All the ballplayers whose careers ended in D.C.

All the ballplayers whose careers ended in D.C.
A total of 370 players have appeared in at least one game for the Nationals since 2005. Some of them were longtime stalwarts who are forever associated fondly with this franchise. Some were only here for a year or two as part of successful careers with multiple clubs. And some of them played for a while in Washington and then never played in the big leagues again. Actually, more than some of them fit that last description. Would you believe at least 127 of the 370 players in Nationals history...

Revisiting our opening day media predictions

Revisiting our opening day media predictions
The Nationals' season is far from over. If anything, the last six months were nothing but a big tease for what is still to come over at least the next week, possibly more. But the regular season has concluded, and that means it's time to revisit all those predictions all of us on the Nats beat made way back on opening day. This always leads to embarrassment for us (though traditionally some more than others) but I have to say the crew did a pretty good job overall this year, with a couple of...

One month later, Guthrie still coping with career-ending start

One month later, Guthrie still coping with career-ending start
One month has passed, one month since that Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park when Jeremy Guthrie turned into the loneliest man in the world, stuck on the mound with no place to hide, the Phillies battering him all over the park, the Nationals watching helplessly as a 38-year-old pitcher's career came to an agonizing end. Twelve batters faced. Six hits allowed. Four walks issued. Two outs recorded. Ten runs crossing the plate. Forty-seven pitches thrown. An uplifting story about a longtime...

Nationals promote Albers, designate Guthrie for assignment

Nationals promote Albers, designate Guthrie for assignment
PHILADELPHIA - Needing a fresh arm after four consecutive days of extensive bullpen use, the Nationals purchased the contract of Matt Albers this morning, ensuring the veteran right-hander will be available if needed during today's series finale against the Phillies. Jeremy Guthrie, who was rocked for 10 runs in only two-thirds of an inning Saturday night, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot. It was an unceremonious, but necessary, end to Guthrie's 24 hours with the...

Disastrous first inning sends Nationals on way to 17-3 loss

Disastrous first inning sends Nationals on way to 17-3 loss
PHILADELPHIA - In the annals of worst innings in club history, this had to rank at the top. The Nationals gave up 12 runs to the Phillies in the first, and that might not even have been the worst thing to happen to them in the frame. As disastrous as that 12-spot was, with Jeremy Guthrie taking the brunt of the pounding, and as ugly as the Nationals' eventual 17-3 loss was, the larger concern in the big picture was the sight of Trea Turner departing in the top of the first inning with an...

Taylor optioned to Triple-A, Ross struggles in Syracuse debut

Taylor optioned to Triple-A, Ross struggles in Syracuse debut
PHILADELPHIA - Needing to clear a roster spot for Jeremy Guthrie before tonight's game, the Nationals optioned Michael A. Taylor to Triple-A Syracuse, electing to keep an extra infielder on their bench instead of an outfielder. The decision essentially boiled down to demoting either Taylor or Wilmer Difo, who both made the opening day roster when the Nationals decided to carry a six-man bench. Neither player, however, has appeared in any of the team's first four games. Manager Dusty Baker...

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - If you asked anybody on the first day of spring training to name the Nationals' No. 5 starter to open the season, I don't think you would have found many people who would have replied: Jeremy Guthrie. Yet when the Nats take the field this evening at Citizens Bank Park, the man on the mound will be none other than the right-hander celebrating his 38th birthday in most surprising fashion. The lack of need of a permanent fifth starter until later this month is what prompted this...

Saturday morning notes and quotes

Saturday morning notes and quotes
PHILADELPHIA - Some more tidbits and reactions from yesterday's 7-6 win over the Phillies, and some other assorted thoughts to tide you over this Saturday morning until the Nationals arrive back at Citizens Bank Park for tonight's game... * Daniel Murphy isn't quite feeling right at the plate yet. We can say that because the Nationals second baseman is swinging and missing more than is typical (he already has three strikeouts in four games, this from a guy who struck out only 57 times in 142...

Nats planning to start Guthrie on Saturday in Philadelphia

Nats planning to start Guthrie on Saturday in Philadelphia
Though the Nationals haven't announced anything yet, Jeremy Guthrie is lined up to start Saturday's game against the Phillies, completing a remarkable journey back to the big leagues as a member of one of baseball's best rotations. The club announced Max Scherzer as the starter for Friday afternoon's game at Citizens Bank Park, with Stephen Strasburg pitching Sunday's series finale (and thus getting an extra day of rest after his opening day start Monday). Saturday's starter is "TBA"...

Update on Rendon and the Nats' fifth starter options

Update on Rendon and the Nats' fifth starter options
The Nationals enjoyed a particularly healthy spring, enough to leave manager Dusty Baker as encouraged as he's ever going to be heading into a season. But not healthy enough to field their full starting lineup on opening day. Anthony Rendon, who fouled a ball off his left calf one week ago in Florida, was held out of today's season opener against the Marlins. Baker described this more as a precautionary move than anything, not wanting to take any chances the first week of April. "He's doing...

