nationals

With game of his life, Strasburg rewrites his story

October 11, 2017, 6:32pm

CHICAGO - Stephen Strasburg rode the Nationals team bus back to their relocated downtown hotel following Tuesday's rainout at Wrigley Field, checked into his room, took some newly prescribed antibiotics and went to sleep. At that moment, what chance did the ailing right-hander think he had of taking the mound the next afternoon for a win-or-else ballgame against the Cubs? "It wasn't much, to be honest," he said. And then Strasburg woke up this morning, feeling like the antibiotics had made...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nats waste Scherzer's dominating performance in 2-1 loss

October 09, 2017, 5:57pm

Nationals

Nats waste Scherzer's dominating performance in 2-1 loss

CHICAGO - With the best-of-five National League Division Series tied at a game apiece, the Nationals headed to Wrigley Field to face JosÃ© Quintana, the Cubs' fourth starter. Their counterpunch? Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer. The Nationals ace was pushed back to start Game 3 of the series due to right hamstring tightness. Heading into the game, there were many question marks surrounding the right-hander, including whether he would be able to last deep into the game without succumbing to...

Comments

Tags:

max schezer nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite anthony rizzo bryce harper featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg's gem, Taylor's slam bring Nats home for Game 5

October 11, 2017, 3:59pm

Nationals

Strasburg's gem, Taylor's slam bring Nats home for Game 5

CHICAGO - All the precautions they took with him earlier in his career, all the bumps along the way he dealt with that prevented him from taking the mound as much as he or the Nationals wanted, all of that meant nothing this afternoon at cold, raw, windy Wrigley Field. Because with their season on the line, the Nationals handed the ball to Stephen Strasburg. And, after a chaotic and convoluted 24 hours during which he was pulled from the outing and then reinserted for the start, Strasburg...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs mark zuckerman michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime nlds stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Taylor defies elements with grand slam at Wrigley Field

October 11, 2017, 6:36pm

Nationals

Taylor defies elements with grand slam at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO - A game removed from taking the blame for not catching the Cubs' game-winning bloop hit, Michael A. Taylor stepped to the plate in the eighth inning Wednesday night with rain falling, wind blowing and the bases loaded. With the elements stifling fly balls at Wrigley Field, the only run of the game was the Nats' unearned run in the third inning. After Daniel Murphy's single off Jon Lester, who was pitching in relief, Cubs manager Joe Maddon opted to bring in Carl Edwards Jr., who...

Comments

Tags:

michael a. taylor nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite dusty baker featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2 jayson werth nlds

NLDS game blog: Strasburg back on the mound for makeup Game 4

October 11, 2017, 12:43pm

Nationals

NLDS game blog: Strasburg back on the mound for makeup Game 4

By Paul Mancano CHICAGO - The National League Divisional Series matchup between the Nationals and the Cubs has been nothing if not interesting. From the disappearing act of the Nationals offense to Ryan Zimmerman's home run in Game 2 that defied gravity to the Chicago weather changing at the drop of a hat, the series resembles an amateur magic act. Then, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the magician pulling the strings picked up a few new tricks. Less than 24 hours after it was determined...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals2 nationals nationals buzz nlds paul mancano stephen strasburg tanner roark

What changed to make Strasburg available for Game 4 start

October 11, 2017, 11:23am

Nationals

What changed to make Strasburg available for Game 4 start

CHICAGO - When he walked out of Wrigley Field on Tuesday evening, Dusty Baker fully expected Tanner Roark to start a must-win Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Despite the Nationals' hopes, Stephen Strasburg simply was too ill at that moment for his manager to believe he could take the mound the following afternoon. Baker, though, has been in this sport long enough to have seen it all. He's seen guys play through injuries and illness, and he's seen guys' conditions dramatically...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime nlds stephen strasburg tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Taylor's slam in eighth extends Nats' lead (Nats win 5-0)

October 11, 2017, 1:23pm

Nationals

Taylor's slam in eighth extends Nats' lead (Nats win 5-0)

The Nationals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series, Trea Turner racing home from third base when shortstop Addison Russell booted Ryan Zimmerman's two-out grounder. Turner doubled to left field with one out in the second, his first hit in 13 at-bats in the NLDS. He went to third on a wild pitch from Cubs righty Jake Arrieta while Jayson Werth was batting. Werth struck out and Bryce Harper walked, later stealing second. Zimmerman hit a bouncer...

