nationals

Game 114 lineups: Giants at Nats (First pitch 10:05 p.m.)

August 12, 2017, 11:05am

The Nationals and the Giants will get their series underway tonight after Friday's rainout. Right-hander Edwin Jackson was moved up from his Friday start to start tonight at home in San Francisco's only visit to Nats Park this season. The Giants counter with veteran right-hander Jeff Samardzija (7-11, 4.75) and move Chris Stratton to Sunday. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman's next hit (No. 1,623) will surpass Tim Raines for second place on the franchise all-time hit leaderboard. On Wednesday,...

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Opposite dugout: Struggles at plate and on mound have crippled Giants

August 09, 2017, 8:42pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Struggles at plate and on mound have crippled Giants

Manager: Bruce Bochy (11th season) Record: 46-70 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: C Buster Posey (.321 with 51 RBIs), CF Denard Span (24 doubles, 4 triples), 2B Joe Panik (20 doubles, 4 triples), LF Gorkys HernÃ¡ndez (9 stolen bases) RHP Hunter Strickland (2.09 ERA, 13 holds), RHP Mark Melancon (11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: Aug. 12: RHP Chris Stratton vs. RHP Edwin Jackson, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 13: RHP Jeff Samardzija vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 1:05 p.m., MASN Aug....

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Strasburg likely Monday in Potomac for rehab start; plus injury updates

August 12, 2017, 1:49pm

Nationals

Strasburg likely Monday in Potomac for rehab start; plus injury updates

Nationals manager Dusty Baker had the latest on how close Stephen Strasburg is to returning to the rotation. "It's not written in stone but he had a good session the other day," Baker said. "He's supposed to go out here pretty soon for a rehab assignment." Pitching coach Mike Maddux said Strasburg's most recent bullpen session went well and that he is building stamina. His likely rehab assignment is Monday night for high Single-A Potomac at home in Woodbridge, Va., against Salem. Maddux...

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Opener postponed, split doubleheader Sunday

August 11, 2017, 6:13pm

Nationals

Opener postponed, split doubleheader Sunday

The Nationals' weekend opener against the Giants was postponed this evening due to rain, but not before another round of confusion and poor communication with a fan base that has grown increasingly frustrated by the club's handling of these situations. With more rain in the forecast early Saturday, the two teams will play a day-night doubleheader on Sunday, with the originally scheduled 1:35 p.m. game bumped up to 1:05 p.m. and a makeup game now scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for tonight's...

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Roark fought without best stuff to keep Nats in game

August 10, 2017, 7:54pm

Nationals

Roark fought without best stuff to keep Nats in game

Right-hander Tanner Roark's velocity was down and he was walking too many guys. But you look up at the final line score and the most important stat of the night? He allowed the Marlins only two runs. Down 2-0, the Nats came back to beat the Marlins 3-2 on a Brian Goodwin solo shot and Andrew Stevenson's spectacular, game-ending, diving catch. Roark kept his club in the game despite five walks. The big blow was another Giancarlo Stanton homer. His two-run shot in the third gave the Marlins a...

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With game on the line, Doolittle sticks with his best pitch

August 10, 2017, 8:24pm

Nationals

With game on the line, Doolittle sticks with his best pitch

Sean Doolittle is a one-pitch pitcher. He's not afraid to admit it. As noted before, he's willing to throw the occasional slider or changeup, but at his core he's a fastball guy and he'll keep living and dying by that fastball. Which is why, in part, the final at-bat of Thursday night's game at Nationals Park was so compelling. With two outs and the tying runner on third base, Doolittle was facing Marlins leadoff man Dee Gordon. The left-hander kept pumping out high fastballs, and Gordon...

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Game 114 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

August 11, 2017, 11:08am

Nationals

The last meeting between the Nationals and Giants was rather eventful. If you've forgotten, it involved Hunter Strickland, Bryce Harper and a three-year-old beef. That series took place way back on Memorial Day in San Francisco, and a lot has changed since then. So will there be any reason for any carryover this weekend? I've got to think probably not. What good does it do the Nationals, 15 games up in the division and trying to get everybody healthy for October, to instigate...

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Baker doesn't expect fireworks this weekend (game postponed)

August 11, 2017, 1:47pm

Nationals

Baker doesn't expect fireworks this weekend (game postponed)

If you're expecting any fireworks this weekend between the Nationals and Giants, Dusty Baker is cautioning you not to get yourself worked up too much. Yes, the last meeting between these clubs included a brawl. But it's been 2 1/2 months since then, and it really didn't stem from any beef between the Nats and Giants as a whole, but rather from San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland, who three years after serving up two playoff homers to Bryce Harper decided to intentionally drill him with...

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Kintzler, Madson and Doolittle provide unique 1-2-3 punch

August 10, 2017, 7:32pm

Nationals

Kintzler, Madson and Doolittle provide unique 1-2-3 punch

The Nationals were able to put out their newly minted 1-2-3 punch for the final three innings Thursday in a series-clinching 3-2 victory over the Marlins. Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle held the Marlins scoreless in those three frames, surrendering only two hits with no walks and striking out three. The trio arrived after the Nats had comeback from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the sixth. Brian Goodwin's solo homer in the eighth put the Nats up for good. Those three...

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Two rookie outfielders come through late in Nationals' win

August 10, 2017, 7:51pm

Nationals

The Nationals expect to have a fully healthy lineup within a matter of weeks, with Michael A. Taylor set to return from the disabled list first, then Jayson Werth and Trea Turner following shortly after that. Which means Brian Goodwin is headed back to the bench in the near future, and Andrew Stevenson is likely headed back to the minors (at least until rosters expand in September). As long as both rookie outfielders are here and wearing Nationals uniforms, though, they're going to keep...

