nationals

Nats bullpen finishes off Cubs in Game 2 with masterful four innings

October 07, 2017, 6:28pm

It takes the offense, pitching and defense to win a playoff game. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the Nationals got the starting pitching they needed, but the offense and defense didn't have a great game in a 3-0 loss to the Cubs. In Game 2, Nats starter Gio Gonzalez allowed three runs in five innings of work. In order for the club to have a chance to come back, they needed the bullpen to step up. Five hurlers did just that, never allowing the Cubs a chance to add on...

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NLDS game blog: Gonzalez, Nats offense aim to even series in Game 2

October 07, 2017, 12:38pm

Nationals

NLDS game blog: Gonzalez, Nats offense aim to even series in Game 2

It's a new game on a new day. After the Nationals dropped Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday night, they will look to get even with the Cubs this afternoon on South Capitol Street. While technically not a must-win game, the Nats really can't afford to go to Chicago down 2-0. And so a lot of pressure falls on Gio Gonzalez, who takes the mound today for Game 2. Gonzalez had one of his best seasons with the Nationals this year, going 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA. Though there may be...

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Comfortable Harper thinks "it could get better"

October 07, 2017, 12:23pm

Nationals

Comfortable Harper thinks "it could get better"

Bryce Harper's left leg is healthy, at least as healthy as it's going to be before he has an entire winter of rest. Everything the star right fielder has done during his six games back from the disabled list suggests he's not physically limited and can play the way he normally plays. But is Harper actually performing the way he normally performs? That question has been tougher to answer. "I think it could get better," the 24-year-old said today as he prepared for Game 2 of the National...

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Maddon rolls the dice, pays the price for going against convention

October 07, 2017, 5:46pm

Nationals

Maddon rolls the dice, pays the price for going against convention

With one out and pinch-runner Victor Robles on first base in the eighth inning, the Nationals' Bryce Harper was at the plate against Cubs right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. Never mind that lefty Mike Montgomery was ready in the Cubs bullpen. Cubs manager Joe Maddon played the percentages. He left the lefty in the bullpen. Maddon wanted Edwards to face Harper, a left-handed batter, even though a lefty reliever would be a more traditional approach, but this is why Maddon liked the matchup: Edwards...

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Ball carrying early in Game 2 (Nats win 6-3)

October 07, 2017, 2:01pm

Nationals

Ball carrying early in Game 2 (Nats win 6-3)

The National League Division Series Game 2 scoring began with Anthony Rendon crushing a 1-1 offering from Jon Lester just inside the right field foul pole in the bottom of the first to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was the first run and first lead in the series for the Nats. Willson Contreras countered with a solo homer off of Gio Gonzalez over the left field wall to begin the second inning. We're tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the second. Update: In the fourth, Kris Bryant doubled and...

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Baker, Harper not in panic mode as they ready for Game 2

October 07, 2017, 11:57am

Nationals

Baker, Harper not in panic mode as they ready for Game 2

Losing the first game of a five-game National League Division Series on their home field puts the Nationals in a very difficult position. But it is not insurmountable. In 2016, the Nats fell in their first game of the series at home to the Dodgers in the NLDS. They went on to win the next two games to go up two games to one. Obviously, the Dodgers came back to win the next two games. But the Nats have shown a resiliency in the past to come back. This season the Nats recorded 41 come-from-behind...

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NLDS Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

October 07, 2017, 9:54am

Nationals

The Nationals will go with the same lineup - save for starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez - as they employed Friday night this afternoon when they try to square the best-of-five National League Division Series against the Cubs at a game apiece. Today's key matchup: Nats speedster Trea Turner against Cubs left-hander Jon Lester. Lester is notorious for his inability to throw to first base, which gives teams with base-stealing threats an advantage. Turner stole two bases against Lester on June 29 at...

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Gonzalez got into nice groove in 2017, earns Game 2 start

October 06, 2017, 12:40pm

Nationals

Gonzalez got into nice groove in 2017, earns Game 2 start

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez gets the nod as the Game 2 starter for the National League Division Series between the Nationals and the Cubs. The Cubs will counter with southpaw Jon Lester, who went 13-8 with a 4.33 ERA in 32 starts this season. Gonzalez went 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA in 32 starts. He struck out 188 in 201 innings. The 15 wins were the most in a regular season for Gonzalez since his career-high 21 victories in 2012. Gonzalez appeared to be positively influenced by the arrival of veteran...

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Little mistakes moot point on night when Nats get shut out

October 06, 2017, 8:29pm

Nationals

Little mistakes moot point on night when Nats get shut out

There was the play down the third base line Anthony Rendon couldn't make, resulting in his first error in 76 days. There was Bryce Harper's ill-advised, too-high throw that allowed a runner to take second base and ultimately score minutes later. There were pitches called strikes that didn't jibe well with batters. And there was the debatable decision not to bring in a left-hander to face Anthony Rizzo in a key, two-out spot with first base open. The Nationals had to confront all of that...

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Strasburg dominates, but Nats' bats go silent in Game 1 loss

October 06, 2017, 6:35pm

Nationals

Strasburg dominates, but Nats' bats go silent in Game 1 loss

For five innings, a crowd of 43,898 - more than 90 percent clad in red - became believers. Stephen Strasburg was on the mound, posting nothing but zeros, and those in attendance were on their feet every time he got to two strikes, fully buying into the notion that things would be different this time. And then came the top of the sixth, with a couple of hits and a couple of misplays, and suddenly all the energy inside Nationals Park had transformed from unbridled enthusiasm to the kind of...

