nationals

Why Nats' wholesale lineup changes caused mass confusion

September 21, 2017, 8:01pm

ATLANTA - Everything was moving along nicely. The Nationals had just scored a run in the top of the eighth, cutting the Braves' lead to 3-2. They weren't necessarily going to complete the comeback and win the game, but neither were they going to incite mass chaos on the field that led to an eight-minute delay ... Er, maybe they were. What transpired between the time R.A. Dickey recorded the final out of the top of the eighth and the time Sammy SolÃs threw his first pitch of the bottom of...

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Opposite dugout: Phillies hope Hoskins continues to shine in September

September 06, 2017, 12:54pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope Hoskins continues to shine in September

Manager: Pete Mackanin (3rd season) Record: 53-86 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Rhys Hoskins (.309/.425/.734 with 12 HR, 27 RBIs), CF OdÃºbel Herrera (.288/.333/.465 with 12 HR, 48 RBIs), 1B Tommy Joseph (20 HR, 65 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (10-10, 3.72 ERA), RHP HÃ©ctor Neris (3.02 ERA with 19 saves)Season series vs. Nationals: 5-7 Pitching probables: Sept. 7: RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 8: RHP Jake Thompson vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN2Sept. 9: RHP...

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Nats' sloppy performance results in 3-2 loss (updated)

September 21, 2017, 5:56pm

Nationals

Nats' sloppy performance results in 3-2 loss (updated)

ATLANTA - Tanner Roark pitched well, but not well enough to overcome some sloppy defense behind him, a lack of offense from his teammates and a bizarre wholesale lineup change by the Nationals in the eighth inning. The end result was a 3-2 loss to the Braves, who thanks to R.A. Dickey's pitching gem won the last of the 19 head-to-head matchups between these division opponents for 2017. (The Nats narrowly won the season series, 10-9.) The Nationals trailed much of the night in this one, unable...

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NLDS tickets to go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday for Nationals Fan Club members

September 22, 2017, 11:01am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced today that tickets for 2017 National League Division Series games at Nationals Park will go on sale for Nationals Fan Club members on Wednesday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. (available for purchase online only). Fans can register for the Nationals Fan Club for FREE by visiting nationals.com/FanClub. Members will also receive exclusive content throughout the 2017 Postseason and into the 2018 season. If any tickets are available after the Fan Club presale,...

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David Huzzard: Workmanlike Rendon deserves NL MVP honors

September 22, 2017, 5:24am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Workmanlike Rendon deserves NL MVP honors

Years ago, I set in the cold, metal bleachers for a night game at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. I was there not only because I enjoy baseball, but to watch a Nationals prospect named Anthony Rendon. It is easy to tell the legit prospects from the organizational talent at that level and it has nothing to do with skill. Rendon was giant compared to the other minor leaguers. Looking at him now it would be hard to believe. He's not a large major league player but compared to the other...

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Grace in "rhythm," feels "good right now" as postseason approaches

September 21, 2017, 12:58pm

Nationals

Grace in "rhythm," feels "good right now" as postseason approaches

With the postseason now just two weeks away, the conversation continues as to how many left-handed relievers the Nationals will carry on the playoff roster. Sean Dollittle is a lock as the closer. But will the Nats also carry Enny Romero, Sammy SoliÃs, Oliver PÃ©rez and Matt Grace? I spoke to SolÃs this week about the competition for the left-handed spots on the postseason roster. He said he is taking these last few weeks "very, very seriously." Same goes for Grace. He said...

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Drew, Goodwin push to return (Nats lose 3-2)

September 21, 2017, 3:05pm

Nationals

Drew, Goodwin push to return (Nats lose 3-2)

ATLANTA - Stephen Drew knows the odds are stacked against him. He hasn't played in two months, and he still almost certainly needs surgery this winter for a tear in his abdomen. But the veteran infielder has been able to ramp up his workouts over the last week, and today in addition to taking batting practice he also ran extensively at SunTrust Park. All that leaves Drew with one simple goal in mind: Try to make it back to play again for the Nationals before the end of the regular...

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Game 152 lineups: Nats at Braves

September 21, 2017, 11:54am

Nationals

ATLANTA - At this late stage of the season, most matchups against division opponents are going to feature familiar foes on the mound. And tonight is about as extreme an example as it gets: The Nationals are facing R.A. Dickey for the fifth time this year. The ageless knuckleballer has been one of the few constants in the Braves rotation, but this hasn't been a very good matchup for him. In his four previous starts against the Nats, he's 0-2 with a 5.92 ERA, having surrendered five homers in...

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Home field advantage, 100 wins still on the table for Nats

September 21, 2017, 5:24am

Nationals

Home field advantage, 100 wins still on the table for Nats

ATLANTA - Just when you thought discussion of the Nationals ending up with the best record in the National League was finished, those wacky Dodgers have gone and brought up the possibility once again. In losing three in a row to the lowly Phillies, Los Angeles has fallen back into its late season slide. This supposed super-team, which only a month ago was on pace to challenge the all-time record of 116 wins, has now lost 15 of its last 20. And thanks to the Nationals' three-game winning...

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Nats walk their way through late rally to beat Braves (updated)

September 20, 2017, 6:27pm

Nationals

Nats walk their way through late rally to beat Braves (updated)

ATLANTA - They labored all night to even give themselves scoring opportunities. Until finally the Nationals figured out the best way to score runs against the Braves pitching staff: Stop swinging. Four consecutive walks issued by Atlanta's bullpen - three of them via Arodys VizcaÃno with the bases loaded - highlighted a wild, six-run rally in the top of the eighth that turned a tight Nationals deficit into a comfortable 7-3 victory at SunTrust Park. There were some actual hits during the...