Comments

Tags:

frontfeatured_nationals nationals nationals pastime nlds pete kerzel ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg

NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats at Cubs (Strasburg to start)

October 11, 2017, 8:52am

Nationals

NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats at Cubs (Strasburg to start)

CHICAGO - As if this National League Division Series wasn't already dramatic enough, how about this: Stephen Strasburg will start Game 4 for the Nationals after all. Some 18 hours after announcing Strasburg wouldn't be able to pitch this elimination game against the Cubs because he was ill, the Nationals reversed course and named the right-hander as their starter. Strasburg, according to a source familiar with the decision, informed the club this morning he was feeling better and wanted to...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds stephen strasburg tanner roark frontstory_nationals3

Roark embraces challenge of must-win start for Nationals

October 10, 2017, 10:08pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - As attention and controversy swirled around Stephen Strasburg and the circumstances that led to the right-hander not taking the mound for today's must-win game against the Cubs, another member of the Nationals rotation was left ignored: Tanner Roark. Which was appropriate, given Roark's career and personality. Here's a guy who consistently has been overlooked and countless times has stepped up and made people notice him with his performance. And now the Nationals are hoping Roark...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Game 4 postponed until Wednesday (Roark will start)

October 10, 2017, 1:14pm

Nationals

Game 4 postponed until Wednesday (Roark will start)

CHICAGO - With rain approaching the area and expected to arrive sometime late this afternoon or early this evening, the start of Game 4 of the National League Division Series has been delayed. There's been no decision made yet on a full postponement of the game, but the general managers and managers from both the Nationals and Cubs met with Major League Baseball officials including chief baseball officer Joe Torre a short while ago to discuss the possibilities. They are scheduled to meet again...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker joe maddon joe torre mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds stephen strasburg tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

With Strasburg ill, Roark still gets postponed Game 4 start

October 10, 2017, 4:13pm

Nationals

With Strasburg ill, Roark still gets postponed Game 4 start

CHICAGO - The postponement of Game 4 of the National League Division Series appeared to favor the Nationals, who suddenly had the option of sending Stephen Strasburg back to the mound for a must-win game on normal rest. But when manager Dusty Baker entered the makeshift press conference room at Wrigley Field this evening to provide what seemed like an obvious answer to a simple question, he wound up creating confusion and dissatisfaction among many with his eight-word reply: "We're going to...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds stephen strasburg tanner roark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Looking back at the key decisions in the seventh and eighth

October 10, 2017, 4:20am

Nationals

Looking back at the key decisions in the seventh and eighth

CHICAGO - A lot happened in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Seriously, for a 2-1 ballgame, there were enough significant moments, great plays, terrible plays and key decisions to warrant a week's worth of discussion. We don't have that much time, of course, to discuss it all. Game 4 is coming up later this afternoon. (If you missed it, Major League Baseball announced late last night that, no matter the outcome of the other NLDS, the game will be played at 5:38 p.m. EDT in an...

Comments

Tags:

brandon kintzler chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime nlds oliver perez sammy solis featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats at Cubs

October 10, 2017, 10:12am

Nationals

CHICAGO - And so the Nationals' season has come down to this: They need to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field and force a winner-take-all Game 5 at Nationals Park on Thursday night. All of this, of course, is assuming they're able to play today. Your early-afternoon weather update: It's not raining yet, but the rain is on the way, and it's going to hit sometime later this afternoon. It's just a question of whether the rain is significant enough to prevent...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon chicago cubs jayson werth lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds tanner roark frontstory_nationals1

