Parra, Schwarber, fans bring the thrill back to Nats (updated)

Parra, Schwarber, fans bring the thrill back to Nats (updated)
For official purposes, the first ballgame played at Nationals Park following the 2019 World Series took place on July 23, 2020, when the defending champions lost to the Yankees in an empty ballpark during the height of a pandemic. And for official purposes, the first ballgame played at Nationals Park in front of fans since the 2019 World Series took place on April 7, 2021, when a socially distanced crowd of 4,801 made as much noise as possible to celebrate a walk-off win over the Braves. But...
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Why the Nationals brought Parra back now

Why the Nationals brought Parra back now
Davey Martinez hinted Saturday the move might be coming soon. And sure enough, it came today: The Nationals called up Gerardo Parra and now will ask the popular outfielder to help re-energize the clubhouse and the stands as they try to climb their way back into the National League East race. "Everyone knows how much energy he brings to the clubhouse (and) on the field," Martinez said during his Zoom session prior to today's series finale against the Mets. "He's a good all-around player....
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Game 69 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Parra called up)

Game 69 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Parra called up)
If, one week ago, you were told the Nationals today would have a chance to take three of four from the Mets and seven of eight overall, how ecstatic would you have been? Presumably, very ecstatic. Given all that has happened with this team, you couldn't really ask for a better scenario entering today's series finale at Nationals Park. In order to take full advantage of this opportunity, the Nationals need Patrick Corbin to pick up where he left off Tuesday night, when he held the Pirates to...
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Old pals Lester and Schwarber team up in 6-2 win (updated)

Old pals Lester and Schwarber team up in 6-2 win (updated)
They are inextricably linked, primarily from their time together on the North Side of Chicago, but now without question for their time together on South Capitol Street. There's a long way to go before Kyle Schwarber and Jon Lester make the kind of memories for the Nationals they made for six seasons together with the Cubs. But they're sure trying their best to help each other out right now, never moreso than they did tonight during a 6-2 victory over the Mets. Starting the second game of a...
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Scherzer set to come off IL on Tuesday in Philly

Scherzer set to come off IL on Tuesday in Philly
Max Scherzer appears to be confident he's ready to come off the injured list as soon as he becomes eligible in two days. The Nationals ace threw off the bullpen mound in between games of Saturday's doubleheader, his final significant hurdle in his return from a tweaked groin muscle, and clearly was pleased with the results. Scherzer didn't stop to talk to reporters who were standing on the warning track between the bullpen and the dugout at Nationals Park. He said everything he needed to say...
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Game 68 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 68 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
The Nationals need to do more at the plate in the nightcap of today's doubleheader against the Mets. They scored one run in Friday night's game and still somehow won. They scored one run in today's opener and unsurprisingly lost. They need a more productive showing in this one against Robert Gsellman, the first of several relievers who are expected to take the mound for New York. Manager Davey Martinez's lineup is close to the one he put out there earlier today. Yan Gomes will catch instead...
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Nats can't dig out of Ross' early hole, win streak ends (updated)

Nats can't dig out of Ross' early hole, win streak ends (updated)
The Nationals hoped Joe Ross would take the mound at 1:05 p.m. today and set a good tone for the 14 innings of baseball that were guaranteed to follow. Ross' performance in the opener of a day-night doubleheader against the Mets would go a long toward determining the course of the rest of this long Saturday at the park. So it was undeniably discouraging when Ross dug his team into a two-run hole only two batters into this one. And in the process set a negative tone for what was still to...
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Could Parra be in Nationals' plans again soon?

Could Parra be in Nationals' plans again soon?
Two years ago today, a slumping Gerardo Parra stepped to the plate for his first at-bat of a doubleheader against the Phillies, and for the first time did so with "Baby Shark" blaring over the Nationals Park sound system. Most in the crowd laughed at the odd choice for a walk-up song, but little did they realize what kind of impact it would have on Parra individually and on the Nats as a whole. Just as they did on June 19, 2019, the Nationals are playing a doubleheader today, this time...
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Game 67 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 67 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
Friday's night's walk-off 1-0 victory over the Mets was a big boost for the Nationals, no doubt about it. But it won't mean much if they can't come out of today's doubleheader on South Capitol Street without at least one more win. And if they can take the seven-inning opener this afternoon? Well, then it might be fair to start talking about legitimate positive momentum for this club. This five-game winning streak - really, the entire homestand, during which they're now 6-2 - has been...
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Weekend series with Mets is measuring stick for Nats

Weekend series with Mets is measuring stick for Nats
As they've completed a four-game winning streak, emerging victorious in six of their last eight games, the Nationals are facing something of an existential question: Is this legitimate evidence of a long-awaited and sustainable turnaround to a season that began horribly, or is this nothing more than a nice week against weak competition that will soon be exposed as insignificant? We may have a good sense of the answer to that question by the end of this weekend, after the Nats face the Mets...
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Hand returns to form, converting eight straight saves

