Looking at Nationals' options in the ninth inning

Looking at Nationals' options in the ninth inning
It's hard to believe Nationals manager Davey Martinez isn't aware of the angst and frustration three simple words - "He's our closer" - cause for a fan base tired of watching ninth-inning leads frittered away. For the three weeks Sean Doolittle has been struggling to lock down games, Martinez has dug his heels in and drawn a line in the sand, holding firm that the southpaw will remain his closer because he's the best option to protect a lead with three outs to go. When Matt Williams...

As Doolittle deals with summer grind, Nats bringing back Holland

As Doolittle deals with summer grind, Nats bringing back Holland
Sean Doolittle admitted it. After pitching for the 52nd time in 118 games - a rate that leaves him on pace to establish a new career high with 71 appearances by season's end - and in five of the Nationals' last seven games, the club's closer admitted his gas tank is running low. "I mean, that's 5-of-7, in the middle of August, in the first season (in a long time) where I'm still going," Doolittle said with a chuckle. "I haven't put together a season like this in a while. I'm starting...

2018 contributors Holland, Reynolds sign with NL West clubs

2018 contributors Holland, Reynolds sign with NL West clubs
A pair of veterans who enjoyed some success with the Nationals found new homes Wednesday when Greg Holland reportedly agreed to a deal with the Diamondbacks and Mark Reynolds reportedly signed with the Rockies. Holland's contract, first reported by The Athletic, guarantees the reliever $3.25 million with an additional $3.5 million possible in incentives. It's a massive drop in salary for Holland, who despite waiting until March 31 to sign with St. Louis last spring still earned a guaranteed...

Host of 2018 Nationals still seeking jobs in tepid market

Host of 2018 Nationals still seeking jobs in tepid market
For all the attention lavished upon Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and their long, slow quest to sign with somebody before the start of spring training, there are a ton of other free agents still unemployed as we reach late January. And that includes a whole bunch of guys who played for the Nationals in 2018. Let's look at those still-unsigned free agents and figure out what it might take to get them in a uniform before pitchers and catchers report ... MATT WIETERS Wieters had to know he was...

How will Holland's D.C. turnaround affect his market?

How will Holland's D.C. turnaround affect his market?
As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Greg Holland, a midseason pickup who rediscovered his old form. PLAYER REVIEW: GREG HOLLAND Age on opening day 2019: 33 How acquired: Signed as free agent, August 2018 MLB service time: 7 years, 22 days 2018 salary: $14 million (Nats were only responsible for $161,150) Contract status: Free agent 2018 stats (combined STL/WSH): 2-2, 4.66 ERA, 56 G, 3 SV,...

Looking at the Nationals' positions of need this winter

Looking at the Nationals' positions of need this winter
The Nationals' biggest offseason need may be in the starting pitching department, but it's far from their only roster need heading into 2019. Between free agent departures and other areas that simply need an upgrade, there's no shortage of items on general manager Mike Rizzo's to-do list this winter. Let's run through the positions that are likely to be addressed in the coming months ... CATCHER It shouldn't have surprised anyone that this was a problem area in 2018, because it was a...

Holland puts in overtime pitching both ends of twinbill

Holland puts in overtime pitching both ends of twinbill
PHILADELPHIA - Greg Holland had done it before, pitched both ends of a doubleheader. But as he pointed out, "I was younger when I did it." Yes, it had been five years since Holland last pitched twice on the same day. He actually did it twice for the Royals in 2013, recording two saves a piece on April 21 against the Red Sox and Aug. 16 against the Tigers. Holland was 27 at the time. He's 32 now, trying to turn around what, for him, has been an admittedly disastrous season. And he's managing...

Liz Barr: Wander Suero, Greg Holland have strengthened Nationals bullpen

Liz Barr: Wander Suero, Greg Holland have strengthened Nationals bullpen
In a season like the 2018 Nationals have been having, it's important to focus on individual accomplishments. Not a lot of the guys have been necessarily bad, per se, and many of them are actually having fantastic seasons. Nothing is clicking all on the same cylinders at the same time. While their record isn't what you want it to be, a number of guys can be proud of how their seasons turned out individually, and some of these players reside in the bullpen. A lot of people can get up in arms...

Morning notes: Robles, Holland and really long games

Morning notes: Robles, Holland and really long games
With left-handers starting for the Cubs the rest of the weekend, Victor Robles is most likely going to get some significant playing time and get his first major league start of the season. We got a taste of the dynamic rookie late during Thursday night's game, though, when he took over in center field as part of a double switch and found himself right in the center of action. Robles pinch-hit in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on first and nobody out. He grounded to third but managed...