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Team weighs options for timing of Harper's return (Nats win 7-3)

September 20, 2017, 2:56pm

Nationals

Team weighs options for timing of Harper's return (Nats win 7-3)

ATLANTA - The way Bryce Harper has progressed and looked in his on-field workouts the last few days, it's only natural to wonder if the Nationals slugger may be on the verge of returning from his scary-looking left leg injury. That may prove to be the case, but manager Dusty Baker also has some words of caution for those who are ready to throw Harper right back into his starting lineup. "You don't want to jump the gun too much just because of what we've seen," Baker said. "The tendency is...

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Game 151 lineups: Nats at Braves

September 20, 2017, 12:02pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - They may not have a realistic shot at surpassing the Dodgers for the National League's best record, but the Nationals do still have a realistic shot at something else before the season is over: the best record in franchise history. The 2012 club, which went 98-64, currently holds that title. The 2017 club currently sits at 91-59. So in order to set the record, the Nats need to go 8-4 the rest of the way. They'd need to go 9-3 to get to 100 wins. The process continues tonight with...

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Turner breaks club record with 42nd stolen base of season

September 19, 2017, 9:35pm

Nationals

Turner breaks club record with 42nd stolen base of season

ATLANTA - From the moment he made his debut with the Nationals in 2015, Trea Turner seemed destined to one day set the club record for stolen bases in a single season. All the lightning-fast infielder needed were enough time and enough at-bats to break Alfonso Soriano's record 41 steals in 2006. Turns out Turner didn't even need that much time or that many at-bats to do it. On Tuesday night, in only his 88th game of the season, Turner matched and then surpassed Soriano's mark. He stole 42...

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Scherzer pushes himself again as Nats beat Braves (updated)

September 19, 2017, 6:38pm

Nationals

Scherzer pushes himself again as Nats beat Braves (updated)

ATLANTA - Max Scherzer pushed himself into the seventh inning against the Braves with his pitch count up over 110 once again. And this time, the Nationals ace walked away with a win for his extra effort. Six days after he fell apart while trying to build up his pitch count against Atlanta, Scherzer retired the side in the seventh, walking off the mound having thrown 112 pitches and having helped lead his team to a 4-2 victory at SunTrust Park. "This is the type of start you do hang your hat...

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District 34 podcast: Figuring out Nats' playoff roster after clinching division

September 20, 2017, 9:26am

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Figuring out Nats' playoff roster after clinching division

On the last episode of the District 34 podcast, Byron and I were counting down to the Nationals clinching their second straight division title. Well, on Sept. 10, they did (with some help from the Braves) to secure the team's fourth National League East crown in six seasons and a spot in this year's playoffs. To start this episode, we recap the celebration that took place at Nationals Park that day and what this division championship means for the Nats, Dusty Baker and Washington, D.C. as a...

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Harper bats in simulated game, could be active next week

September 19, 2017, 3:07pm

Nationals

Harper bats in simulated game, could be active next week

ATLANTA - Bryce Harper faced a couple of live pitchers this afternoon for the first time since he injured his left leg 5 1/2 weeks ago, yet another encouraging development that could allow the Nationals slugger to return in time to play part of the final week of the regular season as a tune-up for the postseason. Harper participated in a simulated game at SunTrust Park, with a pair of Nationals prospects (Sterling Sharp and Brigham Hill) brought up from the instructional league in Florida to...

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Zimmerman joins 30-100 club again (Nats win 4-2)

September 19, 2017, 4:59pm

Nationals

Zimmerman joins 30-100 club again (Nats win 4-2)

ATLANTA - Ryan Zimmerman is heating up at the plate again. Perhaps just in time to make it really count. On the heels of a two-homer performance Sunday night against the Dodgers, Zimmerman opened tonight's game against the Braves with two hits, including a double off the wall in right-center and an RBI single that has helped the Nationals take a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning. Zimmerman's double to lead off the top of the second struck the brick wall in right-center at SunTrust Park, nearly...

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Game 150 lineups: Nats at Braves (Murphy scratched)

September 19, 2017, 11:53am

Nationals

Game 150 lineups: Nats at Braves (Murphy scratched)

ATLANTA - Hello from SunTrust Park, here right smack dab in the middle of Unincorporated Atlanta. Some more development has sprung up around the ballpark since the last time the Nationals played here in May, but the Braves' new suburban home still feels far from complete. The Nats open their final road trip of the regular season tonight with the first of three games against Atlanta. And the opener features a pitching rematch from last week's series in D.C.: Max Scherzer vs. Luiz Gohara. That...

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SolÃs taking every outing "very seriously" as he vies for postseason spot

September 18, 2017, 8:51pm

Nationals

SolÃs taking every outing "very seriously" as he vies for postseason spot

Left-hander Sammy SolÃs has been pitching well the last few games. He hopes this run to the finish line will be enough to prove he deserves a spot on the postseason roster. SolÃs has a 1.35 ERA in his last seven games. But he did not pitch in May or June, making only 11 appearances before Aug. 1. SolÃs was on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation from April 19 to July 1. He appreciates the medical staff taking it slow with him before he returned to pitching, making no...

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Lind proves his worth with big at-bats in key late-game moments

September 18, 2017, 8:39am

Nationals

Lind proves his worth with big at-bats in key late-game moments

The Nationals have searched for a few seasons for a pinch-hit bat that could come through in the clutch on a consistent basis. Several players have done a nice job of filling that role but none better than the work of veteran Adam Lind in 2017. Lind was signed in the offseason and has been the best pinch-hit answer for the Nats in the short history. So far in 2017, Lind has hit .306 in 107 games with 12 homers and 50 RBIs. As a pinch-hitter, he is hitting .364 with four homers, 13 RBIs in 47...