nationals

For versatile Difo, helping Nats is his top priority

March 07, 2018, 1:35pm

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - As far as Wilmer Difo is concerned, the more work, the better. If microfracture surgery delays the start to Daniel Murphy's season, Difo is happy to play second base for the Nationals as long as he's needed. If shortstop Trea Turner or third baseman Anthony Rendon need a day off, Difo's ready to fill in. He'll grab a bat and pinch-hit or use his legs to make a difference as a pinch-runner. "I'm a player that likes to work hard, and the more work I get, the better I...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez nationals nationals pastime octavio martinez pete kerzel spring training wilmer difo featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Starting lineups: Mets vs. Nats in West Palm Beach

March 07, 2018, 4:10pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Mets vs. Nats in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg makes his second start of spring training this afternoon when the Nationals host the Mets. He'll face right-hander Noah Syndergaard. In his first start on March 3, Strasburg worked two innings against the Astros, allowing a run on three hits with two strikeouts. Manager Davey Martinez has been extending his starters in recent games and hopes to get Strasburg up up to 60-65 pitches today. There are few hitters this spring hotter than MoisÃ©s Sierra,...

Comments

Tags:

lineups moises sierra nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1

Dan Kolko to host "Nats Insider" on 106.7 The Fan every Saturday morning throughout Nats season

March 07, 2018, 8:20am

Nationals

Dan Kolko to host "Nats Insider" on 106.7 The Fan every Saturday morning throughout Nats season

MASN's Nationals on-field reporter Dan Kolko is known by many names to our loyal fans and viewers. "MASN Dan," "DK" and "TV's Dan Kolko" are just a few examples. Starting this season, we have another nickname to add to the list: "Radio Dan." In addition to his MASN broadcast duties for this upcoming regular season, Kolko will also be hosting a weekly "Nats Insider" show on the Nationals flagship radio station 106.7 The Fan every Saturday from 8-9 a.m. The station released Kolko's...

Comments

Tags:

106.7 the fan bobby blanco dan kolko frontstory_nationals2 nationals nationals buzz nats insider

Cerebral Scherzer trying to stay a step ahead of hitters

March 07, 2018, 11:36am

Nationals

Cerebral Scherzer trying to stay a step ahead of hitters

JUPITER, Fla. - Max Scherzer often makes his craft look so effortless that it's easy to forget that he's part of a perpetual thinking man's exercise that requires a pitcher to constantly adjust and readjust both plan of attack and expectations. So, after winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards, here was the Nationals ace using an innocuous spring training start to try to integrate a few new wrinkles into his repertoire, just in case the hitters have caught up to him and think they've figured...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez max scherzer nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Robles plates a run, Scherzer strong through three (Nats lose 4-3)

March 07, 2018, 9:02am

Nationals

Robles plates a run, Scherzer strong through three (Nats lose 4-3)

JUPITER, Fla. - Through three innings at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, rookie Victor Robles continues to handle major league pitching and right-hander Max Scherzer is dealing in midseason form. Robles, who will likely start the season at Triple-A unless an injury opens an opportunity in the Nationals outfield, doubled off the base of the wall in left-center off Adam Wainwright in his first at-bat to score Trea Turner for a 1-0 lead. Turner slashed a leadoff single that third baseman Greg Garcia...

Comments

Tags:

max scherzer nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar moises sierra brandon kintzler frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman nearing game at-bats, Martinez says

March 07, 2018, 6:37am

Nationals

Zimmerman nearing game at-bats, Martinez says

JUPITER, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman got dressed and headed out to take batting practice this morning in West Palm Beach, still attired in long pants even though most of the rest of the Nationals had switched into shorts and t-shirts, the uniform of the day for their morning workout. Another day passed without Zimmerman in the lineup for a Grapefruit League game - he's played only once, doubling in one of his two at-bats on March 3, and his Grapefruit League average has been stuck on .500 for since...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez koda glover nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel ryan zimmerman tommy milone featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter

March 06, 2018, 3:27pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. - Coming off three spotless innings with five strikeouts in his last start against the Mets in Port St. Lucie on March 2, what does Max Scherzer do for an encore? We'll find out this afternoon when the right-hander makes his third Grapefruit League start against the Cardinals. So far this spring, Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, and has allowed one hit - a home run by the Braves' Dansby Swanson on Feb. 25 - with no walks and eight strikeouts through five innings. The last two...

