Game 87 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

Game 87 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
The Nationals look to get on a roll after their best comeback of the season Thursday in the series opener against the Marlins. Down 9-0, they roared back for a 14-12 win thanks to Trea Turner's two homers, including a grand slam, and a career-high eight RBIs. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-5, 3.77 ERA) looks to put together a quality start after going four innings in his last outing and then watching as it all fell apart in the fifth. Leading 3-0 at Philadelphia, he allowed three runs in the...
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Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia named to All-Star Futures Game

Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia named to All-Star Futures Game
A pair of rising stars in the Nationals system have been selected to participate in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game Sunday, July 15, at Nationals Park. Shortstop Carter Kieboom and infielder Luis Garcia will represent the Nationals, Kieboom for the United States Team, Garcia for the World Team. Kieboom was rated by MLB.com as the Nationals' No. 3 prospect and by Baseball America as the organization's No. 4 prospect. He was selected in the first round (No. 28 overall) of the 2016 First-Year...
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Martinez needs club to "scratch and claw" after 11-4 loss to Red Sox

Martinez needs club to "scratch and claw" after 11-4 loss to Red Sox
This time it wasn't close. The Red Sox used a six-run fifth inning to run away from the Nationals 11-4 before a sellout crowd of 42,531 at Nationals Park. Suddenly, a Nats team that was riding high at 33-22 is back to .500 at 42-42. They are 4-14 since June 14. Similar to Monday, Boston raced out to a 3-0 lead. This time it was a three-run homer by Eduardo Núñez. The turning point arrived halfway through when the Nats had scored two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2. Tanner Roark was unable...
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Scott Boras on why it has been a tough season so far for Bryce Harper

Scott Boras on why it has been a tough season so far for Bryce Harper
A visit with Bryce Harper's agent, Scott Boras, illuminates his take on why his client has had struggles at the plate this season. Boras said it boils down to a couple of major issues: the fear factor and the effect of shifts on left-handed power hitters. Boras said pitchers get more amped up to strike out the Nationals slugger than they do other players because he is who he is. "I just believe there's an intimidation factor that comes with Bryce and it may have to do with lineup dynamics,...
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Promising updates for Strasburg, Zimmerman (Red Sox win 11-4)

Promising updates for Strasburg, Zimmerman (Red Sox win 11-4)
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a solid bullpen session before today's game against the Red Sox. Strasburg is rehabbing from right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the disabled list. "He threw really well, around 60 pitches," Martinez said. "I think the next step will be to get him a sim game, sometime maybe this weekend. But we will see how he feels tomorrow." First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, also on the DL, continues rehab and core exercises...
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First-round pick Mason Denaburg agrees to terms with Nats

First-round pick Mason Denaburg agrees to terms with Nats
The Nationals have agreed to terms with their first round selection, right-hander Mason Denaburg, along with their 10th round selection, second baseman Carson Shaddy, and the 15th round selection, left-hander Evan Lee. Denaburg said he is thrilled to be a member of the Nationals organization. "It's a dream come true, really," he said. "As a kid, I've always grown up wanting to play professional baseball and today I finally met that goal." Agent Scott Boras said Denaburg reminds him of...
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Game 84 lineups: Red Sox at Nats

Game 84 lineups: Red Sox at Nats
After homering twice in the last four games, Bryce Harper returns to the cleanup spot for tonight's Nationals game against the Red Sox. Harper is still mired in a slump, batting .183 in his past 27 games, but he's slashing .300/.419/.577 in 123 career games in the four-hole. Harper previously hit cleanup this year on June 19 and 20 against the Orioles at Nationals Park. Left fielder Juan Soto is hitting second and second baseman Daniel Murphy is batting fifth, one night after his first home...
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Nationals sign 17 international free agents

Nationals sign 17 international free agents
On the anniversary of the signing of left fielder Juan Soto, the Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 17 international free agents on Monday. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and vice president of international operations Johnny DiPuglia made the announcement, which includes 12 players from the Dominican Republic. Moidesto Ullua, the same scout who found Soto, signed nine of those players. Soto was signed on July 2, 2015. Three years later, he was...
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Juan Soto named National League Rookie of the Month

Juan Soto named National League Rookie of the Month
The Nationals had a rough month of June, going 9-16. But they did have one shining star on offense in rookie outfielder Juan Soto. The 19-year-old left fielder was honored for his tremendous play as he received the National League Rookie of the Month award. How big a difference-maker was Soto? Soto hit .484 with two doubles, five homers, 14 runs and 13 RBIs in the Nats' nine wins. He had two game-winning RBIs and a stunning 1.642 OPS. His on-base percentage was .610 and he struck out only four...
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June is over, time for a new beginning for Nats in July

June is over, time for a new beginning for Nats in July
The best news of the day for the Nationals is June is finally over. The Nats went 9-16 in June this season. After getting used to an offense based on power, the Nats offense slowed down to crawl in the year's sixth month. The Nats finished with 20 homers in June, and that was after hitting seven in one game on Friday in 17-7 win over the Phillies. Even with that late push, the Nats home run total was good for only 12th place in the National League. By contrast the Dodgers hit 55 homers in...
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Miller on the mental side of baseball

