Mark Zuckerman

Eaton will lead off, Turner will bat second, Robles will bat ninth

March 23, 2019, 2:16pm

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Adam Eaton indeed will lead off for the Nationals to begin the season, with Trea Turner right behind him. And Victor Robles will bring up the rear as the No. 9 hitter, manager Davey Martinez revealed late this afternoon. Those decisions, though telegraphed at various points of spring training, are now concrete after Martinez pored through stats provided by the Nationals' analytics team and concluded this is his best lineup alignment. "After running all the numbers and...

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Flurry of cuts bring Nats to brink of final roster decisions

March 23, 2019, 1:30pm

Nationals

Flurry of cuts bring Nats to brink of final roster decisions

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals pared their roster down to 30 following today's 4-4 exhibition tie against the Cardinals, leaving only a handful of candidates still competing for the final spots in their opening day bullpen and bench. Right-hander Joe Ross was optioned to Triple-A Fresno, where he'll be stretched out as a starter. Fellow starter Erick Fedde and catcher Spencer Kieboom also were optioned, though they will open the season at Double-A Harrisburg because the organization...

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Orioles claim Severino off waivers (game ends in tie)

March 23, 2019, 10:21am

Nationals Orioles

Orioles claim Severino off waivers (game ends in tie)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Pedro Severino, once touted by the Nationals as their potential long-term answer behind the plate, is now an Oriole. Baltimore claimed the 25-year-old catcher off waivers today, ending his long tenure with the Washington organization that signed him out of the Dominican Republic when he was 17. The move was not unexpected, because Severino faced almost no chance of staying with the Nationals. The additions of veterans Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki over the winter solidified...

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Rizzo: Recent extensions don't affect Rendon talks

March 23, 2019, 9:30am

Nationals

Rizzo: Recent extensions don't affect Rendon talks

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Despite the recent spate of major leaguers signing contract extensions over the last few weeks, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo insisted today he isn't feeling more pressure to try to lock up third baseman Anthony Rendon. "I don't think that what other teams do affect our long-term strategies," Rizzo said. "We've got a plan in place for not only for this year but for the long term, and I think we'll follow that." Rendon, who is eligible for free agency after...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach

March 23, 2019, 6:20am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We're down to the final two days of spring training, and that means a lot more Nationals regulars in the lineup, even when they were in the lineup the day before that. And the day before that. Davey Martinez has five players starting their third straight game today: Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, Brian Dozier and Victor Robles. The only guys who aren't returning for this day game after a night game are Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Eaton and Yan Gomes. With Eaton...

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Last couple of games offer clues to who will hit leadoff

March 22, 2019, 6:47pm

Nationals

Last couple of games offer clues to who will hit leadoff

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez says he knows who's going to hit leadoff for the Nationals on opening day. And he plans to keep that person atop his lineup most days. He's just not revealing yet who that person is, certainly not until he's had an opportunity to discuss it with both Trea Turner and Adam Eaton, the two obvious candidates. "These are conversations the next couple days I'm going to have with players," Martinez said. "You guys will know." If you want to read into...

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Scherzer strikes out 12 in final tune-up before opener

March 22, 2019, 6:45pm

Nationals

Scherzer strikes out 12 in final tune-up before opener

JUPITER, Fla. - Max Scherzer had been sitting in the dugout for a while in the top of the seventh, his Nationals teammates having sent seven men to the plate during a rally that included a mid-inning pitching change. It was a long wait, but Scherzer really wanted to pitch the bottom of the seventh and end his outing on a high note. Which he most certainly did. Scherzer struck out the first two Marlins he faced in the seventh, raising his game total to 12, and raising his fastball velocity to a...

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Sipp confident he'll be ready for opener (Nats tie 5-5)

March 22, 2019, 12:44pm

Nationals

Sipp confident he'll be ready for opener (Nats tie 5-5)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tony Sipp is confident he'll be ready to face big league hitters in big situations on opening day. Even if he doesn't face a big league hitter in spring training. Sipp, who didn't sign with the Nationals until March 13, faced live hitters for the first time Thursday, throwing 15 pitches and emerging feeling good about the state of his arm and repertoire. He said he plans to face hitters again on a back field Saturday, after which he should be game-ready. But because...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

March 22, 2019, 9:25am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. - As the days tick down on spring training, the days of lineups featuring backups and minor leaguers dwindle as well. Case in point: For the second straight night, the Nationals are using all of their regulars. There are only a couple minor tweaks from last night's lineup: Matt Adams is playing first base and batting sixth, with Ryan Zimmerman serving as DH tonight. And Yan Gomes, who was DH last night, is catching while Kurt Suzuki gets a rest. Otherwise, things are the same,...

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Friday morning Nats Q&A

March 21, 2019, 6:36pm

Nationals

All right, we're down to the wire now, folks. The Nationals have three more game days here in Florida, then fly home Sunday night, then face the Yankees in D.C. on Monday, then get two days to rest up before the season opener against the Mets. There's another night game to be played this evening against the Marlins in Jupiter, so that frees us up this morning to take your questions on the team, on the spring, on the upcoming season and more. Submit your questions in the comments section...