Herrera likely done for season, Madson could return as closer

Herrera likely done for season, Madson could return as closer
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have reinstated right-hander Ryan Madson and placed right-hander Kelvin Herrera back on the 10-day disabled list with a Lisfranc torn ligament in his left foot. Normal recovery time for a Lisfranc torn ligament is six to eight weeks, and that is just in the walking boot. Manager Davey Martinez believes the injury is season-ending. "Yeah, I would assume so," Martinez said. "Like I said, he did tear a ligament in his foot. We have no timetable. Unfortunately, he's...

Bullpen steps up to make late heroics possible

Bullpen steps up to make late heroics possible
For 8 2/3 innings Wednesday night, the most significant thing that happened at Nationals Park was Stephen Strasburg's worrisome return from the disabled list, a shaky four-inning start that raised questions about the right-hander's health and stamina. Then with one dramatic swing, Ryan Zimmerman stole the show and added to his already impressive legacy with the 11th walk-off homer of his career, propelling the roller coaster that is the 2018 Nationals to back-to-back wins over the Phillies...

Nats let another close one slip away, fall 3-2 to Cubs (updated)

Nats let another close one slip away, fall 3-2 to Cubs (updated)
CHICAGO - The stakes perhaps felt a little higher, given the opposition, the location and all the familiar faces that have worn both clubs' uniforms in the last two seasons. But today's series opener at Wrigley Field felt remarkably familiar for a Nationals team that has found itself in situations just like this all summer long and consistently has shown itself unable to emerge victorious. Early offense, but a bunch of squandered opportunities to tack on needed runs later? Check. Dominance...

Nats take doubleheader opener, gain ground in NL East (updated)

Nats take doubleheader opener, gain ground in NL East (updated)
Davey Martinez didn't want his players looking at this week's critical series as a whole, believing there was no good to be had worrying about all four games with the Braves until they'd played the first one. Well, Martinez's Nationals did exactly what they needed to do it today's matinee opener. And now they get to go for a doubleheader sweep with their ace on the mound. Behind five strong innings from fill-in starter Jefry Rodriguez, a pair of four-run rallies in the middle innings and...

Holland ready to go and ready to reverse his season (Nats up 8-2)

Holland ready to go and ready to reverse his season (Nats up 8-2)
Greg Holland last pitched on July 21, for the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. He gave up three runs to the Cubs, took a blown save and watched his ERA rise to 7.92. The Cardinals would go on to designate the veteran reliever for assignment, then released him after he cleared waivers. Today, Holland is in a No. 56 Nationals jersey, active and almost certain to pitch at some point during their key doubleheader against the Braves, hoping he can turn around a season that hasn't gone anything close to...

Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Holland signed)

Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Holland signed)
Who's ready for a long - and important - day and night of baseball? The Nationals better hope they are. They enter the day 5 1/2 games behind the Phillies, four games behind the Braves. By night's end, they could be anywhere from four to seven games behind Philadelphia, two to six games behind Atlanta. So, yeah, it's a big day. It all gets started with the opener of this day-night doubleheader, with Jefry Rodriguez taking the mound for the Nats. It'll be the right-hander's sixth career...

Thoughts on a newsy week for the Nationals

Thoughts on a newsy week for the Nationals
After more than six weeks of radio silence out of South Capitol Street, you had to figure the Nationals were due to make some news at long last. Sure enough, it merely required your humble beat writer going on vacation last week for it to happen. You know the facts at this point - thanks to Pete Kerzel and Byron Kerr for covering things in my stead - but I didn't want to return to work and just gloss over the transactions altogether. So here are some thoughts on the three notable news items...

As quiet offseason continues, Nats still looking for a closer

As quiet offseason continues, Nats still looking for a closer
Teams across baseball tend to take a break around the holidays, but they usually get back to work right after New Year's Day and continue altering their rosters as the clock to spring training starts ticking down. That holiday break, though, seems to have extended into mid-January this time around. Because there's been an awful dearth of news so far in 2017, unless the signings of Trevor Plouffe and Colby Rasmus, and trades involving Yovani Gallardo, Seth Smith, Jarrod Dyson and Nate Karns...

Where do the Nationals turn now in search for a closer?

Where do the Nationals turn now in search for a closer?
First Mark Melancon signed with the Giants. Then Aroldis Chapman signed with the Yankees. Then the Cubs acquired Wade Davis from the Royals. And then yesterday, the Dodgers managed to retain free agent Kenley Jansen with a reported five-year, $80 million offer. All of which leaves the Nationals right back where they started at the beginning of the offseason, still needing a closer, now with far fewer options available to them. So where do they turn now? There do remain several second-tier free...