Relievers Hoover, Cordero among today's roster cuts

Relievers Hoover, Cordero among today's roster cuts
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals made another round of cuts following today's split-squad games, trimming their camp roster by six. Optioned to Triple-A Fresno were right-handers Austin Voth, Jimmy Cordero, Kyle McGowin and Tanner Rainey. Re-assigned to minor league camp were right-hander J.J. Hoover and outfielder Hunter Jones. The moves bring more clarity to the few remaining competitions for spots on the opening roster (in the bullpen and on the bench) as the Nationals enter the final...

Updating some Nats' winter ball performances

Updating some Nats' winter ball performances
After a furious Friday of hot stove action, the baseball world is now taking holiday break. That includes the winter leagues, where several Nationals have been playing. Atop that list, of course, is Michael A. Taylor, who has been in the Dominican Republic putting some swing changes into practice in an attempt to come to spring training a new hitter. Taylor isn't off to a great start. In seven games so far for Gigantes del Cibao, he's batting just .143 (4-for-28) with one double, two RBIs,...

Dominican winter league update: Robles, Soto and others

Dominican winter league update: Robles, Soto and others
Here is an update of Nationals players' progress in the Dominican winter league, which has played nine games: OF Victor Robles Robles is the second-leading hitter for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican winter league. Robles is batting .480 (12-for-25) in six games with two doubles and 14 RBIs. He has walked one time, struck out three times and stolen one base. His OPS is 1.060 and he has not committed an error in the field. He went 3-for-4 on Oct. 16 and has gone 2-for-4 in each of his last two...

Game 152 lineups: Nats at Marlins

Game 152 lineups: Nats at Marlins
MIAMI - The Nationals still had a shot to hold on to their lead in the sixth inning and then again a chance to stay in the game when they tied at 5-5 in the seventh. But each time the Marlins put together a rally highlighted by multiple walks and multiple hits. The Marlins rallied to win 8-5 Monday night in the series opener at Marlins Park. Reliever Jimmy Cordero surrendered four consecutive hits in a three-run Marlins rally in the sixth that turned a 4-2 lead into a 5-4 deficit. Reliever Koda...

Nats bullpen falters despite early lead in 8-5 loss

Nats bullpen falters despite early lead in 8-5 loss
MIAMI - The Nationals bullpen was unable to hold the lead Monday night against the Marlins, relinquishing an early 4-0 cushion that turned into an 8-5 setback at Marlins Park. Right-hander Erick Fedde allowed only three baserunners in the first four frames on one hit. But in the fifth, he walked the first two batters, then surrendered a two-run double to Starlin Castro that got the Marlins on the board. Fedde ended up with four walks. Manager Davey Martinez said Fedde's pitch count rose when...

Gonzalez, Martinez lament another frustrating start by lefty

Gonzalez, Martinez lament another frustrating start by lefty
PHILADELPHIA - While Davey Martinez keeps insisting that his charges are playing better baseball and control their own fate in the most improbable of postseason runs, one look at Gio Gonzalez in the clubhouse after tonight's 8-6 loss to the Phillies demonstrated how the message isn't always getting through and offsetting a poor performance. Gonzalez walked out of the shower, slowly shuffling to his locker stall to put on his clothes and contemplate another start that got away from him in the...

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...

Seven relievers helped Nats in 10-4 comeback over the Phillies

Seven relievers helped Nats in 10-4 comeback over the Phillies
Because of a rain delay that almost reached two hours, starter Tanner Roark was limited to three innings. That left the Nats having to rely on seven different relievers to hold off the Phillies in a 10-4 win. Left-hander Matt Grace did well in relief of Roark with two scoreless innings, but got into trouble when he could not record an out to start the sixth. He allowed four batters in a row to reach base and it looked like the Phillies had a chance to run away with the game. But Jimmy Cordero...

