Game 36 lineups: Phillies at Nats Game 1 (Werth update)

Game 36 lineups: Phillies at Nats Game 1 (Werth update)
Still basking in the glow of another Bryce Harper walk-off gem against Philadelphia, the Nationals and Phillies embark on a day-night doubleheader on Mother's Day in the nation's capital. The two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth Saturday night was Harper's second walk-off this season against the Phillies and fifth of his career. Game 1 features left-hander Gio Gonzalez against right-hander Jeremey Hellickson. Manager Dusty Baker has elected to rest left fielder Jayson Werth, who has dealt...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies simultaneously rebuilding and imploding

Opposite dugout: Phillies simultaneously rebuilding and imploding
Manager: Pete Mackanin (3rd season) Record: 13-19 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: LF Aaron Altherr (.351 with 7 HR), 2B César Hernández (.324 with 5 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (5 HR, 25 RBIs), RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.49 ERA), RHP Héctor Neris (3 saves)Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5 Pitching probables: May 12: RHP Nick Pivetta vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 13: RHP Vince Velasquez vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 14: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 1:35...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies coming along, but have plenty to work on

Opposite dugout: Phillies coming along, but have plenty to work on
Manager: Pete Mackanin (3rd season) Record: 12-15 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B César Hernández (.336 average with 39 hits), 3B Maikel Franco (.231 average with 5 HR, 25 RBIs), RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.18 ERA), RHP Héctor Neris (0-1, 3 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3 Pitching probables: May 5: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Nick Pivetta, 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 6: TBA vs. RHP Vince Velasquez, 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 7: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson, 2:35 p.m.,...
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Harper homers again for 6-4 walk-off win

Harper homers again for 6-4 walk-off win
Both teams jump on the board quickly in the Sunday finale. The Phillies' César Hernández slammed a 2-0 Gio Gonzalez offering over the left field wall to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. He now has homers in his last two at-bats in the series, three for the season. The Nationals' Adam Eaton answered with a double to begin the bottom of the first. Anthony Rendon then bounced a ground-rule double over the left-center field wall to score Eaton and tie the game at 1-1. In the third with one...
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Pitchers in control early on (Phillies win 4-2)

Pitchers in control early on (Phillies win 4-2)
Right-handers Tanner Roark and Jeremy Hellickson are in a Saturday afternoon pitchers' duel between the Nationals and Phillies. Roark has not allowed a baserunner in the first three innings, retiring nine straight batters. He struck out the last two he faced in Freddy Galvis and Hellickson. Hellickson also did well in the first two frames, although the Nats have reached deep right field on lineouts by Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy and a flyout by Ryan Zimmerman. With one out in the third, the...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies coming off three-game sweep by Mets

Opposite dugout: Phillies coming off three-game sweep by Mets
Manager: Pete Mackanin (4th season) Record: 3-6 Last 10 games: 3-6 Who to watch: LF Howie Kendrick (.355, 5 RBIs), CF Odúbel Herrera (.313/.421/.375), SS Freddy Galvis (2 HR), 3B Maikel Franco (2 HR, 8 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (1-0, 4.50 ERA), RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 0.90 ERA), RHP Joaquín Benoit (0.00 ERA in 4 games) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: April 14: RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 4:05 p.m., MASN April 15: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Tanner...
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Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Phillies could pose a pesky problem

Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Phillies could pose a pesky problem
Manager: Pete Mackanin (4th season) Record: 1-2 Last 10 games: 1-2 Who to watch: 3B Maikel Franco (25 HR, 88 RBIs), 2B César Hernández (.294/.371/.393 with 17 SB), CF Odúbel Herrera (.296 with 15 HR, 25 SB), 1B Tommy Joseph (21 HR), SS Freddy Galvis (21 HR), RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 3.71 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gómez (43 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (5-14 in 2016) Pitching probables: April 7: RHP Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (8-6, 4.12...
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What each NL East team needs this offseason

What each NL East team needs this offseason
The Chicago Cubs' agony is over. They are celebrating their first World Series championship since 1908 after beating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings at Progressive Field in Cleveland. And this might not be a one-time thing for the franchise of Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg and Ferguson Jenkins. The Cubs are built for the long haul. The Cubs have two free agents - Aroldis Chapman and Dexter Fowler - and plenty of money to retain them. They also have their entire infield - Kris Bryant,...
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Rendon's offense and defense impact another Nats victory

Rendon's offense and defense impact another Nats victory
Third baseman Anthony Rendon's bat and glove were on display again as the Nationals finished off a series with the Phillies by winning 3-2 on Sunday. Rendon connected on an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball in a crucial two-run rally in the seventh inning that provided the margin of victory. "Runs, in general, are going to be great," Rendon said. "Just got a good read, I guess, ran really fast. "2-0, that's a hitter's count so you got to be aggressive in those situations, and...
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Turner and Murphy get offense rolling (Nats win 3-2)

Turner and Murphy get offense rolling (Nats win 3-2)
The Nationals went after Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan in the first inning. Trea Turner singled to lead off the frame. With one out, Daniel Murphy doubled down the right field line. Turner scored all the way from first base and the Nationals lead 1-0 after one inning. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez skated out of trouble in each of the first two frames. He allowed a walk in the first. In the second, the Phillies had two men on with no one out after a Danny Espinosa fielding error and an A.J. Ellis...
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Melancon records another save; Harper on strategy prior to homer