Hand returns to form, converting eight straight saves
It was a mere four weeks ago when the sight of Brad Hand taking the mound for the ninth inning was enough to cause Nationals fans to clench their teeth, sweat profusely and assume the worst was inevitable. After giving up two runs to the Orioles on May 21 and turning what should've been an easy win into a high-stress one, Hand found himself the owner of a 4.11 ERA. He had been scored upon in five of his last six outings. He had surrendered homers in three of his last four. He had been charged...
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Espino delivers latest pitching gem as Nats sweep Bucs (updated)

Espino delivers latest pitching gem as Nats sweep Bucs (updated)
The notion of the Nationals thriving with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Daniel Hudson all on the injured list at the same time would've sounded fairly ludicrous to anyone who considered that nightmare scenario two weeks ago. How could this team, deficient in pitching depth and offensive might, not only survive but actually get better with those three arms unavailable? In this most unusual season, that's exactly what's happening. The Nats are slowly climbing their way back up the...
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Castro on restricted list while dealing with family matter

Castro on restricted list while dealing with family matter
The Nationals placed Starlin Castro on the restricted list today so the veteran third baseman can attend to "some family matters that he needs to attend to," according to manager Davey Martinez. Castro informed the club of the matter prior to Tuesday night's game and wasn't in the starting lineup for only the second time this season. He left the ballpark prior to first pitch against the Pirates. Though he didn't offer any other specifics about Castro's situation, Martinez stressed that...
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Game 65 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

Game 65 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates
The Nationals are seeking a three-game sweep of the Pirates this afternoon, which is good news. This isn't a position they've been in often this season, so a chance at a series sweep and a four-game winning streak should not be taken lightly. There is, however, not-so-great news before we get to today's game: Starlin Castro has been placed on the restricted list. What does that mean? It can mean a lot of things, but essentially it signifies an excused absence for a player, with the team...
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Gomes' slam, Corbin's gem lead Nats to easy win (updated)

Gomes' slam, Corbin's gem lead Nats to easy win (updated)
If the Nationals thought Josh Harrison's bloop RBI single to right with the bases loaded tonight was a welcome sight, imagine what they were thinking moments later when Yan Gomes connected with a fastball from Tyler Anderson. With one mighty swing, Gomes sent that pitch soaring into the left field stands and did what so few of his teammates have been able to do this season with the bases loaded: Drive in a bunch of runs. "I feel like that's just the last little bit we need to start clicking...
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Two years later, Miller grateful for second chance with Nats

Two years later, Miller grateful for second chance with Nats
The last time he had pitched at Nationals Park, Justin Miller was roughed up by the Cubs. It was May 17, 2019, and after serving up a two-run homer to Kris Bryant, Miller wound up on the injured list with a rotator cuff strain. The Nats, after that loss, were 18-26 and about to reach rock bottom. Things have changed just a bit since then, both for the Nationals and for Miller, who after his injury-plagued 2019 became a bit of a baseball nomad in the year-plus since. While the Nats were rallying...
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Scherzer's brief IL stint leaves Nats needing Wednesday starter

Scherzer's brief IL stint leaves Nats needing Wednesday starter
In the end, the Nationals didn't want to take a chance putting Max Scherzer on the mound this weekend without knowing for certain if his groin would hold up. So even though the three-time Cy Young Award winner is confident he'll be ready to pitch again in a matter of "days, not weeks," the club decided to go ahead and place him on the 10-day injured list this afternoon. "After going through the process, I just want to be more cautious than not," manager Davey Martinez said during his...
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Game 64 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Scherzer to IL)

Game 64 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Scherzer to IL)
First, the news of the day, not totally unexpected: The Nationals have placed Max Scherzer on the 10-day injured list with groin inflammation. The move is retroactive to Saturday, so that means he'll be eligible to return one week from today against the Phillies. Again, no shocker here, and Scherzer certainly seems to expect he'll be good to go by then. With a chance to add another pitcher, the Nats purchased right-hander Justin Miller's contract from Triple-A Rochester, bringing back the...
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Schwarber's power surge again propels Nats to win (updated)

Schwarber's power surge again propels Nats to win (updated)
Kyle Schwarber tried to act like a traditional leadoff hitter in the third inning of tonight's series opener on South Capitol Street, attempting to use his legs to take an extra base that wasn't there for the taking and paying the price for it. So when the opportunity to make a difference in this game came four innings later, Schwarber decided he'd be better off doing it the best way he knows how: by hitting the ball a long way and making the trip around the bases risk-free. Schwarber's...
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Scherzer makes case for pine tar, not stickier stuff

Scherzer makes case for pine tar, not stickier stuff
After offering an update on the status of a tweaked groin that will prevent him from starting Wednesday's series finale against the Pirates, Max Scherzer offered a lengthy take on a subject matter that has become current issue No. 1 across baseball: foreign substances. With Major League Baseball attempting to crack down on pitchers using so-called "sticky stuff" to improve their grip and spin rate, Scherzer spoke of both players' desire to allow certain substances to be used to help prevent...
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