Game 61 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 61 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
The Nationals pitching staff is by no means in great shape right now, but it's in better shape than it might've been had Erick Fedde not delivered five scoreless innings in the opener of today's doubleheader against the Giants. That performance has given Davey Martinez the luxury of starting Jefry Rodriguez in the nightcap but not needing the right-hander to go too deep if he's not up for it. You may remember Rodriguez from 2018, when he pitched in 14 games (eight starts) and posted a 5.71...
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Orioles and Rays lineups (updated)

Orioles and Rays lineups (updated)
Austin Hays moves over to right field this afternoon against the Rays after leaving the injured list yesterday and playing left field. Ryan Mountcastle goes from first base to left field and Trey Mancini switches from designated hitter to first base. Anthony Santander is the DH. Hays leads the club with four outfield assists. Mancini hit his 98th career home run last night in his 522nd game. Only four players who began their careers with the Orioles have reached 100 homers in their first 600...
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Game 60 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 60 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
Here's some good news to begin your Saturday: The clouds are beginning to clear out of the region and there is no forecast of rain today. The Nationals and Giants should have no trouble playing both ends of today's 14-inning doubleheader. That's about the only good news, unfortunately. The Nats just announced a swath of roster moves, a couple of them quite unexpected. Here's the full list: * Right-hander Daniel Hudson was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. *...
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Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Austin Hays has been reinstated from the injured list today, and he's in left field for tonight's series opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Hays is batting fifth behind first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. Trey Mancini is batting second as the designated hitter, followed by right fielder Anthony Santander. Reliever Shawn Armstrong cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. Cedric Mullins has a nine-game hitting streak. Mountcastle has an eight-game hitting and RBI...
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Game 59 lineups: Giants at Nats

Game 59 lineups: Giants at Nats
Well, the Nationals will try again tonight to send Max Scherzer to the mound to open a four-game series against the Giants. The Nationals have a ragged bullpen, even with an unscheduled off-day from Thursday night's rainout, and need length from Scherzer, and that has a good chance of happening. For his career, the right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.131 WHIP in 10 career starts against San Francisco. In nine of his 12 starts this season, Scherzer has thrown at least six innings, and...
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Game 59 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 59 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
Hello from Nationals Park, which hasn't hosted a ballgame in 11 days. Yeah, it's been a while. The Nationals return home from a nine-game road trip in which they went 4-5, used up a lot of pitchers and took a very late-night flight back from St. Petersburg, Fla., to get here for tonight's series opener against the Giants. They may be a bit bleary eyed at this point, and the forecast of on-and-off showers won't help. Here's what will help: For the first time since the 2019 World Series,...
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Game 58 lineups: Nats at Rays

Game 58 lineups: Nats at Rays
The Nationals, as you know by now, have not been a productive offensive team this season. But they have been more productive when facing a left-hander. Their .679 OPS versus righties ranks 20th in the majors, but their .759 OPS versus lefties ranks 11th. So maybe, just maybe, tonight's game against Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan offers an opportunity to score some early runs and set a better tone for the game than has been typical for this team. The Nats would be wise to get to McClanahan...
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Game 57 lineups: Nats at Rays

Game 57 lineups: Nats at Rays
A three-city road trip that began in promising fashion, with two wins in three days in Atlanta, now reaches its final leg with the Nationals now needing a strong finish against a tough opponent. Having lost three of their last four (including two straight in Philadelphia over the weekend), the Nats tonight open a quick two-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla., against a Rays club that owns the best record in the American League at 38-23. As has been the case for several years now, Tampa Bay is...
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Game 56 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 56 lineups: Nats at Phillies
We've been wondering for days now who would be starting the Nationals' series finale in Philadelphia, taking Stephen Strasburg's spot in the rotation. Well, we finally have our answer. Today's starter will be ... Austin Voth. Manager Davey Martinez came to that decision based on the fact Voth has been a starter his whole career up until this season, and he's had four days off since his last appearance (50 pitches in relief of Strasburg). It's certainly the most logical choice among the...
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Game 55 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 55 lineups: Nats at Phillies
The Nationals managed to turn two runs and six hits into a win Friday night. They did so thanks to Max Scherzer's dominance over 7 2/3 innings, then Daniel Hudson and Brad Hand's relief work after that. In order to win today in Philadelphia, they're either going to need a comparable effort from Joe Ross and any relievers who follow him or a much more complete offensive showing. A more complete offensive showing would be nice, especially against Phillies right-hander Spencer Howard, who...
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Orioles and Indians lineups

