nationals buzz

Opposite dugout: Recent surge has stoked Pirates' postseason chances

July 14, 2016, 11:56am

Manager: Clint Hurdle (6th season) Record: 46-43 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: LF Starling Marte (.316/.363/.460 with 30 SB), RF Gregory Polanco (.287 with 12 HR, 50 RBIs), CF Andrew McCutchen (14 HR, 38 RBIs), RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.23 ERA, 27 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (3-4 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 15: LHP Francisco Liriano vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 16: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN...

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District 34 podcast: Looking back and ahead at All-Star break

July 12, 2016, 11:01am

Nationals

District 34 podcast: Looking back and ahead at All-Star break

We're back! After a short absence, Byron Kerr and I are back for another episode of the District 34 podcast! The Nationals ended the first half of the season hot, winning 11 of 15 games before the break, including six of seven against the division rival Mets. The Nats have given themselves a comfortable six-game lead in the National League East over the Mets and Marlins, but they still have a long way to go in the second-half stretch. Before the break, we heard some comments from manager Dusty...

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Opposite dugout: Mets playing better but still battling injuries (updated)

July 07, 2016, 4:29am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Mets playing better but still battling injuries (updated)

Manager: Terry Collins (6th season) Record: 46-38 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.299/.366/.581 with 21 HR, 51 RBIs), 2B Neil Walker (.259 with 15 HR, 35 RBIs), RF Curtis Granderson (15 HR, 27 RBIs), RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-2, 2.41 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (2.61 ERA with 30 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-6 Pitching probables: July 7: RHP Lucas Giolito vs. RHP Bartolo Colon, 7:10 p.m., MASN July 8: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard, 7:10 p.m., MASN July...

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David Huzzard: Current All-Star Game format needs fixing

July 07, 2016, 6:37am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Current All-Star Game format needs fixing

When does something become tradition? My wife and I recently had a big discussion about this. She is heading up to Maryland this weekend for our 1-year-old nephew's birthday party and she is tasked with baking a "smash cake." I had no idea what a "smash cake" was and asked her about it and she called it a tradition. I argued that it isn't old enough to be a tradition if it is a more recent thing. A Google search failed to answer how long the practice goes back and the debate was never...

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Charlie Fliegel: Scherzer having solid season, despite high home run total

July 06, 2016, 5:51am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Scherzer having solid season, despite high home run total

Max Scherzer has had a good season - he currently ranks ninth in National League pitcher fWAR. He's already at 155 strikeouts. But despite those positives, he's also given up 21 home runs in only 18 starts. He's leading the league in both categories. Scherzer is in some rare company, as there have only been seven times where a pitcher led the league in strikeouts and home runs. In the deadball era, Grover Cleveland Alexander struck out 195 hitters and surrendered 11 four-baggers, or...

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Steve Mears: What moves does Rizzo have in mind for Nats?

July 05, 2016, 6:28am

Nationals

Steve Mears: What moves does Rizzo have in mind for Nats?

The trade deadline is on Aug. 1 this year and that is 26 days away. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo seems poised to make some moves, and all teams in first place will make some moves. What we do not know is what Mike Rizzo has in mind for his top two prospects, Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner. "(Giolito) threw 137 innings last year total," Rizzo said. "We will build off that. We have a protocol in place that we'll stick to and adhere to. We have had it mapped out since spring training,...

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Opposite dugout: June swoon changed Brewers' fortunes quickly

July 02, 2016, 4:09pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: June swoon changed Brewers' fortunes quickly

Manager: Craig Counsell (2nd season) Record: 35-46 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: LF Ryan Braun (.323/.383/.546 with 13 HR, 44 RBIs), SS Jonathan Villar (.296/.382/.422 with 30 RBIs, 26 SB), C Jonathan Lucroy (.300 with 10 HR, 39 RBIs), 1B Chris Carter 920 HR,49 RBIs), RHP Junior Guerra (5-1, 3.25 ERA), RHP Jeremy Jeffress (2.60 ERA, 21 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: July 4: RHP Junior Guerra vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 11:05 a.m., MASN July 5: RHP Zach Davies vs. RHP...

