Two more lefty relievers come off the board

Two more lefty relievers come off the board
If the Nationals intend to acquire another left-hander for their bullpen before spring training, they'd better hurry. The ranks of available arms are beginning to thin out. Two more southpaws came off the board Friday when Justin Wilson signed with the Mets and Oliver Pérez re-signed with the Indians. Wilson, owner of a 3.33 ERA and 1.268 WHIP in seven seasons with the Pirates, Yankees, Tigers and Cubs, reportedly agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Mets. The Nationals had shown...

Looking back at the key decisions in the seventh and eighth

Looking back at the key decisions in the seventh and eighth
CHICAGO - A lot happened in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Seriously, for a 2-1 ballgame, there were enough significant moments, great plays, terrible plays and key decisions to warrant a week's worth of discussion. We don't have that much time, of course, to discuss it all. Game 4 is coming up later this afternoon. (If you missed it, Major League Baseball announced late last night that, no matter the outcome of the other NLDS, the game will be played at 5:38 p.m. EDT in an...

Nats bullpen finishes off Cubs in Game 2 with masterful four innings

Nats bullpen finishes off Cubs in Game 2 with masterful four innings
It takes the offense, pitching and defense to win a playoff game. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the Nationals got the starting pitching they needed, but the offense and defense didn't have a great game in a 3-0 loss to the Cubs. In Game 2, Nats starter Gio Gonzalez allowed three runs in five innings of work. In order for the club to have a chance to come back, they needed the bullpen to step up. Five hurlers did just that, never allowing the Cubs a chance to add on...

Bullpen doing its job again, but what's up with Romero usage?

Bullpen doing its job again, but what's up with Romero usage?
PHILADELPHIA - The bullpen shined again Monday. Four relievers, three of them left-handers, shut out the Phillies for the final 10 outs of the game in a 3-1 Nationals win. A key battle occurred in the sixth. Starter A.J. Cole notched two outs to begin the frame. But the Phillies sandwiched a single in there by Odúbel Herrera, who had earlier crushed a solo shot. 101 pitches into Cole's start, the Nats decided to go to the bullpen to try to get out of the frame. Left-hander Oliver Pérez...

Grace in "rhythm," feels "good right now" as postseason approaches

Grace in "rhythm," feels "good right now" as postseason approaches
With the postseason now just two weeks away, the conversation continues as to how many left-handed relievers the Nationals will carry on the playoff roster. Sean Dollittle is a lock as the closer. But will the Nats also carry Enny Romero, Sammy Soliís, Oliver Pérez and Matt Grace? I spoke to Solís this week about the competition for the left-handed spots on the postseason roster. He said he is taking these last few weeks "very, very seriously." Same goes for Grace. He said...

Solís taking every outing "very seriously" as he vies for postseason spot

Solís taking every outing "very seriously" as he vies for postseason spot
Left-hander Sammy Solís has been pitching well the last few games. He hopes this run to the finish line will be enough to prove he deserves a spot on the postseason roster. Solís has a 1.35 ERA in his last seven games. But he did not pitch in May or June, making only 11 appearances before Aug. 1. Solís was on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation from April 19 to July 1. He appreciates the medical staff taking it slow with him before he returned to pitching, making no...

Baker on how many left-handed relievers they will carry in playoffs

Baker on how many left-handed relievers they will carry in playoffs
The Nationals make their way towards the National League Division Series with some decisions to make in the bullpen and specifically how many left-handers they will carry in the post season. Left-handed closer Sean Doolittle leads the list as the lock. He is 1-0 with 20 saves, a 2.78 ERA and nine holds in 47 games. He is 17-for-17 in save opportunities with the Nats. Left-handed batters are hitting .158 (6-for-58) against his pitches. The other southpaws under consideration for the post season...

Jackson uses veteran savvy to wiggle out of early jam

Jackson uses veteran savvy to wiggle out of early jam
Right-hander Edwin Jackson allowed a Giancarlo Stanton home run and three walks in the first inning but managed to get out of the jam. The veteran ended up lasting six innings and giving up three runs as the Nationals came back to win 8-3. Walking the bases loaded could have ruined the game, but Jackson held on. With two outs, Tomás Telis lined out to Trea Turner, who dove to his right and made a diving catch, fresh off a return from a broken right wrist, to end the threat. "That was huge....

Nationals trounce Marlins again, reduce magic number to 18

Nationals trounce Marlins again, reduce magic number to 18
Their ace and their veteran outfielder returned Monday night, leading to victory. Their leadoff man and shortstop returned tonight, contributing to victory. The Nationals are looking more and more whole these days, and not surprisingly, the results are reflecting that. With Trea Turner back atop the lineup tonight after a two-month absence, the Nats finally solved pesky Marlins right-hander Vance Worley and put up their second straight big night at the plate. And thanks to another quality start...

Big first inning rough on Gsellman (Nats win 9-4)

Big first inning rough on Gsellman (Nats win 9-4)
The Nationals took control of today's game against the Mets in the first inning. In the top of the first with two outs, Gio Gonzalez walked Asdrúbal Cabrera. He went to second on a wild pitch. Travis Taijeron singled up the middle and Michael A. Taylor threw home to Matt Wieters. Wieters tagged out a sliding Cabrera to end the inning. In the bottom of the first with one out, Wilmer Difo reached on a catching error by right-hander Robert Gsellman. Anthony Rendon doubled to put two men in...

