nationals

Game 2 lineups: Nats at Reds

March 31, 2018, 6:47am

CINCINNATI - And we're back. With the anticipation and hoopla of opening day behind them, the Nationals now begin the long grind this afternoon. It's Game 2 of 162, and it's a little bit of a quick turnaround with a 2:10 p.m. start here at Great American Ball Park. The Nationals send Stephen Strasburg to the mound for his first start of the season, his first meaningful outing since his Game 4 victory at Wrigley Field in October. The conditions won't be nearly as tough today in Cincinnati,...

Comments

Tags:

cincinnati reds lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Little things add up to produce Nats' first two runs of season

March 31, 2018, 3:59am

Nationals

Little things add up to produce Nats' first two runs of season

CINCINNATI - The Nationals are going to score a lot of runs this season via big blasts and sustained rallies. There's simply too much thunder in their lineup to believe otherwise. But sometimes you've got to manufacture a run or two to win a ballgame. And that's what made Friday's 2-0 opening day victory over the Reds particularly encouraging. The Nationals scored their runs by virtue of three singles (one of them on a bunt), a stolen base, some well-executed baserunning and three...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton bryce harper cincinnati reds davey martinez mark zuckerman michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime opening day featured_sidebar sean doolittle frontstory_nationals3

Nats stick with the formula to give Martinez first managerial win

March 30, 2018, 5:00pm

Nationals

Nats stick with the formula to give Martinez first managerial win

CINCINNATI - Davey Martinez wasn't expecting it. His mind was still racing moments after his team had finished off a 2-0 opening victory over the Reds, the first of his managerial career. So he never saw it coming when Nationals players ambushed him in the clubhouse with a celebratory beer shower, the olfactory remnants of which were still evident 30 minutes later after Martinez had taken an actual shower to try to clean himself off. "I was a little wet," he said. "A lot wet,...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton cincinnati reds davey martinez mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime opening day ryan madson sean doolittle featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals grind out 2-0 opening day win in Cincinnati

March 30, 2018, 3:19pm

Nationals

CINCINNATI - The day began with Davey Martinez answering questions about his unconventional lineup decisions. The day ended with the Nationals' new manager needing no explanation for sticking with the conventional bullpen order that closed out his team's 2-0 victory over the Reds and made Max Scherzer a winner on opening day for the first time in three career tries. Scherzer dominated for six innings, striking out 10 with only one walk issued, putting himself in line for the win after he took...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton bryce harper cincinnati reds mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime opening day ryan zimmerman sean doolittle featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Murphy traveling with club while rehabbing (Nats win 2-0)

March 30, 2018, 1:18pm

Nationals

Murphy traveling with club while rehabbing (Nats win 2-0)

CINCINNATI - Though he's not on the big league roster to begin the season, Daniel Murphy is going to be hanging out with the rest of the Nationals for at least a little while. Murphy, who is on the 10-day disabled list while completing his rehab from October knee surgery, made the trip to Cincinnati with the Nats, was introduced on the field alongside everybody else on the roster before today's opener and will stay with them until he's ready to play in minor league rehab games. "He's one...

Comments

Tags:

daniel murphy injuries mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime opening day featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Martinez explains his opening day batting order decision

March 30, 2018, 11:33am

Nationals

Martinez explains his opening day batting order decision

CINCINNATI - Davey Martinez had been thinking about his opening day lineup for some time. He had scribbled out different varieties, with and without players who were trying to return from injuries this spring. And once he knew for sure who he'd have available to him for today's game at Great American Ball Park, he didn't hesitate to write it down in pen on his first official lineup card as a big league manager. Even if it had Trea Turner batting sixth. That unconventional decision surely...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon davey martinez lineup mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime opening day spring training trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nats' opening day payroll ranks fourth in majors

