Nats trade Goodwin to Royals, bring Solís back (Nats up 5-2)

Nats trade Goodwin to Royals, bring Solís back (Nats up 5-2)
The Nationals knew they couldn't stick with a six-man bullpen for long. They just needed to figure out how to clear a roster spot to address that need. They found a way today, trading outfielder Brian Goodwin to the Royals for minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan, then recalling left-hander Sammy Solís from Triple-A Syracuse to give themselves a full relief corps again. Goodwin, a member of the Nationals since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011 and a key member of last season's...

Wild game ends with rare homers off Madson, sweep in Toronto

Wild game ends with rare homers off Madson, sweep in Toronto
TORONTO - As wild and wacky and frustrating and exhilarating as today's ballgame at Rogers Centre was, the sight of Ryan Madson on the mound in the bottom of the eighth had to be as comforting a thought as the Nationals were going to get. Madson was simply being asked to keep a back-and-forth game tied and give his teammates a chance to mount a rally in the top of the ninth. And few have been better at that, especially at keeping the ball in the park. These kinds of games, though, always seem...

Nats suffering from depleted lineup of free swingers

Nats suffering from depleted lineup of free swingers
ATLANTA - It's easy to look at Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Braves and place blame at the arms of Shawn Kelley and Tanner Roark, who surrendered the two late home runs that turned a one-run lead into a two-run defeat. Not that those two right-handers don't deserve some criticism for their failure to keep the ball in the park at the most critical points of the game, but all of this would be moot if the Nationals did something seemingly simple during the game: score another run. Let's be honest...

Four-run seventh dooms Nationals in 4-0 loss to Braves

Four-run seventh dooms Nationals in 4-0 loss to Braves
ATLANTA - For six innings they dueled, Stephen Strasburg and Mike Foltynewicz posting up zero after zero, neither willing to give in on a muggy Friday night at SunTrust Park. Somebody, though, had to give in at some point. That somebody was Strasburg. And that point was the bottom of the seventh, the decisive frame that turned a brilliant pitchers' duel into a 4-0 Nationals loss to a young Braves team that can only feel emboldened after taking the first two games of this big weekend...

Return of key players could impact lineup (Nats lose 4-0)

Return of key players could impact lineup (Nats lose 4-0)
ATLANTA - The Nationals outfield received a boost today with Brian Goodwin's return from the disabled list, and another boost is likely coming next week when Adam Eaton expects to return from his ankle surgery. All of which leaves Davey Martinez facing some questions about how he intends to divvy up playing time among, in theory, five outfielders with only three positions to fill. Goodwin was activated off the DL this afternoon, the injured left wrist that sidelined him more than seven weeks...

Game 56 lineups: Nats at Braves (Goodwin activated)

Game 56 lineups: Nats at Braves (Goodwin activated)
ATLANTA - The threat of rain halted Nationals batting practice Thursday night but didn't impact the game. We may not be as fortunate tonight, with storms all around the area threatening to cause problems not only before tonight's scheduled 7:35 p.m. game but also the early portion of the game itself. As always, stay tuned. When they do play, the Nationals will send Stephen Strasburg to the mound. Strasburg was brilliant in his previous start against the Braves this season, tossing eight...

Ryan Sullivan: Tough roster decisions looming for Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Tough roster decisions looming for Nationals
The Double-A Harrisburg Senators' Twitter account last Thursday announced that Nationals players Matt Grace, Brian Goodwin and Daniel Murphy would begin rehabilitation assignments last weekend. Adam Eaton starts his rehab at Harrisburg today. The healthy return of each player is a positive for the Nationals, but could lead to some difficult roster decisions for manager Davey Martinez. According to Martinez, Goodwin is expected to return first, followed by Grace, Murphy and finally Eaton, who...

Madson returns to roster, Goodwin appears to be next up

Madson returns to roster, Goodwin appears to be next up
ATLANTA - The Nationals are getting the first of their key injured players back tonight, with Ryan Madson activated off the disabled list. And more appear to be coming, with Brian Goodwin likely joining the club this weekend and Daniel Murphy and Matt Grace not too far behind. Madson was added back to the active roster in time for tonight's opener against the Braves, the strained right pectoral muscle that sidelined him for two weeks having healed. The veteran setup man was able to make it...

Martinez hoping Murphy will be activated "fairly soon"

Martinez hoping Murphy will be activated "fairly soon"
BALTIMORE - After two months of waiting and waiting for positive injury news, the Nationals may be on the verge of getting one of their most important injured players back at long last. Daniel Murphy spent the last two days rehabbing for Double-A Harrisburg and emerged from it with his surgically repaired right knee in good shape. The Nationals aren't offering up any firm timetable for Murphy to make his long-awaited season debut, but manager Davey Martinez did suggest it won't be much longer...

Harper's frustrations, plus an update on Murphy and Goodwin

Harper's frustrations, plus an update on Murphy and Goodwin
MIAMI - Lost in the hoopla of another late surge and win Saturday for the Nationals were the struggles of right fielder Bryce Harper in this series. He connected on a two-run double and a single late Friday, which were big in helping the Nats to a 9-5 win. But he has also struck out six times in the series. Manager Davey Martinez has noted the building frustration for Harper at the plate. "He'll snap out of it, that's the only thing I can say," Martinez said after Saturday's 4-1 win....

