Wieters returns, Severino stays, Montero dropped from roster

Wieters returns, Severino stays, Montero dropped from roster
Matt Wieters is back on the Nationals' active roster. That doesn't necessarily mean he's back as their unquestioned No. 1 catcher. The Nationals activated Wieters off the 10-day disabled list this morning, but also made the mildly surprising decision to designate veteran Miguel Montero for assignment and keep 24-year-old Pedro Severino in the big leagues, where he'll continue to get significant playing time. Wieters, who had been out since April 1 with a mild left oblique strain, caught...

Liz Barr: Severino deserves to be Nats' backup backstop

Liz Barr: Severino deserves to be Nats' backup backstop
There were question marks in the air during spring training over who the Nationals' backup catcher would be. The team answered that question by sending Pedro Severino to Triple-A and choosing Miguel Montero to back up Matt Wieters on opening day. However, the Nationals caught the injury bug, Wieters went on the DL, and Severino was quickly recalled. Not only that, but Montero eventually went on paternity leave, and throughout that time, Severino was the primary starter. And, boy, has he...

Eaton scratched with left ankle bone bruise

Eaton scratched with left ankle bone bruise
The Nationals announced about 75 minutes before first pitch that left fielder Adam Eaton has been scratched due to a left ankle bone bruise. Brian Goodwin has been placed in the lineup as the leadoff man and will play left field. Catcher Jhonatan Solano was placed on the 10-day disabled list with bone chips in his right elbow. The move was retroactive to April 7. Catcher Miguel Montero was reinstated from paternity leave. Manager Davey Martinez had limited details as to how Solano got hurt. "I...

Game 11 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Eaton scratched)

Game 11 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Eaton scratched)
It's a beautiful spring afternoon here in the nation's capital, the kind of day you'd much rather be sitting inside a ballpark watching a game than, oh I don't know, sitting in the Senate Judiciary hearing room, to name just one alternative. ... The real news in town is taking place 1 1/2 miles down South Capitol Street, where the Nationals are looking to make it two in a row against the Braves. And they'll do so with a new lineup wrinkle. Seeking to create some more protection for Bryce...

Wieters to rehab with Potomac, Severino could stay with Nats

Wieters to rehab with Potomac, Severino could stay with Nats
Assuming all goes well during a brief rehab assignment with Single-A Potomac, the Nationals expect to have Matt Wieters back on their active roster Thursday when he becomes eligible to return from the 10-day disabled list. At which point they are going to face a dilemma involving the emerging Pedro Severino. Wieters, out since April 2 with a mild left oblique strain, worked out on the field at Nationals Park early this afternoon, taking batting practice from both sides of the plate and throwing...

Romero designated, Montero goes on paternity list

Romero designated, Montero goes on paternity list
The combination of a short bench, better-than-expected weather and the pending birth of a player's child led the Nationals to make a flurry of roster moves before today's game against the Mets. Already playing with a four-man bench to begin the season, the club was facing the possibility of even fewer options after Adam Eaton tweaked his ankle during Thursday's home opener. Though the dynamic leadoff man says he feels "great" and is expected back in the lineup Sunday, the Nationals decided...

Severino looks the part of sage veteran in return to Nats

Severino looks the part of sage veteran in return to Nats
ATLANTA - It was only his 36th game in the major leagues, but Nationals catcher Pedro Severino looked like the veteran catching Tanner Roark's first start and win of 2018, and going 2-for-2 at the plate in an 8-1 dispatch of the Braves to open their series at SunTrust Park. Roark spun seven masterful innings, keeping pace with the Nats' amazing starting pitching to begin the season. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Roark have combined to pitch 25 1/3 innings and have allowed...

Game 4 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 4 lineups: Nats at Braves
ATLANTA - Right-hander Tanner Roark did not get a chance to contribute in the 2017 National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Tonight at SunTrust Park, Roark will make his first appearance in a game that counts since October 1 of last year against the Pirates. This will also be his first start since September 27 at Philadelphia. Last season started off slowly for Roark, he pitched better as the season progressed and finished 13-11 with a career-high (or low) 4.67 ERA. In 2016, he...

Martinez updates status of Murphy and Glover

Martinez updates status of Murphy and Glover
The Nationals made roster moves prior to their 3-1 exhibition loss to the Twins Tuesday by moving right-hander Koda Glover (right shoulder tendinitis) to the 60-day disabled list. The team selected the contract of veteran catcher Miguel Montero and placed second baseman Daniel Murphy (microfracture right knee surgery) and right-hander Joaquin Benoit (right forearm strain) on the 10-day disabled list. After the game, manager Davey Martinez detailed the next few weeks for Murphy, confirming the...

Gonzalez happy with three shutout innings (Nats lose 3-1)

Gonzalez happy with three shutout innings (Nats lose 3-1)
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez did quite well for himself in his final tune-up before the regular season. Although it was only three innings, he still did not allow a run on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts. Gonzalez threw 37 pitches, 26 for strikes. The only hit was a leadoff single from Twins second baseman Brian Dozier. After that Gonzalez was able to settle in nicely the rest of the way. He credited catcher Miguel Montero and new Nationals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist for guiding him...

