nationals

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

March 06, 2018, 9:07am

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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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Adams, Harper return healthy and productive in win over Tigers

March 04, 2018, 11:23am

Nationals

Adams, Harper return healthy and productive in win over Tigers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - As happy as he was to see Matt Adams launch a ball off the right field wall in the bottom of the second today, Davey Martinez also couldn't help but cringe a little once he realized Adams was going to have to try to stretch the hit into a triple. "I'm going: 'Oh lord, stop,'" the manager said. "He said he felt fine. My biggest thing about spring training is the fear of injuries. Every day we get through a game and nobody gets hurt, it's a good day." Chalk up...

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Suero and Sierra off to good starts in spring training

March 05, 2018, 2:20am

Nationals

Suero and Sierra off to good starts in spring training

Early spring training games are a good chance for younger players to get a shot to play in major league games. One right-handed pitcher for the Nationals, Wander Suero, has gotten off to a very good start. He has not allowed a run in four appearances. Suero pitched in games on Feb. 23 and 27, and March 2 and 4. He has recorded seven strikeouts and one walk, allowing only two hits over four innings. In yesterday's 6-2 win over the Tigers, Suero struck out the side in one inning of relief. In...

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Harper belts first homer of spring (Nats win 6-2)

March 04, 2018, 9:21am

Nationals

Harper belts first homer of spring (Nats win 6-2)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It had been a quiet spring so far for Bryce Harper. Too quiet, to be honest. There was his introductory press conference, during which he made it clear he won't answer questions about his looming free agency. There were some nondescript at-bats in his first couple of Grapefruit League games. And then there were three days off after having an ingrown toenail removed. Sooner or later, Harper was going to do something eye-catching, right? Yep. It happened in the bottom of...

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Nationals' plan behind the plate remains a question

March 04, 2018, 7:04am

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - One of the few legitimate roster decisions the Nationals need to make this spring is behind the plate, where Matt Wieters returns as the No. 1 catcher but the backup position is up for grabs. As much conjecture as there was over the winter about the Nationals pursuing an upgrade - J.T. Realmuto? Alex Avila? Jonathan Lucroy? - general manger Mike Rizzo continues to stand behind Wieters, who he believes is primed for a bounceback season. The backup job? That's up for...

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Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Tigers and Mets

March 04, 2018, 5:56am

Nationals

Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Tigers and Mets

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's a split-squad day for the Nationals, with one group staying back here in West Palm Beach to face the Tigers and another group heading north to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets. Between the two games, nearly everybody of consequence on the roster is playing somewhere today, and there even will be some prospects from minor league camp coming off the bench (including outfielder Juan Soto here at the home game). Gio Gonzalez starts against a Tigers lineup that includes...

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Turner's patient approach leading to more walks this spring

March 03, 2018, 4:19pm

Nationals

Turner's patient approach leading to more walks this spring

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Trea Turner knows the primary criticism with his approach at the plate. And he doesn't entirely disagree, even if he adds a qualifier to the sentiment. "I think a lot of people made a big deal out of me not walking the last couple years, I guess rightfully so," the Nationals shortstop said. "But I feel like if they give me pitches to hit, I should put them in play. And if they don't, I need to walk." Turner is an aggressive hitter, always has been and always will...

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Strasburg gets his work in, Doolittle works on his off-speed stuff

March 03, 2018, 12:15pm

Nationals

Strasburg gets his work in, Doolittle works on his off-speed stuff

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The day began with Stephen Strasburg on the mound for the first time against an opponent this spring. And Strasburg's outing - two innings of one-run ball, plus another 20 pitches in the bullpen afterward - was important, in that he needed to make his first start of the spring at some point and begin the process of ramping up before the season begins. These days, though, there's not that much new for Strasburg to do in spring training. After several years of tinkering,...

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Verlander outdoes Strasburg in spring matchup (Nats win 8-1)

March 03, 2018, 9:11am

Nationals

Verlander outdoes Strasburg in spring matchup (Nats win 8-1)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It lasted all of 2 1/2 innings, but at this time of the spring, we'll all take as much of a Stephen Strasburg-Justin Verlander pitching matchup as we can get. The two right-handers didn't disappoint in their head-to-head showdown today at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Strasburg allowed one run over two innings but consistently hit 97-98 mph with his fastball. Verlander, meanwhile, tossed three scoreless innings and struck out five before calling it a...