Murphy, Goodwin to rehab with Double-A Harrisburg

Murphy, Goodwin to rehab with Double-A Harrisburg
MIAMI - After missing the first two months of the season due to knee surgery recovery, second baseman Daniel Murphy will begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg tomorrow at home against Altoona, Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced this afternoon. The Senators are home through Monday against the Curve, then travel to Hartford. Martinez said that outfielder Brian Goodwin is also healthy enough to join Murphy with Harrisburg to begin his rehab assignment. "That's great news...

Wieters update is promising, Goodwin slowed (Nats fall 7-2)

Wieters update is promising, Goodwin slowed (Nats fall 7-2)
Infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick will have surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles on Monday. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he was devastated when he saw the injury occur in left field Saturday. "I've been around a long time," Rizzo said. "I kind of diagnosed it when he was laying on the warning track. It's unfortunate. It's a team leader, not to mention a really, really good player. You have to have a short memory in this game. As he was taken off, we got him the MRI, we...

Why Martinez chose tonight to sit Harper for the first time

Why Martinez chose tonight to sit Harper for the first time
SAN DIEGO - Bryce Harper joked a few times recently about wanting to be an "Iron Man" and play in all 162 of the Nationals' games this season. Deep down, the star slugger knew that wasn't going to happen. It was only a matter of time before he got a day off. And that day is today. With a left-hander on the mound for the Padres and Harper mired in an 0-for-19 slump, manager Davey Martinez decided to sit him down for tonight's series finale at Petco Park. That decision came only after a pair...

Murphy cuts workout short after trying to run, and more injury updates

Murphy cuts workout short after trying to run, and more injury updates
The sight of Daniel Murphy on the field at Nationals Park this afternoon, hitting balls over the fence during batting practice and moving well as he fielded grounders at second base, could be viewed as nothing but encouraging for a team and a fan base desperate for a boost to their struggling lineup. But the sight of Murphy pulling up short of first base as he tried to run after getting his surgically repaired right knee worked on by a trainer and abruptly halting today's workout could be...

Madson available to pitch tonight; Baker stops by to say hello

Madson available to pitch tonight; Baker stops by to say hello
SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals should have their full complement of late-inning relievers available tonight should the situation arise in their series opener against the Giants. Ryan Madson, who was unavailable for all three games over the weekend in Los Angeles while his arm recovered from three straight days of work prior to that, told Davey Martinez he would be good to go tonight if needed, a relief to the manager. "Yes, he's available," Martinez said. "He feels good. I'm glad we got him...

Goodwin to disabled list; Rendon makes progress with injury

Goodwin to disabled list; Rendon makes progress with injury
NEW YORK - Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon got decompression treatment for the subungual hematoma he suffered to his left big toe. Rendon said that drainage helped it feel a lot better after blood had collected under his toenail when he got hit with a foul ball off his foot. "He's progressing very slow but he feels better," said manager Davey Martinez. "Yesterday he actually was out, had his spikes on walking around. So that was good news. We will see how he feels after the game...

Game 18 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 18 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The Nationals hope Monday's comeback win against the Mets will be a springboard for a different kind of streak then the one they endured following a 4-0 start. In their first two series wins of the season, the Nats have won the first two games of the series at Cincinnati and home against the Braves. They will look to do that again tonight after last night's thrilling 8-6 comeback win. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez as an outstanding record against the Mets, especially at Citi Field. In...

Murphy heading to Florida to play in extended spring training

Murphy heading to Florida to play in extended spring training
As the Nationals head out on a long road trip, Daniel Murphy is heading down to Florida to start playing in extended spring training games. Murphy, now in the final stages of rehab from October microfracture knee surgery, is scheduled to fly to West Palm Beach on Monday and begin getting at-bats with others from the organization who remain at the club's complex for extended spring training. The veteran second baseman has been with the big league club throughout the season's first 2 1/2 weeks,...

Game 16 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies

Game 16 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies
The weather was absolutely delightful yesterday when the Nationals beat the Rockies 6-2. The weather is most definitely not delightful today as the two clubs wrap up their four-game series. It's overcast, the temperature has been dropping all morning and will continue to drop through the afternoon, and there's rain in the forecast. It's just a question of when the rain arrives. For now, it doesn't appear to be a threat to the start of the game, only later in the game (if at all). But even...

On Scherzer's hit, Goodwin's wrist, Romero's departure

On Scherzer's hit, Goodwin's wrist, Romero's departure
Some Sunday morning news and notes before the Nationals and Rockies wrap up their four-game series ... * It didn't lead to any actual runs scored for the Nationals, but there's no denying Max Scherzer's fifth-inning single Saturday served as something of a wakeup call for a slumbering offense and fired up the entire dugout. The Nationals trailed the Rockies 2-1 and hadn't found any way to escape the doldrums that had been present throughout the series. Then Scherzer lined a 1-2 pitch from...