Mets agree to purchase Triple-A Syracuse, Nats will need new affiliate in 2019

October 09, 2017, 12:27pm

Nationals

Mets agree to purchase Triple-A Syracuse, Nats will need new affiliate in 2019

The Nationals will need a new Triple-A affiliate in 2019 because the Mets have reportedly reached an agreement to purchase the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, according to Syracuse.com. The Nats have played their Triple-A games in Syracuse since 2009. The Chiefs have operated at a loss every season since 2006, except in 2010. This means the Nationals will have one more season in Syracuse, through the 2018 campaign, before they will need to find a new Triple-A club. It would seem that the affiliate...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals syracuse chiefs nationals farm report frontstory_nationals2

Cubs rally late to win Game 3, leave Nats facing elimination

October 09, 2017, 3:19pm

Nationals

Cubs rally late to win Game 3, leave Nats facing elimination

CHICAGO - The margin between success and failure in the postseason is razor-thin. A batter can hit a frozen rope but hit it right at somebody. Another can barely bloop a ball into shallow left-center field and watch it fall between three defenders and drive home the winning run. The Nationals experienced it all today during an agonizing 2-1 loss to the Cubs in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. They had a couple of chances to score early, but watched as Chicago's outfielders...

Comments

Tags:

brandon kintzler chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime nlds ryan zimmerman sammy solis featured_sidebar

In critical October showdown, Nationals lose game of inches

October 09, 2017, 5:59pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - Oliver PÃ©rez liked the pitch coming out of his hand, and he liked it coming off Anthony Rizzo's bat. It was a first-pitch fastball, in, and he managed to jam Rizzo and force the Cubs slugger to hit a little blooper toward shallow left-center field. And then, as PÃ©rez turned around and saw how much ground three of his teammates were trying to cover to get to the ball in time, well, that's when the Nationals reliever realized this might be trouble. "I saw he didn't hit it that...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker mark zuckerman max scherzer michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime nlds trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

NLDS game blog: Scherzer on the mound in Game 3

October 09, 2017, 11:45am

Nationals

NLDS game blog: Scherzer on the mound in Game 3

CHICAGO - It's not often that a team leaves its best starting pitcher for Game 3 of a postseason series, especially a best-of-five series. But the Nationals kept ace Max Scherzer off the mound for the first two games of the National League Division Series out of necessity. Scherzer tweaked his right hamstring in his final regular season start of the season, casting his playoff future in doubt. Nine games removed from that start against the Pirates, the 2016 National League Cy Young award...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals2 max scherzer nationals nationals buzz nlds paul mancano

Scherzer strong early in Game 3 (Cubs win 2-1)

October 09, 2017, 1:22pm

Nationals

Scherzer strong early in Game 3 (Cubs win 2-1)

Four innings into Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field and the Nationals are still searching for their first run. They've had a couple of chances, but have been unable to get to Cubs lefty JosÃ© Quintana when they've had runners in scoring position. In the second, Michael A. Taylor led off with a single and went to second when Quintana's pickoff attempt sailed wide of first base. But Max Scherzer couldn't get a bunt down, striking out out swinging. After Trea...

Comments

Tags:

cubs max scherzer nationals nationals pastime nlds pete kerzel frontfeatured_nationals

Baker sticks with Werth in Game 3 matchup vs. Quintana

October 09, 2017, 11:04am

Nationals

Baker sticks with Werth in Game 3 matchup vs. Quintana

CHICAGO - Whatever urge there may have been to alter his lineup for Game 3 of the National League Division Series, Dusty Baker ultimately decided continuity was more important than playing matchups against an opponent they've never faced. With left-hander JosÃ© Quintana on the mound for the Cubs this afternoon, the Nationals are going up against an unknown entity. Only three members of their NLDS roster have ever faced him before: Howie Kendrick (5-for-10), Adam Lind (2-for-9) and Matt...

Comments

Tags:

chicago cubs dusty baker jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime nlds featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Nats will start Roark in Game 4, won't start Strasburg on short rest

October 08, 2017, 9:56pm

Nationals

Nats will start Roark in Game 4, won't start Strasburg on short rest

CHICAGO - Unless something really unexpected happens today, Tanner Roark will start Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday. No matter what happens between now and then, Stephen Strasburg will not be starting that game. The Nationals revealed their rotation plans for the remainder of their series against the Cubs, and it's exactly what was expected to be the case all along, with Roark serving as the club's fourth starter and Strasburg held back from returning to pitch again...