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Marty Niland: Espinosa providing fireworks for Nationals

July 04, 2016, 5:24am

Nationals

Friday's postgame fireworks were canceled due to extra innings, and rain might well wash out many of the Washington area's July 4 pyrotechnics this year, but Danny Espinosa has been making the Nationals offense explode for the past few weeks. It's hard to say whether the Nats shortstop is the most productive No. 8 hitter in team history, but it's safe to say not many players have put together a series, a week or even a month like the man who wears No. 8 for the Nats. Espinosa burned the...

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David Huzzard: The Marlins are now the Nats' biggest threat

June 30, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

David Huzzard: The Marlins are now the Nats' biggest threat

All this time, we, Nats fans, have been focused on the Mets, and after a horrific road trip by the Nationals and a sweep of New York, there is a new contender. It would have been nice if the sweep of the Mets reset the terrible occurrence of the road trip, but it instead gave rise to a new threat: the Miami Marlins. There is only a half-game difference between the Marlins and Mets in the standings, but the Fish are in second when they weren't expected to even be contending for the division....

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Opposite dugout: Reds continue to scuffle in tough NL Central

June 29, 2016, 6:37pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Reds continue to scuffle in tough NL Central

Manager: Bryan Price (3rd season) Record: 29-50 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: RF Jay Bruce (.279, 17 HR, 59 RBIs), SS Zack Cozart (.266, 11 HR, 32 RBIs), CF Billy Hamilton (19 stolen bases, 51 hits), RHP Blake Wood (5-1, 3.29 ERA), RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.52 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: June 30: LHP Brandon Finnegan vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 1: RHP Anthony DeSclafani vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 6:05 p.m., MASNJuly 2: RHP Dan Straily vs. RHP...

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Charlie Fliegel: Where would Ben Revere be most productive?

June 29, 2016, 5:12am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Where would Ben Revere be most productive?

Ben Revere had a really good day on Monday, going 4-for-5. Maybe it's a sign that he's returning to form. Then again, he didn't get a hit last night. But even if he is getting back to his old self, he still can be a divisive player. That's because he's the kind of hitter that is ideal for a sabermetric vs. traditionalist head-butting. As a speedster who (usually) hits for a high batting average, he is an old school dream at leadoff. On the other hand, he has an unimpressive OBP and sees...

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Dusty Baker on Wilson Ramos: "He is my field general"

June 28, 2016, 3:01pm

Nationals

Dusty Baker on Wilson Ramos: "He is my field general"

Much is being said about Lucas Giolito's highly anticipated major league debut tonight at Nationals Park. Giolito is the Nationals' top prospect, he has a big presence on the mound, he's got a powerful fastball and a killer curveball. Every move he makes tonight will be carefully watched and analyzed by media and fans alike. But there's also a second part to Giolito's debut, one that might be getting overlooked a bit as all eyes focus on the 21-year-old: his batterymate, Wilson Ramos....

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Steve Mears: Was Monday night's win the defining game of 2016 for the Nats?

June 28, 2016, 5:08am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Was Monday night's win the defining game of 2016 for the Nats?

We never know which game to circle on the calendar as a key game or 'the' key game during themarathon 162-game schedule, but clearly last night's game was 'a' key game for both the WashingtonNationals and the New York Mets. Time will tell whether or not last night was 'the' key game. The key game in the 2012 season was the doubleheader game where the Nats came back to beat theirdivision rival after losing a heartbreaking game the night before and the first game of the doubleheader.The...

