Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves
We've seen the Nationals put together isolated offensive explosions this season. Seven times they've scored seven or more runs. How have they done in their next game? They've averaged three runs. So there's been an issue with sustaining offensive success. Tonight the Nats will try to finally do that and put together back-to-back big performances at the plate in the wake of their 11-6 victory Tuesday night. As was the case then, they're facing a left-hander, this time Drew Smyly. He's got...

Strasburg's latest ailment has ripple effect on entire staff

Strasburg's latest ailment has ripple effect on entire staff
For all the positive things that happened Tuesday night during the Nationals' 11-6 win in Atlanta, the departure of Stephen Strasburg in the bottom of the second with yet another physical ailment was by far the most significant development of the evening. And it's not simply because of what this means for Strasburg, who reported tightness in his right trapezius muscle and will undergo an MRI this morning, according to manager Davey Martinez. This also has a domino effect on several other...

Strasburg exits early, Nats pick him up with 11-6 win (updated)

Strasburg exits early, Nats pick him up with 11-6 win (updated)
On a night when Stephen Strasburg once again looked off and was pulled in the second inning - officially due to a tight trapezius muscle in his upper right back that will require an MRI in the morning - the Nationals found themselves faced with a dilemma. Having already lost five straight with a lineup that has turned the act of driving in a run into the most daunting task in the world, they could've packed their proverbial bags and departed with heads hung low. Or they could brush off...

Lester to start Wednesday night on short rest

Lester to start Wednesday night on short rest
The Nationals won't be turning to a sixth starter to take the mound in a pinch Wednesday night. They'll instead ask the oldest player on their roster to pitch on short rest against the Braves. Jon Lester, who started the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, will return to pitch at Truist Park in Atlanta on only three days' rest, manager Davey Martinez revealed during this afternoon's Zoom session with reporters. That doubleheader created a situation where on Wednesday...

Game 51 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 51 lineups: Nats at Braves
May was not kind to the Nationals, who went 11-17 and fell to a season-worst eight games under .500. If you're looking for silver linings, though, they were outscored for the month by only five runs (116-111). The average score of their wins was roughly 7-3. The average score of their losses was roughly 5-2. The point, if there is one: When the Nats hit, they win. When they don't hit, they lose. So perhaps the flip of the calendar to June will benefit this team. (Nothing else has worked.) And...

Four-strikeout game highlights Turner's breaking ball issue

Four-strikeout game highlights Turner's breaking ball issue
The first strikeout came on a curveball, down and away, out of the zone. The second strikeout came on a curveball, down and away, though barely in the zone. The third strikeout actually came on a fastball, up in the zone, but only after he had seen three curveballs and a cutter down. And the fourth strikeout came on a slider, the fifth such pitch Trea Turner saw from Braves reliever Luke Jackson during a seven-pitch at-bat that encapsulated the Nationals leadoff hitter's frustrating Monday...

Nationals can't complete rally, drop fifth straight (updated)

Nationals can't complete rally, drop fifth straight (updated)
The first inning was all too familiar, the Nationals digging themselves into an early hole yet again. The middle innings featured an unexpected (and encouraging) twist, as the lineup came to life and a laboring starter found his groove. But by the time the bottom of the ninth arrived at Truist Park in Atlanta this evening, the result was a re-run for a Nats team that cannot figure out how to change the losing formula that is playing out nearly every night. This 5-3 loss to the Braves did...

Robles active but not starting, Fedde likely needs rehab start

Robles active but not starting, Fedde likely needs rehab start
Victor Robles is back on the Nationals' active roster. He's just not back in the Nationals' starting lineup quite yet. Though he was activated off the 10-day injured list this afternoon, Robles is not starting in tonight's series opener at the Braves. Manager Davey Martinez, who got encouraging reports on the 24-year-old center fielder's rehab game for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, did suggest he would likely be in the lineup Tuesday night, provided he gets through pregame work today with...

Game 50 lineups: Nats at Braves (Robles activated)

Game 50 lineups: Nats at Braves (Robles activated)
The Nationals need something to inject some life in their moribund offense. For now, that something will have to be Victor Robles, who has rejoined the active roster 12 days after spraining his right ankle. Robles was officially activated off the 10-day injured list today, in time for the nine-game road trip that begins late this afternoon in unincorporated Atlanta. The 24-year-old center fielder appeared in one rehab game for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, going 1-for-2 with a double, two...

Monday morning thoughts on Robles, Fedde and Castro

Monday morning thoughts on Robles, Fedde and Castro
Some thoughts on this Memorial Day morning as the Nationals try to put a brutal weekend sweep at the hands of the Brewers behind them and look ahead to a four-game series at the Braves beginning at 5:05 p.m. today ... * Victor Robles might be ready to rejoin the club today. The injured center fielder went on a rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon at Bowie and put together a solid batting line. Serving as the Senators leadoff man and designated hitter, he went 1-for-2...

