Mark Zuckerman

Bullpen duo has become strength, not weak link, for Nats

October 12, 2019, 9:44pm

ST. LOUIS - The weak link of the Nationals roster, it is well known, is a bullpen that ranked among the majors' worst all season and simply cannot be trusted to close out games. Except that's not entirely true. The weak link of the Nationals roster is the rank-and-file portion of the bullpen, the guys who pitch the sixth and seventh innings, or the guys who have to fill in later when the main arms are unavailable. In the postseason, that portion of the bullpen has barely seen action....

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Behind another gem, Nats take commanding lead in NLCS (updated)

October 12, 2019, 3:05pm

Nationals

Behind another gem, Nats take commanding lead in NLCS (updated)

ST. LOUIS - Another day, another no-hit bid by a member of the Big Four rotation. And thanks to those dynamite performances, plus a couple of clutch hits and more lights-out work from the back end of the bullpen, the Nationals are heading home in complete control of the National League Championship Series. If they win two of their next five games, they're going to the World Series. As closer Daniel Hudson put it earlier today - on a completely different, and far more important, matter: "Hey,...

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Martinez still doesn't want to chance it with Robles (Nats win 3-1)

October 12, 2019, 12:57pm

Nationals

Martinez still doesn't want to chance it with Robles (Nats win 3-1)

ST. LOUIS - Victor Robles strained his right hamstring eight days ago, way back in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. He still hasn't seen action since. Robles was out of the Nationals lineup for the fifth straight game this afternoon with an injury that has been described as "mild" but apparently not mild enough to risk taking the field for a postseason game. "For me, it's just about Victor's health and getting him healthy," manager Davey Martinez said. "I don't want him...

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Grateful to witness daughter's birth, Hudson rejoins Nats

October 12, 2019, 11:47am

Nationals

Grateful to witness daughter's birth, Hudson rejoins Nats

ST. LOUIS - Daniel Hudson boarded a flight in Phoenix at 6 a.m. Mountain time today, landing in St. Louis at 10:30 a.m. Central time. By 12:45 p.m., the Nationals closer was holding a press conference at Busch Stadium, detailing his whirlwind 48 hours that began with a Game 5 National League Division Series clinch in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, including the birth of his daughter, Millie, in Phoenix on Friday and now a chance to pitch in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series later this...

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NLCS Game 2 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

October 12, 2019, 9:19am

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - They got a one-hitter from their No. 4 starter and backup closer to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Now the Nationals send their No. 1 starter to the mound for Game 2, with their closer back in town and available to finish things off if the situation calls for it. Not a bad position to be in. Max Scherzer gets the ball, his first career postseason start in his hometown. It's hardly his first start in this ballpark, though. He's 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in five...

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With final four outs, Doolittle completes Nats' one-hitter

October 11, 2019, 10:00pm

Nationals

With final four outs, Doolittle completes Nats' one-hitter

ST. LOUIS - When the phone rang in the Nationals bullpen and he was instructed to begin warming up, Sean Doolittle didn't really have time to think about the significance of what was now happening. Yes, Doolittle knew what was going on. AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez had not yet allowed a hit to the Cardinals. Through 7 2/3 innings. Of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Chances are, if Davey Martinez came out of the dugout and signaled for him, the no-hitter was no longer intact. Or...

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Behind SÃ¡nchez's brilliance, Nationals take Game 1 (updated)

October 11, 2019, 7:32pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez is not Max Scherzer. He's not Stephen Strasburg. And he's not Patrick Corbin. The rest of baseball may overlook him because of that, but the Nationals most definitely do not. Who cares if SÃ¡nchez doesn't have Strasburg's dominant stuff or Scherzer's adrenaline or Corbin's wipeout slider? He's got 14 years of big league experience, a vast repertoire of pitches few else in this sport can match, and the smarts and guts to use every one of them in any...

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Suzuki, Robles on roster but not in lineup for Game 1 (Nats win 2-0)

October 11, 2019, 4:54pm

Nationals

Suzuki, Robles on roster but not in lineup for Game 1 (Nats win 2-0)

ST. LOUIS - Neither Kurt Suzuki nor Victor Robles is in the Nationals lineup for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but both injured players remain on the active roster, suggesting there's reason to believe both will be ready to return soon. Suzuki, who took a fastball off his wrist and then his face in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the NL Division Series on Wednesday night, was still undergoing tests this afternoon, according to manager Davey Martinez. "I'll know more in...

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Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

October 11, 2019, 3:10pm

Nationals

Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

ST. LOUIS - When Daniel Hudson left the Nationals in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, he hoped to spend only 24 hours in Phoenix for the birth of his daughter, then fly to St. Louis this morning and be ready to pitch tonight in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. But as anyone who's ever had a baby can attest, Mother Nature doesn't care about best-laid plans. When the baby's ready, the baby's ready. And in this case, the newest member of the Hudson family wasn't ready to...

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NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)

October 11, 2019, 12:20pm

Nationals

NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)

ST. LOUIS - It's 46 degrees. The wind chill is 39. It's not going to be pleasant at all. But none of that matters, because there's a ballgame tonight and the Nationals are playing in it. The Nats' first National League Championship Series gamesis going to present some challenges, and we're not just talking about the weather at Busch Stadium. The lineup and roster are missing three key players: Daniel Hudson, Kurt Suzuki and Victor Robles. Hudson, who flew from Los Angeles to Phoenix early...