Melancon records another save; Harper on strategy prior to homer
Mark Melancon made the ninth inning quiet. That's what he has done since he arrived. Melancon now has 40 saves, 10 with the Nationals, as he pitched a scoreless ninth in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Phillies. Manager Dusty Baker discussed the acquisition of Melancon after the game, a move that came at the end of July. "That's why we traded for him, him and (Mark Rzepczynski) both," Baker said. "They've really solidified our bullpen, especially because it was in kind of disarray before...
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Game 142 lineups: Phillies at Nats

Game 142 lineups: Phillies at Nats
The Nationals are still buzzing about the impact of Trea Turner on Friday night. Turner smacked a two-run homer in the seventh that looked like it would go through the left field stands 12 rows up, then connected on a dramatic walk-off homer to center field that bounced off the angled wall near the Bud Light Loft. The Nats won 5-4 over the Phillies. It was Turner's first career walk-off homer. He even allowed Anthony Rendon to measure up and dump a bucket of ice cold Gatorade on his head....
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Nationals can only shrug off rare loss to Philly

Nationals can only shrug off rare loss to Philly
If the Nationals are fortunate enough to have reason to create a 2016 Year-in-Review video, tonight's 4-1 loss to the Phillies most certainly won't merit even a passing reference. Perhaps the most notable thing about this game was the mere fact that the Nationals lost to the Phillies. That hadn't happened since April 28, after which the Nats won nine consecutive matchups with their rebuilding division foes. "I didn't know it, but after the game somebody told me we had beaten them nine in a...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies still have part to play in playoff push

Opposite dugout: Phillies still have part to play in playoff push
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 62-77 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.278 with 13 HR, 42 RBIs, 20 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (22 HR, 73 RBIs), SS Freddy Galvis (16 HR, 58 RBIs), RHP Jerad Eickhoff (10-13, 3.86 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (3.39 ERA with 35 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-11 Pitching probables: Sept. 8: RHP Alec Asher vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 9: RHP Jake Thompson vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 10: RHP Jerad Eickhoff vs....
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Opposite dugout: Struggling Phillies can do little more than play spoiler

Opposite dugout: Struggling Phillies can do little more than play spoiler
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 60-70 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.281 with 13 HR, 42 RBIs, 19 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (22 HR, 72 RBIs), C Cameron Rupp (14 HR, 43 RBIs), 1B Tommy Joseph (17 HR, 34 RBIs), RHP Jerad Eickhoff (9-12, 3.87 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (3.02 ERA with 34 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-8 Pitching probables: Aug. 29: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Jake Thompson, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Aug. 30: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff, 7:05 p.m.,...
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Werth's two-run single helps Nats walk off Phillies 5-4

Werth's two-run single helps Nats walk off Phillies 5-4
Former Phillies helped mold the outcome of Sunday's Nationals game against Philadelphia. One giveth, and one taketh away. The Phillies certainly know how to get to ex-teammate Jonathan Papelbon. On April 17 in Philadelphia, Papelbon allowed a game ending walk-off double by Freddy Galvis in a 10-inning 3-2 comeback victory for his former team. On Sunday in D.C., with the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, Maikel Franco slammed a solo homer, his 11th of the season, to put the Phillies...
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Phillies get to Strasburg early, Nats rally for 9-6 victory

Phillies get to Strasburg early, Nats rally for 9-6 victory
The Phillies grabbed the early lead in the second inning against Stephen Strasburg. Cody Asche's RBI single scored Carlos Ruiz. Tyler Goeddel added a bunt single that plated Freddy Galvis and the Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 advantage. In the third, Tommy Joseph homered to left-center with a man on and suddenly it was 4-0 Phillies. The Nationals answered in their half of the third. Jayson Werth's sharp line drive turned into a double to left field, scoring Danny Espinosa and Ben Revere,...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies starting to fade after hot start

Opposite dugout: Phillies starting to fade after hot start
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 29-31 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.318/.422/.431), 3B Maikel Franco (10 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Freddy Galvis (6 HR, 22 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (5-4, 2.65 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2.61 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5 Pitching probables: June 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 11: RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 12:05 p.m., MASN June 12: LHP Adam Morgan vs. RHP Joe Ross,...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies continue to show progress during rebuilding phase

Opposite dugout: Phillies continue to show progress during rebuilding phase
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 26-24 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.320/.427/.449 with 5 HR, 17 RBIs), 3B Maikel Franco (8 HR, 28 RBIs), 2B Freddie Galvis (17 RBIs), 1B Ryan Howard (8 HR, 18 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (4-3, 2.86 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2.45 ERA, 17 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-2 Pitching probables: May 30: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson, 7:05 p.m., MASN May 31: RHP Joe Ross vs. RHP Aaron Nola, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 June 1: RHP Max...
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Nats struggle for answers after back-to-back 3-0 losses

Nats struggle for answers after back-to-back 3-0 losses
The Phillies handed the Nationals another 3-0 shutout loss on Thursday, sweeping the three-game series. Despite a lineup that was switched around a bit to try to jumpstart the offense, the Nationals combined for only four hits. The Nationals have not scored in 22 innings and have just five runs in the past 34 innings dating to Sunday's 16-inning marathon win over the Twins. It's not like the Nationals had that many chances against Phillies starter Aaron Nola, with only base hits in the first...
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