Bryce Harper named NL Player of the Week

Bryce Harper named NL Player of the Week
DENVER - Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper has been named the National League Player of the Week. Harper hit .550 (11-for-20) with four doubles, three home runs, seven walks, 10 runs scored and seven RBIs. The big highlight to start his week was the multi-homer performance against the Braves April 19, which included his third career grand slam. He also matched career highs in hits (four), runs (four) and RBIs (five), finishing the the game 4-for-4 with a double and two homers. Harper also...
Continue reading

Game 19: Nats at Rockies lineups (Harper gets day off)

Game 19: Nats at Rockies lineups (Harper gets day off)
DENVER - The two teams with the most wins in the National League begin a four-game set tonight here at Coors Field. The Nationals and Rockies each have 13 wins. Only the Astros, in the American League, can match that total. The Nationals (13-5) have the best record percentage-wise at .722. Bryce Harper is not in the Nationals' starting lineup. On the day he was named NL Player of the Week, Harper is geting the first game of the series at Coors Field off. Right-hander Jacob Turner's contract...
Continue reading

Fedde at Double-A: "He is just better than everyone he's facing"

Fedde at Double-A: "He is just better than everyone he's facing"
DENVER -- Right-hander Jacob Turner is expected to make his initial start with the Nationals tonight here in Denver against the Rockies. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been placed on paternity leave with his wife, Rachel, expecting their second child, and likely won't return to the Nats until this weekend's rematch with the Mets. Another pitcher currently in the minor leagues is making a solid statement for inclusion in the spot-start conversation this summer. It is University of...
Continue reading

Voth delivers clutch start; Desmond may not be ready next week

Voth delivers clutch start; Desmond may not be ready next week
Right-hander Austin Voth (rhymes with "both") tossed six scoreless innings as Triple-A Syracuse dropped Norfolk 3-0. The Chiefs pitchers have now not allowed a run in 19 consecutive innings. In the third inning, Brian Goodwin delivered a run-scoring single. Clint Robinson's groundout moved runners into scoring position. Brandon Snyder then delivered a two-run single, scoring Caleb Ramsey and Goodwin. The three runs were all the Chiefs would need, thanks to Voth and the bullpen. Right-hander...
Continue reading

Quietly, like a pro, Wilmer Difo keeps Nats rolling

Quietly, like a pro, Wilmer Difo keeps Nats rolling
He made another big play defensively in the ninth inning to help Shawn Kelley earn the save as the Nationals swept out of Atlanta with a 3-2 win over the Braves. I am talking about 25-year-old shortstop Wilmer Difo, who has done a very good job of playing defense and has worked hard in each at-bat. He has been crucial to the Nationals, not missing a beat while Trea Turner and Stephen Drew recover from right hamstring strains. Difo has started eight games since April 11. He has committed only...
Continue reading

Harper rewriting record books; another Ross moving up

Harper rewriting record books; another Ross moving up
Tom Koehler of the Marlins is feeling a little bit better tonight. Maybe some people will stop talking about the six homers he has allowed to Bryce Harper over the years. At least until the Nationals and Marlins tangle again June 19-21. (Actually, the Nats play the Braves six more times before they play the Marlins again: May 19-21 and June 12-14). Koehler can thank the Brave Julio Teheran for taking his place on the mantle: the Braves right-hander has now allowed seven homers to the...
Continue reading

Harper and Zimmerman are healthy and on a roll

Harper and Zimmerman are healthy and on a roll
In Tuesday's 3-1 Nationals win over the Braves, hitting stars Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman delivered again. Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and run scored. Zimmerman went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. No coincidence that both battled through injury issues last season and didn't have up-to-par outcomes. Zimmerman had a wrist injury. Harper's issues were not acknowledged, but some felt he had a shoulder problem he had to battle through. But this season, they have both...
Continue reading

Shawn Kelley emerging as vocal leader as bullpen looks to find its way

Shawn Kelley emerging as vocal leader as bullpen looks to find its way
A lot of the concern to begin this season centers around the Nationals bullpen and if it will be able to get on track. Going on the road will be a very good test to see where it is. Sunday's walk-off win courtesy Bryce Harper masked what was a rough last two innings for the bullpen: allowing three runs after the club had a 3-1 lead after seven innings. Shawn Kelley battled out of a bases-loaded two-out jam in the ninth that could have blown up. The Phillies had turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3...
Continue reading

It's early, but 10-game road trip provides Nats test of endurance

It's early, but 10-game road trip provides Nats test of endurance
It is still only April, but in any month this upcoming road trip would be a tough one. It's a 10-game, 11-day trip through Atlanta, New York and Denver. The Braves (5-6, winners of four straight) have a young team riding the emotion of opening a brand new baseball stadium they are proud to show the world. The Mets (7-6, losers of three straight) look to repeat their 2015 run to the World Series as the Nationals' toughest division rival. The Rockies (9-5, winners of two straight) have proven...
Continue reading

Nats know they must clean up defense after Harper saves the day

Nats know they must clean up defense after Harper saves the day
Bryce Harper's dramatic walk-off three-run homer erased what could have turned into a nightmare couple of innings for the Nationals in Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia. Down 3-1, the Phillies rallied for a 4-3 lead heading to the last of the ninth. Thanks to Harper, the Nationals went on to win 6-4. But Jayson Werth committed a fielding error in the eighth, which aided the Phillies as they scored two runs on three hits. "That situation up two, you don't want to let the ball get...
Continue reading

