Game 48 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 48 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The Nationals have touted Erick Fedde as a potential long-term piece of their rotation since the day they used a first round pick on him in 2014. The right-hander will get his latest opportunity to prove he's ready for that responsibility tonight when he takes the mound at Citi Field. Pressed into starting duties after Aníbal Sánchez landed on the injured list with a strained hamstring, Fedde makes his first big league start of 2019, the 15th of his career. He has pitched well...
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Game 47 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 47 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The Nationals are by no means in great shape right now, but at least they're not the Mets. New York is a mess at the moment, having lost five straight, with rumors swirling about manager Mickey Callaway's job security. They couldn't even figure out who was going to start tonight. After announcing earlier this afternoon it would be right-hander Drew Gagnon, they pulled that announcement back and instead said it'll be Wilmer Font (who gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings to the...
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Game 45 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

Game 45 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs
The Nationals look to bounce back from the series-opening loss to the Cubs on Friday night behind one of their top shutdown starters in Stephen Strasburg. Second baseman Brian Dozier said the Nats cannot let the 14-6 score demoralize them or lessen their drive to play better tonight. It is still just one loss, and the Nats must to turn the page, as the age-old cliché goes. "You have to," Dozier said. "You always do in these type of losses. It got out of hand but at the same time, they...
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Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
The Nationals haven't won back-to-back games since April 17-18. Today, of course, is May 16. That's a long time to go without winning consecutive games. That's also the last time the Nats won a series (against the Giants). That's a long time to go without winning two of three. Suffice it to say, the Nationals would love to snap both of those streaks this afternoon. If they can beat the Mets, they'll have won back-to-back games and captured the series. In order to do that, they'll need...
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Game 42 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 42 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
Patrick Corbin has already faced the Mets twice this season, and he pitched well enough both times to emerge with a win. The left-hander, alas, did not get credited with a win after either of those starts. So he'll try to get over that hump tonight when he faces New York for the third time in 2019. The Nationals, in a recurring theme, haven't taken full advantage of the performances of their top three starters. Corbin, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg have combined for a 3.50 ERA in 26...
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Game 41 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 41 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
There's a ballgame being played tonight in Washington, and that in and of itself is good news for the local club, which last set foot on the turf here 12 days ago. The Nationals have a six-game homestand against the Mets and Cubs, and they'll try to get things off on the right foot tonight against a New York team that has lost 10 of its last 16 and is facing an important week itself. The Nationals lineup is healthier than it was the last time they played here, with Anthony Rendon and Juan...
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Game 38 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

Game 38 lineups: Nats at Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals came to play in game one in their 6-0 win over the Dodgers. Howie Kendrick and Patrick Corbin were the biggest heroes, but the Nats also were able to do a couple of things they've had trouble doing in the season's early going: scoring runs in multiple innings and having their bullpen shut down the opponent in the final two innings. The 6-0 win is the first shutout of the Dodgers in Nationals history. The Expos last shut out the Dodgers 3-0 on September 14, 1999....
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Game 37 lineups: Nats at Dodgers (Parra signed)

Game 37 lineups: Nats at Dodgers (Parra signed)
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals arrive at Chavez Ravine looking to snap their longest losing streak of the season (four) and having lost 13 of their last 18 games. They are currently eight games under .500 for the first time since September 17, 2011 (71-79). The three-game sweep at the hands of the Brewers was the first sweep versus Milwaukee since May 2011. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (2-1) allowed six runs, but only three earned, in the game's first two frames of a 7-3 setback. Second baseman...
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Game 36 lineups: Nats at Brewers

Game 36 lineups: Nats at Brewers
MILWAUKEE - The Nationals haven't been swept in any of the 11 series they've played to date. For all their woes, they've managed to go 8-3 in series finales and 5-0 when facing a potential sweep. So that's what's at stake this afternoon at Miller Park, where the Nats have dropped two in a row despite getting dominant starts from Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Obviously, they could use a quality start out of Jeremy Hellickson today. But as we've seen, that's not enough. They have to...
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Game 35 lineups: Nats at Brewers (Rendon up, Kieboom down)

Game 35 lineups: Nats at Brewers (Rendon up, Kieboom down)
MILWAUKEE - It's not enough to completely change the complexion of the lineup, but the Nationals do have to feel a little better about the state of things now because they've got Anthony Rendon back 17 days after he was hit by a pitch in the left elbow. Yes, the Nationals have officially activated Rendon off the 10-day injured list. He'll be at third base and should be batting third, a major boon to the club both at the plate and in the field. The corresponding roster move: Carter Kieboom...
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Game 34 lineups: Nats at Brewers

