Key vets ready to empty the tank one last time for World Series

Key vets ready to empty the tank one last time for World Series
HOUSTON - When they take the field tonight for the first time as World Series participants, once the players have been introduced, once the anthem has been sung, once the ceremonial first pitch has been thrown, the Nationals will embark on their 11th game of this postseason. They'll do with Max Scherzer on the mound for the fifth time, fourth as a starter. There's a decent chance they'll be summoning Patrick Corbin out of the bullpen for the fourth time, to go along with two starts. They'll...

Nats must decide who starts Game 3, who starts at second base

Nats must decide who starts Game 3, who starts at second base
HOUSTON - The decision to start Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series was easy for Davey Martinez and the Nationals. The tougher decision is how to line up Patrick Corbin and Aníbal Sánchez after that, not to mention how to assemble a lineup for these games in an American League ballpark. Martinez didn't reveal the rotation plan beyond Game 2, and it sounds like the Nationals genuinely don't know yet who they'll give the ball to for Game 3 in D.C. on...

Scherzer gets ball for Game 1 of World Series (updated)

Scherzer gets ball for Game 1 of World Series (updated)
HOUSTON - The Nationals could've gotten cute with their World Series rotation, sticking with the order that led them to a National League Championship Series sweep of the Cardinals and saved up their two best horses for potential Games 6 and 7. In the end, manager Davey Martinez decided to keep thing simple and just go with his best guys right out of the chute against the Astros' comparable aces. Max Scherzer will start Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Tuesday night, with Stephen Strasburg on...

Nats vs. Astros: World Series tale of the tape

Nats vs. Astros: World Series tale of the tape
The matchup is now set. After a thrilling Game 6 victory over the Yankees late Saturday night, the Astros captured their second American League pennant in three years and thus advanced to the 2019 World Series to face the very well rested Nationals, who today will work out and meet with a throng of media members at Minute Maid Park, with Game 1 of the Fall Classic set for 8:08 p.m. Tuesday. This World Series may not appeal as much to casual observers and television executives as, say,...

Nats trying to maintain edge during long break before World Series

Nats trying to maintain edge during long break before World Series
On Tuesday night, they celebrated like they'd never celebrated before. Which was appropriate, considering they'd never won the National League pennant before. So what did the Nationals do on Wednesday? "Nothing," reliever Sean Doolittle said. "Nothing. I woke up at like 11, I took the dogs for a walk and grabbed some bagels from Bethesda Bagels, and then realized that I didn't have anything to do. So I went back to bed and slept until 5:30." Suffice it to say, the Nats happily took a day...

Thursday morning World Series Nats Q&A

Thursday morning World Series Nats Q&A
We're in uncharted waters here, folks. Everything from here on out is brand new, and there's no road map to show us the way. The Nationals are going to the World Series for the first time ... but they're now in Day 2 of a six-day layoff before they take the field again at either Minute Maid Park or Yankee Stadium. What do we do to fill all this free time? We answer your questions, that's what we do! I know you've got plenty of them stored up, whether looking back on the regular season or...

Nats to open 2020 at Mets, will face entire AL West

Nats to open 2020 at Mets, will face entire AL West
The Nationals just completed a high-intensity series at Citi Field, and now they already have to start looking ahead to their next trip to Queens - in March. Major League Baseball unveiled its 2020 schedule this afternoon, never mind the fact there are still seven weeks remaining in the highly compelling 2019 season, and it features the earliest opening day in history: March 26. All 30 clubs will be in action on that Thursday, with the Nationals opening up on the road against the Mets for a...

History suggests turnaround for Nats is nearly impossible

History suggests turnaround for Nats is nearly impossible
The common refrain emanating from the Nationals clubhouse over the last several weeks has been one of optimism. As bad as things have gone, they to a man insist there's still time to salvage this season. Really, what else are they supposed to say? Nobody's going to publicly give up on Memorial Day weekend. And if you're a professional athlete, you have to believe anything is possible. It's the only way to be successful in that line of work. But we try to deal in facts here, and the simple...

2019 MLB predictions

2019 MLB predictions
The countdown is on. We are now just shy of 24 hours from opening day across Major League Baseball. (Let's just forget the Athletics and Mariners already played two regular season games in Japan last week, cause it only makes things more confusing.) After an agonizing winter and spring waiting for free agents to sign, at last we can watch and write about what's actually taking place on the field. If you're looking for our annual Nationals media season predictions, you're going to have to...

Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Astros and Mets

Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Astros and Mets
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - And so we have reached final day of spring training. Yes, the Nationals' charter (not to mention the commercial flights us reporters use) will be heading back to Washington tonight. Anybody who doesn't swing at the first pitch during today's game deserves to be fined. Make that today's games. Plural. For some bizarre reason, the Nationals have split-squad games today: One at home against the Astros, one on the road against the Mets. Given the travel situation, almost...

