nationals buzz

Ryan Sullivan: Tough roster decisions looming for Nationals

June 01, 2018, 5:29am

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators' Twitter account last Thursday announced that Nationals players Matt Grace, Brian Goodwin and Daniel Murphy would begin rehabilitation assignments last weekend. Adam Eaton starts his rehab at Harrisburg today. The healthy return of each player is a positive for the Nationals, but could lead to some difficult roster decisions for manager Davey Martinez. According to Martinez, Goodwin is expected to return first, followed by Grace, Murphy and finally Eaton, who...

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Opposite Dugout: Braves host Nationals with NL East lead at stake

May 30, 2018, 7:37pm

Nationals

Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season)Record: 32-23 Last 10 games: 5-5 Players to watch: 2B Ozzie Albies (14 HR, 34 RBIs), 1B Freddie Freeman (.335 with 9 HR, 40 RBIs), RF Nick Markakis (.332, 38 RBIs), LHP Sean Newcomb (5-1, 2.75 ERA), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-3, 2.55 ERA), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (9 saves, 2.38 ERA) Series vs. Nationals: 3-2 Pitching probables: May 31: RHP Tanner Roark (2-4) vs. LHP Sean Newcomb (5-1), 7:35 p.m., MASN2June 1: RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-4) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz...

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Liz Barr: April gloom and doom give way to May resurgence by Nationals

May 30, 2018, 5:50am

Nationals

We like to focus on the bad. All of our articles and tweets are about what the Nationals are doing wrong, how they are struggling and where they need to improve. I'm as guilty of doing this as anyone. But here's the bottom line that we're ignoring: The Nationals are actually good. In the midst of all their injuries and offensive struggles, the Nationals snuck up on us and became good again. The month of May was a revelation. So far this month they've gone 18-6, which is the best in...

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Marty Niland: The team that almost moved to Washington in 1973

May 28, 2018, 6:12am

Nationals

Marty Niland: The team that almost moved to Washington in 1973

Imagine if the names of franchise greats inscribed on the mezzanine of Nationals Park included Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith and Willie McCovey. What if, instead of tracing its roots back to Montreal, Washington's baseball team had its origins in San Diego? It might have happened if the dreams of Washington baseball fans 45 summers ago has come true, instead of ending in one of many heartbreaks for the city. The story began on May 28, 1973 when The Washington Post greeted readers with the...

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Opposite dugout: Struggling O's might be forced to become sellers

May 27, 2018, 6:44pm

Nationals Orioles

Opposite dugout: Struggling O's might be forced to become sellers

Manager: Buck Showalter (9th season) Record: 17-36 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: SS Manny Machado (.324 with 15 HR, 44 RBIs); CF Adam Jones (.274 with 9 HR, 25 RBIs); LF Trey Mancini (.240 with 7 HR, 48 hits); RHP Dylan Bundy (3-6, 4.45 ERA); LHP Richard Bleier (3-0, 1.37 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-2 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 28: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-2) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (1-6); 1:05 p.m., MASN2May 29: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-0) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (3-6); 7:05...

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Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Marlins occupy NL East basement

May 24, 2018, 8:48am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Marlins occupy NL East basement

Manager: Don Mattingly (3rd season) Record: 19-30 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C J.T. Realmuto (316 with 6 HR, 16 RBIs), 2B Starlin Castro (.293 with 21 RBIs), 1B Justin Bour (9 HR, 23 RBIs), RHP Elieser Hernandez (0-1, 2.08 ERA), RHP Brad Ziegler (9 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (6-13 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 25: RHP Max Scherzer (7-1) vs. RHP JosÃ© UreÃ±a (0-7), 7:10 p.m., MASN2 May 26: RHP Tanner Roark (2-4) vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (1-2), 4:10 p.m., MASN2...

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Ryan Sullivan: Is Mark Reynolds part of a shift in baseball thinking?

May 24, 2018, 2:38pm

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Is Mark Reynolds part of a shift in baseball thinking?

