Nothing went right for the Nationals Friday night during an 11-0 whitewashing at the hands of the Orioles. They can only hope for a better result tonight in the second game of the weekend series. Most of Davey Martinez’s lineup remains the same, with two exceptions: Eric Thames is back at first base, because the Nats are facing a right-hander (Thomas Eshelman), and Asdrúbal Cabrera ... read more
There are any number of factors you can point to when trying to explain the Nationals’ inconsistent start to this season at the plate, but as is so often the case with this lineup it’s always appropriate to start at the top. As Trea Turner goes, so go the Nationals. That was especially obvious in 2019, when the club’s early season struggles coincided with the ... read more
An opening month of fits and starts for the Nationals re-started tonight with the first of 13 straight scheduled game days, a development Davey Martinez was excited about, hoping it might finally provide some sense of normalcy and consistency in a season that is anything but normal or consistent. After a lopsided loss to the Orioles, Martinez might want to revisit that line of thinking. ... read more
Sean Doolittle is healthy. The Nationals coaching and training staffs keep asking him, and he keeps replying there’s nothing physically wrong with him. Something, though, is out of whack when Doolittle attempts to pitch right now. The veteran reliever didn’t look right during intrasquad games and the brief exhibition season. And he hasn’t looked right during his three appearances since the regular season began. “He ... read more
They’ve had more days off than days on recently, but that changes tonight for the Nationals, who begin a stretch of 13 consecutive days with games on the schedule with the opener of a weekend series against the Orioles. There’s still uncertainty about the status of the top two members of the Nats rotation, so that puts some added pressure on the guys beneath them ... read more
They’ve had a bunch of days off in the last week, but the Nationals are going to make up for it with a bunch of doubleheaders later in the season. Major League Baseball announced a slew of schedule changes Thursday to account for all the games lost due to coronavirus outbreaks among the Marlins and Cardinals. And in order for the Nats to make up ... read more
Whatever concern the Nationals had about their veteran pitchers’ ability to make it through the 2020 season healthy after a grueling 2019 that didn’t end until they hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy on Oct. 30 seemed to vanish once it became clear the 2020 season wouldn’t start until midsummer and would be severely reduced in length. What a perfect opportunity for Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick ... read more
The images were unusual and alarming. Max Scherzer, throwing at less than full velocity and with less than full extension. Looking uncomfortable as he walked off the mound at the end of a laborious top of the first. Talking with the training staff upon returning to the dugout as Erick Fedde began furiously warming up in the bullpen. The Nationals lost tonight’s ballgame, 3-1 to ... read more
