Good friends Finnegan and Bourque keep Braves off board for win

Good friends Finnegan and Bourque keep Braves off board for win
Nationals relievers Kyle Finnegan and James Bourque managed to keep the prolific Braves offense off the board in extra innings in an 8-7, 12-inning win Friday night at Nats Park. Finnegan pitched two scoreless frames while Bourque earned his first major league win with a shutout 12th as the Nats prevented the Braves from coming back from a 5-0 deficit to win for the second night in a row. Finnegan walked the tightrope for two innings and managed to prevent the Braves from scoring a run even...

After disastrous ninth, Nats find a way to win in 12th (updated)

After disastrous ninth, Nats find a way to win in 12th (updated)
They already played this game Thursday night. Seriously, tonight's contest on South Capitol Street felt like a perfect carbon copy of the one that preceded it, the Nationals jumping out to an early five-run lead, their starter fading in the middle innings, their bullpen asked to hang on for dear life the rest of the way. It didn't work out in the series opener against the Braves. It did work this time. But only after a ghastly blown save in the top of the ninth forced a game-winning rally in...

Finnegan raising money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Finnegan raising money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan has put his name on an initiative to help children diagnosed with cancer. Finnegan is urging fans to donate to a campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation called Vs. Cancer, either in a lump sum or by pledging an amount for every strikeout Finnegan records for the remainder of the season. A co-worker of Finnegan's father, William Finnegan, told the right-hander about the organization. "Just trying to raise anything we can for this great cause,"...

Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory

Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory
Overshadowed a bit in the 6-5 10-inning loss for the Nationals at Philadelphia on Thursday was the overall effectiveness of the Nats bullpen. Starter Aníbal Sánchez lasted only 3 1/3 innings. From there, the Nats relievers compiled 6 1/3 innings, allowing the Phillies only two runs on just two hits. The bullpen struck out 10 batters. Both Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey struck out the side. It all started with Wander Suero, who worked 1 2/3 innings after Sánchez's struggles. He kept...

Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers

Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers
Some fans have asked the question with the Nationals at 12-21 and in last place in the National League East: Why not just call up all the prospects and see what you have for 2021 and beyond? Manager Davey Martinez was asked about third baseman Carter Kieboom, who started the season with the Nationals but since Aug. 26 is back at the alternate training site working on his hitting and his approach at the plate. "When we assessed Carter at the time, he was trending downward," Martinez said...

Same old, same old for Nats in 6-0 loss to Phillies (updated)

Same old, same old for Nats in 6-0 loss to Phillies (updated)
It would be one thing if the Nationals were engaged in nip-and-tuck, well-played ballgames every night and just couldn't find a way to emerge on top. That's not what's happening right now. The Nats aren't even giving themselves a reasonable chance, digging themselves into insurmountable holes and not possessing the kind of lineup capable of making that much ground back up. Add tonight's 6-0 thumping at the hands of the Phillies to the growing list. For a while, this contest looked like it...

Nats lose battle of bullpens to Phillies after rain delay (updated)

Nats lose battle of bullpens to Phillies after rain delay (updated)
Rarely do we think of D.C.'s summer weather as an advantage for the Nationals, who lament the heat, humidity and evening thunderstorms as much as any commuter from Fairfax or Silver Spring. But when a storm rolled through South Capitol Street at the end of the fifth inning tonight, it felt appropriate to wonder if the Nats might actually benefit from the situation. When play resumed, the Phillies were probably going to have to pull starter Jake Arrieta, even though he had cruised through five...

Scherzer, bullpen find way to hold off late Marlins rally for 5-4 win (updated)

Scherzer, bullpen find way to hold off late Marlins rally for 5-4 win (updated)
On a day the Nationals announced that one of their aces, Stephen Strasburg, is out for the season because he needs surgery on his right hand, Max Scherzer battled for 4 2/3 innings against a feisty Marlins lineup in the first game of a doubleheader at Nats Park. Thanks to their bullpen, highlighted by a timely strikeout from reliever Kyle Finnegan, the Nats found a way to hold on for a nail-biting, 5-4 win. The Nats managed to score five runs on six hits in the game, highlighted by two runs and...

Seven relievers post five zeros in Nationals' win (updated)

Seven relievers post five zeros in Nationals' win (updated)
Davey Martinez can wish for more innings from his rotation. Until it actually happens, he has no choice but to ask for a lot from his bullpen. That unit couldn't finish the job Monday night during a gut-punch loss in Atlanta. Tonight, seven different relievers joined forces to pitch five scoreless innings and complete the job. And when Daniel Hudson, pitching for the third straight day and only 24 hours removed from an ugly blown save, closed it out in the bottom of the ninth, the Nationals...

Bats silent, Castro hurt as Nats lose suspended game (updated)

Bats silent, Castro hurt as Nats lose suspended game (updated)
BALTIMORE - The Nationals took the field late this afternoon at Camden Yards, the first team to take the field despite the fact this is not their home, and set about to correct what went wrong Sunday at Nationals Park, when a malfunctioning tarp forced the suspension of their game with the Orioles, who led 5-2 at the time. When this resumed game finally ended today, they had done nothing to correct their mistakes from Sunday. If anything, they raised more questions in this 6-2 loss that...