The Nationals have dealt with an incredible amount of injuries so far in 2018. Certainly, every team suffers with injuries and complaining will not help players heal faster, but as someone recently joked on Twitter, the Nationals could have a .500 club with their roster presently on the disabled list. It is a testament to the performance of the team's reserves that Washington's record currently stands at 26-22 and only three games back of first place in the National League East. Fortunately...

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Liz Barr: Hellickson deserves a chance to go deeper in starts

May 23, 2018, 5:32am

Nationals

Liz Barr: Hellickson deserves a chance to go deeper in starts

The Nationals rotation has been nothing but dominant this season. It is leading the National League in just about every fathomable category, including innings pitched and pitches per start. Nats starters have been going deeper, staying in longer, and pitching more than anybody else. That is, except for Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson has been a blessing, and he's been the perfect fit for that fifth rotation spot. He is putting up fabulous numbers; so far this season, he has not given up more...

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Marty Niland: Soto joins ranks of teen phenoms in D.C.

May 21, 2018, 5:34am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Soto joins ranks of teen phenoms in D.C.

The newest National, Juan Soto, got a nice ovation Sunday when he came to bat in the eighth inning as the youngest player currently in the major leagues at 19. He struck out in his debut, but with the Nationals lineup currently decimated by injuries, there will be plenty of opportunities for Soto to make an impact at the big league level after playing just 39 games in the minor leagues this season and 122 overall. Soto joins dozens of players who broke into the majors as teenagers, including...

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Opposite dugout: Padres have to pick it up at plate to have a prayer

May 18, 2018, 7:34pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Padres have to pick it up at plate to have a prayer

Manager: Andy Green (3rd season) Record: 20-28 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.268/.366/.482, 16 doubles), 3B Christian Villanueva (12 HR, 26 RBIs), LF Franchy Cordero (5 SB, 6 HR), RF Travis Jankowski (.359/.438/.469), RHP Tyson Ross (3.35 ERA), LHP Brad Hand (14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: (1-2) Pitching probables: May 21: LHP Robbie Erlin (1-2) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-0), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 22: LHP Eric Lauer (1-2) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: You go, Dan Kolko!

May 18, 2018, 2:15pm

Nationals

"MASN All Access" podcast: You go, Dan Kolko!

You've seen him on TV. You've heard him on the radio. You've heard him on his podcast. Now, you can hear him on ours. Paul and I are back with a new episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast and we are joined by a very special guest: the one, the only, MASN's Dan Kolko. Obviously, Dan has graced you with his presence on MASN's broadcasts of Nationals games and the pre and postgame "Nats Xtra" shows. But did you know that Dan started at MASN laying the groundwork for what Paul and I do...

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Ryan Sullivan: Could rain-wrecked schedule actually benefit Nationals?

May 18, 2018, 5:48am

Nationals

After an incredibly successful road trip, including a four-game sweep of the National League West-leading Diamondbacks, the Nationals returned to Washington for an eight-game homestand riding a tidal wave of momentum. The team played 17 consecutive days going back to April 27 and transformed its subpar 11-15 record into the present 24-18 mark. In addition, the two scheduled off-days on Monday and Thursday this week would help recharge everyone's collective batteries. Unfortunately, Mother...

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Johnny Holliday nominated for National Radio Hall of Fame

May 16, 2018, 10:09am

Nationals

Johnny Holliday nominated for National Radio Hall of Fame

Johnny Holliday, co-host of the "Nats Xtra" pregame and postgame shows on MASN, has been nominated for the 2018 class of the National Radio Hall of Fame. Holliday is nominated in the category for local/regional broadcasters with 20 or more years in the industry. Long before he joined MASN, Holliday was a successful rock and roll disc jockey, working with legendary announcer Murray the K on WINS in New York, and spinning tunes on San Francisco's KYA, the top 40 giant where he drew acclaim as...