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David Huzzard: Waiting for the regular season to end

August 10, 2017, 2:25pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Waiting for the regular season to end

The Nationals have such a commanding lead in the division that it has the same feeling as a losing season. It is like the Nationals are playing out the string, but instead of the season ending with golf outings and vacation, it will become exciting again and the Nationals will be in the playoffs. For now though, the Nationals are playing out the string. I'd say it should be a feeling familiar to Nats fans, but how many really exist that suffered through the 2008 and 2009 seasons? Let alone...

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Goodwin's late blast, bullpen's zeros propel Nats to 3-2 win

August 10, 2017, 5:57pm

Nationals

Goodwin's late blast, bullpen's zeros propel Nats to 3-2 win

Brian Goodwin may have slumped at times, and he may not have been able to duplicate the production the Nationals would have received from Adam Eaton or Michael A. Taylor had either of their top two center fielders been healthy all summer. But where would this team be without its third-stringer, who has more than held down the fort in the absence of others and has delivered more than his share of big hits along the way. Just like he did tonight. Goodwin's leadoff homer in the bottom of the...

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Stanton homer starts off game (Nats win 3-2)

August 10, 2017, 4:13pm

Nationals

Stanton homer starts off game (Nats win 3-2)

Tanner Roark got through the first two innings unscathed. But in the third, Dee Gordon singled. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a two-homer on a 1-1 pitch from Roark. His 39th homer of the year went over the left field wall. The Marlins lead 2-0. The Nationals earned a base hit off the bat of Matt Wieters in in the third but not much else yet against Dan Straily. After three innings, the Marlins lead the Nationals 2-0. Update: The Nats rally in the bottom of the sixth. AdriÃ¡n Sanchez leads...

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Updates on Strasburg, Murphy, Kendrick and Taylor

August 10, 2017, 1:33pm

Nationals

Updates on Strasburg, Murphy, Kendrick and Taylor

Nationals manager Dusty Baker says Daniel Murphy is fine and his quad is doing better, so he has placed the second baseman back in the lineup tonight. They kept him out of the lineup yesterday to be careful. "That's why we took precaution on yesterday's game," Baker said. "It worked out well. You don't want Murph missing too many games but you certainly also don't want him playing injured at this point in time or close, the threat of injury. You never really now, but Murph know his body...

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Game 113 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

August 10, 2017, 11:23am

Nationals

It's too early to actually write about these things, but because you're wondering (and because we're smack dab in the middle of the dog days right now) ... the Nationals' magic number to clinch the NL East is currently 37. Obviously, there's still a long way to go, but that's also a really low number for Aug. 10. The Nats will have a chance to reduce that number to 35 tonight if they beat the Marlins again and take this four-game series from the division's current second-place squad....

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Sanchez delivers as Nats organizational depth shines

August 10, 2017, 4:58am

Nationals

Sanchez delivers as Nats organizational depth shines

One reason why the Nationals have been able to sustain their big lead in the division with all their injuries is the play of all of their call-ups. The depth of the organization has been tested and these call-ups have been able to play close to the level of the starter they replaced. Another case in point Wednesday was the play of second baseman AdriÃ¡n Sanchez. Sanchez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the No. 2 spot in the order. The Nationals rolled past the Marlins 10-1. Manager Dusty...

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Turner starts full throwing, almost cleared for swinging bat

August 10, 2017, 2:16pm

Nationals

Turner starts full throwing, almost cleared for swinging bat

Trea Turner was out at his familiar shortstop position this afternoon, fielding grounders and making throws across the diamond for the first time since an errant fastball fractured his wrist six weeks ago He's been running nearly nonstop the entire time he's been on the disabled list. All that's left for Turner to do is swing a bat, and that should be happening in the very near future after the Nationals leadoff man was cleared to begin rotational weight-lifting with right hand. "That...

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Kendrick winning over Nats with professional approach at plate

August 09, 2017, 7:55pm

Nationals

Kendrick winning over Nats with professional approach at plate

There are few compliments one ballplayer can heap on another more telling than to refer to him as a "professional hitter." It sounds silly, but that's the kind of designation that is reserved for only a select few, those who consistently produce the kind of quality at-bats that impress even the best this game has to offer. So when Dusty Baker referred to Howie Kendrick last night by that term, you knew he meant it as the highest compliment. "He knows how to hit," the Nationals manager...

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MASN and COX hosting Social Media Weekend August 12-13 at The Bullpen

August 10, 2017, 6:43am

Nationals

MASN and COX hosting Social Media Weekend August 12-13 at The Bullpen

This Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13, MASN and COX will be hosting Social Media Weekend at The Bullpen next to Nationals Park! Fans will have the opportunity to collect unique Nationals prizes at both the MASN and COX booths, and can try their swinging luck at the Cox Virtual Home Run Derby! Think you can hit a homer? Try your luck! The Cox Virtual Home Run Derby is available prior to each game Saturday and Sunday. For updates on the event and how to win prizes, be sure to RSVP on...

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Zimmerman hits two homers, sets RBI record in 10-1 win

August 09, 2017, 7:20pm

Nationals

Zimmerman hits two homers, sets RBI record in 10-1 win

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman started off the season well at the plate, hitting .330 with 19 homers in the first half of the season. But his average has declined each month since the beginning of April: .420, .319, .283 to .234 in July. August continued that trend as he went 2-for-23 (.087) prior to Wednesday night's game against the Marlins. But then Wednesday, Zimmerman reminded everyone of how he can turn that trend on its head with one swing, or four. Against Miami, Zimmerman tallied a...