Source: Nats adding veteran lefty Sipp to bullpen

Source: Nats adding veteran lefty Sipp to bullpen
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are bringing in an experienced left-handed reliever after all. The Nats have agreed to terms with veteran Tony Sipp on a one-year contract with an option for 2020, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. Sipp, 35, will need to pass a physical before the contract is official, but he's expected to report to spring training within the next few days. Sipp fills an obvious need for the Nationals, though one club officials had been downplaying in significance...

Kieboom enjoys two-homer night vs. Verlander

Kieboom enjoys two-homer night vs. Verlander
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Carter Kieboom stepped to the plate in the bottom of the second tonight, dug in and stared out at a pitcher who needed no introduction. Yes, that was Justin Verlander, future Hall of Famer, preparing to deliver a pitch to Kieboom, potential future infielder for the Nationals. The gap in experience was striking: When Verlander made his first career World Series start for the 2006 Tigers, Kieboom had just turned 9. "I think I'd be lying if I said I didn't know who was...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have another night game this evening, one of five on the schedule this spring. And this one is worthy of a primetime matchup, because it's Stephen Strasburg versus Justin Verlander. Strasburg makes his third Grapefruit League start, and he has yet to surrender a run in six innings of work. He'll look to continue that run tonight and extend himself deeper into the game. Verlander will be facing a Nationals lineup that doesn't include many big names. With...

Quick-pitching Hellickson finding early spring success

Quick-pitching Hellickson finding early spring success
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Pitching is about disrupting a hitter's timing, which traditionally is done via the changing of pitch speeds. But it can't hurt to try changing the speed of the actual delivery to the plate, which is exactly what Jeremy Hellickson is up to this spring. Owner of a fastball that tops out at 90 mph, the Nationals right-hander knows he needs to find some other methods for keeping a hitter off-balance. So he's been tinkering around with a quick-pitch the last few weeks,...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's a quick turnaround for the Nationals, who following last night's 2-1 loss to the Marlins lost an hour due to daylight saving time and now are right back to work today against the Astros. At least they don't have to travel anywhere for this "road" game against their ballpark mates. Jeremy Hellickson gets the start, and he has been very effective so far in two previous outings this spring, allowing one run on three hits over five total innings, striking out...

Not rushed this year, Hellickson ready to extend himself for Nats

Not rushed this year, Hellickson ready to extend himself for Nats
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's forgotten a bit because of his strong performance last season, but Jeremy Hellickson didn't sign with the Nationals until March 17. He made only one Grapefruit League start before the club broke camp and headed north for opening day. It admittedly took some time for Hellickson to feel like he was in regular-season form. That's not the case this spring. Hellickson did re-sign late again, but at least this time the contract was done before pitchers and catchers...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We've had a bit of a strange weather pattern here over the last 24 hours. It absolutely poured last night, for multiple hours, soaking everything in sight. But this morning the sky was bright blue and it looked like it would be a beautiful day. Except there's another system heading this way, and it's forecast to hit the area right around 1 p.m. So that means today's game against the Astros could be jeopardized. The Nationals are preparing as though they'll be able...

With full squad behind him, Barrett has an emotional return

With full squad behind him, Barrett has an emotional return
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There's a generally accepted rule in spring training that veteran players need only stay in the dugout watching exhibition games until the mass substitutions start taking place, usually around the fourth inning or so during this first week of play. Ryan Zimmerman, though, spoke to his Nationals teammates before Saturday night's Grapefruit League opener and made it clear no one was to leave the dugout until the completion of the fifth inning, until Aaron Barrett had...

Scherzer "fundamentally against" MLB's new pitch clock

Scherzer "fundamentally against" MLB's new pitch clock
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer hasn't been holding back this spring in his criticism of the state of baseball and the various theories and proposals that have been put forth in an attempt to address problem areas. And you can now add the pitch clock to his list of grievances. Scherzer voiced strong opposition tonight to Major League Baseball's latest change to improve pace of play, declaring himself "fundamentally against" the pitch clock after experiencing it for the first time...

Scherzer serves up homer to first batter of spring (Nats win 7-6)

Scherzer serves up homer to first batter of spring (Nats win 7-6)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer served up a home run to the second batter he faced in Florida last spring, and everything worked out just fine for the Nationals ace by season's end. He can only hope this season will play out in a similar fashion after he served up a homer to the very first batter he faced tonight in his spring debut. Taking the ball for the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener against the Astros, Scherzer surrendered a towering homer over the center field wall to leadoff...