Comments

Tags:

lineups max scherzer nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel ryan raburn spring training

Eager Goodwin prepares to be ready when called upon

March 06, 2018, 1:04pm

Nationals

Eager Goodwin prepares to be ready when called upon

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If there's one guy in the Nationals clubhouse who can empathize with Brian Goodwin's dilemma, it's new manager Davey Martinez. Long before he spent a decade as Joe Maddon's right-hand man in Tampa Bay and Chicago, Martinez was a major league outfielder fighting for playing time. In his 16 seasons in the bigs, Martinez played in more than 120 games only nine times. Like most ballplayers, he had to fight to carve out his niche as a regular. Sometimes he was more...

Comments

Tags:

brian goodwin davey martinez nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Cole uneven through three frames (Nats lose 10-5)

March 06, 2018, 9:07am

Nationals

Cole uneven through three frames (Nats lose 10-5)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There's been both good and bad from A.J. Cole today against the Astros. But enough bad to outweigh the good and put the Nationals in a 3-0 hole after three innings. The good? Cole has been very aggressive, challenging hitters and moving the ball around the plate, resulting in a pair of strikeouts each against Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, two of the more dangerous hitters in the Astros lineup. After yielding a solo homer to Marwin Gonzalez with one out in the first,...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar jose marmolejos erick fedde frontstory_nationals3

Martinez critiques Cole, Fedde and Marmolejos

March 06, 2018, 11:58am

Nationals

Martinez critiques Cole, Fedde and Marmolejos

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The results may not have been particularly pleasing, but Nationals manager Davey Martinez liked the approach taken by right-hander A.J. Cole in his three-inning start in Tuesday's 10-5 Grapefruit League loss to the Astros. Cole wasn't able to consistently throw first-pitch strikes, had some success getting his curveball over and never got into any kind of rhythm in his second spring start. He was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on five hits, but didn't...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole davey martinez erick fedde jose marmolejos nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Martinez updates Taylor injury, plus notes on versatility and Cole

March 06, 2018, 5:44am

Nationals

Martinez updates Taylor injury, plus notes on versatility and Cole

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Martinez had no significant update on the status of center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who was scratched from Monday's Grapefruit League game in Jupiter with tightness in his right side. But for now, it doesn't appear as if the Nationals view Taylor's injury as anything major. "Same as yesterday," Martinez said this morning. "He's stiff (on the) right side. They're going to treat him and he's going to be day-to-day." The Nationals don't...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole davey martinez matt adams michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training wilmer difo featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Starting lineups: Astros vs. Nats at West Palm Beach

March 05, 2018, 3:07pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Astros vs. Nats at West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Amid persistent rumors that the Nationals may still be trying to boost their rotation with a late free agent signing, right-hander A.J. Cole gets another opportunity to show the Washington brass that he's capable of holding down the fifth spot in the rotation. Cole makes his second Grapefruit League start this afternoon when the Nationals host an Astros split squad in a game that will be televised live on MASN (and replayed twice this evening). In his first spring...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole lineups nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training

Grace focused on better defining his role in Nats bullpen

March 05, 2018, 12:38pm

Nationals

Grace focused on better defining his role in Nats bullpen

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When the Nationals traded for Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Brandon Kintzler in a pair of deals last July, the moves did more than fortify a struggling bullpen. Because Doolittle and Madson were under team control through 2018, and after Kintzler was re-signed this offseason, it ensured that the Nats would return the back end of their bullpen intact. But the trio's return has a ripple effect, keeping other holdover relievers in familiar roles and giving them another...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez mark grace nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Romero sent home from Nats camp for rules violation

March 05, 2018, 5:09pm

Nationals

Romero sent home from Nats camp for rules violation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Seth Romero, the Nationals' first-round pick in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, was sent home from spring training on Monday for violating an unspecified team rule, a Nationals spokesman confirmed. It is unclear exactly what rule Romero, a 21-year-old left-hander who was taken with the 25th overall selection in the draft, may have violated and how long he will be absent from camp. Yahoo Sports was first to report that Romero had been sent home from spring training....