Orioles and Indians lineups
The Orioles will try to extend their winning streak to a season-long four games tonight with Freddy Galvis remaining the cleanup hitter between Anthony Santander and Ryan Mountcastle. Mountcastle has hit four home runs in his last 10 games, with seven extra-base hits during that span. He's 11-for-35 (.314) with two doubles, a triple and 11 RBI in those 10 games. Santander has reached base in 13 of 14 games since coming off the injured list and is batting .321 (17-for-53) during that stretch...
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Game 54 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 54 lineups: Nats at Phillies
Tonight will be the Nationals' 54th game of the season, which means we are at the one-third mark of the 2021 campaign. At 23-30, the Nationals are tied with the Marlins, six games back of the division-leading Mets, but only two games back of this weekend's opponent, the Phillies. Yet another opportunity for the Nats to gain some ground in the National League East. And they have the right guy on the mound to get them started. Max Scherzer looks to carry over his fantastic May into June...
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Game 53 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 53 lineups: Nats at Braves
The Nationals have a chance this afternoon to take three of four from the Braves, and who saw that coming a few days ago? They've put themselves in position with a combination of power at the plate (four homers the last two nights), one gutsy start on short rest (Jon Lester) and a whole lot of innings out of their bullpen (11 innings the last two nights). Now if they're going to take the series in this early start in Atlanta, they're going to need quality innings out of Patrick Corbin. At...
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Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves
We've seen the Nationals put together isolated offensive explosions this season. Seven times they've scored seven or more runs. How have they done in their next game? They've averaged three runs. So there's been an issue with sustaining offensive success. Tonight the Nats will try to finally do that and put together back-to-back big performances at the plate in the wake of their 11-6 victory Tuesday night. As was the case then, they're facing a left-hander, this time Drew Smyly. He's got...
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Game 51 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 51 lineups: Nats at Braves
May was not kind to the Nationals, who went 11-17 and fell to a season-worst eight games under .500. If you're looking for silver linings, though, they were outscored for the month by only five runs (116-111). The average score of their wins was roughly 7-3. The average score of their losses was roughly 5-2. The point, if there is one: When the Nats hit, they win. When they don't hit, they lose. So perhaps the flip of the calendar to June will benefit this team. (Nothing else has worked.) And...
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Game 50 lineups: Nats at Braves (Robles activated)

Game 50 lineups: Nats at Braves (Robles activated)
The Nationals need something to inject some life in their moribund offense. For now, that something will have to be Victor Robles, who has rejoined the active roster 12 days after spraining his right ankle. Robles was officially activated off the 10-day injured list today, in time for the nine-game road trip that begins late this afternoon in unincorporated Atlanta. The 24-year-old center fielder appeared in one rehab game for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, going 1-for-2 with a double, two...
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Game 49 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 49 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
A nine-game homestand that began with a sweep of the Orioles concludes today for the Nationals, who need to beat the Brewers just to avoid getting swept and finishing this stretch with a losing record. Yes, the narratives change quickly around here. The good news: Max Scherzer is on the mound, and he's the best thing the Nats have going for them right now. So far this month, he's 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA, 0.780 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings. Against a Brewers lineup that ranks last in...
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Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Trey Mancini has returned to the Orioles lineup this afternoon, batting third as the designated hitter, but Ryan Mountcastle returns to the bench after playing both ends of yesterday's doubleheader. Tyler Nevin is the first baseman, DJ Stewart is in left field and Anthony Santander is in right. Stevie Wilkerson is the second bnaseman. Left-hander Keegan Akin is making his fifth appearance this season and his first start since Sept. 27 in Toronto, when he allowed four runs (two homers) in three...
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Game 48 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 48 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
Who's ready for seven more innings of baseball in the rain? The Nationals and Brewers are going to give it a try, hoping the conditions at least allow for play as they did during this afternoon's contest. As always, stay tuned and don't be surprised if there are delays or even a postponement. Stymied by Freddy Peralta in the opener, the Nationals will see if they can get something going against a left-hander: Brett Anderson, who has had an up-and-down start to his season. Because the Brewers...
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Game 47 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 47 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
Do you remember the last time the Nationals faced the Brewers? Yep, it was the 2019 National League wild card game. Quite a bit has happened since that memorable night, huh? Today, the Brewers make their first trip back to D.C. in 20 months. It's not completely a must-win situation like it was for the Nats that night, but they'd certainly like to get back on track after dropping two of three to the Reds earlier in the week. After Friday night's game was rained out, they'll attempt to play...
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