inning rally

The Nationals' best chance to put a big inning together in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Mets came in the sixth inning. Having seen Mets starter Jacob deGrom two times through the lineup, the Nats found themselves down 4-2. The top of the lineup was the only part of the Nationals offense that clicked all day. In the sixth, Adam Eaton led off with a single and Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper walked. Suddenly, the Nats had the bases loaded and the sellout crowd of 42,477 sensed this was the home...

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Eaton tweaks ankle, but expects to return in a day or two

April 05, 2018, 1:46pm

Nationals

Eaton tweaks ankle, but expects to return in a day or two

It was both a wonderful sight to behold while simultaneously leaving 42,477 people inside Nationals Park holding their collective breaths. Adam Eaton being waved around third base on a double into the left field corner? How long has everyone been waiting for that moment since that fateful night nearly one year ago when the Nationals outfielder tore his left ACL tripping over first base against this same Mets ballclub? The good news: Eaton was safe, thanks to JosÃ© Reyes' wide relay throw to...

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Rizzo glad to get extension finalized, avoid distraction

April 05, 2018, 8:07am

Nationals

Rizzo glad to get extension finalized, avoid distraction

Though he might not have been worried about his contract status, Mike Rizzo sensed it was starting to become a topic of conversation within the Nationals clubhouse. So when the opportunity arose this week to get a two-year extension finalized, the longtime general manager felt the time was right. "I thought it was important for the team not to have this as a distraction," Rizzo said this morning as his team took batting practice before its home opener. "And I thought going forward it was...