NL wild card game lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

NL wild card game lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
Well, here we go. Tonight the Nationals take the field for a ballgame that both feels familiar and yet completely foreign. It's another winner-take-all home game in October, the fourth in eight years for this team. But it's the first wild card game, so that gives tonight's proceedings an entirely different context. So much of the talk leading up to this game has been about the Nationals' pitching plan. And certainly it will be important who Davey Martinez decides to use after Max Scherzer...
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Wild card roster features nine pitchers, eight on bench

Wild card roster features nine pitchers, eight on bench
The Nationals roster for tonight's wild card game includes four members of their rotation, only five members of their usual bullpen, three catchers and an eight-man bench. Suffice it to say, the strategy for this do-or-die game against the Brewers is just a bit different than it is for any other game in the regular season or postseason. The Nationals announced their 25-man roster this morning, and while most of the names come as no surprise, there are a few twists. Most notably, the Nats...
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After the grind of 162, season comes down to one game

After the grind of 162, season comes down to one game
There are very few flukes in baseball. This sport requires every team to play 162 games, and after 162 games the best teams almost always emerge from the pack and prove their worthiness over others. Some clubs get off to hot starts, then are exposed over the long haul. Others need some time to come together before going on a sustained run. Some are fortunate enough to play at a consistently effective rate straight through from opening day to the season finale. Point is, after 162 games we know...
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With season at stake, Nationals put their faith in Scherzer

With season at stake, Nationals put their faith in Scherzer
When he takes the mound shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Max Scherzer will bear the weight of the Nationals' season on his broad shoulders. There are no do-overs. There's no chance to come back the next day and make up for whatever happened the previous one. The National League wild card game is their one and only shot to keep their season alive and advance to a full, five-game Division Series against the Dodgers. And they've chosen to entrust Scherzer with this assignment. That wouldn't...
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Nats have decisions to make before finalizing wild card roster

Nats have decisions to make before finalizing wild card roster
For the last month, the Nationals have been playing with an expanded roster, 36 players in total, which has allowed Davey Martinez to never run out of bats off his bench or arms in his bullpen. It's the luxury of September baseball - at least until next fall, when rosters will be reduced to 28 - but it's not allowed come October. Which means Martinez and the Nationals now must pare those 36 active players into a 25-man roster for Tuesday's National League wild card game. It's not as simple...
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Nats complete huge turnaround with perfect homestand (updated)

Nats complete huge turnaround with perfect homestand (updated)
A Nationals regular season that began with endless promise, bottomed out in late May but then kicked into high gear for a long time came to an end this afternoon with an 8-2 victory over the Indians and a most impressive 93-69 record few could've predicted four months ago. Next up: One game Tuesday night against the Brewers to decide whether they'll get a chance to make amends for past October failures. The Nationals will host Milwaukee in the National League wild card game, an 8 p.m....
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After final tune-up today, Nats begin planning for Tuesday

After final tune-up today, Nats begin planning for Tuesday
With nothing at stake in today's regular season finale, Davey Martinez should be able to enjoy a rare, stress-free afternoon at the ballpark. The Nationals manager insists that will not be the case. "No, they're all stressful," he said with a laugh. "I love what I do. I enjoy what I do, but ... you know, I wear whatever these guys do. I want 'em all to do good. So it doesn't matter who's playing. As long as you're wearing the Nationals uniform, I want 'em all to do good." Martinez...
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Game 162 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

Game 162 lineups: Nats vs. Indians
It's Game 162, which has meant many different things over the years. Sometimes it's a celebration of a great regular season and final prep for the Division Series. Sometimes it's a meaningful game to determine a postseason berth or home-field advantage. Sometimes it's the end of a long road that won't continue. For the Nationals, this Game 162 is simply a bridge between a week's worth of big games and Tuesday's wild card showdown. The only thing at stake is a chance to finish 93-69,...
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Suzuki catches, Kendrick plays second, Parra breaks out

Suzuki catches, Kendrick plays second, Parra breaks out
These final games of the regular season are, first and foremost, about trying to lock up home field advantage for the wild card game, which the Nationals can now do if they simply win one of their two remaining games against the Indians. But they're also about putting everyone in the best possible position heading into Tuesday night's winner-take-all game against either the Brewers or Cardinals. Which means there's a concerted effort right now to give all the key participants whatever...
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Nationals keep rolling at home, win sixth straight (updated)

Nationals keep rolling at home, win sixth straight (updated)
The final week of the regular season was supposed to represent a daunting challenge to the Nationals, who assumed all along they were going to have to come up big against a pair of fellow contenders in the Phillies and Indians just to sneak into the playoffs. The Nationals indeed have come up big this week. They've won six in a row. And because of that, they remain in the driver's seat to host Tuesday's National League wild card game while also sending these two opponents to...
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Rendon, Strasburg, Doolittle are award winners (Nats up 7-2)

