Ramos can see clearly now, is off to hot start at plate

Ramos can see clearly now, is off to hot start at plate
The Nationals have had some good offense from guys like Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon to race out to a 7-1 record to begin 2016. But catcher Wilson Ramos has really started to generate hits from the sixth spot in the lineup. This is a good early sign for the Venezuelan backstop. Prior to last year's .229 average, Ramos had hit .272 and .267 in back-to-back seasons. In Thursday's 6-2 win over the Braves, Ramos connected for his first homer of the season and later added a RBI...
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Stephen Strasburg leaves Braves feeling sick

Stephen Strasburg leaves Braves feeling sick
Stephen Strasburg was so sick Wednesday he had to postpone his scheduled start. He still was not feeling that great Thursday, but gutted it out, told his skipper he was good to go and went 7 2/3 innings as the Nationals completed a four-game sweep of the Braves with a 6-2 victory. Strasburg said that the temperature change from spring training in Florida to the cold early April days in D.C. has affected him before. "It just seems like every year we get back from Florida and you get into that...
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Harper and Strasburg help Nats complete sweep of Braves

Harper and Strasburg help Nats complete sweep of Braves
A pair of former No. 1 overall selections shone in the same game again as the Nationals beat the Braves 6-2 to complete a four-game sweep. Bryce Harper, taken with the first pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, continues to place his name in the baseball history books before he turns 24. Harper slammed his 100th career home run in the bottom of the third, a grand slam off of Julio Teheran, to lift the Nationals to a 4-1 lead. At 23 years and 181 days old, Harper becomes the eighth-youngest...
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Heisey comfortable leading off, ready to start for Nationals

Heisey comfortable leading off, ready to start for Nationals
Chris Heisey makes his first start today for the Nationals, and will lead off and play left field, giving Jayson Werth the day off. Manager Dusty Baker said he focused on Heisey to lead off because of his previous experience atop the batting order and wanting to keep the lineup spaced out well from each side of the plate. "He's batted there before plus he's the best choice that I have right now," Baker explained. "The other choice would've been (Matt) den Dekker but then that gives me too...
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Papelbon 5-for-5 in saves: "My stuff has felt real good"

Papelbon 5-for-5 in saves: "My stuff has felt real good"
It's been a perfect start for closer Jonathan Papelbon, who has converted all five of his save opportunities. Papelbon earned his fifth save with three more outs in the ninth as the Nationals shut out the Braves 3-0 on Wednesday night. Catcher Wilson Ramos said he has noticed how aggressive Papelbon has been to begin this season, one big key to his ninth-inning success. "To me, he's aggressive this year," Ramos said. "More aggressive. He throw two or three balls in a row, then he come back...
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Big homers for Drew and Werth might have started something for Nationals

Big homers for Drew and Werth might have started something for Nationals
Offense came from Jayson Werth and Stephen Drew on Wednesday, courtesy of a pair of big home runs that broke open another scoreless tie between the Nationals and the Braves. Drew smacked a solo shot, while Werth cranked a two-run homer. The Nationals shut out the Braves 3-0. Drew said Braves right-hander Matt Wisler was tough early, but he found a way in his second at-bat to connect for his first homer with the Nationals. "Two-two, not really trying to do too much," Drew said. "I got a pitch...
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Roark subs for Strasburg and dismantles Braves 3-0

Roark subs for Strasburg and dismantles Braves 3-0
For a pitcher who only knew he was going to start just 24 hours before his first pitch, Tanner Roark did quite well for himself. Roark (1-1) did not allow the Braves a run through seven innings, scattering four hits to earn his first win of the season. He not only won the game but provided the bullpen with a huge rest as the Nationals shut out the Braves 3-0. Washington has allowed Atlanta to score only nine runs in their first five meetings. Roark finished allowing no runs, three walks, one...
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Stephen Drew thrilled to make positive impact, will start Wednesday

Stephen Drew thrilled to make positive impact, will start Wednesday
Utility infielder Stephen Drew notched the first hit in an eighth-inning rally that helped to lift the Nationals past the Braves 2-1. For a player trying to make an impact with his new team and not getting many shots at doing just that, this was a very nice first step. "That was great. That was his first hit as a National," Baker said. "I told him before the game, he's playing tomorrow. (Anthony) Rendon's getting a day off. I hope he can come through tomorrow as well as he did today....
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Treinen still strong after pitching three consecutive days

Treinen still strong after pitching three consecutive days
The Nationals dropped the Braves 2-1 behind outstanding pitching from starter Gio Gonzalez and the bullpen. Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez, Blake Treinen and Felipe Rivero managed to hold the Braves to one run over the final three innings. Manager Dusty Baker again singled out Treinen for finding a way to keep the Braves at bay. "This is why you like that sinkerballer on your staff because they can throw that double-play ground ball," Baker said. "You can get out of trouble. Any time you can...
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Late extra-base hit by Bryce Harper downs Braves again 2-1

Late extra-base hit by Bryce Harper downs Braves again 2-1
Bryce Harper went hitless on Monday night. That is not going to happen very many times. Battling in a scoreless duel with the Braves, the Nationals slugger laced a double down the left field line in the eighth inning to score two runs as the Nationals downed Atlanta 2-1. Chants of "M-V-P! M-V-P!" erupted from a few of the 18,378 faithful on a chilly Tuesday night. Blake Treinen (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for his second win. The Braves tallied a run in the ninth. Felipe Rivero recorded the...
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Baker says mental game will help Gonzalez after long layoff

