Aaron Barrett remains positive after Tommy John surgery

Aaron Barrett remains positive after Tommy John surgery
Nationals right-hander Aaron Barrett rejoined his teammates in the clubhouse this afternoon for the first time since undergoing successful Tommy John surgery on Thursday. "After I got the opinions from the three doctors that I saw, the consensus was that I needed to get it done," Barrett said. "I was kind of just weighing my options to make sure because this is an important decision, not only for right now but obviously for my career, too. So it was a tough decision, but once I got the final...
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Gio Gonzalez looks to continue Nats' winning streak (with lineups)

Gio Gonzalez looks to continue Nats' winning streak (with lineups)
The Nationals send Gio Gonzalez to the mound tonight aiming for their fourth win a row. After struggling for three straight starts, the left-hander showed improvement on Monday, limiting the Cardinals to three runs on five hits over six innings in an 8-5 loss. Gonzalez yielded two runs over seven innings in a 9-2 win over the Braves on May 8 at Nationals Park. But he's only 3-8 with a 4.93 ERA in 12 career starts against Atlanta. Despite his sterling 2.56 ERA, Braves right-hander Shelby Miller...
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Rookie Michael A. Taylor continues to thrive in the clutch

Rookie Michael A. Taylor continues to thrive in the clutch
Michael A. Taylor seeing much playing time this season wasn't expected. In fact, even after an impressive Grapefruit League season, there was speculation that the rookie might be better suited for another season of development in the minors rather than sitting on the bench for the Nationals. But when Denard Span and Jayson Werth weren't ready to start the season, Taylor was not only the opening day center fielder but also the leadoff man. Except for a quick early stint at Triple-A Syracuse...
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Michael A. Taylor's dramatic walk-off homer sends Nats surging

Michael A. Taylor's dramatic walk-off homer sends Nats surging
Not long ago, Bryce Harper bluntly delivered a message that was echoed by several teammates - the Nationals didn't care about the Mets. Throw that out the window as players and coaches delayed showers and meals to sit intently watching as the first-place Mets battled the Marlins in extra innings. When the Marlins delivered the game-winning run in the 11th, the Nationals clubhouse erupted. It's still a five-game National League East lead for New York, but the Nationals will take it especially...
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Michael A. Taylor comes through in clutch once again

Michael A. Taylor comes through in clutch once again
Calm, cool and collected, rookie Michael A. Taylor stepped into the batter's box at Nationals Park for his first at-bat of the game, coming in the 10th inning of a 2-2 game. While the Nationals had jumped out to an early lead in the first thanks to a home run by Bryce Harper, the Braves battled back to tie the game in the second and eventually grab a 2-1 lead in the eighth. Rally time? #TomahawkFlop pic.twitter.com/UcQh5HMSvh -- Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) September 5, 2015 Down to...
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Michael A. Taylor smacks walk-off homer in 5-2 win

Michael A. Taylor smacks walk-off homer in 5-2 win
Tanner Roark worked through an eventful first inning. Cameron Maybin slapped a one-out single to left and then Roark picked him off. Freddie Freeman followed with a double, drilled off the wall in right. Then Roark hit A.J. Pierzynski before getting Adonis Garcia to ground out to end the frame. After allowing Bryce Harper to score four times on four walks last night, the Braves decided to challenge the Nats slugger tonight. Facing a full count with two outs, Harper pulverized a fastball from...
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After brief delay, Trea Turner collects first major league hit

After brief delay, Trea Turner collects first major league hit
Trea Turner entered last night's rout in seventh inning, taking over at shortstop with the Nationals leading by 13 runs at the time. Since making his highly anticipated major league debut on Aug. 21, the 22-year-old was hitless in nine at-bats. With one out in the bottom of the frame, the speedy Turner raced down the first base line after slapping a bouncing ball to the right side. Braves second baseman Jace Peterson fielded the ball but struggled to get it out of his glove, and when he...
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Nationals recall Tanner Roark

Nationals recall Tanner Roark
The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Roark, 28, returns to the Nationals starting rotation after making two Minor League starts for the Single-A Potomac Nationals and the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. He recorded a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) while striking out seven and surrendering just five hits across the two starts. On August 26 vs. Frederick...
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Tanner Roark set for a start (with lineups)

Tanner Roark set for a start (with lineups)
Tanner Roark returns from his short stint in the minors to make his first start for the Nationals since taking a loss to the Phillies on June 28. Working mostly out of the bullpen this year, Roark is 3-1 with a 5.61 ERA as a starter. His ERA is slightly misleading because eight of his earned runs came in his abbreviated start in Philadelphia. Nationals manager Matt Williams anticipates getting five innings or around 85 pitches out of Roark tonight. Michael A. Taylor will miss his third straight...
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Patrick Reddington: Have Nats put themselves in too big a hole?

