On Bell's oblique, Soto's doubles and reaching .500 again

On Bell's oblique, Soto's doubles and reaching .500 again
More news and observations after Thursday night's 7-3 win over the Marlins, the Nationals' 10th win in 11 games ... * Josh Bell was a late scratch from the lineup after reporting soreness on his right side. The Nats don't seem to believe it's anything serious, but they want to make sure he didn't strain an oblique muscle before putting him back on the field. "I didn't want to take any chances," manager Davey Martinez said in his postgame Zoom session with reporters. "He's going to go...
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Schwarber's historic surge keeps Nats red-hot (updated)

Schwarber's historic surge keeps Nats red-hot (updated)
You could only laugh at the first one, because it was yet another leadoff homer by Kyle Schwarber, his fifth in 13 games since taking over the top spot in the Nationals lineup on a full-time basis a couple weeks ago. But the second one? A three-run blast one inning later? His 12th home run in 13 games? His eighth in five games? What was the appropriate reaction to that? Surely, it included a jaw dropped all the way to the floor, a glazed look in your eyes and an immediate sprint to your...
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Hudson should be ready to throw off mound before Strasburg

Hudson should be ready to throw off mound before Strasburg
Davey Martinez had to get creative with his bullpen in order to win Wednesday's wild, 13-12 game in Philadelphia, ultimately asking Austin Voth, Tanner Rainey and Paolo Espino to record the final six outs. That's because closer Brad Hand was unavailable after pitching four of the previous five days, and because Daniel Hudson remains on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow. And it's still going to be a little while before Hudson is back on the active roster pitching in...
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Game 72 lineups: Nats at Marlins (Bell scratched)

Game 72 lineups: Nats at Marlins (Bell scratched)
The Nationals' two-game sweep in Philadelphia was both uplifting but also exhausting. Wednesday's 13-12 finale, in particular, used up every ounce of strength the Nats had, not to mention nearly every reliever on the staff. There's no rest for the weary, though, because after a flight south to Miami following the game, the Nationals are right back to work this evening in the opener of a four-game series with the Marlins. These two division foes have met only three times so far this season,...
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Espino's memorable week now includes first career save

Espino's memorable week now includes first career save
The call to the bullpen came after the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals at that point trailing the Phillies 12-11. Paolo Espino was told to warm up, and that he would be pitching the bottom of the ninth if his teammates managed to tie the game or take the lead. And when that's exactly what they did, getting a two-run single from Starlin Castro to go up 13-12 in the craziest game of the season, Espino began to make his way to the mound, now tasked with recording the final three outs but not...
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Nats rally twice, pull out all stops to beat Phillies 13-12 (updated)

Nats rally twice, pull out all stops to beat Phillies 13-12 (updated)
In order to pull off their ninth win in 10 games, the Nationals needed another Kyle Schwarber three-run homer to highlight a five-run top of the fifth, a Josh Bell grand slam to cap a six-run top of the sixth, a two-run single by Starlin Castro in the top of the ninth to re-take a lead that had just been lost and then the first save conversion of Paolo Espino's career (with some help from a bleeding Jordy Mercer at second base). And it all worked out. Somehow. Some way. Adding another...
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Schwarber, Turner, Harrison all banged up, but playing

Schwarber, Turner, Harrison all banged up, but playing
As the baseball world was still up in arms over the theatrics of Joe Girardi asking umpires to check Max Scherzer for foreign substances for a third time Tuesday night, the Nationals were dealing with several injury scares late during their 3-2 victory over the Phillies. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Josh Harrison all were less than 100 percent healthy by the time Brad Hand escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth. And though all three are back in the lineup for this afternoon's...
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Game 71 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 71 lineups: Nats at Phillies
Well, guess what? There's another ballgame to be played in Philadelphia. This afternoon. The buzz from Tuesday night's histrionics hasn't dissipated yet, but the Nationals and Phillies can't wait for that to happen before taking the field again for the finale of this quick, two-game series. The Nats, by virtue of a dramatic 3-2 win that was overshadowed by Joe Girardi's attempt to get into Max Scherzer's head (or, at least, his sweaty hair), are now in position to sweep the mini-series...
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Is there a better way to check pitchers for foreign substances?

Is there a better way to check pitchers for foreign substances?
So, what happens now? What happens when the Nationals and Phillies take the field again at 1:05 p.m. today for the finale of this quick, two-game series at Citizens Bank Park? Will the mandatory, between-innings checks of both teams' pitchers by umpires looking for foreign substances continue without issue? Will either Joe Girardi or Davey Martinez try to one-up the other and request an extra examination of the opposing pitcher, as Girardi did Tuesday night with Max Scherzer, setting off a...
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Nats won't let Phillies get under their skin, win again (updated)

Nats won't let Phillies get under their skin, win again (updated)
Let's get the most important point out of the way first: The Nationals beat the Phillies 3-2 tonight. They've now won eight of their last nine, moved into a three-way tie for second place in the National League East and continued a dramatic June surge that is making believers out of more skeptics with each passing day. Max Scherzer allowed one run in five innings in his first start back from a minor groin injury. The lineup scored three early runs off Zack Wheeler to take the lead. Austin...
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Finnegan's injury is minor, Nats hope; Hudson begins throwing

