Robles returns to lineup, schedule could force tricky decisions

Robles returns to lineup, schedule could force tricky decisions
Davey Martinez had been saying for days Victor Robles would return to the Nationals lineup once his hamstring was healed enough to ease any concern about more serious injury. Tonight, the Nats manager and medical staff decided it was safe for the rookie center fielder to take the field again. Robles, who hasn't played since straining his right hamstring during Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 4, will start tonight in center field and bat eighth for Game 3 of the NL...

Strasburg sees improved culture in clubhouse as key to success

Strasburg sees improved culture in clubhouse as key to success
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg makes his first start at home in the postseason for tonight's Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Strasburg's last start was in the National League Division Series Game 5, in which he allowed three runs early but then settled in to post six innings in the 7-3, 10-inning win over the Dodgers. "Yeah, he's been awesome," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "The biggest thing for him is what we always talk about, is to control the...

After climbing uphill for months, Nats suddenly out in front

After climbing uphill for months, Nats suddenly out in front
They spent the better part of five months playing with their backs against the wall. There was the infamous 19-31 start. Then a slow climb back into the race. Then a missed opportunity to catch the Braves in the National League East. Then a down-to-the-wire surge to ensure home-field advantage for the wild card game. Then that winner-take-all game against the Brewers, in which they trailed with four outs to go. Then a 1-0 and 2-1 deficit in the best-of-five National League Division Series...

Martinez cautious with Robles, defines Elías' role next two games

Martinez cautious with Robles, defines Elías' role next two games
Nationals manager Davey Martinez had an update on center fielder Victor Robles as he continues recovery from a tweaked right hamstring suffered in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. "We are going to run him a little bit today, get some treatment," Martinez said during a conference call. "Tomorrow he will participate in BP and do a little running. And we will see where we are at tomorrow. I'm not going to anticipate anything until he comes in tomorrow. But...

Bullpen duo has become strength, not weak link, for Nats

Bullpen duo has become strength, not weak link, for Nats
ST. LOUIS - The weak link of the Nationals roster, it is well known, is a bullpen that ranked among the majors' worst all season and simply cannot be trusted to close out games. Except that's not entirely true. The weak link of the Nationals roster is the rank-and-file portion of the bullpen, the guys who pitch the sixth and seventh innings, or the guys who have to fill in later when the main arms are unavailable. In the postseason, that portion of the bullpen has barely seen action....

Behind another gem, Nats take commanding lead in NLCS (updated)

Behind another gem, Nats take commanding lead in NLCS (updated)
ST. LOUIS - Another day, another no-hit bid by a member of the Big Four rotation. And thanks to those dynamite performances, plus a couple of clutch hits and more lights-out work from the back end of the bullpen, the Nationals are heading home in complete control of the National League Championship Series. If they win two of their next five games, they're going to the World Series. As closer Daniel Hudson put it earlier today - on a completely different, and far more important, matter: "Hey,...

With final four outs, Doolittle completes Nats' one-hitter

With final four outs, Doolittle completes Nats' one-hitter
ST. LOUIS - When the phone rang in the Nationals bullpen and he was instructed to begin warming up, Sean Doolittle didn't really have time to think about the significance of what was now happening. Yes, Doolittle knew what was going on. Aníbal Sánchez had not yet allowed a hit to the Cardinals. Through 7 2/3 innings. Of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Chances are, if Davey Martinez came out of the dugout and signaled for him, the no-hitter was no longer intact. Or...

Behind Sánchez's brilliance, Nationals take Game 1 (updated)

Behind Sánchez's brilliance, Nationals take Game 1 (updated)
ST. LOUIS - Aníbal Sánchez is not Max Scherzer. He's not Stephen Strasburg. And he's not Patrick Corbin. The rest of baseball may overlook him because of that, but the Nationals most definitely do not. Who cares if Sánchez doesn't have Strasburg's dominant stuff or Scherzer's adrenaline or Corbin's wipeout slider? He's got 14 years of big league experience, a vast repertoire of pitches few else in this sport can match, and the smarts and guts to use every one of them in any...

Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS
ST. LOUIS - When Daniel Hudson left the Nationals in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, he hoped to spend only 24 hours in Phoenix for the birth of his daughter, then fly to St. Louis this morning and be ready to pitch tonight in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. But as anyone who's ever had a baby can attest, Mother Nature doesn't care about best-laid plans. When the baby's ready, the baby's ready. And in this case, the newest member of the Hudson family wasn't ready to...

Reliving the key moments from an instant classic

Reliving the key moments from an instant classic
LOS ANGELES - Sean Doolittle was trying to run through the final moments of an epic baseball game that propelled the Nationals to the National League Championship Series for the first time in club history. There was a strikeout of A.J. Pollock. Then a ground ball by Max Muncy. Then Michael A. Taylor's diving catch of Justin Turner's sinking liner to center, which had to be reviewed before umpires officially declared the game over. And then a mad celebration, with Doolittle right in the middle...