Patrick Reddington: Have Nats put themselves in too big a hole?
Coming off a division title and a postseason run that ended in a disappointing loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS, the 2013 Washington Nationals had high expectations. A disappointing start, an 11-16 July and a 48-47 first half put them in a hole, however, which eventually proved too much to recover from despite finishing strong, going 32-16 over the final 48 games. The Nationals finished ten games out in the National League East and four games out in the wild card standings. "I...
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Just a walk - or four - in the park for Bryce Harper

Just a walk - or four - in the park for Bryce Harper
Imagine this: Buying tickets to a Nationals game to bring your family to see the great Bryce Harper hit towering, majestic homers, but instead, you don't even get to see a single violent thrash of the bat from the young slugger. That's precisely what happened Thursday night when Harper, in four plate appearances, displayed unmatched discipline by not swinging at any of the 20 pitches thrown to him. The result: 16 balls, four strikes, four walks, four runs scored and even one RBI. "I mean,...
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Nats gain ground with 15-1 drubbing

Nats gain ground with 15-1 drubbing
The Nationals returned home knowing they needed to dominate the struggling Braves over the next four games to set the stage for a monstrous series with the Mets. For tonight anyway, the plan far exceeded any expectations as the Nationals smacked 18 hits in a 15-1 rout. The assault began when right-hander Matt Wisler wanted no part of Bryce Harper - a Braves theme on the night - when he issued a two-out walk in the first. Apparently, Wisler and Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez preferred to deal...
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Ryan Zimmerman leads offensive attack again, Nats win 15-1

Ryan Zimmerman leads offensive attack again, Nats win 15-1
Jordan Zimmermann uncharacteristically issued walks to Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman in the first before working out of the jam when A.J. Pierzynski lined to Anthony Rendon for an inning-ending double play. Braves right-hander Matt Wisler paid for a two-out walk to Bryce Harper in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Zimmerman stepped to the plate to a standing ovation at Nationals Park and then smacked a double off the wall in right-center. Clint Robinson delivered Harper to Zimmerman to the...
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Updates on Stephen Strasburg, Michael A. Taylor and Tanner Roark

Updates on Stephen Strasburg, Michael A. Taylor and Tanner Roark
The Nationals were able to prevent a sweep in St. Louis last night, securing a much-needed win as they prepare to begin a seven-game homestand with four against the Braves followed by three versus the NL East leading Mets. With New York off tonight, the Nationals have the ever important opportunity to gain a ½ game in the standings. The Nats own a 37-26 record in D.C. this year. "We've got work to do," manager Matt Williams said after last night's 4-3 win over the Cardinals. "We've got...
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Bryce Harper starts in center field (with lineups)

Bryce Harper starts in center field (with lineups)
Bryce Harper is in the Nationals' lineup for the beginning of an important seven-game homestand. The 22-year-old's left glute tightened up after lunging for the bag at first on an infield hit in the seventh inning of Tuesday's loss. Harper started last night but left in the fourth inning after popping up in his second at-bat, saying later "it just did not feel good at all." Harper will play center field as Michael A. Taylor misses his second straight game with right knee soreness. Taylor...
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Tyler Moore back from DL, A.J. Cole recalled for bullpen support

Tyler Moore back from DL, A.J. Cole recalled for bullpen support
The Nationals reinstated Tyler Moore (sprained left ankle) after his stint on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse. Moore batted .200 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 79 games (28 starts) for the Nationals this season. In six minor league rehab games, Moore went 5-for-22 (.227) with a home run, two doubles, two walks and three RBIs. Cole's major league debut came in the Nationals' historic 13-12 comeback win over the Braves on April 28....
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Nationals reinstate Tyler Moore and recall right-hander A.J. Cole

Nationals reinstate Tyler Moore and recall right-hander A.J. Cole
The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, and recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Moore, 28, returns to the Nationals after missing 14 games with a left ankle sprain. In six minor league rehab games with Single-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse Moore went 5-for-22 (.227) with a home...
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Max Scherzer: "Now it's time for us to answer the bell"

Max Scherzer: "Now it's time for us to answer the bell"
ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer battled through six tough innings on Wednesday night to put the Nationals in position to avoid a sweep against the Cardinals. To tell how rough the past month has been, the 4-3 win was just the first for the Nationals with Scherzer on the mound since Aug. 4. The Cardinals offense was aggressive, whacking 11 hits against Scherzer, a season-high and the most since June 7, 2014 against the right-hander. But the ace responded, limiting St. Louis to two runs while striking...
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Zach Wilt: Chris Davis' importance to the Orioles

Zach Wilt: Chris Davis' importance to the Orioles
It's been a frustrating couple weeks in Birdland, you can feel the tension on the field. The Orioles have won just two of their last 10 games, went 11-18 in August and are 6 1/2 games back of the wild card, but at least they entered today's off-day on a positive note before heading north to Toronto. The O's avoided their longest losing streak in over four years last night when Chris Davis launched a monstrous walk-off homer in the 11th inning to help the Birds grab one of three from Tampa...
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David Huzzard: The cruelty of baseball

David Huzzard: The cruelty of baseball
The Nationals' 2015 season has been a lesson in the cruelty of baseball. Sure they built a roster full of injury-prone players and they had to expect they'd miss time. The ultimate outcome of how many players and how much time affected the Nationals in far more ways than just when those players were out. Clint Robinson, Danny Espinosa and Michael A. Taylor were all admirable fill-ins and helped the Nationals get to nine games over .500 and a lead in the division, but then Anthony Rendon, Ryan...
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