Martinez keeping close eye on Doolittle, bullpen as season continues

Martinez keeping close eye on Doolittle, bullpen as season continues
The Nationals placed veteran reliever Sean Doolittle on the 10-day injured list Thursday and promoted rookie left-hander Seth Romero to the active roster. Doolittle is suffering from right knee fatigue. Manager Davey Martinez is devising a plan of how to get his left-handed closer back 100 percent healthy over the next week or so. The hope is that with his knee returning to full strength, the velocity in his fastball will return to normal too. "He's going to go back with us," Martinez said...

Bullpen rounding into form, even with Doolittle on the outs

Bullpen rounding into form, even with Doolittle on the outs
Every team enters every season thinking it has its bullpen plan in place. Who's going to close. Who's going to set up. Who's going to get lefties out. Who's going to pitch out of jams. And then the season begins, and every team realizes that plan going in isn't going to work and has to start adjusting on the fly. Truth be told, it takes months for a bullpen to truly take shape. A manager needs to see how different pitchers handle different situations. He needs to see who's healthy and...

Romero looks "fearless," could be added to roster if Nats need lefty

Romero looks "fearless," could be added to roster if Nats need lefty
Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced Monday that the club's five-man taxi squad included left-hander Seth Romero, who has never pitched in the major leagues. The 2017 first-round selection out of the University of Houston missed all of the 2019 season as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery. It was an interesting choice, showing the Nats have confidence in Romero and his stuff and believe that he is very close to making that next step. Plus, looking at the structure of the Nats bullpen...

Harris back with Nats, live BP session set for Tuesday

Harris back with Nats, live BP session set for Tuesday
Reliever Will Harris made the trip to New York as a member of the five-man Nationals taxi squad, a good sign that if everything goes well this week, he could be back in the bullpen at the end of this series or in Baltimore. Manager Davey Martinez said Harris will throw to live batters tomorrow and that will be the final test to see how his tender groin has recovered the past 10 days. "I talked to him today (and) he said he felt good," Martinez said on a pregame Zoom call from Citi Field. "We...

Martinez likes Finnegan's work ethic, Fedde's versatility

Martinez likes Finnegan's work ethic, Fedde's versatility
The Nationals have entered a span of 13 days of games scheduled without a break. Last week they were off Monday and Thursday, not to mention having last weekend's entire series with the Marlins postponed because of the coronavirus. Manager Davey Martinez said Friday he likes the notion of playing every day because it feels more like a normal season. "For me, on the schedule we have 13 days straight," Martinez said on a Zoom video call. "We are just trying to get through the day. That's the...

Solid spring, summer have helped Bourque build confidence

Solid spring, summer have helped Bourque build confidence
James Bourque started Saturday's sim game at Nats Park. It was good for the right-hander to get some work in, because the Nationals will have five days between their last game, against the Blue Jays, and their next matchup, Tuesday against the Mets. Bourque pitched an inning against the Yankees July 25 and then 1/3 of an inning July 28 against the Blue Jays. So he will go a minimum of seven days without game appearances. And he's not the only one. Saturday was an important opportunity for...

No update on Soto, Martinez cautious with Strasburg recovery

No update on Soto, Martinez cautious with Strasburg recovery
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said there is no update available yet on outfielder Juan Soto and his testing for COVID-19. "Nothing," Martinez said during his pregame video conference call Sunday. "Like I said, we'll get him as soon as he's able to come back. We'll get him going again. That's all I have." Soto received a positive test on Thursday morning and has been staying home in D.C. since. He needs two negative test results separated by 24 hours to be eligible to be...

Finnegan on making the Nats roster: "It's incredible"

Finnegan on making the Nats roster: "It's incredible"
Right-hander Kyle Finnegan has been in the minors since 2013, so making the opening day roster in 2020 with the Nationals was a big step. Since arriving as a sixth-round pick by the Athletics, Finnegan has played for seven different teams and logged time at every level. He was a starter from 2013 to 2015, making it to Double-A in 2014 and Triple-A in 2017. The Nats signed him as a free agent in December 2019. In late March, the Nats optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg. But then the coronavirus...

Nats announce 2020 opening day 30-man roster

Nats announce 2020 opening day 30-man roster
The Nationals have announced their 30-man opening day roster for the 2020 regular season, which was overshadowed by the news that outfielder Juan Soto has tested positive for COVID-19 and is on the injured list to begin the season. Soto is not currently showing any symptoms. General manager Mike Rizzo confirmed that Soto is "asymptomatic." Austin Voth has been named the fifth starter to begin the season, while Erick Fedde will pitch out of the bullpen. "Austin Voth will definitely be our...

Nats sign career minor league reliever Finnegan to MLB deal

Nats sign career minor league reliever Finnegan to MLB deal
SAN DIEGO - In their quest to refortify a bullpen that was in a constant state of change all season, the Nationals have signed Kyle Finnegan to a big league deal, taking a chance on a 28-year-old right-hander with a big arm and eye-popping minor league numbers this season but zero big league experience. Finnegan has spent the last seven years in the Athletics' farm system, a former struggling starter who made the conversion to reliever in 2016 and enjoyed a career renaissance in the process. A...