Game 34 lineups: Nats at Brewers
MILWAUKEE - The Nationals successfully made it to Milwaukee, albeit 16 hours later than originally scheduled. After landing at the airport shortly after 11:30 a.m., they decided to push back their pregame routine and give guys more time to rest up at the hotel. So there's no formal batting practice today, and the clubhouse doesn't even open until two hours before first pitch. (It typically opens 3 1/2 hours before first pitch.) So the team that takes the field for tonight's series opener...
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Game 33 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 33 lineups: Nats at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - It's an absolute mess in South Philly today. In every possible way. The weather is terrible. The traffic is terrible because of the nearby Broad Street Run. There's a Sixers playoff game across the street at 3:30 p.m. And then there's the Nationals roster. For now, the Phillies say they're going to try to get this game in, though it won't start on time at 2:05 p.m. The Nats, meanwhile, haven't put out a lineup yet because they're waiting for MRI results on Matt Adams'...
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Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Joey Rickard and Richie Martin return to the Orioles lineup for today's series finale against the Rays. Jonathan Villar is playing second base and Hanser Alberto has moved to third. Rio Ruiz is on the bench. Stevie Wilkerson is 6-for-14 with four RBIs and three runs scored in his last four games, but he isn't in today's lineup. Dwight Smith Jr. is 12-for-29 (.413) in 10 career games against the Rays, who are sending opener Ryne Stanek to the mound if the weather permits. For the Orioles...
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Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies (Soto placed on IL)

Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies (Soto placed on IL)
PHILADELPHIA - And we're back for another evening at the ballpark. You know the drill by now. The Nationals, after dropping a series opener, will try to get back on track despite an injury-depleted lineup and a patched-together bullpen. They'll hope their starter gives them a bunch of quality innings, then hope they can cobble the rest together and emerge victorious. That depleted lineup has been depleted even further. Juan Soto was placed on the 10-day injured list today with back spasms....
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Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Shortstop Richie Martin and center fielder Joey Rickard remain out of the Orioles lineup for tonight's game against the Rays. Jonathan Villar continues to play short while Hanser Alberto starts at second base. Stevie Wilkerson will make his second professional start in center. Wilkerson is 8-for-24 against right-handers this season and 0-for-9 versus lefties. Austin Wynns is behind the plate tonight. Dwight Smith Jr., who's in left field again, is batting .440 (11-for-25) in nine career games...
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Game 31 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 31 lineups: Nats at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - We're only five weeks into the season, but the Nationals already are making their second trip to Citizens Bank Park. In something of a scheduling quirk, they'll have faced the Phillies eight times before they ever see the Braves for the first time in 2019. This is also the start of an odd but difficult road trip that also features stops in Milwaukee and Los Angeles before the Nats come home. Suffice it to say, this is going to be a challenge. As you know, the Nationals are...
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Game 29 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (Soto scratched)

Game 29 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (Soto scratched)
It's a new month, and the Nationals can only hope things go better in May than they did in April. One way to try to make that happen? Dominant performances from the top of their rotation. They're sending Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to the mound the next two days against the Cardinals, so the table is certainly set for this to happen. Scherzer was fantastic in his last start against the Padres, striking out 10 while allowing only two runs in seven innings. He did surrender a homer to...
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Game 28 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

Game 28 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals
If you've been following, you knew this was coming: Anthony Rendon is now on the injured list. The Nationals officially placed the third baseman on the 10-day IL with a bruised left elbow today, a move that's backdated the maximum three days allowed but now prevents him from being activated until May 7 at the earliest. The Nats are using that roster spot to help the bullpen, purchasing the contract of left-hander Dan Jennings, who had just recently been signed to a minor league deal. To clear...
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Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals
The Nationals just completed a stretch in which they went 6-9 against the Pirates, Giants, Marlins, Rockies and Padres. Now they open a 16-game stretch in which they'll face the Cardinals, Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers and Mets. Suffice it to say, they need to play better in every facet of the game if they are going to survive this. It doesn't help matters that tonight they don't have Anthony Rendon in the lineup for the seventh time in eight games with a bruised left elbow. As of this moment,...
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Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Padres
The Nationals already are assured of losing their third straight series. It's too late to change that. But they have to win today to avoid their first series sweep of the season, and if that isn't motivation enough for this afternoon's contest with the Padres, what else is? We know the Nats need to be able to lock down games late, their biggest problem area. But they also need to be able to score more runs, no matter the inning. Over their last eight games, they're batting a collective .235...
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