nationals

Harper ramps up rehab, runs around warning track

September 14, 2017, 2:09pm

Bryce Harper sightings on the field at Nationals Park these days generate the kind of attention usually reserved in this town for a baby panda at the National Zoo. You never know for sure when they're going to happen, and when they do everybody scrambles for their phones to take photos and video of this rare event. So it was this afternoon when Harper emerged in the right field corner during Nationals batting practice, alongside Harvey Sharman, the club's director of medical services. The...

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Extra meaningful games can pay dividends for Nats prospects in future

September 14, 2017, 1:07pm

Nationals

Extra meaningful games can pay dividends for Nats prospects in future

Every season, college basketball teams dream of earning a bid in the NCAA tournament. For teams that make it to the big dance every year, it becomes an advantage the next season because the team has extra practices and extra games that 250 other teams don't get to benefit from. A lot of young players get to play in those extra games - incredibly meaningful games - and they gain experience they would have no other way of receiving if their team did not make it to the postseason. Perennial...

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Werth provides early offense, Roark dealing (Nats win 5-2)

September 14, 2017, 4:25pm

Nationals

Werth provides early offense, Roark dealing (Nats win 5-2)

Jayson Werth's first at-bat in his return to the lineup on Wednesday was a double to left field. He continued to contribute offensively in his first trip to the plate tonight. In the bottom of the first, Trea Turner doubled to lead off the inning against Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz. Werth, moved to the two-hole, singled to bring home Turner and give the Nats an early lead. In the bottom of the second, Jose Lobaton was hit by a pitch with two outs. He limped up the first base line to take...

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Game 146 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

September 14, 2017, 10:56am

Nationals

The Nationals tonight are trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Braves, not to mention falling to 7-9 overall against them this season. All of that would be a surprise, given the respective state of clubs, but it does show you that Atlanta is making some strides in its rebuild and the Nats (for whatever reason) haven't enjoyed as much success against these guys as other division foes. It'll be Tanner Roark's job to pitch well enough to help change that downward trend. Roark has been...

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Stacking up the NL Cy Young Award contenders

September 14, 2017, 5:50am

Nationals

Stacking up the NL Cy Young Award contenders

Max Scherzer and Dusty Baker have offered up their explanation for what happened in the seventh inning Wednesday night at Nationals Park. Whether you want to accept their explanation for pushing Scherzer to 116 pitches, even though it might have cost the Nationals the game and may have extended their ace too far, is up to you. We're not going to debate that again here this morning. The purpose of this post is to examine how that decision may impact Scherzer's chances of winning his second...

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2017 Nationals fall instructional league roster and schedule

September 14, 2017, 7:23am

Nationals

Here is an exclusive look at the Nationals' fall instructional league roster for 2017. The report date in Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla., and their first workout is Monday, Sept. 18. The last day is Oct. 7. Schedule: Sept. 25 - at Astros Sept. 26 - Camp day Sept. 27 - Camp day Sept. 28 - Astros Sept. 29 - Camp day Sept. 30 - at Astros Oct. 1 - Off-day Oct. 2 - Astros Oct. 3 - Camp day Oct. 4 - Camp day Oct. 5 - Camp day Oct. 6 - Camp day The Nationals do not have to leave the facility because...

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Why the Nats let Scherzer throw 116 pitches in a September loss

September 13, 2017, 7:33pm

Nationals

Why the Nats let Scherzer throw 116 pitches in a September loss

It's easy to look at the final three weeks of the regular season, with a division title already wrapped up and a heavy emphasis on ensuring everyone's healthy for the postseason, as a meaningless string of games for the Nationals. Max Scherzer vehemently disagrees with that notion. And tonight's game, which ended as an ugly 8-2 loss to the Braves, provided evidence of his point of view. Not in spite of the fact he threw 116 pitches, the last 19 of them after he easily could have been pulled...

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Turner with 40th stolen base and three hits in loss, focuses on health

September 13, 2017, 7:23pm

Nationals

Turner with 40th stolen base and three hits in loss, focuses on health

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner stole his 40th base of the season Wednesday night in an 8-2 loss to the Braves. That would be impressive for an everyday player who had logged 130 or so games by this time of the season. But Turner missed a combined 61 games due to a broken wrist and a hamstring strain. He has stolen 40 bases in just 379 plate appearances this season. 130 games? Umm, no. Turner has played in 83 total games. Oh, the possibilities! "Oh, yeah, he was on pace to lead this league in...

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Harper begins running, taking light swings; Werth returns

September 13, 2017, 1:33pm

Nationals

Harper begins running, taking light swings; Werth returns

Bryce Harper has taken a few more small but important steps in his return from a significant knee and calf injury, offering a more encouraging outlook for his chances to return to the Nationals in time for the postseason. Harper has begun light hitting and running drills, according to manager Dusty Baker, adding to his earlier throwing sessions as his first attempts at baseball activities since he injured himself Aug. 12 trying to beat out a groundball to first base. "He's hit some off the...

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Disastrous seventh inning sends Nats to 8-2 loss to Braves

September 13, 2017, 6:14pm

Nationals

Disastrous seventh inning sends Nats to 8-2 loss to Braves

Dusty Baker has left Max Scherzer on the mound deep into games more than once this season, justifying his decisions based on the fact the league's reigning Cy Young Award winner is better than anyone he could summon from his bullpen. Earlier this year, given the state of the Nationals' relief corps, it was a defensible decision. And during a pennant race, there's logic to the move. But with the Nats having already wrapped up a division title and now just trying to keep everyone healthy...