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Opposite dugout: Mets aren't exactly cruising entering critical stretch before break

June 26, 2016, 3:10pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Mets aren't exactly cruising entering critical stretch before break

Manager: Terry Collins (6th season) Record: 40-34 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.287/.358/.566 with 18 HR, 45 RBIs), 2B Neil Walker (.265 with 14 HR, 30 RBIs), RF Curtis Granderson (13 HR, 21 RBIs), RHP Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 2.08 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (2.89 ERA with 26 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3 Pitching probables: June 27: RHP Noah Syndergaard vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 28: RHP Matt Harvey vs. TBA, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 29: LHP Steven Matz vs....

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#IChallengeMax: Max Scherzer steps to plate for this season's Fan Challenge

June 27, 2016, 7:04am

Nationals

#IChallengeMax: Max Scherzer steps to plate for this season's Fan Challenge

Two no-hitters. A 20-strikeout game. Three All-Star Games. A Cy Young Award. OK, now that we've listed a few of his credentials, it's pretty obvious that you probably can't beat Max Scherzer in baseball. But you could beat him at something else. So prove it! The CareFirst Fan Challenge is back, and we want you to challenge Mad Max to ... anything! Think you can take him down in a game of cornhole or chess? Can you grill a better burger than him or make him say uncle following a round of...

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Marty Niland: With skid over, Nats can focus on winning habits

June 26, 2016, 7:19pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: With skid over, Nats can focus on winning habits

It's too early to say whether Tanner Roark's guile and Jayson Werth's guts actually saved the Nationals' 2016 season. But when they look back it all, their June 26 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers may be seen as an epiphany. For now, at least, the bleeding has stopped. In just a week's time, the Nationals had gone from the hottest team in the National League to the coldest, and this week's series with the New York Mets went from an opportunity to build a huge National League East lead...

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Opposite dugout: Brewers still searching for improvement in tough division

June 23, 2016, 12:12pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Brewers still searching for improvement in tough division

Manager: Craig Counsell (2nd season) Record: 32-40 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: LF Ryan Braun (.320 average, 12 HR, 38 RBIs); 1B Chris Carter (18 HR, 44 RBIs); SS Jonathan Villar (76 hits, 25 SB); C Jonathan Lucroy (.305 average, 74 hits); SP Junior Guerra (4-1, 3.67 ERA); CL Jeremy Jeffress (2.84 ERA, 19 saves). Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 24: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Zach Davies, 8:05 p.m., MASN2June 25: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Matt...

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District 34: About last night ...

June 23, 2016, 9:03am

Nationals

So last night's end to the Nationals-Dodgers series was less than ideal ... Plain and simple: Michael A. Taylor had a bad night at Dodger Stadium (0-for-5, five strikeouts and a three-base error in the ninth inning). But those days happen, and he's not the only one to struggle over this five-game losing streak on the West Coast. Alas, the Nationals must press on ... Meanwhile, Byron Kerr and I get to look back at last night's crazy and unfortunate finish for this week's episode of District...

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David Huzzard: Nats bullpen needs fixing, but don't expect many changes soon

June 23, 2016, 6:19am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats bullpen needs fixing, but don't expect many changes soon

They are riding a five-game losing streak and in need of bullpen help. That is the current state of your Washington Nationals. A five-game losing streak is nothing to worry about. It happens. The fact that the Nationals have avoided a prolonged losing streak for this long is a miracle. It's the way the Nationals have been losing. Jonathan Papelbon wasn't the best closer, but the bullpen was built to have him as the closer. Shawn Kelley surpassed all expectations, but he works much better as...

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Charlie Fliegel: Roark remains underrated in Nationals rotation

June 22, 2016, 5:53am

Nationals

The season is nearly 45 percent complete, and the Nationals are leading their division by 4 1/2 games. Sure, the season is far from over, but they've got the fourth- best record in the league, and they look strong. Individual players that usually come to mind as the reasons for this are probably Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Wilson Ramos, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer. And those guys are a huge part of it. But there's one player who doesn't get enough credit for what he's done for this...