Baker says mental game will help Gonzalez after long layoff
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez finally makes his first start of the season tonight for the Nationals against the Braves. It is his first start since March 27. Getting ready for a start usually takes just five days. So when you have to wait this long, manager Dusty Baker said the mental side of pitching plays a crucial role in allowing the pitcher to focus on what he needs to do. "He's had some pretty good bullpen sessions," Baker said. "I urged him to pitch with his mind. And Gio pays attention...
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Third baseman Drew Ward hitting ground running to start second year with P-Nats

Third baseman Drew Ward hitting ground running to start second year with P-Nats
Third baseman Drew Ward gained valuable experience by playing in the Arizona Fall League at the end of last season. This experience has helped propel him to a strong start for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. "It was a great experience," said Ward. "I was on the taxi guy, so I played once or twice a week, but I learned so much just getting around older guys and trying to learn how to become a professional baseball player." Ward, 21, said working with other teams was helpful, but it also...
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Treinen adopting "why wait?" mentality with first eighth-inning hold

Treinen adopting "why wait?" mentality with first eighth-inning hold
The Nationals bullpen was completely remade from 2015. Of all the segments of the team, many believe the bullpen is the one link that needed the most change and the most improvement if the Nationals were to put together a team that could dethrone the Mets atop the National League East. The closer is set with Jonathan Papelbon. But who will take over the eighth-inning set-up duties? Will new manager Dusty Baker select a set-up man by committee? Felipe Rivero or Shawn Kelley or Blake Treinen or...
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Ross showing more confidence in changeup big key to opening win

Ross showing more confidence in changeup big key to opening win
The top hitter from last season opens the game with a first-pitch triple against a young pitcher making his first ever April regular season start. That same pitcher allowed 12 hits and eight runs in his final exhibition start. It was the extremely dangerous Miami leadoff hitter Dee Gordon tripling on the first pitch of the game. The Marlins scored in that inning, but never again against right-hander Joe Ross, a full seven innings of work. The Nationals kept it close before a big seventh inning...
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Nats game blog: Koehler allows most of his homers to Harper, Nationals

Nats game blog: Koehler allows most of his homers to Harper, Nationals
Right-hander Joe Ross makes his 2016 Nationals debut Sunday against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler. The pair was supposed to match up yesterday, but that game was postponed. This is that big step year for Ross. This will be the first time in his young career that he has been handed the ball from the beginning of the season with the responsibility of being a full-time starter. He certainly has the ability and makeup to shine. Ross, 22, was 5-5 in 16 games (13 starts) in 2015 with a 3.64...
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Fedde is ready to start: "I feel better than I've ever felt"

Fedde is ready to start: "I feel better than I've ever felt"
Right-hander Erick Fedde will get a chance to pitch more innings and deeper into games as he moves up a level this season to high Single-A Potomac. The Nationals' top selection from the 2014 draft will make his debut today in Wilmington, Del., as the P-Nats face the Blue Rocks. "I was pretty excited to find out I was coming to high-A," Fedde said this week. "It is something I expected and hoped for, but the Nationals always know what's best. I don't have too much experience in pro ball...
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Nationals game postponed, rescheduled for May 14

Nationals game postponed, rescheduled for May 14
Today's Nationals game with the Miami Marlins has been postponed due to inclement weather in the D.C. metropolitan area. It snowed in parts of the region early in the morning, and high winds, cold temperatures and heavy rains were forecast for the afternoon. The Nationals announced that the pitching rotations will just move back one day with right-hander Joe Ross starting Sunday's game and Max Scherzer getting the nod on Monday against the Braves. Saturday's postponed game will be...
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Baker: no "governor" on Zimmerman despite past injury concerns

Baker: no "governor" on Zimmerman despite past injury concerns
First baseman Ryan Zimmerman has used his bat, his legs and his athletic ability on defense to get off to a good start in this new season's first week. Wednesday night, Zimmerman scored the Nationals' first run, tying the game on a grounder off the bat of Wilson Ramos. Running on the pitch, Zimmerman scored from second thanks to a poor relay throw from first to home. Zimmerman dove head first into the plate and was safe. Some fans might have cringed on the play, remembering Zimmerman injuring...
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Baker and Roark on decision to keep starter in after rain delay

Baker and Roark on decision to keep starter in after rain delay
Right-hander Tanner Roark gave up five base hits in the first inning Thursday against the Marlins, allowing three runs. But the Nationals quickly erased the deficit. Then in the second inning, a rain delay of 1 hour, 25 minutes prevented Roark from getting back on the field right away. The Marlins changed their pitcher after the long break, but the Nationals stuck with Roark. Manager Dusty Baker said he met with pitching coach Mike Maddux and Roark during the rain delay and decided to keep the...
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Nats game blog: Roark gets the ball for home opener

Nats game blog: Roark gets the ball for home opener
With today's home opener, the Nationals begin a three-game, four-day series against the Marlins. It's right-hander Tanner Roark facing left-hander Adam Conley. The Marlins played the Nationals tough last season. The Nats led the season series 10-9 in 2015, but have won 37 of their 57 games (.649) against the Fish. The Nationals have won three straight in the series. Tanner Roark begins this season as a starter. Two years ago as a starter, he won a career-high 15 games over 31 starts. But last...
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