Solid spring, summer have helped Bourque build confidence

Solid spring, summer have helped Bourque build confidence
James Bourque started Saturday's sim game at Nats Park. It was good for the right-hander to get some work in, because the Nationals will have five days between their last game, against the Blue Jays, and their next matchup, Tuesday against the Mets. Bourque pitched an inning against the Yankees July 25 and then 1/3 of an inning July 28 against the Blue Jays. So he will go a minimum of seven days without game appearances. And he's not the only one. Saturday was an important opportunity for...
    

As Doolittle and Harris get right, Nats trust Rainey and Hudson

As Doolittle and Harris get right, Nats trust Rainey and Hudson
As the bottom of the eighth arrived Thursday evening, the Nationals leading the Blue Jays by three runs, Davey Martinez needed to decide which two relievers he would put on the mound to try to close out this victory. Based on both track record and recent usage, the answer appeared to be obvious: Will Harris for the eighth, Sean Doolittle for the ninth. Neither would pitch in the game. Instead, it was Tanner Rainey (pitching for the third straight day and for the fifth time in six days) in the...
    

Soto receives another negative test result, now waiting on MLB and D.C.

Soto receives another negative test result, now waiting on MLB and D.C.
Nationals manager Davey Martinez had good news regarding the health of outfielder Juan Soto, who has been away from the team since July 23 after receiving a positive test for COVID-19. Martinez reported yesterday that Soto had already received one official negative test from Major League Baseball and the Nationals were awaiting the results of a second test. "We did get another result back today," Martinez said on a video call Tuesday before the game against the Blue Jays. "He tested...
    

Nationals let game, series slip away late (updated)

Nationals let game, series slip away late (updated)
In this shortened, 60-game season, the outcome of any tight ballgame is going to be magnified, all the more so when the lead flips late. Under normal circumstances, the Nationals might not feel terrible about a 3-2 loss to the Yankees in a well played game between two powerhouse clubs that could've gone either way. But these are not normal circumstances. Every win is precious, especially those that were right there for the taking. Despite getting a dominant start from Patrick Corbin in his...
    

No update on Soto, Martinez cautious with Strasburg recovery

No update on Soto, Martinez cautious with Strasburg recovery
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said there is no update available yet on outfielder Juan Soto and his testing for COVID-19. "Nothing," Martinez said during his pregame video conference call Sunday. "Like I said, we'll get him as soon as he's able to come back. We'll get him going again. That's all I have." Soto received a positive test on Thursday morning and has been staying home in D.C. since. He needs two negative test results separated by 24 hours to be eligible to be...
    

Nats on kneeling with black ribbon as symbol of unity prior to national anthem

Nats on kneeling with black ribbon as symbol of unity prior to national anthem
Nationals players and coaching staff knelt down prior to the national anthem on opening night alongside the Yankees, holding a black ribbon that extended from the left field foul pole around home plate all the way out to the right field foul pole at Nationals Park. The moment was planned and agreed upon by all involved to be a unifying show of support for Black Lives Matter, and to raise awareness of the issues of police brutality and injustice toward Black people that has been rampant in the...
    

Nats, Yanks hope to set example for American team sports

Nats, Yanks hope to set example for American team sports
When they take the field Thursday night for the first time in 2020, the Nationals will do so as defending World Series champions, having just raised a flag and pennant minutes earlier. They'll be sending their potential future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer to the mound. The opponents, the Yankees, are merely baseball's most-storied franchise, one sending its new ace, Gerrit Cole, to the mound in its first step toward competing for its 28th World Series title. This would be a blockbuster event...
    

Status report on bullpen as opening day draws closer

Status report on bullpen as opening day draws closer
The Nationals bullpen got off to an incredibly rough start in 2019. The Nats struggled in losing 31 of their first 50 games before key additions helped them to recover as the season progressed. But the Nats bullpen's overall ERA for the regular season was still an uncomfortable 5.66. In a season with just 60 games on the schedule, that early season weakness from a year ago cannot repeat itself or the Nats will be in big trouble. Daniel Hudson, a critical acquisition during the season, became...
    

Ready or not, exhibition season is over for Nationals

Ready or not, exhibition season is over for Nationals
Are the Nationals ready for what awaits them Thursday night, when the atmosphere inside Nationals Park will be no different than it was for tonight's exhibition finale - a rain-shortened, 6-4 victory over the Orioles - but the stakes will be ramped up by a factor of 10? It's impossible to know at this point, but here's what we do know after three exhibition games played in empty ballparks: * Many pitchers' velocity is down, some to concerning levels. * Some hitters are locked in despite the...
    

Doolittle playing for now, but has several concerns

Doolittle playing for now, but has several concerns
Sean Doolittle is here. He's been on the field, participating fully in early summer training workouts. He has thrown off the mound, at times while wearing a mask. He wants to be around for the entire 2020 season. But he's not completely convinced yet he's willing to take the risk. "So far - and we're only three days into this - our medical staff has been doing an incredible job," the Nationals reliever said. "I think it's running as smoothly as it can at this point. Like a lot of...
    