Milone provides length to bullpen rotation, Rodriguez gets shot at No. 5 role

Milone provides length to bullpen rotation, Rodriguez gets shot at No. 5 role
Nationals manager Davey Martinez explained the reasoning behind tonight's adjustment in the starting rotation as the club called up right-hander Jefry Rodriguez and gave him the start against the Miami Marlins. Martinez said club officials have liked what they have seen the last two starts from Rodriguez, one with the Nats on Aug. 7 and an 11-strikeout performance for Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 12. Left-hander Tommy Milone, tonight's original starter, now moves to the bullpen and helps the...

Cordero didn't sleep after getting first call to majors

Cordero didn't sleep after getting first call to majors
The Nationals welcomed right-hander Jimmy Cordero to the club after right-hander Shawn Kelley was designated for assignment. Cordero, 26, has done well with Triple-A Syracuse. He is 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA, compiling six saves in 38 games. "He's been lights out," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's throwing 97 mph to 99 mph. He's got a really good slider. The biggest thing for us after seeing him in spring training is that he's throwing strikes both with his fastball and his...

Game 107 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Cordero up, Kelley DFA)

Game 107 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Cordero up, Kelley DFA)
The Nationals rolled to an impressive offensive display for the second consecutive series with a 25-4 win over the Mets last night at Nationals Park. Last weekend in Miami, the Nats dropped the Marlins 10-3 and 9-1 to begin their four-game series. But on Saturday and Sunday, the club managed just one run in 19 innings in losing two in a row. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman smacked a two-run homer and a run-scoring single in the rou last nightt, but fully understands his team must find a way to...

Voth among first wave of Nats cuts (Nationals win 8-5)

Voth among first wave of Nats cuts (Nationals win 8-5)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have made their first cuts of spring training, optioning right-hander Austin Voth to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigning seven players to their minor league camp. Voth, who went 4-12 with a 5.94 ERA at three minor league stops last season, appeared in three Grapefruit League games, and posted a 6.00 ERA in three innings of relief work. He allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Right-handers Jimmy Cordero, Brady Dragmire, David Goforth, Román...

Nats take BP at home before road game, Raburn out again

Nats take BP at home before road game, Raburn out again
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals had plenty of reasons to want to relocate their spring training headquarters from remote Viera to the more centrally located West Palm Beach, but here's another one: the chance to take batting practice at home before a road game in Jupiter. That's what the Nats did today, keeping everyone back at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for a full morning workout and BP session before the travel squad and coaching staff boarded buses at 11:45 a.m. and make the quick...

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Kyle McGowin and Jimmy Cordero

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Kyle McGowin and Jimmy Cordero
The spotlight is shining now on a pair of Nationals prospects that pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Right-hander Kyle McGowin notched three wins in six starts for the Mesa. He recorded 27 strikeouts with no walks. His pitching coach in the AFL, Michael Tejera, said McGowin did well for himself as he prepares for 2018. The 26-year-old McGowin throws a fastball, slider and changeup. "Kyle has three pitches. All three pitches were working for him," Tejera said. "He was...

Astros hurler Brad Peacock began career with Nats (plus AFL update)

Astros hurler Brad Peacock began career with Nats (plus AFL update)
Right-hander Brad Peacock made a big splash in the World Series in Game 3, recording a save with 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He also appeared in the dramatic Game 5 last night, allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. If the name sounded familiar, you are correct. Peacock was a 41st-round draft pick of the Nationals in 2006. He pitched for the Nats in 2011 and went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He has pitched 91 games with the Astros since 2013. Peacock remembered how the Nationals treated him...

Luke Erickson: Do Nats have bullpen arms ready on the farm?

Luke Erickson: Do Nats have bullpen arms ready on the farm?
It's never been lost on me that some folks are only interested in the Washington farm insofar as who can replace (fill in name of player struggling). These days, it's the Nationals bullpen where the firemen are bringing the gas and not the water, if you know what I mean. Before I go any further, let me be very plain: I believe the Tony La Russa-style bullpen with so-called roles is both overblown and overrated. I'm with Dick Radatz, who famously sneered, "Your job is to throw strikes when...