nationals buzz

David Huzzard: Explanation of slow trade market

July 23, 2015, 6:32am

By next Friday, our memories on this trade deadline will be very different, but the current atmosphere is one of inaction. The biggest news we have is that the Tigers might be sellers but haven't made up their minds. Lots of people blame the second wild card for the lack of moves, but the Reds, Phillies, Braves, Padres, Athletics, and a few other clubs are known to be sellers. The inaction can best be explained by what people think should happen and what is actually going to happen. Look at...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Hoping for a big splash from Nats at trade deadline

July 27, 2015, 3:24pm

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Hoping for a big splash from Nats at trade deadline

The trade deadline: baseball's most frantic and exciting time of the year. Already, Johnny Cueto, Scott Kazmir and Juan Uribe have been dealt to the Royals, Astros and Mets, respectively. There are probably a lot more deals coming before July 31 as teams that are postseason contenders are buying, and teams that probably won't make it to October are selling. The first-place Nationals are probably buyers this year because they have a few holes that need to be fixed to be playoff-ready. Last...

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Marty Niland: Taylor's breakout recalls past Senators rookie phenom Allison

July 27, 2015, 4:40am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Taylor's breakout recalls past Senators rookie phenom Allison

There's nothing quite like seeing a major league rookie come into his own, especially when he's making the most of an opportunity to fill in for a starter. You can say, "I remember when ..." So it was fun watching Michael A. Taylor have a breakout weekend, even though the Nationals lost a difficult series in Pittsburgh and saw their NL East lead over the New York Mets shrink to two games. The rookie recorded the first four-hit game of his career on Saturday, including a two-run,...

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Opposite dugout: Pitching highlights series again as Pirates look to get back at Nationals

July 22, 2015, 5:33pm

Nationals

Manager: Clint Hurdle (5th season) Record: 54-40 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.290/.388/.486 with 12 HR, 57 RBIs), LF Starling Marte (.289/.336/.458 with 13 HR, 50 RBIs), 1B Pedro Alvarez (12 HR and 43 RBIs), RHP Gerrit Cole (13-4, 2.31 ERA), RHP A.J. Burnett (8-3, 2.44 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.43 ERA, 30 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: July 23: RHP Doug Fister vs. LHP Francisco Liriano, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 24: RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP...

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Opposite dugout: Strong-armed Mets remain in NL East contention

July 18, 2015, 7:38am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Strong-armed Mets remain in NL East contention

Manager: Terry Collins (5th season) Record: 48-44 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: IF Daniel Murphy (.268 with 5 HR, 30 RBIs), 1B Lucas Duda (12 HR, 38 RBIs), RF Curtis Granderson (14 HR, 30 RBIs), RHP Jacob deGrom (9-6, 2.14 ERA), RHP Matt Harvey (8-6. 3.07 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (27 saves, 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-4 Pitching probables: July 20: RHP Matt Harvey vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 21: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m. MASN2 July...

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Marty Niland: Nats get some good news on a tough weekend

July 20, 2015, 5:23am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats get some good news on a tough weekend

It was a frustrating, weekend of dormant offense for the Nationals against Dodgers aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, who combined to hold the Nats scoreless for 18 innings, striking out 25 batters. Amid all the whiffs and groundouts, however, the Nats did get a key bit of good news: Injured stars Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman are all off to good starts on minor league rehab assignments. Although none will be on the field for what has turned out to be a crucial series...

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Nats Star Wars Day: May the Force be with you

July 19, 2015, 9:43am

Nationals

Nats Star Wars Day: May the Force be with you

In honor of Nats Star Wars Day, shouldn't the players be trading in bats for lightsabers? If that was the case, we might hear Matt Williams yelling, "I've got a bad feeling about this!" from the dugout. While the Nationals will be looking to figure out Zack Greinke this afternoon, fans will be looking on dressed as Yoda, C-3PO, Han Solo and more at Nats Park. Check out the photos and tweets below for a closer look at a galaxy far, far away ... Happy #NatsStarWarsDay! May the force be with...

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Opposite dugout: Dodgers look to continue controlling NL West with strong pitching

July 16, 2015, 9:48am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Dodgers look to continue controlling NL West with strong pitching

Manager: Don Mattingly (5th season) Record: 51-39 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.283/.355/.520 with 18 HR, 55 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.282/.401/.526 with 14 HR, 36 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (.230 with 20 HR, 40 RBIs), 2B Howie Kendrick (.292 with 37 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP), LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-6 with 160 strikeouts, 2.85 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-4 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 17: RHP Mike Bolsinger vs. RHP Jordan...

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#AskRendon: Anthony Rendon answers fans questions in Twitter takeover

July 10, 2015, 10:29am

Nationals

#AskRendon: Anthony Rendon answers fans questions in Twitter takeover

While he doesn't have a Twitter account of his own, Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon was an old pro when he took to the @masnNationals account to answer fans' questions. MASN's Twitter followers submitted questions for Rendon using #AskRendon, and then the real fun began. Rendon wielded both baseball-related and off-the-field questions, with topics ranging from his favorite baseball player growing up to "the biggest bromance on the team." Naturally, some of his answers proved to be...

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Opposite dugout: Slumping Orioles still in the thick of AL East race

July 08, 2015, 2:10pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Slumping Orioles still in the thick of AL East race

Manager: Buck Showalter (6th season) Record: 43-42 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: 3B Manny Machado (.301/.360/.535 with 19 HR, 48 RBIs), DH Jimmy Paredes (.299, 10 HR), CF Adam Jones (.284/.430/.471 with 11 HR, 40 RBIs), 1B Chris Davis (19 HR, 52 RBIs), LHP Wei-Yin Chen (4-4, 2.82 EA), RHP Darren O'Day (5-0, 1.10 ERA, 0.80 WHIP), LHP Zach Britton (23 saves, 1.77 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-1 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 10: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP...