Baker would love to improve record at home and during the day

Baker would love to improve record at home and during the day
Manager Dusty Baker, prior to facing the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, talked about the Nationals' home and away records and how they do in day games. The club was coming off another long road trip of nine or more games. In those three long trips, the Nationals have been outstanding, going 23-5 (.821). The Nationals have the National League's best road record at 33-19 (.635). Why are they so good on the road? "Well, number one, we get the first at-bat," Baker said during Tusday's pregame....

On the decision to let Scherzer try to finish the eighth inning

On the decision to let Scherzer try to finish the eighth inning
Max Scherzer communicates with his manager and pitching coach as well as anybody in the sport, and for that and many other reasons he has earned the trust of both to dictate (most of the time) how long he can remain in a ballgame. So if you're wondering who decided Scherzer should remain on the mound in the top of the eighth inning Friday night, as his pitch count first topped 110 and then reached 120, the answer is ... Scherzer himself. "He said he was good," manager Dusty Baker said. "We...

Early Fourth of July fireworks at Nationals Park (Nats win 11-4)

Early Fourth of July fireworks at Nationals Park (Nats win 11-4)
The big show is later tonight on the National Mall, but there already have been some early fireworks on South Capitol Street today. (Sorry, I believe I was legally obligated to make that hacky joke.) The Mets have launched two home runs off Joe Ross, including José Reyes' shot down the right field line on the day's third pitch. The Nationals have scored a pair of runs themselves, but took the more traditional tact of manufacturing those. Reyes pounced on Ross' 0-2 fastball, sending it...

Nats blow early six-run lead, lose 8-7 on Ozuna's walk-off hit

Nats blow early six-run lead, lose 8-7 on Ozuna's walk-off hit
MIAMI - Up six runs against yet another division rival hopelessly trying to get within striking distance of the comfortable division leaders? What could possibly go wrong for the Nationals? Well, a lot, as it turned out. Not only did the Nats blow a six-run lead to the Marlins, their subsequent 8-7 loss in tonight's series opener also saw Anthony Rendon depart with an apparent injury. The Marlins stormed back to score six runs off Tanner Roark in the bottom of the third, tied the game again in...

Nats ride Scherzer's 14 strikeouts to 2-1 victory over Dodgers (updated)

Nats ride Scherzer's 14 strikeouts to 2-1 victory over Dodgers (updated)
LOS ANGELES - The running joke around the Nationals is that anytime Max Scherzer takes the mound, you better watch because something special is probably going to happen. Thing is, it's not a joke. It's real. And these days, Scherzer is spectacular. Or as teammate Koda Glover described it: "He's a stud." The Nationals ace added another memorable performance to his ever-growing resume tonight, striking out 14 Dodgers in only seven innings, 11 of them in the game's first 3 2/3 innings. And...

Nationals maximize full arsenal of lefties to topple Dodgers

Nationals maximize full arsenal of lefties to topple Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - The Dodgers, as the Nationals saw firsthand last October, are awfully vulnerable against left-handed pitching. Even though they've improved somewhat in that regard this season, so many of their prominent batters swing from the left side of the plate that an opposing manager would be foolish not to play the matchups as much as possible when given the opportunity. Dusty Baker knew that heading into Monday night's game. And so - aided in part by the fact Koda Glover reported a sore...

Pitching fades late as Nationals fall 6-1 to Pirates

Pitching fades late as Nationals fall 6-1 to Pirates
PITTSBURGH - The Nationals needed to keep tonight's game within striking distance, knowing they faced a stiff challenge against Pirates ace Gerrit Cole. For six innings, they were able to do that. Then it fell apart and any realistic hope of a comeback was dashed. A three-run homer off tiring starter Jacob Turner in the bottom of the sixth and then three more runs off relievers Oliver Pérez and Matt Albers in the bottom of the seventh carried the Pirates to a 6-1 victory over the Nationals...

While lineup soars, bullpen continues to concern Nationals

While lineup soars, bullpen continues to concern Nationals
The Nationals lineup, in case you hadn't heard, is really good. As the calendar shifts from April to May, the Nats as a team lead the majors in runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. And on an individual level, either Ryan Zimmerman or Bryce Harper now leads the majors in runs, hits, home runs, RBIs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. What's not to like about this team? Well, besides the...

Nationals outlast Mets, win 4-3 in 11 innings

Nationals outlast Mets, win 4-3 in 11 innings
NEW YORK - Dusty Baker didn't hesitate to throw Trea Turner back to the wolves tonight, sending his leadoff man up to bat for the first time in 13 days with the bases loaded and one out in a tie game in the top of the 11th, with Jeurys Familia on the mound for the Mets. Turns out Turner didn't need to take the bat off his shoulder to drive in the winning run. Turner drew a four-pitch walk off Familia to allow Bryce Harper to trot home with the run that gave the Nationals a 4-3, extra-inning...

Reworked bullpen wraps up a win ignited by Strasburg, Zimmerman

Reworked bullpen wraps up a win ignited by Strasburg, Zimmerman
ATLANTA - There are any number of key moments in a one-run game, and there were plenty to choose from in the Nationals' 3-2 victory over the Braves tonight. But the one that may resonate the most, the one that felt like the most significant moment in this game, came from a guy who had all but disappeared from the roster. Oliver Pérez was last seen on the mound throwing a pitch 12 days ago, way back on April 8, as one of the four relievers forced to put in yeoman's work after Jeremy Guthrie...