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Liz Barr: Rendon's return has sparked Nationals

May 16, 2018, 5:27am

Nationals

He's our favorite player, he's Trea Turner's favorite player: it's Tony Two Bags himself, Anthony Rendon. We all missed him when he was out unexpectedly long after fouling a ball off his foot, and the offense suffered in his absence. But now that he's back, he's thriving, the team is thriving, we're all thriving. Since Rendon's return on May 5, the Nationals have gone 7-2, and they've scored 32 runs through those nine games, which averages to about 3.5 per game. But with the way the...

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Opposite Dugout: Surging Yankees holding down first place in AL East

May 11, 2018, 7:56am

Nationals

Opposite Dugout: Surging Yankees holding down first place in AL East

Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 28-12 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: RF Aaron Judge (.311 with 11 HR, 35 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (10 HR, 26 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (10 HR, 31 RBIs), 2B Gleyber Torres (.319), LHP CC Sabathia (2-0, 2.23 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (9 saves), Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-3 in 2015) Pitching Probables: May 15: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (4-2) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 16: LHP CC Sabathia (2-0) vs. RHP Max Scherzer...

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Marty Niland: Adams' homer tear conjures up memories of Howard's historic 1968 streak

May 14, 2018, 5:31am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Adams' homer tear conjures up memories of Howard's historic 1968 streak

Nationals fans are hopeful again, with the club coming off 6-1 road trip and threatening to return to the top of the National League East standings. One key has been the powerful bat of Matt Adams, who homered seven times in five games from May 1 through the May 7 win over San Diego. A weekly slash line of .400/.516/1.240 is impressive for the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder known as "Big City," but it brings to mind an even bigger streak by an even bigger man. Frank Howard, the 6-foot-7, 280-lb....

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Ryan Sullivan: The trickle-down effect of Eaton's latest setback

May 11, 2018, 6:54am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: The trickle-down effect of Eaton's latest setback

On Thursday evening, news unfortunately broke that Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton underwent surgery on his ankle and will miss much of the rest of the season. Eaton injured himself in the Nationals' home opener on a slide into home, and regrettably it took doctors over a month to properly diagnose the ailment. Now, for the second consecutive year, he will spend the majority of the season on the disabled list. Speaking for all Nationals fans, we wish him a speedy recovery. Eaton's lengthy...

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Opposite dugout: First-place Diamondbacks have yet to lose a series

May 10, 2018, 6:45am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: First-place Diamondbacks have yet to lose a series

Manager: Torey Lovullo (2nd season) Record: 24-12 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF A.J. Pollock (.308 with 11 HR, 32 RBIs), RF David Peralta (6 HR, 19 RBIs), SS Nick Ahmed (6 HR, 18 RBIs), RHP Matt Koch (2-0, 2.13 ERA), RHP Zack Greinke (3-2, 4.10 ERA), RHP Brad Boxberger (2.25 ERA, 11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: May 10: RHP Tanner Roark (2-2) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (3-2), 9:40 p.m., MASN2 May 11: RHP Max Scherzer (6-1) vs. Matt Koch (2-0), 9:40 p.m., MASN2 May...

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Liz Barr: Comparing Matt Adams to Adam Lind

May 09, 2018, 6:29am

Nationals

Liz Barr: Comparing Matt Adams to Adam Lind

When the Nationals didn't re-sign Adam Lind over the offseason, Nats faithful were heartbroken. Lind had become a fan favorite, and the left-handed slugger was incredibly important to the club all last season, providing a huge lift off the bench and filling in in the starting lineup when the Nats needed him most. But when they let him go, the question remained: Who was going to fill that giant hole left by Lind's absence? Enter Matt Adams. Adams and Lind essentially have the same role:...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Nats are who we thought they were

May 07, 2018, 12:54pm

Nationals

"MASN All Access" podcast: Nats are who we thought they were

Runs galore? Check. Dominant pitching? Check. Winning homestand? Check. Above .500? Check. The Nationals checked off a lot of boxes while going 7-3 over this past homestand, and Paul Mancano and I are back on the "MASN All Access" podcast to wrap it all up. Now back over the .500 mark and just two games back in a tight National League East, the Nats are playing some good baseball lately and are hot heading back out west. Wilmer Difo capped off the happy homestand with a walk-off base hit in...