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David Huzzard: Re-examining how free agency affects the Nationals

July 09, 2015, 5:06am

Nationals

One of the big refrains coming into the 2015 season for the Nationals was that because of the loss of pending free agents Denard Span, Ian Desmond, Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmermann at the end of the season, the window is closing. While this has always been somewhat faulty logic, it made sense that the Nationals would have difficulty replacing four good players. But the season has not gone according to plan, and the idea that the window would be closing because of the loss of those four players...

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Rachel Levitin: Respect for Harper's decision on Home Run Derby

July 08, 2015, 5:13am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Respect for Harper's decision on Home Run Derby

The votes are in and it's all official - Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper are going to the All-Star Game to represent the Nationals. The 2015 game in Cincinnati is Scherzer's third game and first appearance with the Nats, while this is Harper's third appearance at the All-Star Game and festivities. This time around, Harper will not be participating in the Home Run Derby after receiving a National League record of 13.85 million fan votes. Harper is hot this season, which is why he's landed a...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Picking the Nationals' all-time All-Stars

July 07, 2015, 5:43am

Nationals

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is on Tuesday, July 14. At least one representative from each major league team plays for home field advantage in the World Series. Fans vote for the starting nine position players, a players' vote fills in reserves, and then the manager consults with the leagues and picks the pitching staff and remaining bench players. This year's contest is at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Two Nationals made it in - Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer - and that...

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Opposite dugout: Reds looking to reverse fortunes with another big series against Nationals

July 05, 2015, 9:12pm

Nationals

Manager: Bryan Price (2nd season) Record: 36-44 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 3B Todd Frazier (.285/.344/.602 with 25 HR, 54 RBIs), 1B Joey Votto (.274/.387/.478 with 14 HR, 39 RBIs), 2B Brandon Phillips (.279 with 31 RBIs), RF Jay Bruce (12 HR, 40 RBIs), RHP Johnny Cueto (5-5, with 100 strikeouts, 2.984 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (16 saves, 1.83 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-0 Pitching probables: July 6: RHP Anthony DeSclafani vs. RHP Doug Fister, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 7: RHP Johnny...

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Marty Niland: Bam-Bam, Big Train and the lore of legends

July 05, 2015, 1:56pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Bam-Bam, Big Train and the lore of legends

As if Bryce Harper had not already endeared himself to Washington baseball fans, his legend grew even further when he stepped into the batter's box at Nationals Park on the Fourth of July, wielding a star-spangled bat emblazoned with the D.C. skyline, and launched a two-run homer to spark a 3-for-4 day. Add that to Harper's other legendary shots: A reported 502-foot blast at Tropicana Field in 2009, when he was a kid from Las Vegas nicknamed Bam-Bam, playing in a high school showcase; his...

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Opposite dugout: Pitching hasn't yet caught up to bats, but Giants still in contention

July 02, 2015, 2:02pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Pitching hasn't yet caught up to bats, but Giants still in contention

Manager: Bruce Bochy (9th season) Record: 42-38 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Buster Posey (.304/.377/.496 with 13 HR, 56 RBIs), 2B Joe Panik (.316/.384/.463 with 30 RBIs), SS Brandon Crawford (.270 with 11 HR, 47 RBIs), LHP Madison Bumgarner (8-4, 2.99 ERA), RHP Santiago Casilla (4-2, 3.03 ERA, 20 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 3: RHP Jake Peavy vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 6:05 p.m., MASN July 4: LHP Madison Bumgarner vs. RHP Stephen...

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David Huzzard: Savoring July as baseball's most enjoyable month

July 01, 2015, 5:22pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Savoring July as baseball's most enjoyable month

Welcome to July, one of the busiest months on the baseball calendar. First off, today is the opening of the international signing period which means a bunch of 15- and 16-year- olds out of the Caribbean will be signed by major league teams with the hopes of one day making it to the American minor leagues and then possibly the majors. This is only interesting in the fact that one day some of these players will be good but that is so far off it isn't even worth thinking about. Wilmer Difo has...

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Opposite dugout: Braves look to get Nats monkey off their backs

June 29, 2015, 11:12am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Braves look to get Nats monkey off their backs

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (5th season) Record: 36-40 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: RF Nick Markakis (.300/.387/.355 with 23 RBIs), CF Cameron Maybin (.286 with 6 HR, 36 RBIs), C A.J. Pierzynski (.268/.308/.404 with 4 HR, 24 RBIs), SS Andrelton Simmons (.271 with 28 RBIs), RHP Shelby Miller (5-3, 1.94 ERA), RHP Jason Grilli (21 saves, 3.14 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-8 Pitching probables: June 30: RHP Jordan Zimmermann vs. RHP Shelby Miller, 7:10 p.m., MASN July 1: RHP Doug Fister vs....

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Rachel Levitin: Nats' depth has come in handy

July 01, 2015, 5:22am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats' depth has come in handy

The Nationals are 3 1/2 games up over the New York Mets in the National League East after their 6-1 victory over the Braves in Atlanta on Tuesday night. They've won nine of their last 10 games, have battled through injuries to realign their starting rotation and have witnessed several hitting hot streaks for various players up and down the lineup. Despite a little bit of struggle to get back to first place within their division and stay atop the baseball standings as one of the teams with the...

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Marty Niland: Nationals bench has stepped up

June 29, 2015, 6:33am

Nationals

Many Nationals fans might have predicted at the start of the season that by the end of June, the team would have settled into first place in the National League East and reeled off a season-high eight straight wins. Even their most ardent supporters, however, might not have predicted that they'd have done it largely without the players projected to be their top offensive weapons. Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman have been on the disabled list and were not a part of the Nats' recent run of...