25-man roster includes Difo and Taylor, no Ross or Guthrie

25-man roster includes Difo and Taylor, no Ross or Guthrie
The Nationals will open the season with only four starting pitchers but six bench players. The club announced its opening day roster this morning, and it does not include Joe Ross or Jeremy Guthrie. Ross, who had been tabbed all along as the No. 5 starter, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Guthrie, who was trying to make it as a long reliever, was reassigned to minor league camp, but he's expected to report to Syracuse to begin the season. With only four starting pitchers (Stephen Strasburg,...

Roster spot within his grasp, Guthrie is at peace with whatever happens

Roster spot within his grasp, Guthrie is at peace with whatever happens
If Jeremy Guthrie is at all worried about what will happen in the next couple of days - whether he'll buck improbable odds to snag a 25-man roster spot with the Nationals after coming to camp as a non-roster invitee and forcing his way into a crowded bullpen picture - the 37-year-old isn't showing it. Before Friday's exhibition game at Nationals Park against the Red Sox was rained out, the right-hander was folding clothes at his locker stall, talking and joking with his teammates. It's the...

Nationals head home healthy, with most questions answered

Nationals head home healthy, with most questions answered
FORT MYERS, Fla. - They arrived in Florida nearly seven weeks ago, knowing this would be a longer than normal spring because of the World Baseball Classic. And when they walked out of JetBlue Park late this afternoon and boarded a bus for Southwest Florida International Airport, they knew they were heading north at long last. There are still things to be done before they can take the field for opening day - Friday's exhibition (weather permitting) against the Red Sox at Nationals Park, then...

Worley among flurry of cuts that bring Nats roster to 27

Worley among flurry of cuts that bring Nats roster to 27
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals moved significantly closer to finalizing their opening day roster this morning, cutting six players to bring the total number of players left in big league camp to 27 on the penultimate day of spring training. Most significant among the moves was the unconditional release of right-hander Vance Worley, who was competing for a spot in the bullpen as a long reliever. The Nationals also optioned right-handers A.J. Cole and Trevor Gott to Triple-A Syracuse and...

Nats have three final decisions to make before opening day

Nats have three final decisions to make before opening day
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have wrapped up the home portion of their spring training schedule, with only two road games left on the docket before they leave Florida: Today against the Cardinals in Jupiter (note the early 12:05 p.m. start) and Thursday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. They still have some things to sort out, though, before heading north for good. So let's run through those final decisions ... WHO'S THE CLOSER? You've heard everything you need to hear about this...

Turner, Guthrie make final cases to make pitching staff

Turner, Guthrie make final cases to make pitching staff
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - While bigger names came and went this spring, Jacob Turner remained in the Nationals clubhouse, a quiet-but-constant presence that didn't draw much attention. Here we are, though, with the club breaking camp and heading north in fewer than 48 hours, and the tall right-hander remains a member of the spring training roster, still theoretically battling for a spot on the opening day roster. The odds remain long; his only hope at this point, beyond injury to a member of the...

Guthrie makes one last pitch to make Nationals staff

Guthrie makes one last pitch to make Nationals staff
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie came to Nationals camp last month with a simple objective: make one genuine last attempt to make a major league pitching staff. He still had a bitter taste in his mouth after pressing too hard one year ago and then struggling with two different Triple-A clubs. He wanted to give it another try. And if it didn't work out? "I feel like there was something left, something pushing me," the 37-year-old right-hander said. "When I'd go to bed at night, I'd...

Strasburg, Ross get work in minor league games (Nats fall 3-1)

Strasburg, Ross get work in minor league games (Nats fall 3-1)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 3, Nats 1 Recap: In the first half of their split-squad, two-town, day-night doubleheader, the Nationals' regular lineup faced a comparable lineup from the Cardinals. Both starting pitchers, though, stole the show. Jeremy Guthrie, trying to make the Nats roster as a long reliever, did not allow a hit over 4 1/3 innings, pitching around two walks and a hit batter. St. Louis' Michael Wacha, meanwhile, went five scoreless innings, allowing two first-inning...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are playing a rare day-night, split-squad doubleheader today, with half the club facing the Cardinals at home this afternoon and the other half facing the Marlins in Jupiter this evening. If you're in town and trying to decide which game to attend ... come to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. As you can see below, all the regulars are in the lineup here. The lone exception is Daniel Murphy, who along with Tanner Roark has reported back to camp following...

Little clarity in competition for long relief job

Little clarity in competition for long relief job
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Dusty Baker prefers to have a true long man in his bullpen. The Nationals manager has said so multiple times this spring. "You need that guy," Baker said this morning. "Unless you just have a five-man rotation that's unbelievable, but those are hard to find. We've got a good one, but a lot of teams are going to need that guy." The Nationals have no shortage of long relief candidates in camp this spring, from veterans like Vance Worley, Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Albers...