Nats claim left-hander Tyler Robertson off waivers from Twins (Chien-Ming Wang note)

Nats claim left-hander Tyler Robertson off waivers from Twins (Chien-Ming Wang note)
The Nationals have claimed left-handed reliever Tyler Robertson off waivers from the Twins and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced this afternoon. Robertson, 25, is 2-2 with a 5.54 ERA in 42 career big league relief appearances. Drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2006 draft, Robertson made his big league debut last season and appeared in just two games this year before being designated for assignment earlier this week. Robertson has held left-handed batters to...

Bernadina posts two RBIs in WBC debut, Wang excels

Bernadina posts two RBIs in WBC debut, Wang excels
JUPITER, Fla. - Spoiler alert: I'm about to provide updates of the Netherlands/Korea World Baseball Classic game, which is apparently airing on a time delay on MLB Network. I got scolded on Twitter by one fan who said that I ruined the game by posting an update on Roger Bernadina, so be warned, everyone. If you're really into the game on TV and don't want me to spoil your entire morning, stop reading now. Batting third in the Netherlands' lineup, Bernadina went 1-for-5 with a double and...

Let the offseason begin

Let the offseason begin
If you're reading this, that means that Hurricane Sandy hasn't wiped out your power just yet. Let's hope it stays that way. The chatter will never end regardless of what the calendar reads, but as of this morning, baseball is now over until the middle of February. Count me among those not ready for it to go. I was hoping the Tigers would put up a fight and make the World Series interesting, or at the very least get us to a Game 5 and give Justin Verlander a chance to wow the sports world...

A look at the Nationals' roster entering the offseason

A look at the Nationals' roster entering the offseason
I've got some good news if you were a fan of the makeup of the 2012 Washington Nationals: There's a very good chance that the 2013 Nationals won't look a heck of a lot different than they did this season when the Nats went on a run to their first National League East title. The Nats enter the offseason with only two players who were on their National League Division Series roster definitely bound for free agency: right-handed starter Edwin Jackson and left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez....

Johnson discusses Nats' 10-4 loss

Johnson discusses Nats' 10-4 loss
ST. LOUIS - The Champagne celebration won't take place on this road trip. The Nationals came into today needing only a win or a Braves loss to pop open the bubbly as NL East champions, but they fell behind 5-0 after two innings and 7-0 after three, and then let the Cardinals put up two big tack-on runs in the bottom of the fourth to turn a 7-4 game back into a comfortable five-run lead. Ross Detwiler gave up seven runs (three of which were earned) over 2 1/3 innings. He struggled in finding...

A disastrous start for Detwiler (Nats blown out 10-4)

A disastrous start for Detwiler (Nats blown out 10-4)
ST. LOUIS - Given a chance to clinch the division title in his hometown, Ross Detwiler did not bring his A-game to the table. Detwiler has allowed five runs through two innings, walked four hitters and served up a two-run homer to Carlos Beltran. The Nationals trail the Cardinals 5-0 after two. Detwiler pitched a scoreless first inning, but fell apart in the second. He walked the first two hitters he faced, then got an awful break when Danny Espinosa booted a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play...

Johnson talks after Nats' 6-2 loss

Johnson talks after Nats' 6-2 loss
The Nationals held a "jerseys off their backs" promotion today, giving their game-worn jerseys to fans. The promotion was perfectly timed. "It was a good day to give the jersey away," Johnson said. "I don't wanna wear that one. That one was unlucky." You'd have a hard time finding a game the Nationals have played this season which was as sloppy as the one they played today. The Brewers hit few balls all that hard, but they still notched 15 hits. The Nats made two errors and lost two...

A strong outing by Wang, even if the numbers say otherwise (Nats lose 6-2)

A strong outing by Wang, even if the numbers say otherwise (Nats lose 6-2)
You look at the pitching line of Chien-Ming Wang this afternoon, you assume it was another tough outing for the veteran right-hander. Wang went four innings today, allowing two runs on eight hits. He struck out two, walked none and leaves with the Nats trailing 2-0 in the fifth. The numbers are deceiving, however. Wang actually pitched pretty darn well. His sinker had great movement, and he was able to locate it down in the zone and get Brewers hitters to beat it into the ground. He had good...

Chien-Ming Wang making first start since June 19

Chien-Ming Wang making first start since June 19
For the first time in over three months, Chien-Ming Wang will start a major league game today. The Nationals will give the ball to their veteran sinkerballer and hope he can cool down a red-hot Brewers lineup. Wang threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, but he hasn't started a game since June 19. Wang battled hamstring and hip injuries this season, and when he has pitched, either at the major league or minor league levels, he...

Chien-Ming Wang to start for Nats Sunday

Chien-Ming Wang to start for Nats Sunday
Davey Johnson has decided on his starter for Sunday's game against the Brewers. He's going with Chien-Ming Wang. Wang pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the Nationals last night, allowing two hits and striking out one. That performance was enough to get the veteran right-hander the start on Sunday. Johnson said he liked how Wang threw yesterday, and saw good sink on Wang's two-seam fastball. "The other guy I was (considering) was (Craig) Stammen, but I really like the role (he's in),"...