Miller on the mental side of baseball
Right-hander Justin Miller knew it wouldn't be smooth sailing all season. And the last two weeks have certainly been a rougher road for the reliever after his strong beginning for the Nats. Miller did not allow a run in his first eight appearances from May 26 to June 13. In that run, he struck out 17 batters and allowed only two hits. Since then, he has allowed at least one run in five straight appearances, allowing 11 hits and striking out eight batters. He has walked five batters in his last...
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Nats contemplate how to get out of second big offensive funk of season

Nats contemplate how to get out of second big offensive funk of season
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Nationals scoreless streak reached 18 innings after 11-0 and 1-0 shutouts against the Rays at Tropicana Field. The offense has struggled in June, having been shut out seven times in 22 games. It was the second time this month the Nats had been whitewashed in back-to-back games. It happened on June 10 against the Giants (2-0) and June 12 against the Yankees (3-0). The Nats found themselves in a similar rut earlier in the season, and now must find a way to get out of it...
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Nats offense continues to struggle in 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay

Nats offense continues to struggle in 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Even facing two pitchers that were on target, it would be hard to ignore the Nationals struggles on offense against the Rays. The Nats fell 1-0 Tuesday afternoon, just 17 hours after an 11-0 shutout. The offense mustered five hits in the two-game series. Sure Blake Snell was good, and so was Nathan Eovaldi, but the Nats went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and struck out a whopping 23 times in the series. They went three-up and three-down 11 times in 18...
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Rays scratch out early run against Scherzer (Nats lose 1-0)

Rays scratch out early run against Scherzer (Nats lose 1-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Surprisingly, the Rays connected with base hits in their first two at-bats against the Nationals ace right-hander Max Scherzer. Kevin Keiermaier, who already has a grand slam in the series, went after Scherzer's first pitch and singled over Wilmer Difo's head into right field. Matt Duffy put together a 10-pitch at-bat and singled to put runners on the corners. Jake Bauers grounded out to second base, but his fielder's choice scored Keiermaier. Right-hander Nathan...
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Martinez will speak to Zimmerman about rehab games

Martinez will speak to Zimmerman about rehab games
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is not on this trip but he is closer to a return from his right oblique strain that has kept him sidelined since May 10. He has now missed 39 games. Manager Davey Martinez said he will speak to Zimmerman about rehab games possibly for next week, even though the veteran may not be too excited about warming up in the minor leagues. "As soon as he's ready to play, I'll have to sit down and talk to him," Martinez said. "I'd like...
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Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Rays

Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Nationals look to rebound after a very difficult 11-0 loss to open their series against the Rays. The game was dominated by Tampa Bay. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez struggled in facing only 11 batters, allowing six runs. The offense did not fare any better against left-hander Blake Snell, getting only one hit in the seventh inning. So, the club turns to their ace again, right-hander Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.09 ERA), who is seeking his 11th win of the season. His last victory...
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Soto focuses on improving defense at every new major league venue

Soto focuses on improving defense at every new major league venue
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Nationals' youngest player, Juan Soto, has demonstrated in his first couple of months in the big leagues that he has a knowledge and maturity for hitting that is certainly beyond his years. At 19 years of age, Soto has hit the ball to the opposite field for power, and has the awareness to take a walk in high leverage situations when a pitcher is struggling to throw strikes. Instead of just swinging away, like most young players might do, Soto has the presence of mind...
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Gonzalez failed to make adjustments in shortest outing of season

Gonzalez failed to make adjustments in shortest outing of season
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez has made starts where he was off a bit. But Monday night at Tropicana Field, Gonzalez was unable to get into any kind of a rhythm. It got so bad for the southpaw that he faced seven batters in the second inning without recording an out. After walking one batter in the first, he still was able to get out of the frame by inducing flyout and getting former teammate Wilson Ramos on a called third strike. But in the second, the Rays C.J. Cron started...
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Gonzalez unable to find the plate, allows grand slam (Nats fall 11-0)

Gonzalez unable to find the plate, allows grand slam (Nats fall 11-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got through the first inning allowing only a walk. In the second inning, his night fell apart. Gonzalez could not find the plate, issuing four walks, including three walks in a row to the bottom of the Rays order. A wild pitch scored C.J. Cron. A walk to Willy Adames scored Jake Bauers. Then the biggest hit of the game came off the bat of Kevin Kiermaier, who crushed a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for a grand slam. It was his first homer...
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Kintzler returns, Rodriguez optioned, Hellickson on track

Kintzler returns, Rodriguez optioned, Hellickson on track
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Nationals reinstated right-hander Brandon Kintzler from the 10-day disabled list this afternoon and optioned-hander Jefry Rodriguez to Triple-A Syracuse. Kintzler had been on the DL since June 10 with a right forearm flexor strain and pitched an inning in a minor league rehabilitation assignment for Single-A Potomac on Sunday. "Yeah, he's ready to go," said manager Davey Martinez. "He did well. But the biggest thing is the arm felt good. So we get him back...
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