Finnegan's injury is minor, Nats hope; Hudson begins throwing
Just as he was beginning to assert himself into a more prominent role in a bullpen that has needed more guys to step up, Kyle Finnegan has now landed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Finnegan, who was removed from the roster this afternoon as the counter-transaction to Max Scherzer's activation off the IL, hurt himself while throwing the final pitch of a quick (and very effective) relief appearance Sunday against the Mets. Summoned out of the bullpen to replace a...
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Game 70 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 70 lineups: Nats at Phillies
An 8-3 homestand, capped with a strong and often thrilling weekend against the Mets, was a great first step for the Nationals to get themselves back into the mix in the National League East. A good road trip this week against two more division opponents would go a long way toward making this surge truly legitimate. It begins tonight in Philadelphia in the opener of a quick, two-game series against the Phillies. And it begins with the ace back on the mound. Yes, as he promised over the weekend,...
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Unexpected delays couldn't derail Fedde's breakthrough

Unexpected delays couldn't derail Fedde's breakthrough
Erick Fedde's phone rang around midnight, a few hours following the Nationals' May 18 loss in Chicago. He was immediately asked where he was (his hotel room) and instructed not to leave. "Wait, what are you talking about?" the right-hander finally asked. At which point he was told the news: "You have COVID." "I was like, it has to be a false positive," Fedde said Sunday during a one-on-one interview outside the dugout at Nationals Park. "Unfortunately, it wasn't. I guess shock is...
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Schwarber is NL Player of the Week (plus All-Star voting update)

Schwarber is NL Player of the Week (plus All-Star voting update)
Is it any wonder the greatest power display in one homestand in Nationals history was good enough to be deemed the best performance of the week by anyone in the National League? Kyle Schwarber, who turned Nationals Park into his own personal home run derby venue, was appropriately rewarded for his efforts by being named NL Player of the Week this afternoon. Not that anyone should be surprised by this announcement. In seven total games against the Pirates and Mets, Schwarber hit .385 with six...
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Why the Nats' surge might be legit and why it might not

Why the Nats' surge might be legit and why it might not
Kyle Schwarber first said it one week earlier, unprompted, at the end of a Zoom session with reporters in which he was trying to temper recent suggestions the 2021 Nationals were going nowhere fast. "Remember, this is a good team," the outfielder said as he stood up from his chair. "You guys stay with us now, all right? Stay with us." One week later, at the end of the most productive week of his playing career, Schwarber didn't feel the need to try to convince doubters of the Nationals'...
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Parra, Schwarber, fans bring the thrill back to Nats (updated)

Parra, Schwarber, fans bring the thrill back to Nats (updated)
For official purposes, the first ballgame played at Nationals Park following the 2019 World Series took place on July 23, 2020, when the defending champions lost to the Yankees in an empty ballpark during the height of a pandemic. And for official purposes, the first ballgame played at Nationals Park in front of fans since the 2019 World Series took place on April 7, 2021, when a socially distanced crowd of 4,801 made as much noise as possible to celebrate a walk-off win over the Braves. But...
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Why the Nationals brought Parra back now

Why the Nationals brought Parra back now
Davey Martinez hinted Saturday the move might be coming soon. And sure enough, it came today: The Nationals called up Gerardo Parra and now will ask the popular outfielder to help re-energize the clubhouse and the stands as they try to climb their way back into the National League East race. "Everyone knows how much energy he brings to the clubhouse (and) on the field," Martinez said during his Zoom session prior to today's series finale against the Mets. "He's a good all-around player....
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Game 69 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Parra called up)

Game 69 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Parra called up)
If, one week ago, you were told the Nationals today would have a chance to take three of four from the Mets and seven of eight overall, how ecstatic would you have been? Presumably, very ecstatic. Given all that has happened with this team, you couldn't really ask for a better scenario entering today's series finale at Nationals Park. In order to take full advantage of this opportunity, the Nationals need Patrick Corbin to pick up where he left off Tuesday night, when he held the Pirates to...
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Old pals Lester and Schwarber team up in 6-2 win (updated)

Old pals Lester and Schwarber team up in 6-2 win (updated)
They are inextricably linked, primarily from their time together on the North Side of Chicago, but now without question for their time together on South Capitol Street. There's a long way to go before Kyle Schwarber and Jon Lester make the kind of memories for the Nationals they made for six seasons together with the Cubs. But they're sure trying their best to help each other out right now, never moreso than they did tonight during a 6-2 victory over the Mets. Starting the second game of a...
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Scherzer set to come off IL on Tuesday in Philly

Scherzer set to come off IL on Tuesday in Philly
Max Scherzer appears to be confident he's ready to come off the injured list as soon as he becomes eligible in two days. The Nationals ace threw off the bullpen mound in between games of Saturday's doubleheader, his final significant hurdle in his return from a tweaked groin muscle, and clearly was pleased with the results. Scherzer didn't stop to talk to reporters who were standing on the warning track between the bullpen and the dugout at Nationals Park. He said everything he needed to say...
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