March 29, 2018, 1:47pm

Nationals

Nats' opening day payroll ranks fourth in majors

CINCINNATI - The precise figure varies depending on your preferred method of calculation, but here's one fact that holds true no matter the math: The Nationals have one of the highest payrolls in baseball this season. The Nationals' opening day payroll of $180,193,628 (by USA Today's calculations) ranks fourth in the majors, trailing only the Giants ($220,881,444), Red Sox ($206,247,686) and Cubs ($182,560,002). The Associated Press has the Nats tied with the Dodgers for fourth place, behind...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals pastime opening day payroll featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Opposite dugout: Pitching still poses biggest problem as Reds' rebuild comes together

March 27, 2018, 12:41pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Pitching still poses biggest problem as Reds' rebuild comes together

Manager: Bryan Price (5th season) Record: 68-94 (5th in NL Central in 2017) Last 10 games: Season opener Who to watch: 1B Joey Votto (.320/.454/.578 with 36 HR, 100 RBIs), 2B Scooter Gennett (.295/.342/.531 with 27 HR, 97 RBIs), 3B Eugenio SuÃ¡rez (26 HR, 82 RBIs), RHP Luis Castillo (3-7, 3.12 ERA), RHP Raisel Iglesias (2.49 ERA, 28 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-6 in 2017) Pitching probables: March 30: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Homer Bailey, 4:10 p.m., MASN March 31: RHP...

Comments

Tags:

bobby blanco nationals nationals buzz opposite dugout reds

Nationals finalize 25-man roster for opening day

March 29, 2018, 7:42am

Nationals

Though they won't play until Friday, the Nationals were nonetheless required to submit their opening day roster to Major League Baseball this morning along with the sport's 29 other clubs. The 25-man roster contains no surprises. The transactions the Nationals made Sunday night upon leaving West Palm Beach already revealed their intentions. The Nationals will carry an eight-man bullpen to open the season, with only four players on their bench. That arrangement could change in relatively short...

Comments

Tags:

featured_sidebar mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime roster frontstory_nationals3

Game 1 lineups: Nats at Reds

March 30, 2018, 8:15am

Nationals

CINCINNATI - They're playing a ballgame here today. No, really. They are. Pay no attention to the tarp that has been on the field at Great American Ball Park, or the rain that started falling yesterday and hasn't stopped since. It's going to clear up in time for first pitch at 4:10 p.m. That's what everyone insists, so we have no choice but to believe them. The Nationals face the Reds on opening day for the first time, and so maybe it's appropriate that there's a first in today's lineup:...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon cincinnati reds lineups mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime spring training trea turner frontstory_nationals1

2018 Nats media season predictions

March 28, 2018, 8:37pm

Nationals

So we always run this feature on opening day. It's a tradition, now in its ninth consecutive season, spanning three different websites. The idea is to reveal these predictions just before the Nationals take the field for their first game of the season. Just one problem: They're not playing today. (Thanks, Cincinnati weather!) Well, rather than postpone the publication of this season's media predictions - and thus have to come up with some other story idea I never planned for - I made the...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime opening day predictions featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

"MASN All Access" podcast: Finally opening day, Davey Martinez and Nats roster

March 30, 2018, 8:22am

Nationals

"MASN All Access" podcast: Finally opening day, Davey Martinez and Nats roster

The rain is finally gone (for now), which means the Nationals can finally open the 2018 season in Cincinnati. It also means the release of the first Nats episode of the brand-new "MASN All-Access" podcast, which goes along with the "MASN All Access" Facebook Live show. If you followed along the past couple of years with the District 34 podcast, you'll be familiar with me, "All Access" and social producer Bobby Blanco, as a host. Joining me this year on the podcast is "All Access"...

Comments

Tags:

bobby blanco daniel murphy davey martinez featured_sidebar masn all access masn all access podcast nationals nationals buzz opening day paul mancano podcast ryan zimmerman

Ryan Sullivan: Three bold Nationals predictions on opening day

March 30, 2018, 7:21am

Nationals

Happy opening day, baseball friends! After many months of battling cold temperatures and evenings without the soothing voices of Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo, Nationals baseball returns today. One of the many great things about opening day is the sense of optimism it brings with it - spring in Washington can be truly beautiful and the beginning of a baseball season leads one to think of the endless possibilities over 162 games. Naturally, this leads fans to start making predictions for...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton guest blogger guestblogger jeremy hellickson nationals nationals buzz ryan sullivan tanner roark

