After another sim game, Doolittle on track to return this week

After another sim game, Doolittle on track to return this week
It may come too late to help the Nationals make a last-ditch postseason push, but it does appear Sean Doolittle will be closing games for them for the bulk of the September schedule. Doolittle faced live hitters again this morning in a simulated game at Nationals Park, and barring any complications he's likely to be activated off the disabled list within the next few days. "He looks good," manager Davey Martinez said. "He'll get a day (off) tomorrow, we'll reevaluate him and hopefully...

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...

Game 132 lineups: Nats at Phillies (Herrera to DL, Madson returns)

Game 132 lineups: Nats at Phillies (Herrera to DL, Madson returns)
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals arrive in Philadelphia one game under .500 with 31 games remaining. The deficit in the division race is 8 1/2 games. But the mood has to be somewhat upbeat after Sunday's 15-0 thumping of the Mets. The Nats lost the series in New York, but bring their two best starting pitchers to the first two games of the series against the Phillies. The Nats trail the second-place Phillies by 5 1/2 games, having just taken a series from them last week in D.C. The bad news from...

More on a lopsided win, Herrera's injury and Harper's pinch-hit

More on a lopsided win, Herrera's injury and Harper's pinch-hit
More thoughts, observations and reactions from Sunday's 15-0 drubbing of the Mets at Citi Field ... * This was yet another game that made you shake your head and try to figure out why this team has been so erratic all season. Clearly, the Nationals have the talent to win games like this on a regular basis. Why, though, haven't they been able to do it on a more consistent basis? Or, at least, play just well enough to win some more close games? Something about these Nationals allows them to...

Nats end drought with 15-0 win, lose Herrera to injury (updated)

Nats end drought with 15-0 win, lose Herrera to injury (updated)
NEW YORK - At 10:51 p.m. Wednesday, Ryan Zimmerman launched a drive to right-center field that - thanks to a replay review reversal - gave the Nationals a walk-off win over the Phillies. Eighty-eight hours and one minute after that uplifting moment, Trea Turner scampered home from third base on Juan Soto's groundout to first, pumped his fist and was welcomed back to the dugout with high-fives and smiles. The streak was over. After 32 consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard, the Nationals finally...

What's the state of Nats bullpen entering tonight's game?

What's the state of Nats bullpen entering tonight's game?
Tuesday night's 10-4 win over the Phillies took a lot out of the Nationals. They only got three innings out of Tanner Roark because of a 1-hour, 45-minute rain delay that prevented the starter from retaking the mound. That forced an already makeshift bullpen to churn out six innings, with no true long man available after Tommy Milone threw four innings in garbage time during Sunday's blowout loss to the Marlins and then landed on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation. Davey...

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...

Replacements come through in win over Phillies (updated)

Replacements come through in win over Phillies (updated)
Hours after watching their front office trade away two popular veterans and their owner issue a statement that all but served as a concession speech for the 2018 season, the Nationals took the field tonight to face a Phillies team that is very much in a pennant race for the first time in seven years, then sat through a 1-hour, 42-minute rain delay in the third inning before re-taking the field in front of a crowd with a vibe not felt around here since maybe 2010. With Daniel Murphy on his way...

Herrera reinstated, Milone to DL (Nats win 10-4)

Herrera reinstated, Milone to DL (Nats win 10-4)
The Nationals have reinstated right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera and placed left-hander Tommy Milone on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder soreness. Herrera was out since Aug. 8 with right rotator cuff impingement. He had allowed at least one run in three of his five appearances with the Nats before going on the disabled list. He was off to a great start with the Royals before the trade, posting a 1-1 record with 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA. But with the Nats, he is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA...

Bullpen update: Martinez "hopeful" to have Herrera back versus Phillies

Bullpen update: Martinez "hopeful" to have Herrera back versus Phillies
Along with having Stephen Strasburg return for the Nationals' critical series this week against the Phillies, manager Davey Martinez believes there is a very good chance his bullpen will get an important arm back in closer Kelvin Herrera. Herrera, who arrived from the Kansas City Royals in a trade in mid-June, struggled to begin the second half of the season, going just 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA and three saves since the All-Star Break. In the first half of the season, most of that time with the...

Strasburg, Herrera both could return for Phillies series

Strasburg, Herrera both could return for Phillies series
The Nationals could have both Stephen Strasburg and Kelvin Herrera back on their active pitching staff for next week's series against the Phillies, though a final determination on each injured right-hander won't be made until Sunday at the earliest. Strasburg and Herrera each threw this afternoon at Nationals Park, and each appeared to emerge from the session in good shape. Strasburg threw more than 40 pitches in a bullpen session, a typical activity for him between starts. This came three...