Harper homers again for 6-4 walk-off win

Harper homers again for 6-4 walk-off win
Both teams jump on the board quickly in the Sunday finale. The Phillies' César Hernández slammed a 2-0 Gio Gonzalez offering over the left field wall to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. He now has homers in his last two at-bats in the series, three for the season. The Nationals' Adam Eaton answered with a double to begin the bottom of the first. Anthony Rendon then bounced a ground-rule double over the left-center field wall to score Eaton and tie the game at 1-1. In the third with one...
Continue reading

Heisey and Roark demonstrate effectiveness in loss

Heisey and Roark demonstrate effectiveness in loss
One of the better signings the Nationals have made the last few seasons is utility man Chris Heisey. The 32-year-old from Mount Joy, Penn., came over to the Nationals after playing for the Dodgers during the 2015 season. He played only 33 games for Los Angeles following five seasons with the Reds, three of which he hovered around 120 games played. Last season, he got into 83 games for the Nationals and had a penchant for producing runs in a limited role. Heisey hit nine homers with three...
Continue reading

Despite another homer, Blanton feels he can find solution

Despite another homer, Blanton feels he can find solution
The Nationals and Phillies battled to a 2-2 deadlock after seven innings. Philadelphia then got a two-run shot from César Hernández in the eighth inning to go ahead and eventually win 4-2. Right-hander Joe Blanton (0-2) allowed the homer that changed the game. It marked the third straight appearance that Blanton had surrendered a home run. He has now allowed seven hits in six appearances. What does Blanton think is the problem? "Just not executing," Blanton said. "I mean, let's see,...
Continue reading

Pitchers in control early on (Phillies win 4-2)

Pitchers in control early on (Phillies win 4-2)
Right-handers Tanner Roark and Jeremy Hellickson are in a Saturday afternoon pitchers' duel between the Nationals and Phillies. Roark has not allowed a baserunner in the first three innings, retiring nine straight batters. He struck out the last two he faced in Freddy Galvis and Hellickson. Hellickson also did well in the first two frames, although the Nats have reached deep right field on lineouts by Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy and a flyout by Ryan Zimmerman. With one out in the third, the...
Continue reading

Baker on lineup, Jackie Robinson Day, Wizards and Capitals

Baker on lineup, Jackie Robinson Day, Wizards and Capitals
Manager Dusty Baker decided to give left fielder Jayson Werth, catcher Matt Wieters and center fielder Adam Eaton a day of rest as the Nationals face the Phillies in a Saturday matinee. Chris Heisey, Michael A. Taylor and Jose Lobaton take their respective spots in the field. Baker confirmed it was justa day of rest and not for injury concerns. He also said the players went happy about sitting. "Wieters, I think, has only rested one day," Baker said. "Eaton hadn't rested any and Werth...
Continue reading

Game 11 lineups: Phillies at Nats

Game 11 lineups: Phillies at Nats
The Nationals look for their first series win over the Phillies this season as they get back to the field a mere 17 1/2 hours after Daniel Murphy's thrilling double scored Bryce Harper from first base in a 3-2 10-inning victory. Murphy is riding a 10-game hitting streak to begin the season. His six doubles are tied with the Dodgers' Justin Turner for most in the National League. Boston's Mitch Moreland leads the major leagues with eight. But Murphy's 20 hits are the best in the majors, with...
Continue reading

Glover, Treinen and Kelley get bullpen back on track

Glover, Treinen and Kelley get bullpen back on track
One important reason the Nationals were able to sustain long enough to earn an opportunity to win in the 10th inning Friday against the Phillies was the quality pitching from their bullpen, something they had not enjoyed for the past few games. In the Phillies' final three innings, they were held to no runs on one hit. Koda Glover, Blake Treinen and Shawn Kelley kept the Phillies off the board. The Nationals' Daniel Murphy lined a double down the left field line that scored Bryce Harper all...
Continue reading

Murphy hits decisive double in extras (Nats win 3-2 in 10)

Murphy hits decisive double in extras (Nats win 3-2 in 10)
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg started off well with three strikeouts in the first five batters he faced. The other two grounded out weakly to second baseman Daniel Murphy. But Tommy Joseph changed all that in the second inning by driving a 1-0 fastball over the center field wall and the jump from Adam Eaton. The solo homer, his first home run of the season, gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Right-hander Aaron Nola got the Nationals 1-2-3 in the first frame, striking out two, including getting...
Continue reading

Latest updates on Turner and Drew

Latest updates on Turner and Drew
Manager Dusty Baker updated the progress and timetable for return of shortstop Trea Turner, who is on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. "We don't know yet," Baker said. "He hit the other day, said he felt pretty good. He's been getting a lot of treatment, riding the bike. Running as tolerated. My experience with hamstrings is whenever they tell you they are ready, then I believe in giving them another couple days. I haven't really pressed him on how he's feeling...
Continue reading

Nationals' defense must improve

Nationals' defense must improve
The Nationals have won two of the three series this season, but have had to come back to win four out of their five victories. They haven't blown out any team they have faced. The closest they got to a blowout was a 7-0 lead on the Phillies last week that turned into an anxiety-riddled 7-6 nailbiter. So what gives? The defense could certainly be tighter. It has allowed way too many extra baserunners. That translates into extra outs and gifted opportunities. The Nationals have committed nine...
Continue reading