Turner's third career cycle carries Nats to another win (updated)

Turner's third career cycle carries Nats to another win (updated)
The thermometer was loaded with mercury, the heat index was in triple digits, the ball was flying at Nationals Park, and as everyone else was dragging from exhaustion, there was Trea Turner racing around the bases in the bottom of the sixth, chasing history. Having already singled in the first, doubled in the third and homered in the fourth, here was Turner - on his 28th birthday - lining a ball over Manuel Margot's head in right field and immediately deciding it was time to turn on the...

Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Rays

Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Rays
It is scorching hot today. It's going to be 95 degrees with a heat index well above 100 when the Nationals take the field at 4:05 p.m. for the finale of their two-game series with the Rays. If you've got tickets, make sure you dress appropriately and prepare to drink a lot of water. And, of course, make sure you're in your seats in time for the first pitch of the bottom of the first, when Kyle Schwarber digs in to face Rays opener Drew Rasmussen and tries to do it again. The current tally,...

Espino's memorable week now includes first career save

Espino's memorable week now includes first career save
The call to the bullpen came after the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals at that point trailing the Phillies 12-11. Paolo Espino was told to warm up, and that he would be pitching the bottom of the ninth if his teammates managed to tie the game or take the lead. And when that's exactly what they did, getting a two-run single from Starlin Castro to go up 13-12 in the craziest game of the season, Espino began to make his way to the mound, now tasked with recording the final three outs but not...

Game 65 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

Game 65 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates
The Nationals are seeking a three-game sweep of the Pirates this afternoon, which is good news. This isn't a position they've been in often this season, so a chance at a series sweep and a four-game winning streak should not be taken lightly. There is, however, not-so-great news before we get to today's game: Starlin Castro has been placed on the restricted list. What does that mean? It can mean a lot of things, but essentially it signifies an excused absence for a player, with the team...

Game 59 lineups: Giants at Nats

Game 59 lineups: Giants at Nats
Well, the Nationals will try again tonight to send Max Scherzer to the mound to open a four-game series against the Giants. The Nationals have a ragged bullpen, even with an unscheduled off-day from Thursday night's rainout, and need length from Scherzer, and that has a good chance of happening. For his career, the right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.131 WHIP in 10 career starts against San Francisco. In nine of his 12 starts this season, Scherzer has thrown at least six innings, and...

Game 56 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 56 lineups: Nats at Phillies
We've been wondering for days now who would be starting the Nationals' series finale in Philadelphia, taking Stephen Strasburg's spot in the rotation. Well, we finally have our answer. Today's starter will be ... Austin Voth. Manager Davey Martinez came to that decision based on the fact Voth has been a starter his whole career up until this season, and he's had four days off since his last appearance (50 pitches in relief of Strasburg). It's certainly the most logical choice among the...

Nats go silent at the plate, can't win series in Atlanta (updated)

Nats go silent at the plate, can't win series in Atlanta (updated)
If they were going to produce a three-game winning streak and win a key road series against a division rival, the Nationals were going to need quality and length today from Patrick Corbin, plus a continuation of the power display their lineup showed the previous 48 hours. They almost got the first. They didn't come close to getting the latter. Corbin was outstanding for five innings, but wilted during a four-run bottom of the sixth that spoiled his start, and the Nationals lineup was rendered...

Schwarber sits to rest sore knee, Sunday's starter is TBD

Schwarber sits to rest sore knee, Sunday's starter is TBD
When Kyle Schwarber walked into Davey Martinez's office this morning in Atlanta, the Nationals left fielder told his manager his right knee was still sore after a hard landing while attempting to make a diving catch Wednesday night. Martinez told Schwarber he wouldn't be starting this afternoon's series finale against the Braves, but to get treatment on his knee, and then if he thinks he can pinch-hit later in the game, to let him know. "I couldn't even get the words out," Martinez...

Game 53 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 53 lineups: Nats at Braves
The Nationals have a chance this afternoon to take three of four from the Braves, and who saw that coming a few days ago? They've put themselves in position with a combination of power at the plate (four homers the last two nights), one gutsy start on short rest (Jon Lester) and a whole lot of innings out of their bullpen (11 innings the last two nights). Now if they're going to take the series in this early start in Atlanta, they're going to need quality innings out of Patrick Corbin. At...