Martinez says his lineup goal is to maximize health

Martinez says his lineup goal is to maximize health
With a new manager and a new philosophy come the inevitable questions of how Davey Martinez will construct the lineup of a Nationals club that has won its division two years in a row. Last season, many second-guessed then-skipper Dusty Baker about where he put Anthony Rendon in his lineup. Why was Rendon hitting so low in the lineup when he could consistently put the ball in play? Wouldn't you want one of your best hitters to get as many at-bats as possible per game? Martinez showed a few...

Nationals make 12 cuts; Montero makes opening day roster

Nationals make 12 cuts; Montero makes opening day roster
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals roster isn't down to 25 players just yet, and it doesn't appear it will be until after the club heads north and plays its final exhibition game Tuesday in D.C. But with a flurry of moves today, the Nats did finally settle a few important matters and codify the final remaining decisions they have to make before Thursday's season opener in Cincinnati. Today's transactions: Austin L. Adams, Pedro Severino and Andrew Stevenson were optioned to Triple-A...

With one week to go, what's left for Nats to decide?

With one week to go, what's left for Nats to decide?
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We are down, if you can believe this, to the final seven days of spring training. Yep, one week from now the Nationals will be home in Washington, getting settled into their digs for the season and preparing to face the Twins in one last exhibition game on South Capitol Street before heading out to Cincinnati for opening day. Which means it's crunch time down here in Florida. All those decisions that have been looming for five weeks? It's about time to make them. All...

Checking in on the camp competitions

Checking in on the camp competitions
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We're roughly halfway through the Grapefruit League schedule, which makes it a good time to revisit some of the few competitions in Nationals camp this spring. Keep in mind that with a veteran-laden roster built to three-peat in the National League East, there weren't a lot of open roster spots heading into spring training. But good camps are built on competition and there are still a few 25-man roster jobs up for grabs before the March 29 opener in Cincinnati. One of...

Seeking his rhythm, Strasburg sees fine-tuning producing results

Seeking his rhythm, Strasburg sees fine-tuning producing results
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg wants to embrace the notion of using spring training to get his arm in shape and try some new things in games that really don't matter a lick. He really does. He comes to camp in that mode, but when you're a veteran who relies heavily on a comfort zone provided by pattern and routine, even the smallest deviations can seem like huge changes. "I would say I don't give myself too long a leash," Strasburg said this afternoon after working 3 1/3 innings...

Nationals' plan behind the plate remains a question

Nationals' plan behind the plate remains a question
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - One of the few legitimate roster decisions the Nationals need to make this spring is behind the plate, where Matt Wieters returns as the No. 1 catcher but the backup position is up for grabs. As much conjecture as there was over the winter about the Nationals pursuing an upgrade - J.T. Realmuto? Alex Avila? Jonathan Lucroy? - general manger Mike Rizzo continues to stand behind Wieters, who he believes is primed for a bounceback season. The backup job? That's up for...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter
JUPITER, Fla. - A very pleasant good morning to you from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, spring home of the Marlins and Cardinals and playing host today to the Nationals for the first of seven road games this spring. It's only a 15-minute drive from West Palm Beach, and because of that the Nats are trying something new this year: They're staying back to take batting practice and fielding drills at home, then boarding the bus at 11:45 a.m. and heading straight to Jupiter for the game. A lot of...

Martinez: Cole has "upper hand" for No. 5 starter's job

Martinez: Cole has "upper hand" for No. 5 starter's job
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals admittedly don't have many jobs up for grabs this spring, a scenario few other clubs can appreciate, but the highest-profile competition this spring is of keen interest to Davey Martinez. With the top four slots in his rotation well established and locked in, Martinez needs only to decide who will serve as his No. 5 starter come April. The candidates, for now: inconsistent right-hander A.J. Cole, top prospect Erick Fedde and veteran journeyman Edwin...

Montero glad to reunite with Rizzo, Martinez, Scherzer in D.C.

Montero glad to reunite with Rizzo, Martinez, Scherzer in D.C.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Miguel Montero had plenty of reasons to sign with the Nationals earlier this month. This was an offer to compete for playing time on an expected contender. He played for Davey Martinez the last three seasons in Chicago. He was signed by the Diamondbacks out of Venezuela by Mike Rizzo way back in 2001. He used to catch Max Scherzer in Arizona, too. "And I don't have to try to throw out Trea Turner anymore," Montero said with a laugh. "He's on my team." OK, so maybe...

Nats announce minor league invitees, 61 players in camp

Nats announce minor league invitees, 61 players in camp
Sixty-one players in total will report for spring training this week, 21 of them non-roster invitees including several with significant major league experience and several prospects from within their own organization, the Nationals announced today. With pitchers and catchers officially set to report Wednesday, the Nationals finally revealed the full spring roster, which still could expand given the plethora of prominent free agents who have yet to sign. For now, camp will feature a full 40-man...