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Strasburg "outstanding," but comes up short in 3-0 Game 1 loss

October 06, 2017, 7:58pm

Nationals

Strasburg "outstanding," but comes up short in 3-0 Game 1 loss

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg came out early and set the tone for Game 1 of the National League Division Series. In the first five innings, the Cubs mustered zero runs on no hits. They had one baserunner - a walk to Addison Russell in the second - to show for 16 at-bats. Strasburg racked up eight strikeouts to set a new franchise postseason single-game record. He finished with 10 strikeouts. But Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks matched Strasburg, surrendering just two early base hits but...

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NLDS game blog: Stasburg looks to get Nats off to strong start

October 06, 2017, 2:12pm

Nationals

NLDS game blog: Stasburg looks to get Nats off to strong start

It's finally here. Postseason baseball is back in our nation's capital as the Nationals welcome the defending World Series champion Cubs for the National League Division Series. There's no way to understate the importance of Game 1 in a playoff series, especially in a five-game set. The winner of the series' first game advances 72 percent of the time. And just look at the Nationals' postseason history: Obviously, they have lost all three of their previous playoff series, but they have only...

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Baker's insight on Harper in No. 2 spot in Game 1 lineup

October 06, 2017, 1:14pm

Nationals

Baker's insight on Harper in No. 2 spot in Game 1 lineup

The Nationals lineup is set for Game 1 of the National League Division Series and right-fielder Bryce Harper remains in the two-hole. For most of the season, Harper hit third. Harper returned last week after missing 42 games due to a hyperextended knee and strained calf. Baker decided to ease Harper back in the lineup by placing him in the No. 2 spot because he wasn't going to play nine innings. He was looking to get the right fielder as many at-bats in the shortest amount of time. Those...

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Cubs wait out Strasburg, emerge with 1-0 lead in NLDS

October 06, 2017, 7:50pm

Nationals

Cubs wait out Strasburg, emerge with 1-0 lead in NLDS

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg looked unhittable for five innings Friday night. Then the Chicago Cubs came to bat in the sixth inning. That's when everything changed. The Cubs scored twice against the Nationals starter, who had a 0.86 ERA after the All-Star break as well as a streak of 35 consecutive scoreless innings, on their way to a 3-0 win against the Nationals in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park. The Cubs' Javier BÃ¡ez reached on a high chopper that...

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Strasburg strong to start in Game 1 (Cubs win 3-0)

October 06, 2017, 4:00pm

Nationals

Strasburg strong to start in Game 1 (Cubs win 3-0)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg came out strong to begin National League Division Series Game 1 against the Chicago Cubs. The Nationals starter struck out two in the first inning, getting both Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo swinging. Strasburg began the second by catching Willson Contreras looking at a third strike. With two outs, he walked Addison Russell, but then induced a towering fly ball to right field from Jason Heyward to end the frame. The Nats got a one-out single by Bryce Harper in the...

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Baker explains final NLDS roster decisions (Jones suspended)

October 06, 2017, 3:01pm

Nationals

Baker explains final NLDS roster decisions (Jones suspended)

In assembling the final spots for their National League Division Series roster, the Nationals had two priorities in mind: speed and defense on their bench, and a bunch of lefties in their bullpen. Manager Dusty Baker explained why, after several days of deliberations, the club's decision-makers settled on rookies Brian Goodwin and Victor Robles as backup outfielders, and Oliver PÃ©rez, Sammy SolÃs and Enny Romero as left-handed members of their seven-man bullpen. The Nationals became...

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NLDS Game 1 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

October 06, 2017, 11:00am

Nationals

It feels like we've been waiting around for this postseason for an extraordinarily long time. The Nationals clinched their division title way back on Sept. 10, but truth be told, they knew a lot earlier than that they were going to win the National League East and make the postseason. And they've known for most of that time they almost certainly were going to face the Cubs in the National League Division Series. Well, at long last the day has come. It's Oct. 6, and a highly anticipated...

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Scherzer throws in bullpen, announced as Game 3 starter

October 06, 2017, 1:45pm

Nationals

Scherzer throws in bullpen, announced as Game 3 starter

What had previously been clear but not announced was made official by Dusty Baker this afternoon: Gio Gonzalez will start Game 2 of the National League Division Series for the Nats, with Max Scherzer starting Game 3. That decision was made by the Nationals earlier in the week, but was held back for public consumption until they were confident Scherzer would be ready to pitch Monday's Game 3 at Wrigley Field. They were finally ready to make the announcement today, with Scherzer completing a...

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Opposite dugout: Defending champion Cubs begin postseason with bull's-eye on their backs

October 05, 2017, 9:21am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Defending champion Cubs begin postseason with bull's-eye on their backs

Manager: Joe Maddon (4th season) Record: 92-70 (won NL Central) Who to watch: 3B Kris Bryant (.295/.409/.537 with 29 HR, 73 RBIs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (32 HR, 109 RBIs), C Willson Contreras (23 HR, 75 RBIs), LF Kyle Schwarber (30 HR, 59 RBIs), RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03 ERA), RHP Jake Arrieta (14-10, 3.53 ERA), LHP Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (2.30 ERA, 32 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-4 Pitching probables: Oct. 6: RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:31 p.m.,...

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NLDS roster includes Goodwin, Robles, Romero, Lobaton

October 06, 2017, 6:55am

Nationals

NLDS roster includes Goodwin, Robles, Romero, Lobaton

The Nationals are carrying four left-handed relievers and an extra bench player for the National League Division Series, ultimately choosing to take a chance on young players like Brian Goodwin, Victor Robles and Enny Romero over veterans or a long reliever. The Nationals will have a seven-man bullpen for their best-of-five series against the Cubs. Closer Sean Doolittle is joined by right-handed setup men Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler and Matt Albers, plus a trio of lefties who can be used to...