Mark Zuckerman

Roark piling up strikeouts (and pitches) early (Nats win 5-4)

August 27, 2017, 5:10pm

Tanner Roark is piling up strikeouts early in tonight's second half of a day-night doubleheader. Unfortunately, he's also piling up pitches at a rate that could end his night before the Nationals want it to end. Through three scoreless innings against the Mets, Roark already has five strikeouts. The right-hander has allowed only two of the 11 Mets batters he has faced to reach base. But with deep counts against many of those batters, his pitch count already sits at 60. Roark has had good...

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Jackson on pinch-running and making final out at the plate

August 27, 2017, 4:01pm

Nationals

Jackson on pinch-running and making final out at the plate

Edwin Jackson has been asked to pinch-run enough times before - 13 times in his career, four times since joining the Nationals last month - that by now he knows when to anticipate it. And he knows to be prepared to be thrown into a meaningful game situation. "I like doing it," the veteran pitcher said. "I like being a part of the game. And fortunately, the situations I'm in are normally like those type of situations, where the game is on the line. Either you're trying to tie the game or...

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Game 129 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 27, 2017, 2:18pm

Nationals

And we're back for the nightcap of today's doubleheader (the Nationals' third Sunday doubleheader in five weeks, for those joining us late). The Nats need a win over the Mets tonight to avoid a Sunday sweep, to salvage a four-game split of the weekend series and to avoid seeing their lead in the division drop to 11 games before the red-hot Marlins arrive Monday for what has turned into a bigger series than expected. It'll be Tanner Roark on the mound for the Nationals, sporting a 3.14 ERA...

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Late Mets homer dooms Nats in 6-5 loss to open doubleheader

August 27, 2017, 1:13pm

Nationals

Late Mets homer dooms Nats in 6-5 loss to open doubleheader

The Nationals opened their latest Sunday doubleheader with a concerning start from their top pitching prospect, an uplifting rally from their makeshift lineup, a game-deciding home run hit off a veteran reliever who has allowed too many of those this season and then a crazy play to end the game. The end result: a 6-5 loss to the Mets that didn't have very many satisfying moments and left the Nationals needing to bounce back in tonight's game to salvage a doubleheader split. Amed Rosario's...

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Sanchez discharged from hospital, Bautista called up

August 27, 2017, 8:45am

Nationals

Sanchez discharged from hospital, Bautista called up

Adrian Sanchez appears to have avoided serious injury or health issues after getting hit in the chest by a fastball during Saturday's game. Sanchez received a CT scan at a local hospital and was kept overnight to monitor his breathing. He was discharged this morning and is "doing well," according to a Nationals spokeswoman. The 27-year-old infielder remains on the active roster, though he wasn't seen in the clubhouse this morning while reporters were present, and he's not in the lineup for...

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Game 128 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 27, 2017, 6:54am

Nationals

Who's ready for the third Sunday day-night doubleheader at Nationals Park in five weeks? (Don't all jump at once.) The Nationals have gotten used to this by now, having already played two against the Rockies on July 30, then two against the Giants on Aug. 13. Now they'll play two against the Mets, with the regularly scheduled opener at 1:35 p.m. and then the makeup for an earlier rainout at 8:08 p.m. Erick Fedde is getting called up from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as the official 26th man...

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Zimmerman dealing with sore shoulder, won't play again today

August 25, 2017, 7:36pm

Nationals

Zimmerman dealing with sore shoulder, won't play again today

A Nationals lineup already reeling from injuries is without yet another key bat for at least one more day: Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman was unavailable to bat during Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Mets and won't be in the lineup again this afternoon for the second game of the series after injuring his left shoulder sliding into the plate during Thursday night's win in Houston, manager Dusty Baker revealed. "I think he hurt his arm or shoulder, really couldn't swing, on his headfirst slide...

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Nats' makeshift lineup can't complete late rally in 4-2 loss to Mets

August 25, 2017, 6:15pm

Nationals

Nats' makeshift lineup can't complete late rally in 4-2 loss to Mets

With a makeshift lineup, a fill-in starter and an ace on the mound opposite them, the Nationals entered tonight's series opener against the Mets in a less-than-advantageous position. Sometimes, those seemingly lopsided matchups flip the opposite way and produce memorable and unlikely outcomes. Not this time. This one went according to script. Despite a few dramatic moments late when a last-ditch comeback nearly happened. Despite an effective pitching performance from A.J. Cole, filling in for...

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Late flight, quick turnaround force lineup changes (Nats lose 4-2)

August 25, 2017, 4:03pm

Nationals

Late flight, quick turnaround force lineup changes (Nats lose 4-2)

It was 4:20 p.m., 2 hours and 45 minutes away from first pitch, and Dusty Baker was still in street clothes. A decent number of Baker's players had yet to arrive in the clubhouse, with reporting time pushed all the way back to 4:45 p.m., much later than normal. Batting practice? That was canceled. Such were the accommodations the Nationals had to make after a 4:30 a.m. arrival from Houston following Thursday night's game, with the opener of this weekend's series against the Mets looming at...

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Scherzer throws in bullpen, appears good to return Sunday

August 25, 2017, 1:51pm

Nationals

Scherzer throws in bullpen, appears good to return Sunday

Max Scherzer appears to be good to go Sunday against the Mets. Scherzer threw off the bullpen mound at Nationals Park this afternoon, the final step he said was necessary to be able to start a game two days later. The Nationals ace was in full uniform as he threw his bullpen session with pitching coach Mike Maddux alongside, standard practice for all members of the rotation in their between-starts routine. He didn't stop to take questions from reporters as he walked down the dugout steps and...