Brzykcy brings 100 mph fastball to future Nats bullpen

Brzykcy brings 100 mph fastball to future Nats bullpen
The Nationals confirmed Wednesday that they have agreed to terms with nine undrafted free agents, including Virginia Tech right-handed fireballer Zach Brzykcy. The others agreeing to deals with the Nats were catcher Ray Torres IV, infielders Quade Tomlin, Gio Diaz and Brian Klein, right-hander Edward Ureña, outfielders Zach Cornell and Landon Dieterich, and slugging first baseman Jackson Coutts. Brzykcy springboarded into his junior season in Blacksburg, Va., with outstanding work as a...
    

Some pressing on-field questions as Nats prepare to return

Some pressing on-field questions as Nats prepare to return
There hasn't been much reason to have actual baseball discussions around here in a while. But lo and behold, baseball players are going to begin doing baseball things inside baseball stadiums Friday for the first time in nearly four months, so it's finally appropriate to discuss some actual baseball topics. There are countless issues facing the Nationals over the next three weeks and beyond, and so many of those have to do with the unprecedented protocols everyone must follow in an attempt to...
    

Nats need to stick with big four to repeat 2019 ending

Nats need to stick with big four to repeat 2019 ending
With the announcement that Major League Baseball will schedule 60 games in a shortened 2020 campaign, the Nationals now must decide how they can best implement one big advantage they have had over other teams: their top four starting pitchers. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and Aníbal Sánchez were so good last season that they ranked in the top 25 in ERA in the major leagues, top 24 in WAR, top 48 in K/9 and top 35 in WHIP. The Nats' top four starters combined for 65...
    

Nats have a lot to lose in shortened or canceled season

Nats have a lot to lose in shortened or canceled season
It's June 17, and we still don't know when (or if) the Major League Baseball season is going to begin. But at this point, it's pretty safe to say that however long the potential season is, it won't be long. It won't equate to one-half of a normal season. It might not even equate to one-third of a 162-game slate. And that could have some significant ramifications for the Nationals, not necessarily positive ones. I've been thinking about what 2020 is going to mean for the Nats as a whole...
    

Nationals again look to build depth through draft

Nationals again look to build depth through draft
Sean Doolittle, Adam Eaton and Yan Gomes. All three players are prime examples of where the Nationals needed top-flight major league talent to compete for a title, but did not necessarily have that guy in their system at the time. All three made significant contributions on their road to winning the 2019 World Series. In the middle of 2019, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo brought in relievers Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland through trade. Rizzo sent minor league left-handers Taylor...
    

Nationals change course, will keep paying minor leaguers in full

Nationals change course, will keep paying minor leaguers in full
One day after learning their own major league players had pledged to cover the pay cuts the organization was imposing on minor leaguers, Nationals ownership reversed course and elected to continue making full weekly stipend payments to their players, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. The Nationals' intention to reduce the stipends given to minor leaguers from $400 per week to $300 per week throughout June was immediately met with a harsh reaction from the franchise's own big...
    

Nats players pledge to cover minor leaguers' pay cuts

Nats players pledge to cover minor leaguers' pay cuts
Nationals players, after learning Sunday the organization is cutting minor leaguers' weekly pay this month, have collectively pledged to cover the difference on their own. The club, which by Major League Baseball mandate had been paying all minor leaguers $400 per week throughout April and May, will reduce that amount to $300 per week in June, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. The reductions come as the organization also released more than two dozen minor league players, a trend...
    

Nationals will have eye on pitchers again in draft

Nationals will have eye on pitchers again in draft
Over the last five First-Year Player Drafts, the Nationals have focused on stockpiling pitchers. Thirty of their first 49 selections since 2015 have been pitchers. The Nats have built up their minor leagues with these hurlers and used some of them in big trades that brought players that helped to bring a world championship to D.C. In the 2019 draft, the Nationals selected five pitchers in their first 10 rounds, along with one catcher, one shortstop, one third baseman and one outfielder. The...
    

State of the Nats roster: Bullpen

State of the Nats roster: Bullpen
We continue today a periodic look at the state of the Nationals roster at the point spring training was suspended and project how things may look whenever baseball is played again. Up next is the bullpen... Team officials are always going to speak optimistically about their roster during spring training. If you can't be positive in February and March, what hope do you have? But the optimism the Nationals displayed in West Palm Beach over their bolstered bullpen was genuine. They legitimately...
    

Corbin echoes Doolittle's concerns; Keister on at-bats

Corbin echoes Doolittle's concerns; Keister on at-bats
With regard to the potential return of baseball in July, Nationals closer Sean Doolittle expressed concern on Twitter about the health and safety of himself and his fellow players on the field as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Doolittle expressed through Twitter that he is concerned about working with others indoors. If a player or staff member gets the virus, does the entire team need to be tested? How long will the quarantine continue? What safety protocols will be in place when a person...