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel seth romero spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Martinez on Taylor's injury, Roark's effort and Benoit's debut

March 05, 2018, 11:04am

Nationals

Martinez on Taylor's injury, Roark's effort and Benoit's debut

JUPITER, Fla. - Manager Davey Martinez didn't think twice about scratching Michael A. Taylor from Monday's lineup when the center fielder reported some tightness in his right side before the Nationals boarded the bus in West Palm Beach for the 15-minute drive to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. "He had a little bit of tightness in his right side," Martinez said after the Nats' 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. "I know he had an issue with it last year, so we're not going to take any chances right...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stevenson davey martinez joaquin benoit michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Roark finds modified delivery to his liking (Nats lose 2-1)

March 05, 2018, 9:58am

Nationals

Roark finds modified delivery to his liking (Nats lose 2-1)

JUPITER, Fla. - Having seen teammate Stephen Strasburg succeed by pitching only from the stretch, Tanner Roark decided this offseason to start tinkering with a similar approach. Roark has continued working on his modified windup - mostly from the stretch, with a little side-to-side action to get some momentum - this spring and the results were immediately positive. The right-hander threw four scoreless innings against the Cardinals on Monday, allowing just one hit, walking none and striking out...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training stephen strasburg tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Stevenson goes deep, Roark confounds Cardinals (Nats up 1-0)

March 05, 2018, 8:52am

Nationals

Stevenson goes deep, Roark confounds Cardinals (Nats up 1-0)

JUPITER, Fla. - Andrew Stevenson, who wasn't even in the starting lineup until Michael A. Taylor was scratched with mild tightness in his right side about a half-hour before first pitch, homered in the third to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead over the Cardinals. The wind has been knocking balls down in the outfield early on, but Stevenson's opposite-field poke off Luke Weaver had enough on it to carry over the wall in left. It was his first homer of the spring. Tanner Roark, making his third...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stevenson nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training tanner roark featured_sidebar matt adams frontstory_nationals3

Martinez updates Murphy and Eaton's recoveries (plus notes)

March 05, 2018, 7:16am

Nationals

Martinez updates Murphy and Eaton's recoveries (plus notes)

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals continue to take it slow and steady with second baseman Daniel Murphy and left fielder Adam Eaton, a pair of projected starters who are spending the early portion of spring training rehabilitating injuries. Murphy, who is recovering from Oct. 20 debridement microfracture surgery, has progressed to hitting off a tee and the Nationals are hopeful that the snail's pace progression will allow him to be ready for opening day on March 29. "He's actually hitting off...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton bryce harper daniel murphy davey martinez nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter (Taylor scratched)

March 04, 2018, 3:01pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter (Taylor scratched)

JUPITER, Fla. - If the Nationals are playing at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, right-hander Tanner Roark must be starting. Roark takes the hill for his third start of the spring today, and all have come in the cozy confines of Roger Dean, where the wind whips across the outfield, turning routine fly balls into adventures, skewing pitching lines and inflating ERAs. This time, the Cardinals will present the opposition; in Roark's first two Grapefruit League starts here, he faced the Marlins....

Comments

Tags:

daniel johnson lineups nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel spring training st. louis cardinals tanner roark andrew stevenson michael a. taylor moises sierra victor robles frontstory_nationals3

Excited Soto gets his first chance to play in front of coaches

March 04, 2018, 12:05pm

Nationals

Excited Soto gets his first chance to play in front of coaches

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Juan Soto's exuberance, possibly over-exuberance, was understandable. Here was a 19-year-old prospect standing in the batter's box in a major league Grapefruit League game for the first time, pinch-hitting for Howie Kendrick in the bottom of the sixth of Sunday's game against the Tigers. So when Soto nearly swung out of his shoes a couple of times while striking out against 22-year-old right-hander Gerson Moreno, those in the park with big league experience weren't...