Nationals announce 2018 opening day roster

March 29, 2018, 8:07am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced their 2018 Opening Day roster on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals 25-man roster is comprised of 13 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders. CATCHERS (2): Matt Wieters, Miguel Montero INFIELDERS (6): Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Matt Adams, Wilmer Difo OUTFIELDERS (4): Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor, Bryce Harper, Brian...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nats-Reds opening day postponed until Friday

March 28, 2018, 8:59am

Nationals

Nats-Reds opening day postponed until Friday

The Nationals' 2018 regular season will have to wait one more day. With a 100 percent chance of rain predicted for tomorrow (and throughout much of the weekend) in Cincinnati, the Reds today announced that the opening day game against the Nationals has been postponed until Friday, March 30 at 4:10 p.m. Friday's game can be seen on MASN (not MASN2 as Thursday's game had been scheduled). All opening day festivities planned for tomorrow's opening day will now take place at the same times on...

Comments

Tags:

bobby blanco featured_sidebar nationals nationals pastime opening day rainout reds frontstory_nationals2

Scherzer's ready - for whatever comes his way (updated)

March 27, 2018, 12:53pm

Nationals

Scherzer's ready - for whatever comes his way (updated)

Max Scherzer has pitched in the Arizona desert, where 80 degrees in a comfort-controlled domed stadium masks triple-digit heat and minimal humidity outside. He's worked in Detroit, where early-season winds whip around, making it feel much colder than it is. And he's at home on the mound in D.C., where cool spring weather gives way to heat and humidity that tests a pitcher's mettle and stamina. So pardon the right-hander if he's not really fazed by foreboding weather forecasts that predict...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez max scherzer nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

2018 MLB predictions

March 28, 2018, 6:54am

Nationals

The long wait is over. After a torturous offseason defined not by the free agents who were signed but the free agents who weren't signed, the 2018 major league season has arrived at last. Spring training has wrapped up in Florida and Arizona. Teams have now scattered throughout the country to begin the regular season, and 15 games are on the slate Thursday. (We'll see how many of those are actually played, though, with rain a factor in several cities, most notably Cincinnati, where the...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime opening day predictions spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

SolÃs at full strength a difference maker for Nats

March 28, 2018, 3:42am

Nationals

SolÃs at full strength a difference maker for Nats

Left-hander Sammy SolÃs finished up spring with a scoreless inning against the Twins on Tuesday. His spring ERA was 1.80, the best ERA he has ever posted in camp. He struck out 15 and walked one in 10 innings. "He had a great spring training," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's very confident coming into the season, which I love. We will keep him going. He's a big part of that bullpen, and he knows that. He will pitch some big moments for us." In one inning Tuesday, SolÃs...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals sammy solis sean doolittle davey martinez featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Martinez updates status of Murphy and Glover

March 27, 2018, 3:37pm

Nationals

Martinez updates status of Murphy and Glover

The Nationals made roster moves prior to their 3-1 exhibition loss to the Twins Tuesday by moving right-hander Koda Glover (right shoulder tendinitis) to the 60-day disabled list. The team selected the contract of veteran catcher Miguel Montero and placed second baseman Daniel Murphy (microfracture right knee surgery) and right-hander Joaquin Benoit (right forearm strain) on the 10-day disabled list. After the game, manager Davey Martinez detailed the next few weeks for Murphy, confirming the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr daniel murphy koda glover miguel montero nationals twins featured_sidebar davey martinez frontstory_nationals3

Report: Werth agrees to minor league deal with Mariners

March 27, 2018, 11:43am

Nationals

Report: Werth agrees to minor league deal with Mariners

Veteran outfielder Jayson Werth is going to get a shot at extending his big league career in the Pacific Northwest. The former Nationals standout has agreed to a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Mariners bringing in veteran outfielder Jayson Werth on a minor league contract https://t.co/ZJ7Kg0ys85 pic.twitter.com/sQaVgIJW8Y -- Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) March 27, 2018 Werth spent seven seasons with the Nationals, but did...