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Doolittle returns to form, Hellickson wraps up strong spring

March 21, 2019, 6:32pm

Nationals

Doolittle returns to form, Hellickson wraps up strong spring

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It had been five days since Sean Doolittle last took the mound in a game, and the Nationals closer had spent much of those five days trying to figure out what went wrong during a five-run meltdown and how to correct it. But as soon as he fired his first pitch tonight, a 91-mph strike, Doolittle knew things were going to be just fine. "It's not quite where I want it to be, but that was definite improvement over last time," he said after tossing a scoreless ninth to cap...

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Sipp, Kendrick likely to stay in Florida extra days (Nats win 7-1)

March 21, 2019, 3:17pm

Nationals

Sipp, Kendrick likely to stay in Florida extra days (Nats win 7-1)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals head north Sunday night following their Grapefruit League finale. Tony Sipp and Howie Kendrick might not make the trip, though both will be in Washington for opening day. With Sipp and Kendrick each hurriedly trying to get ready in time to make the opening day roster but running out of time to return to game action, the Nationals are making plans to have both veterans stay back in Florida and continue to work up until the last minute. Manager Davey Martinez...

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Taylor not surprised by quick progress from leg injuries

March 21, 2019, 12:45pm

Nationals

Taylor not surprised by quick progress from leg injuries

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Michael A. Taylor plans to take batting practice today, play catch from long-toss range and run on the synthetic agility field that sits outside the Nationals' spring training complex. He'll be doing this exactly one week after he sprained both his left knee and hip making a diving catch, an injury and diagnosis that prompted manager Davey Martinez to declare that Taylor was likely to "miss a significant amount of time." All of this seems to be catching everyone...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (ss) in West Palm Beach

March 21, 2019, 10:03am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (ss) in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After a day off, the Nationals return rested and refreshed for a night game against a Cardinals split-squad. And since everyone's rested and refreshed, all the regulars are in the lineup. Davey Martinez has been tinkering with both one-two combos, alternating between Adam Eaton and Trea Turner. He hasn't made up his mind yet how he'll arrange things for opening day, but tonight it's Eaton leading off and Turner batting second. We'll also see both catchers tonight,...

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What's left to decide as camp reaches the home stretch?

March 20, 2019, 2:26pm

Nationals

What's left to decide as camp reaches the home stretch?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - I think we can officially say we've reached the home stretch. Following yesterday's off-day, the Nationals now have only four more game days here in Florida before heading north for Monday's final exhibition against the Yankees in D.C. Opening day against the Mets is exactly one week away. So, yes, this is the home stretch of spring training. Which means it's decision time. The Nationals don't have a whole lot of significant decisions still to make, but they do have...

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Boring camp to date is exactly what Nationals needed

March 19, 2019, 7:42pm

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are off today. It's only their second off-day of the entire spring. Which makes this a good time to hit the pause button and reflect on what has taken place in the five weeks since pitchers and catchers first reported. Are there any conclusions that can be drawn yet? Here's one: This has been an awfully boring camp. And I mean that in the most positive way. There simply hasn't been any drama in Nats camp this spring. None. What's the biggest...

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After long, rainy trip, SÃ¡nchez happy with start vs. Braves

March 19, 2019, 12:20pm

Nationals

After long, rainy trip, SÃ¡nchez happy with start vs. Braves

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The only thing drearier than the forecast was the prospect of the five-hour round trip from West Palm Beach for an exhibition game that might not even be played if the rain didn't let up. "Yeah, everybody was worrying about that," AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez said. "Especially hearing the team was driving many hours to be here. It's really uncomfortable for both sides." It may have been uncomfortable, but the Nationals and Braves did manage to play a nine-inning game this...

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Weather pushes back prep for Kendrick, Sipp (Nats win 3-2)

March 19, 2019, 8:31am

Nationals

Weather pushes back prep for Kendrick, Sipp (Nats win 3-2)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the clock ticks down on spring training, Howie Kendrick and Tony Sipp are running out of time to make it onto the opening day roster. But they're not entirely out of time yet, and there remains optimism at least one of the two veterans will be ready for next Thursday's season opener against the Mets. Kendrick appears to face a tougher challenge, still needing to get at-bats and game action after two weeks of rehab from a strained left hamstring. The 35-year-old...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves in Lake Buena Vista

March 19, 2019, 6:37am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves in Lake Buena Vista

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Hello from Walt Disney World. This is the last time the Nationals are ever scheduled to come here, with the Braves relocating to North Port (on the Gulf Coast) next spring, and they may not even get a chance to make that five-hour round trip worth it because it's been raining all day. No word yet on the status of the game, so everyone's preparing as though they'll play, but it's certainly a question mark. The matchup, if it happens, is AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez against...

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On Zimmerman's running, Barrett's return and Gonzalez's signing

March 18, 2019, 7:35pm

Nationals

On Zimmerman's running, Barrett's return and Gonzalez's signing

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There weren't a whole lot of positives to come out of the Nationals' 7-1 exhibition loss to the Marlins yesterday, but if you squinted hard enough you might have come away finding a few developments worth smiling about. For example: Ryan Zimmerman's baserunning. This isn't typically something that gets noticed, good or bad, but something noteworthy did happen during the bottom of the second inning. First up, Zimmerman beat out a grounder to third for an infield...