Rendon, Strasburg, Doolittle are award winners (Nats up 7-2)
Anthony Rendon's brilliant season might not quite be enough to earn the National League MVP award, but it was plenty good to be honored as the Nationals' best player of 2019. Rendon was named the Nationals' Player of the Year, one of three end-of-season award winners revealed before tonight's game against the Indians. Rendon joins Stephen Strasburg (Pitcher of the Year) and Sean Doolittle (Good Guy Award) as this season's honorees, selected by local media members. Rendon was a no-brainer...
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Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen

Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen
The decision was made a few days ago. And to hear Davey Martinez talk about it, it wasn't that tough of a decision: Max Scherzer will start Tuesday night's National League wild card game. Martinez delivered the news to his ace a few days ago, and his reaction was probably what you assume it was. "I can't exactly say what he said to me, but he was excited," Martinez said with a laugh. "He's ready." Though Scherzer will be on the mound to start the winner-take-all game against either the...
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Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Indians
When the 2019 schedule was announced way back when, this final series featuring an interleague matchup stuck out like a sore thumb. Nobody wants to finish up the season with interleague games, but as long as the two leagues have 15 teams apiece, Major League Baseball has no choice but to do this. So the Nationals and Indians drew the short straw and will face each other this weekend. It's a really important weekend for both teams, of course. The Nationals are trying to secure home field...
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Taylor's case for a spot on wild card roster

Taylor's case for a spot on wild card roster
Michael A. Taylor has been mostly an afterthought this season, relegated to part-time duties early on, then the minor leagues for more than two months, then relegated to virtually no playing time with expanded September rosters. And yet the 28-year-old outfielder might just have as strong a case as anyone to make the Nationals roster for Tuesday night's National League wild card game. And he might just prove to be quite valuable for a key moment in that game. With a full pitching staff...
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Strasburg dominates as Nats sweep five from Phillies

Strasburg dominates as Nats sweep five from Phillies
We don't know yet when Stephen Strasburg will make his next start for the Nationals. Or his first career relief appearance. Or perhaps whether he'll take the mound again in 2019 at all. That dilemma will be resolved in the coming days by Davey Martinez and his coaching staff, not to mention the Nationals players who take the field Tuesday night in the National League wild card game and determine whether this wild season is extended to at least 166 games instead of only 163. For now, let's...
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Strasburg looking for strong finish to regular season (Nats up 5-1)

Strasburg looking for strong finish to regular season (Nats up 5-1)
Whether his next start comes in the wild card game, the National League Division Series or not until 2020, Stephen Strasburg took the mound today needing to close out his strong regular season on a high note and help set the stage for whatever is next for the Nationals. Strasburg got off to a fantastic start against the Phillies, facing the minimum through three scoreless innings, striking out five of the nine batters he faced. Strasburg, possibly a candidate to start Tuesday night's wild card...
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Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)

Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)
The Nationals, as they have made clear for the last 36 hours, are motivated to get home field advantage for the wild card game. While they intend to give most of their weary lineup regulars and relievers at least one day off this week, they're still attempting to win as many games as they can in an attempt to ensure Tuesday night's winner-take-all contest is played on South Capitol Street. But it's no longer a formality who they will face in that game, no matter if at home or on the...
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Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)

Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)
The day-after-clinch game is always a tricky matter. All the moreso when the team in question still has something left to play for over the season's final few days. The Nationals wanted to take it easy tonight, less than 24 hours after they clinched a spot in next week's wild card game. They also wanted to maintain their slim lead over the Brewers for home field advantage next Tuesday night. They found a way to accomplish both during a 5-2 victory over the Phillies. A game that started off...
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With clinch completed, Nats must choose wild card starter

With clinch completed, Nats must choose wild card starter
For nearly six months, the Nationals couldn't afford to look beyond that night's game, recognizing the importance of winning every single contest to get back into a race after a 19-31 start left them staring up at a sizeable deficit in the standings. Now that they've clinched a postseason berth, they can finally afford to start thinking more about what's ahead next week than what's in front of them tonight. The Nationals are going to play Tuesday night in the National League wild card...
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Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
It's the day after a clinch, and that always makes for some, uh, interesting lineup decisions. Like Brian Dozier leading off. Or Asdrúbal Cabrera playing third base. Or Wilmer Difo starting at shortstop. All of those are true of the Nationals lineup tonight, and understandably so. Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner can definitely benefit from at least one (if not more) days off. Truth be told, this lineup has more regulars in it than you might expect under the circumstances. Including all three...
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