Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)

Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)
The day-after-clinch game is always a tricky matter. All the moreso when the team in question still has something left to play for over the season's final few days. The Nationals wanted to take it easy tonight, less than 24 hours after they clinched a spot in next week's wild card game. They also wanted to maintain their slim lead over the Brewers for home field advantage next Tuesday night. They found a way to accomplish both during a 5-2 victory over the Phillies. A game that started off...

Doolittle returning to form provides Martinez with options

Doolittle returning to form provides Martinez with options
With less than a week remaining in the regular season and a potential postseason game looming, the Nationals needed to see closer Sean Doolittle return to form. The anchor of their bullpen had dealt with right knee tendinitis for most of August. He had not been himself for a while. Whether because of overuse or general fatigue, the left-hander was not getting the velocity and swing-and-miss results he had demonstrated all season, the backbone of his effectiveness. But finishing Tuesday's first...

Because they stuck together in May, Nats will play in October

Because they stuck together in May, Nats will play in October
The ultimate optimist to the end, Davey Martinez insisted Tuesday night that he never doubted his 2019 Nationals would make it to the postseason, even after their infamous 19-31 start that had some questioning whether the second-year manager should lose his job. "You know what? I imagined it in spring training. I really did," Martinez said. "And I said it, May 24, I said this team is going to bounce back and turn it around. I thought we hit the bottom then. But this team, we get everybody...

Ross and five relievers lift Nats closer to postseason, eliminate Phillies

Ross and five relievers lift Nats closer to postseason, eliminate Phillies
Right-hander Joe Ross and five relievers lifted the Nationals to a crucial 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of this afternoon's doubleheader at Nats Park. The Nationals improved to 87-69 and reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two. They also eliminated the Phillies from postseason contention. Ross went four innings, wiggling out of a big jam in the first. He allowed a walk to start the game to César Hernández. Then three of the next four batters singled, including a...

Nats must put games in hands of two best relievers

Nats must put games in hands of two best relievers
It's been a ragged September for the Nationals, who despite hanging on to remain in strong position to reach the National League wild card game have gone 9-11. This is crunch time, of course, a time for the best players on the roster to step up and deliver in key moments to help lift their team into the postseason. Problem is, when it comes to the Nationals bullpen, the best players aren't the ones on the field in those key moments. If you had to guess, who would you think had made the most...

Nats' lead in wild card shrinks again after 4-2 loss (updated)

Nats' lead in wild card shrinks again after 4-2 loss (updated)
ST. LOUIS - Chip Hale insisted he would manage this game just like Davey Martinez, believing that he wanted to keep things as similar as possible tonight, even as the Nationals skipper watched from back home in Washington while recovering from a minor procedure after experiencing chest pain. Beyond that, Hale just believes he and Martinez are on the same wavelength when it comes to managing this team through a tight ballgame. The key decisions Hale made tonight - pulling Stephen Strasburg after...

Nationals score early, avoid drama late in victory (updated)

Nationals score early, avoid drama late in victory (updated)
MINNEAPOLIS - They got the early offense they've been seeking for most of the last week-plus. They got another quality, if a bit briefer than hoped, start from Stephen Strasburg. Now the Nationals needed three clean innings from their bullpen in order to beat a very good Twins club. That should be a nice, simple formula for success. But as anyone who has followed this team all season, it's never that nice or simple. Though they certainly came close to making it simple tonight. Getting nine...

Barrett's triumphant return not enough as Nats fall again 5-4

Barrett's triumphant return not enough as Nats fall again 5-4
ATLANTA - Even the amazing return of Aaron Barrett, solid pitching on short notice from Austin Voth and a clutch hit from Juan Soto would not be enough to overcome an Atlanta Braves team that is on a significant hot streak. The Braves mustered four homers on the night and rode their starter, Julio Teheran, to a 5-4 win, building their lead in the National League East to double digits. Atlanta has won nine in a row overall and nine of their last 12 games against the Nats. Atlanta's starters...

Martinez on Eaton's return; Elías has Grade 1 strain (Nats lose 5-4)

Martinez on Eaton's return; Elías has Grade 1 strain (Nats lose 5-4)
ATLANTA - Nationals manager Davey Martinez elected to get Adam Eaton back in the lineup tonight for the third game of four at SunTrust Park against the Braves. This will be Eaton's first start since Sept. 2. Eaton is batting second and in right field. "It'll be nice to get him up there, get him at the top of the order," Martinez said. "Between him and Trea (Turner), get on base, get something going." Martinez said getting feedback from Eaton last night on how he felt running during the...

Martinez on big series, Eaton, Elías, Doolittle and more

Martinez on big series, Eaton, Elías, Doolittle and more
ATLANTA - The Nationals have looked forward to this series for a while now, even if they would not admit it out loud. The four-game series against the first-place Braves is upon them. But Nationals manager Davey Martinez said his team is repeating the mantra that it cannot get ahead of itself even with only 23 games remaining. "Trea (Turner) talked about it yesterday - just control today, win today," Martinez said. "Go 1-0 today and go from there." But with the National League East deficit...