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NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize

October 10, 2019, 10:19pm

Nationals

NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize

ST. LOUIS - As cathartic as Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium was - and how could it not be, given the massive roadblock they finally overcame in their fifth try - the Nationals were in no mood to rest on their laurels and take satisfaction out of their first postseason series win in club history. No, there was a good night's sleep still to get, then a flight to catch to St. Louis, then another good night's sleep before they take the field again for their first ever appearance in the National...

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Reliving the key moments from an instant classic

October 10, 2019, 12:24am

Nationals

Reliving the key moments from an instant classic

LOS ANGELES - Sean Doolittle was trying to run through the final moments of an epic baseball game that propelled the Nationals to the National League Championship Series for the first time in club history. There was a strikeout of A.J. Pollock. Then a ground ball by Max Muncy. Then Michael A. Taylor's diving catch of Justin Turner's sinking liner to center, which had to be reviewed before umpires officially declared the game over. And then a mad celebration, with Doolittle right in the middle...

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With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)

October 09, 2019, 8:42pm

Nationals

With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)

LOS ANGELES - On a warm morning in West Palm Beach in February 2018, Davey Martinez did something that raised a few eyebrows and made even more eyes roll. He gathered his Nationals team together and then directed everyone to watch as coaches Bobby Henley and Tim Bogar rode in on a pair of camels. The point, Martinez explained, was to offer a simple metaphor. This Nationals franchise he had just taken over as manager had been unable to get past the first round of the postseason, falling four...

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Robles getting better, not ready to start yet (Nats win 7-3 in 10)

October 09, 2019, 3:58pm

Nationals

Robles getting better, not ready to start yet (Nats win 7-3 in 10)

LOS ANGELES - The fate of the Nationals' season will be determined without Victor Robles patrolling center field. Robles, who suffered what the team called a mild right hamstring strain during Game 2 of the National League Division Series, remains out of the lineup for tonight's do-or-die Game 5 against the Dodgers. The 22-year-old rookie, who rated as one of the best defensive outfielders in the majors this season, worked out Tuesday and showed signs of progress, according to manager Davey...

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NLDS Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

October 09, 2019, 1:44pm

Nationals

LOS ANGELES - And so it has come to this. Nationals. Dodgers. Game 5 of the National League Division Series. They wouldn't have had it any other way. The winner goes to the NL Championship Series, against either the Braves or Cardinals, whose Game 5 should be wrapping up right around the time this one starts. Reminder: The Nats would not get home field advantage against either opponent, so Games 1-2 would be on the road, with Games 3-5 in D.C., then potential Games 6-7 back on the road. First...

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Why this Game 5 could be different from the other Game 5s

October 08, 2019, 6:24pm

Nationals

Why this Game 5 could be different from the other Game 5s

LOS ANGELES - That the Nationals find themselves here, in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, is not at all surprising. This is the norm for this franchise, having now been in this exact position four times in the last eight years, three in the last four. And yet this one feels entirely different than those that came before. The end result - a heartbreaking loss, after leading at some point - may wind up feeling familiar. Too familiar. But the circumstances entering this Game 5 do...

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Zimmerman not done delivering big moments for Nats

October 08, 2019, 9:08am

Nationals

Zimmerman not done delivering big moments for Nats

Ryan Zimmerman was sitting next to Max Scherzer in the interview room at Nationals Park late Monday night, the pair of 35-year-olds talking about their immense contributions to their team's stave-off-elimination victory in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, when the inevitable question was raised. "Zim, your contract's expiring, and this could be your last game before a home crowd," the out-of-town reporter began. "Did you have any extra oomph at your at-bats, especially with...

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Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)

October 07, 2019, 6:05pm

Nationals

The Nationals' chances of beating the Dodgers in this National League Division Series have always rested on the shoulders of the very best players on their roster. They don't have the depth to compete with the 106-win champions of the NL West, but they do have the star power at the top of their roster to make them sweat. And so with their season hanging by a thread tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-five series, the Nats turned to the best they had to keep the 2019 campaign alive and well for...

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Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again

October 07, 2019, 1:34pm

Nationals

Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again

Victor Robles took a full round of batting practice this afternoon. He was not, however, in the Nationals lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with club officials not wanting to take any chances he might severely injure his already strained right hamstring. "He's still a little bit sore," manager Davey Martinez said. "He'll be available to pinch-hit, but that's it." Robles, who hurt himself trying to run out a bunt during Game 2 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, did...

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NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

October 07, 2019, 11:09am

Nationals

This is the fourth time the Nationals have trailed two games to one in a best-of-five series. Twice in the past, they've gone on to win Game 4 (Jayson Werth's walk-off homer in 2012, Stephen Strasburg's dominant start at Wrigley Field in 2017) and force a Game 5. Once they lost and were eliminated (Aaron Barrett and Matt Thornton in San Francisco in 2014). What does tonight hold in store for us? Well, Max Scherzer is on the mound, and if he's in peak form, obviously the Nationals have a...