Game 40 lineups: Nats at Cubs

Game 40 lineups: Nats at Cubs
After a crazy Wednesday night in Chicago, the Nationals are back at it this afternoon, looking to win their series finale against the Cubs and split the four-game set. It took a lot of effort to pull off their 4-3 victory, which came by the skin of its teeth. And they'll go into today's game with a depleted lineup. Victor Robles, who injured his right ankle rounding first base on an RBI single, is not starting today. That's not surprising, given how scary the play looked and how Robles...

Game 36 lineups: Nats at D-backs

Game 36 lineups: Nats at D-backs
The Nationals' series finale in Arizona this afternoon is important, because they're trying to win the series and head to Chicago on a positive note. But there's another important event taking place this afternoon, across the country in Trenton, N.J., where Stephen Strasburg is making a rehab start for Triple-A Rochester. It's important, of course, for Strasburg to emerge from his start (planned for five innings and 75-80 innings) healthy, because if that happens, he may be deemed ready to...

Game 24 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

Game 24 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
The Nationals have already secured their first three-game winning streak of the season. Now they've got a chance to secure their first three-game sweep of the season. Having taken the first two games of the weekend against the Marlins, the Nats will look to finish the job this afternoon, with Max Scherzer on the mound looking to rebound from a ragged start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. How often has he struggled in back-to-back starts? Hardly ever. Eight times since he signed with the...

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Dodgers
Left-hander Patrick Corbin has been reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and will start tonight's game against the Dodgers, hoping to help the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak during which they've been unable to score for the past 16 innings. Corbin was one of nine players placed on the injured list as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak that spread through the team. He's had mixed results in his career against the Dodgers, posting a 5-9 record through 21 games, including 19...

Four players activated, Corbin could start Saturday

Four players activated, Corbin could start Saturday
The Nationals will have four of their previously ineligible players in uniform and available for today's series opener at Dodger Stadium, and they could have their No. 3 starter back on the mound for Saturday night's game. Alex Avila, Patrick Corbin, Yan Gomes, Brad Hand and Jordy Mercer all cleared their COVID-19 protocols and flew on a charter from Washington to Los Angeles this morning, manager Davey Martinez revealed during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. All but Corbin have been...

Kieboom, García headed to Triple-A after latest Nationals cuts

Kieboom, García headed to Triple-A after latest Nationals cuts
Infielders Carter Kieboom and Luis García were optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday afternoon, as the Nationals made a series of roster moves that pretty much solidify their 26-man roster for Thursday's nationally televised home and season opener against the Mets. Also optioned to Triple-A were left-hander Sam Clay, right-hander Kyle McGowin and outfielder Yadiel Hernández. Utility men Jordy Mercer and Hernán Pérez, both of whom were in camp on minor league deals, had their...

Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach

Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach
The second half of spring training begins today. Yep, 20 days have passed and 20 days remain before the Nationals break camp and head north. So this is about the time when things begin to start ramping up a bit, when pitchers start pitching more, when regulars start playing more. In that vein, Max Scherzer today makes his second start of the spring. He threw 38 pitches over 1 2/3 innings Friday night against the Cardinals. Today, against the same St. Louis squad, he's scheduled to throw 50...

A still-early attempt at projecting the opening night roster

A still-early attempt at projecting the opening night roster
Would you believe spring training is already 40 percent complete? That's right, the Nationals have made it through the first 16 days of a 40-day camp. Time flies when you're having fun, huh? (Or when there's actually baseball being played.) That's not to suggest the Nats are anywhere close to being ready for opening night, though. They've still got a lot to figure out over the next 24 days. Truth be told, they've barely answered any of the most pressing questions they faced when they...

Nats invite 71 total players to big league camp

Nats invite 71 total players to big league camp
The Nationals have invited 32 players on minor league contracts to spring training, bringing their total big league camp roster to a whopping 71. The extensive list of non-roster invitees includes several well-known veterans with prior experience either with the Nationals (Gerardo Parra, Javy Guerra, Aaron Barrett, Adrián Sanchez) or other clubs (Luis Avilán, T.J. McFarland, Welington Castillo, Jordy Mercer, Hernán Pérez, Blake Swihart, Yasmany Tomás). It also includes several of...

Checking out possible spring training surprise candidates

Checking out possible spring training surprise candidates
Unless you're one of those who mines the minor leagues for every possible nugget of information, you didn't really know who Jake Noll was heading into 2019 spring training for the Nationals. Maybe you knew he was a seventh-round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Gulf Coast. Maybe you were aware that he'd followed up a .291/.341/.412 campaign between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg in 2018 with a .265/.309/.429 log in limited Arizona Fall League play with Salt...