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Game 126 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 25, 2017, 11:25am

Nationals

The Nationals are back home this weekend after a long, eventful (and still successful) road trip through San Diego and Houston. If things went according to plan, Max Scherzer would have been taking the mound tonight to face the Mets. Things didn't go according to plan, though, and Scherzer has been slower to heal from his second neck injury in a month, now hoping to be ready to go Sunday at the earliest. So in his place tonight will be A.J. Cole, who makes his fifth big league start of the...

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Werth, Turner each play five innings in rehab debuts

August 21, 2017, 8:45pm

Nationals

Werth, Turner each play five innings in rehab debuts

Jayson Werth and Trea Turner's paths back to the Nationals lineup began Monday night with three at-bats and five innings in the field a piece in Allentown, Pa. Both injured players made their rehab debuts for Triple-A Syracuse, which opened a three-game road series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and completed their pre-planned workloads with no apparent issues. Werth went 1-for-3 with a single, playing five innings in left field. Batting third in the Chiefs lineup, the 38-year-old singled...

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With injuries ravaging lineup, bullpen finally carrying Nats

August 20, 2017, 9:32pm

Nationals

With injuries ravaging lineup, bullpen finally carrying Nats

SAN DIEGO - Eleven of their players currently reside on the disabled list, including the leading candidate for National League MVP, the leading candidate for the Cy Young Award, last year's Rookie of the Year runner-up, the franchise's veteran leader and a key reliever with a 1.68 ERA. Their ace was a late scratch from his scheduled start Friday night, leaving the club with no time to get a replacement starter flown in from the East Coast. Their All-Star second baseman was a late scratch from...

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Gonzalez goes the extra mile to earn 12th win of the season

August 20, 2017, 5:16pm

Nationals

Gonzalez goes the extra mile to earn 12th win of the season

SAN DIEGO - Gio Gonzalez walked off the mound after retiring the side in the bottom of the sixth this afternoon. He had put in a full day's work, throwing 105 pitches and holding the Padres to one unearned run, overcoming some shoddy defense in the first inning to keep his pitch count relatively manageable throughout. Under normal circumstances, Dusty Baker probably would have shaken Gonzalez's hand and thanked him for his efforts. These weren't normal circumstances, though, not at the end...

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Lots of chances, few runs so far in series finale (Nats win 4-1)

August 20, 2017, 2:11pm

Nationals

Lots of chances, few runs so far in series finale (Nats win 4-1)

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are fielding something closer to their regular lineup this afternoon at Petco Park, but through four innings the results aren't any better than what their makeshift lineup produced Saturday night. Despite six walks issued by Padres rookie Dinelson Lamet, the Nationals have managed only one run so far, squandering several opportunities for big innings at the plate. Forced to field a lineup Saturday night that was missing Daniel Murphy, Wilmer Difo and Matt Wieters - in...

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Turner and Werth to begin rehab Monday with Syracuse

August 20, 2017, 11:39am

Nationals

Turner and Werth to begin rehab Monday with Syracuse

SAN DIEGO - Two key injured Nationals regulars are ready to start playing in games again, with a return to the major league roster now likely sometime next week. Both Trea Turner and Jayson Werth will begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, the Nationals announced today. Turner and Werth each had been working out in recent days at the club's spring training complex in West Palm Beach, ramping up their baseball activities after slowly working their way back from significant...

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Game 122 lineups: Nats at Padres

August 20, 2017, 9:37am

Nationals

SAN DIEGO - It's another gorgeous day at Petco Park, where the Nationals will attempt to take the finale of this weekend series and head out of town having won three of four against the Padres in advance of a big series later this week in Houston. Daniel Murphy returns to the lineup after being scratched last night. The Nats will hope that helps inject some life into a batting order that was held to three hits and two walks last night by lefty Travis Wood and two San Diego relievers. Today...

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Looking at how Nats rotation lines up for the next week

August 19, 2017, 8:51pm

Nationals

Looking at how Nats rotation lines up for the next week

SAN DIEGO - It seems like right now the focus for the Nationals is less on what's happening today and more on what could happen tomorrow and in the next week and the weeks to come after that. Such is life when you're 14 games up with 41 games to play and have a host of injured players attempting to return in advance of a likely postseason run. So let's take a moment this morning and look at where the Nationals pitching staff stands heading into this new week. Max Scherzer's unexpected trip...

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Fresh Strasburg is sharp in six-inning return from DL

August 19, 2017, 8:18pm

Nationals

Fresh Strasburg is sharp in six-inning return from DL

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals entered tonight's game at Petco Park with a simple, primary goal: Get Stephen Strasburg through a full start healthy. Not that they didn't care about trying to beat the Padres as well, but that goal - if they were willing to be honest about it - was secondary to the more pressing matter at hand. This is what happens when you own a 14-game lead on Aug. 19, with a magic number already down to 28 despite six more weeks of regular season games left on the schedule. So...

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Strasburg gives up early homer, settles in after that (Nats lose 3-1)

August 19, 2017, 5:52pm

Nationals

Strasburg gives up early homer, settles in after that (Nats lose 3-1)

SAN DIEGO - Stephen Strasburg is back on the mound pitching for the Nationals, and his arm appears to be healthy. That, quite frankly, matters more at the moment than results. Not that Strasburg has pitched poorly so far in his first start in four weeks. He battled some shaky command in the bottom of the first and served up a two-run homer to Yangervis Solarte but otherwise has looked sharp in his return from an elbow injury. Activated today following a four-week stint on the disabled list due...