With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)

With trio of late blasts, Nats finally get over the hump (updated)
LOS ANGELES - On a warm morning in West Palm Beach in February 2018, Davey Martinez did something that raised a few eyebrows and made even more eyes roll. He gathered his Nationals team together and then directed everyone to watch as coaches Bobby Henley and Tim Bogar rode in on a pair of camels. The point, Martinez explained, was to offer a simple metaphor. This Nationals franchise he had just taken over as manager had been unable to get past the first round of the postseason, falling four...

Doolittle and Hudson becoming a thing as Nats surge to Game 5

Doolittle and Hudson becoming a thing as Nats surge to Game 5
Nationals manager Davey Martinez had hoped he would be able to get seven innings out of his starter, Max Scherzer, in Monday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. If that could occur, he would then turn it over to Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson in the final two innings. The scenario played out to an extent in Game 2. In that game, Stephen Strasburg finished six innings. Then, Martinez went to Doolittle, Scherzer and Hudson to get three innings and preserve the...

Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)

Behind biggest stars, Nationals force another Game 5 (updated)
The Nationals' chances of beating the Dodgers in this National League Division Series have always rested on the shoulders of the very best players on their roster. They don't have the depth to compete with the 106-win champions of the NL West, but they do have the star power at the top of their roster to make them sweat. And so with their season hanging by a thread tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-five series, the Nats turned to the best they had to keep the 2019 campaign alive and well for...

Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5

Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5
Imagine you were presented with this scenario on May 24. Or July 24. Or even Sept. 24, for that matter. The Nationals are facing the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with Max Scherzer on the mound, needing to win to force a Game 5 in which they'd have Stephen Strasburg on the mound. Would you have taken that opportunity? Just know this: The Nationals themselves are happily taking it. "I think we're really comfortable right now, even though our backs are against the...

Nats go out and have fun in stunning Game 2 win

Nats go out and have fun in stunning Game 2 win
"Just have fun." It's almost as common a phrase as the "go 1-0 today" you pretty much hear every game day from Nationals manager Davey Martinez. And really the "fun" is more or less just relaxing at the plate, relaxing on the mound. But can you have fun before 53,086 at Dodger Stadium in the most important game of the year, after the Nationals had scored zero runs in the series opener? In the playoffs? Against a 106-win team that has been to back-to-back World Series? Easier said than...

Nats' biggest names embracing expanded roles in October

Nats' biggest names embracing expanded roles in October
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals have pitched 26 innings of postseason baseball so far this week, all of them high-stress, high-stakes innings, with one game officially must-win and another game ostensibly must-win. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin have pitched 21 of those 26 innings. Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle have pitched another three. That's 24 of 26 innings, a staggering 92.3 percent, manned by those five key members of the staff, the five best members of the staff. "I...

Strasburg and surprise reliever Scherzer pitch Nats to win (updated)

Strasburg and surprise reliever Scherzer pitch Nats to win (updated)
LOS ANGELES - How much did the Nationals believe they needed to win Game 2 of the National League Division Series tonight? Enough to start Stephen Strasburg three days after he threw three innings of relief in the NL wild card game. And that wasn't even the biggest gamble Davey Martinez took this evening. No, Martinez felt victory tonight was so critical, he sent Game 3 starter Max Scherzer to the mound for the bottom of the eighth inning with his team leading by two runs. You think the Nats...

Martinez needs to be more aggressive with bullpen in Game 2

Martinez needs to be more aggressive with bullpen in Game 2
LOS ANGELES - In Tuesday's do-or-die wild card game, Davey Martinez could justify an all-hands-on-deck philosophy with his pitching staff. In Thursday's opener of a best-of-five National League Division Series, the Nationals manager felt such an approach wasn't justified. Given the way his team lost 6-0 to the Dodgers, Martinez might have no choice but to treat tonight's Game 2 more like the elimination game he managed earlier this week. After getting six harrowing but ultimately effective...

Nats turn to offense to secure home field Tuesday with 10-7 win

Nats turn to offense to secure home field Tuesday with 10-7 win
The Nationals raced out to a big early lead, then held off the Indians the rest of the way for a 10-7 victory over the Indians at Nats Park. The win guarantees the Nats home field advantage for Tuesday's National League wild card game. After starting the season 19-31, the Nats rebounded to go 72-38 (.655), and are now 92-69 with one game remaining in the regular season. Gerardo Parra crushed his second grand slam of the season, Anthony Rendon delivered a two-run double in a nine-run second...

Rendon, Strasburg, Doolittle are award winners (Nats up 7-2)

Rendon, Strasburg, Doolittle are award winners (Nats up 7-2)
Anthony Rendon's brilliant season might not quite be enough to earn the National League MVP award, but it was plenty good to be honored as the Nationals' best player of 2019. Rendon was named the Nationals' Player of the Year, one of three end-of-season award winners revealed before tonight's game against the Indians. Rendon joins Stephen Strasburg (Pitcher of the Year) and Sean Doolittle (Good Guy Award) as this season's honorees, selected by local media members. Rendon was a no-brainer...