Madson goes on DL, Solís sent to Triple-A (Nats down 6-4)

Madson goes on DL, Solís sent to Triple-A (Nats down 6-4)
ST. LOUIS - On the heels of back-to-back bullpen implosions caused both by injury and poor performance, the Nationals brought in two new relievers - Tim Collins and Trevor Gott - for tonight's game against the Cardinals and removed Ryan Madson and Sammy Solís from the active roster. Madson, who turned a 3-0 lead into a 4-3 loss via David Bote's walk-off grand slam Sunday night in Chicago, was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a back injury (the official diagnosis was lumbar nerve...

Rendon has wrist contusion, plus more injury updates

Rendon has wrist contusion, plus more injury updates
CHICAGO - When Anthony Rendon was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the top of the first Friday afternoon, the Nationals third baseman waved off a trainer and remained in the game. Rendon played all nine innings of the Nats' 3-2 loss to the Cubs. He batted three more times, driving a ball to the warning track in left field that was caught. He made three plays in the field. All appeared to be fine. But after the game ended, Rendon could be seen leaving the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley...

As Herrera lands on DL, Doolittle fights urge not to rush back

As Herrera lands on DL, Doolittle fights urge not to rush back
Kelvin Herrera is now on the disabled list, and though the Nationals hope his stay won't be long, they also know any time lost to injury right now is a detriment to their chances of catching up in a pennant race that is running out of days. Herrera, who had to depart Tuesday night's game after giving up two runs and three hits in the top of the ninth to the Braves, received results of an MRI this afternoon that showed a rotator cuff impingement in his right shoulder. Manager Davey Martinez...

Game 114 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Herrera to DL)

Game 114 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Herrera to DL)
As if the sting of Tuesday night's 3-1 loss to the Braves in the second half of their day-night doubleheader wasn't enough, today the Nationals learned they've now lost Kelvin Herrera to a shoulder injury. Herrera, who had an MRI this morning, has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement. We'll get more details - and, hopefully, an estimated timeline for his return - shortly, but in the meantime the Nationals bullpen has yet another new face: Koda Glover....

Nats drop nightcap in ninth, lose Herrera to injury (updated)

Nats drop nightcap in ninth, lose Herrera to injury (updated)
It was right there for the taking, a doubleheader sweep and a chance to make a definitive statement that they intend to thrust themselves into the mix of the National League East's three-team pennant race right now. Instead, the Nationals squandered yet another golden opportunity to win a close ballgame, and because of that a long and exhausting day and night at the ballpark wound up as nothing more than a push. No ground gained, no ground lost. Which is not what they need right now. A 3-1...

On Herrera's one-run save and Martinez's late-game strategy

On Herrera's one-run save and Martinez's late-game strategy
Even though Sean Doolittle has been sidelined for four weeks now with a toe injury, the Nationals on Sunday called upon Kelvin Herrera in a save situation for only the third time. The vast majority of their wins over the last month have come with sizeable leads, leaving their fill-in closer rarely taking the ball in the ninth inning with a slim lead. Sunday, though, presented a new opportunity for Herrera. And the result was especially encouraging for the right-hander and the...

Nats hold off Reds 2-1, get long-awaited one-run victory

Nats hold off Reds 2-1, get long-awaited one-run victory
The Nationals have shown they can win some lopsided games, riding big offensive showings to big victories. If, however, they're going to pull off a late-season surge, they're going to have to start winning some tight ballgames when there's little-to-no margin for error. Like today's series finale against the Reds, in which the Nationals held a one-run lead in the fourth inning and then tried to make it hold up the rest of the afternoon. It wasn't easy, but the challenge facing the Nats...

Milone again leads the way as Nats sweep Mets (updated)

Milone again leads the way as Nats sweep Mets (updated)
They aren't going to score 25 runs every night, the Nationals very much know this. Given the inconsistent nature of their offensive performance this season, they know their best path to a late-season surge is going to come from their pitching staff, first and foremost a rotation that has surprisingly underachieved all summer. Who would have imagined, though, that salvation would come in the form of Tommy Milone? Yes, Tommy Milone. The long-ago Nationals prospect who was among the players sent...

Nats left frustrated by 10-inning loss, on multiple levels

Nats left frustrated by 10-inning loss, on multiple levels
MIAMI - They could have made it all moot had they simply scored at any point during the first eight innings of tonight's game, or added the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth after tying things up with an impressive rally, despite that runner standing only 90 feet away with one out. But the Nationals did none of that, and so they left themselves in a position where an odd - and ultimately controversial - bottom of the 10th proved the difference between a potentially uplifting win and yet...