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Scherzer quick out of blocks, but fades (Braves win 8-2)

September 13, 2017, 3:20pm

Nationals

Scherzer quick out of blocks, but fades (Braves win 8-2)

Right-hander Max Scherzer walked Ozzie Albies to start the game, but Matt Wieters was able to catch Albies stealing during the Dansby Swanson at-bat. Swanson fouled out to Trea Turner. Freddie Freeman struck out on a 95 mph fastball from Scherzer to end the inning. The Nationals got on the board thanks to a single from Turner in the first inning. He stole second base with one out, and then Anthony Rendon doubled off of Braves starter Luiz Gohara, scoring Turner, and the Nats led 1-0. Scherzer...

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Game 145 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

September 13, 2017, 10:56am

Nationals

Last night was a stinker, plain and simple, for the Nationals. They looked pretty lifeless during an 8-0 loss to the Braves. Afterward, they all insisted there was nothing to read into it, it was just a bad game and not a reflection of a team suffering from a letdown after Sunday's clincher. We'll find out tonight if that's true, or if it really is tough to get yourself hyped up again when you've already clinched and still have three weeks of the regular season to go. It doesn't hurt to...

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Five Nats who still have something to prove before October

September 12, 2017, 7:26pm

Nationals

Five Nats who still have something to prove before October

There are team-oriented objectives for the Nationals over the season's final three weeks, but there also are individually oriented objectives that will help determine how this team looks once it reaches the postseason. With that in mind, let's take a look at five players for whom this final stretch carries some extra weight, even with the Nationals having already clinched the division crown... WILMER DIFO The dynamic infielder is going to make the postseason roster; he has earned that spot...

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Baker on how many left-handed relievers they will carry in playoffs

September 13, 2017, 1:08pm

Nationals

Baker on how many left-handed relievers they will carry in playoffs

The Nationals make their way towards the National League Division Series with some decisions to make in the bullpen and specifically how many left-handers they will carry in the post season. Left-handed closer Sean Doolittle leads the list as the lock. He is 1-0 with 20 saves, a 2.78 ERA and nine holds in 47 games. He is 17-for-17 in save opportunities with the Nats. Left-handed batters are hitting .158 (6-for-58) against his pitches. The other southpaws under consideration for the post season...

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In post-clinch daze, Nationals lay an egg vs. Braves

September 12, 2017, 6:02pm

Nationals

The Nationals sent their regulars out to face the Braves tonight, hoping they'd still play with the same edge they displayed over the weekend while locking up another division title. They wound up getting one of their worst clunkers of the season. With Gio Gonzalez laboring and that lineup of regulars flailing away against Julio Teheran, the Nationals were trounced 8-0 in the first of 19 games left on the schedule before the postseason. Technically speaking, the Nats don't need to put forth...

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Gonzalez allowed too many big hits in loss to Braves

September 12, 2017, 6:51pm

Nationals

Gonzalez allowed too many big hits in loss to Braves

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got knocked around Tuesday night in an 8-0 loss to the Braves. The big hit arrived in the third inning when Freddie Freeman launched a three-run homer over the center field wall halfway up the grassy hill. That gave Atlanta a 4-0 lead. Despite a day off Monday, the Nationals couldn't get back to their good vibes from Sunday, when they clinched their fourth division title in six seasons after beating the Phillies 3-2 and got help from these very same Braves, who came...

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Freeman sets tone versus Gonzalez (Braves win 8-0)

September 12, 2017, 4:16pm

Nationals

Freeman sets tone versus Gonzalez (Braves win 8-0)

The Braves came out quickly against left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Matt Kemp delivered a run-scoring single to put the Braves up 1-0 in the first inning. Then, in the third inning, Ender Inciarte walked. Ozzie Albies singled. Michael A. Taylor bobbled the ball in center field and threw high and late to third base. Inciarte moved to third and Albies to second. Taylor was tagged with a fielding error. Freddie Freeman then crushed a three-run shot to deep center field. His 26th homer of the year...

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Baker updates progress of Harper and Werth, importance of Kendrick

September 12, 2017, 1:42pm

Nationals

Baker updates progress of Harper and Werth, importance of Kendrick

Nationals manager Dusty Baker updated the recovery of right fielder Bryce Harper, who has been out with a hyperextended left knee and a strained calf since Aug. 13. He has missed 29 games. Harper has played catch once in Miami and once here last weekend prior to a game against the Phillies. He appeared to be throwing well and with no limitations from 90 feet. He even had to catch a high throw and come down on both legs without any issues. "What's next is hopefully have him start hitting and...

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Nationals open 2018 in Cincinnati, host Yankees and Red Sox

September 12, 2017, 8:41am

Nationals Orioles

Nationals open 2018 in Cincinnati, host Yankees and Red Sox

The Nationals will open the 2018 season earlier than usual, on a different day of the week than usual and in a venue they've never opened at before. Major League Baseball announced next year's schedule this afternoon, and it features the Nationals opening March 29 in Cincinnati. That opener, on a Thursday, comes as MLB moves opening day up four days across the league, a wrinkle in the new collective bargaining agreement with players to provide for more off-days over the course of the season,...

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Nats will keep foot on gas pedal for final three weeks

September 12, 2017, 2:10pm

Nationals

Nats will keep foot on gas pedal for final three weeks

And on the day after, Dusty Baker played his regulars. Though their latest division title has already been secured, the Nationals don't appear to taking their foot off the gas pedal anytime soon. Baker's lineup for tonight's series opener against the Braves - all the currently active regulars are starting except for Jayson Werth, who is dealing with a sore left shoulder - is evidence of that, as are the manager's answers when asked how he plans to handle the final three weeks of the regular...