While lineup struggles, Nats pitching staff is living up to billing

While lineup struggles, Nats pitching staff is living up to billing
The Nationals were just swept by the Braves in large part because of their lack of offensive production, especially in key moments late in games. On the flip side, though, they were in a position to have a chance to rally late because of their pitching staff, which is starting to perform like it was supposed to all along. The Nats sport a 4.06 ERA overall through 27 games, which ranks 17th in the majors. Nothing to get too excited about. Except the staff is trending in the right direction,...

Nats can't convert late chances, get swept by Braves (updated)

Nats can't convert late chances, get swept by Braves (updated)
You can't say the Nationals don't at least give themselves chances. This evening's game against the Braves was right there for the taking late, in the bottom of the seventh, in the bottom of the eighth and again in the bottom of the ninth. In those final three innings alone, they took 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position. And managed only one hit in the process. In their latest bit of late-inning agony at the plate, the Nationals squandered those golden opportunities to finish a rally...

Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
The Nationals need to score runs. Early in games. Too often they've found themselves trailing early and it's cost them. Their record this season when they score first: 10-2. When they don't: 2-12. There are all kinds of factors we can discuss when trying to decide why they're 12-14 overall, but that stat right there pretty tells the entire story. So it's incumbent upon today's lineup to do something early on against Drew Smyly. The good news: They did score early off Smyly back on opening...

Nats can't convert late chances at plate, lose to Braves (updated)

Nats can't convert late chances at plate, lose to Braves (updated)
With a roster that is less than ideally constructed and a matchup against a left-handed starter this evening, Nationals manager Davey Martinez wound up fielding a lineup loaded with right-handed hitters and a bench loaded with big names who he could choose to insert somewhere along the way when the right situation arose. Trouble is, Martinez never got around to using Juan Soto or Josh Bell when either would've had a chance to bat with a chance to make a big difference. Instead, it was Yadiel...

Strasburg, Suero to pitch in simulated game Thursday

Strasburg, Suero to pitch in simulated game Thursday
Stephen Strasburg and Wander Suero will take the next important step in their return from injuries when they pitch in a simulated game Thursday afternoon before the Nationals' series finale against the Braves. It'll be the first time both right-handers have faced live hitters since going on the 10-day injured list April 18, Strasburg with shoulder inflammation, Suero with a left oblique strain. Both Strasburg and Suero had successfully thrown off flat ground and then off a bullpen mound in...

Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
The Nationals didn't have an answer for Huascar Ynoa on Tuesday night. They better have one for Max Fried tonight or else they're going to drop their second straight to the Braves. Fried returns to Atlanta's rotation after spending the last three weeks on the injured list with a strained hamstring. The Nats already got to the lefty back in early April, to the tune of five runs and eight hits in two innings. And that was before they had a healthy lineup. Manager Davey Martinez is again...

Soto still feeling his way back in return from IL

Soto still feeling his way back in return from IL
Juan Soto didn't quite know what to expect when he stepped up to bat in the bottom of the eighth Tuesday night at Nationals Park. In his first game appearance in 15 days, the young slugger was about to find out just how difficult it is to pinch-hit in the major leagues. But first, he was about to find out just how much Nationals fans missed him while he was on the injured list with a strained left shoulder. "I didn't know the crowd was going to get me so pumped, that they were going to get...

Nats can't deal with Braves starter's arm or bat in loss (updated)

Nats can't deal with Braves starter's arm or bat in loss (updated)
Baseball folks don't like to talk about momentum, because they've been doing this long enough to understand that what happened in recent days doesn't necessarily portend what will happen tonight. The Nationals had every reason to enter their series opener with the Braves feeling like they held the upper hand, based on their four-game winning streak, Atlanta's four-game losing streak and everything that transpired to make both events possible. Of course, it doesn't actually work like that....

Soto back, but limited to pinch-hitting; Harris ready to pitch

Soto back, but limited to pinch-hitting; Harris ready to pitch
Juan Soto is back on the Nationals roster, just not in their lineup. Will Harris is back in their bullpen, and hoping he will remain available as much as he's needed. With a pair of mid-afternoon transactions today, the Nats moved closer to full strength. They're still missing Stephen Strasburg and Wander Suero, but for now, this is a significant step in the right direction. Soto, of course, is the biggest addition. The star slugger was activated off the 10-day injured list in time for...

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Soto, Harris activated)

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Soto, Harris activated)
The Nationals have clawed their way back to the .500 mark, sweeping the Marlins over the weekend. Their next challenge is climbing over that mark and staying there, against some stiffer competition: the Braves. The three-time defending National League East champs are back in town for their second visit of the season already. They took two of three in the season-opening series on South Capitol Street, sweeping a 14-inning doubleheader after the Nats won in dramatic fashion on opening day. Things...