Doolittle better in return, but still has room to grow

Doolittle better in return, but still has room to grow
Davey Martinez didn't want to throw Sean Doolittle to the wolves in his return from the injured list, but neither did the Nationals manager want to throw his rehabbing closer to the kittens. In the end, Martinez found a suitable middle ground for Doolittle to make his return Sunday afternoon: in the ninth inning, but with a six-run lead. Doolittle responded with a 1-2-3 frame, inducing three flyouts from the Marlins to wrap up the Nats' 9-3 victory and complete a series sweep. It was an...

Doolittle and Zimmerman return, but in lesser roles for now

Doolittle and Zimmerman return, but in lesser roles for now
The first wave of September call-ups for the Nationals includes four players returning from injury, three position players to provide some bench depth and zero traditional relievers. The Nats added seven players to the active roster before today's series finale against Marlins, activating Sean Doolittle, Ryan Zimmerman, Jeremy Hellickson and Austin Voth off the injured list and recalling infielder Adrián Sanchez and outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Double-A Harrisburg, plus catcher Raudy...

Martinez says Doolittle and Zimmerman back Sunday (Nats win 7-0)

Martinez says Doolittle and Zimmerman back Sunday (Nats win 7-0)
Nationals manager Davey Martinez confirmed, barring any late setbacks, both closer Sean Doolittle and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman will return to the active roster on Sunday. Doolittle threw 13 pitches in a rehab appearance Friday night in Frederick, Md., with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. He faced three batters and did not allow a hit, a run or a walk, inducing a groundout and two flyouts. "Sean was good," Martinez said. "He was pleased and we were pleased. He's going to work out...

Bullpen gets two key arms back, drops Grace from roster

Bullpen gets two key arms back, drops Grace from roster
The Nationals made more changes to their ever-changing bullpen today, and there's still one more big change to come in a few days that could finally solidify that group for the season's final month. The Nats activated Roenis Elías off the injured list and Hunter Strickland off the paternity leave list this afternoon, bringing all three relievers acquired on July 31 together again after a long wait. Needing to clear roster spots, they designated struggling Matt Grace for assignment and...

Doolittle and Elías on verge of return after simulated game

Doolittle and Elías on verge of return after simulated game
Sean Doolittle and Roenis Elías each threw an inning in a simulated game this afternoon, potentially the final step for each reliever before returning to the Nationals' active roster this weekend. Doolittle, on the 10-day injured list since Aug. 18 with right knee tendinitis, and Elias, on the 10-day IL since Aug. 4 with a right hamstring strain, each faced live hitters today for the first time and each was encouraged by the results. "I'd like to have them both back as soon as possible,"...

Adams has contusion, Zimmerman playing nine innings for P-Nats

Adams has contusion, Zimmerman playing nine innings for P-Nats
Nationals first baseman Matt Adams was hit by a pitch Tuesday night in the fourth inning of the 2-0 loss to the Orioles. Afterward, Adams was seen gingerly heading to first base. Tonight, manager Davey Martinez has started veteran Asdrúbal Cabrera at first base, saying Adams is favoring his right leg a bit. "He's got a little contusion," Martinez said. "His knee is banged up a little bit. So rather than let him start and then all of a sudden something happens we will use him off the...

Doolittle's arm feels "a lot better," simulated game scheduled for Wednesday

Doolittle's arm feels "a lot better," simulated game scheduled for Wednesday
The Nationals returned home after a successful road swing to more good news. Closer Sean Doolittle is making steady progress in his recovery from right knee tendinitis that has kept him on the shelf since August 18. "I've been staying pretty busy. Kind of the general, overall philosophy we've been working on is rather than like sitting around and letting it rest, I think the best way to handle it was to kick start the engine a little bit," Doolittle said at his locker prior to tonight's...

Elías moving closer to return after bullpen session (Nats up 5-2)

Elías moving closer to return after bullpen session (Nats up 5-2)
CHICAGO - The left-hander the Nationals went out of their way to acquire at the trade deadline is getting closer to rejoining the active roster. Roenis Elías, who strained his hamstring in his team debut, threw off the bullpen mound at Wrigley Field this morning. If the session went well, he should be able to ramp up his rehab and potentially come off the injured list in short order. "We'll have to evaluate how he does today," manager Davey Martinez said, "and then we'll go from...

Now on IL, Doolittle knows he must "hit pause and reset"

Now on IL, Doolittle knows he must "hit pause and reset"
PITTSBURGH - Sean Doolittle knew his mechanics were out of whack, knew he wasn't getting life and spin on his fastball the way he always had, knew his arm and body were fatigued. He also believed he could battle his way through it and still pitch effectively for a Nationals team that seemed to need him for the ninth inning way more nights of the week than it didn't. But after watching the Brewers torch him for three homers in the span of four batters during his latest blown save Saturday...

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...