Chien-Ming Wang settles in after wild pitch to go 2 1/3 innings

Chien-Ming Wang settles in after wild pitch to go 2 1/3 innings
In his first appearance with the Nationals since June 30, right-hander Chien-Ming Wang fought back from a first offering wild pitch to go 2 1/3 innings against the Dodgers on Wednesday night in Game 2 of a doubleheader. The Nationals eventually lost the game 7-6. He had been active since September 4, when he returned from a lengthy rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg. Wang had allowed 12 total runs in his final two minor league appearances. But Wednesday, manager Davey Johnson said Wang...

A different John Lannan (Beckett shutting down Nats' bats)

A different John Lannan (Beckett shutting down Nats' bats)
In John Lannan's first three major league starts this season, he allowed a total of five earned runs, pitched to a 2.41 ERA and earned the win in all three games. I was starting to believe the Nationals would be best off just running Lannan out there every day. You can't argue with guy who wins every time he takes the mound, can you? It wasn't the same Lannan out there today. And there's no chance Lannan moves to 4-for-4 in the win category. The lefty went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing...

Johnson wants right-hander for Sunday; believes Zimmermann still throwing "very good"

Johnson wants right-hander for Sunday; believes Zimmermann still throwing "very good"
Right-handers Craig Stammen and Chien-Ming Wang are the likely candidates to get a spot start on Sunday, according to manager Davey Johnson. Johnson does not want any of his regular starting rotation to have to come back on three days rest and prefers a right-hander against the Brewers' power-hitting lineup. He has not made his selection yet, wanting to wait to see how his bullpen is taxed here in the Dodgers series. "It depends on these next couple of games," Johnson said. "It could be...

Nats-Dodgers postponed, straight doubleheader tomorrow

Nats-Dodgers postponed, straight doubleheader tomorrow
Tonight's Nationals-Dodgers game has been postponed due to weather, and a straight doubleheader between the two teams has been scheduled for tomorrow. The first game will begin at 4:05 p.m., with tomorrow's regularly scheduled contest to follow. It'll be a single-admission doubleheader. Manager Davey Johnson said that Jordan Zimmermann and John Lannan will likely be his two starters tomorrow, in that order, although he had yet to confirm that with pitching coach Steve McCatty. Aaron...

Morse likely out for full Braves series, Nats not ready to celebrate yet

Morse likely out for full Braves series, Nats not ready to celebrate yet
ATLANTA - It looks like the Nationals will be without Michael Morse for the entirety of this three-game series against the Braves. Morse did not take batting practice today, as the Nationals had originally planned. He's going to give his ailing left wrist more time to rest, and according to manager Davey Johnson, isn't likely to suit up and play until Tuesday's game against the Dodgers at the earliest. "He's still bothered by it, and I didn't think it was going to heal in 48 hours,"...

Ozzie Guillen talks Strasburg shutdown, Wang has strong bullpen session

Ozzie Guillen talks Strasburg shutdown, Wang has strong bullpen session
Finally, an outsider's opinion on Stephen Strasburg's shutdown which makes sense to me. Asked before today's game about the Nationals' decision to shut down their ace, Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen went all Ozzie Guillen on reporters.

Wang activated, Brown back after strong season at Syracuse

Wang activated, Brown back after strong season at Syracuse
The Nationals have officially activated Chien-Ming Wang from the 15-day disabled list, giving manager Davey Johnson yet another option in relief. Wang has been around the Nats the last couple days after making his final rehab start Sept. 1 for Double-A Harrisburg. Realistically, the veteran righty doesn't stand much chance of pitching in meaningful situations, but he could be called on to eat innings at some point. Wang is 2-3 with a 7.61 ERA in seven games (four starts) with the Nats this...

Waiting on the Nats' lineup (Werth a late scratch)

Waiting on the Nats' lineup (Werth a late scratch)
We're less than two hours away from first pitch and are still waiting for the Nationals to send out their lineup for today's game against the Cardinals. The holdup is almost certainly related to Jayson Werth, who was pulled from last night's game in the ninth inning due to a hamstring cramp. Werth didn't sound concerned about the hamstring after the game and said that he hoped to be able to play today. But with it being a day game after a night game and the Nats not wanting the hamstring...

Rendon to D.C. for September call-up? (plus news on Perry, Wang and Pucetas)

Rendon to D.C. for September call-up? (plus news on Perry, Wang and Pucetas)
Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon spent just nine games with high Single-A Potomac before being called up to Double-A Harrisburg. He has played only four games for the Senators, but with September call-ups just around the corner, manager Davey Johnson was asked about the possibility of Rendon getting some at-bats at the major league level before the season ends. "He hasn't had many at-bats," Johnson said. "I don't know how many games they have left down in Harrisburg. But I know that he...

Johnson: Chien-Ming Wang's delivery "cleaner"; minor leaguer suspended

Johnson: Chien-Ming Wang's delivery "cleaner"; minor leaguer suspended
Manager Davey Johnson got a good report on rehabbing right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, who started Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg. Nursing hip soreness, Wang went 4 2/3 innings, allowed three hits, two runs, both earned, two walks and struck out three. It was the fewest number of earned runs he had allowed in four rehab starts since July 23. Wang was back in the clubhouse Friday and Johnson said the right-hander "said he felt pretty good." "The report I got on him yesterday was his delivery...