Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
There's nothing quite like a major league debut. Every single one of them, no matter how hyped, is a big deal, literally a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a young man who gets to realize his dream. There are, of course, debuts that are bigger than others, and tonight we will be witnessing one of those when Lucas Giolito takes the mound shortly after 7 p.m. The 21-year-old right-hander may not be pitching tonight with as much hoopla surrounding him as Stephen Strasburg had six years ago, but he...

Who pitches against Mets? (Strasburg placed on DL)

Who pitches against Mets? (Strasburg placed on DL)
MILWAUKEE - When the Nationals scratched right-hander Stephen Strasburg from today's start with a recurrence of his upper back strain and decided to start righty Tanner Roark instead, it threw their rotation for this week's key home series against the Mets into disarray. Instead of starting Roark, then right-handers Joe Ross and Max Scherzer against their division rivals, the Nats are now reassessing their options. They haven't yet announced starters for the series, which begins Monday night...

Taylor Jordan undergoes second Tommy John procedure (updated)

Taylor Jordan undergoes second Tommy John procedure (updated)
Right-hander Taylor Jordan underwent Tommy John ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery Thursday performed by Dr. James Andrews, the Nationals announced. It is the second time Jordan has undergone the procedure. He first had the surgery in 2011 and returned in late 2012. Jordan was a ninth-round selection by the Nationals in 2009. Nationals assistant general manager and vice president, player personnel Doug Harris said the club was careful in following Dr. Andrews' diagnosis before...

Five reasons to be pessimistic about the 2016 Nationals

Five reasons to be pessimistic about the 2016 Nationals
Yesterday, we offered up five reasons to be optimistic about the 2016 Nationals. Today, we take the devil's advocate approach and offer up five reasons to be pessimistic about this season. Truth be told, it was a lot tougher to come up with five negatives than it was to come up with five positives. That, in itself, should offer up reason for everyone to be optimistic about the Nationals. But this is far from a perfect team, and there are legitimate areas of concern entering the season. Or at...

Difo, Grace, Jordan among Nats' first camp cuts

Difo, Grace, Jordan among Nats' first camp cuts
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made their first cuts of spring camp, with infielder Wilmer Difo, left-hander Matt Grace and right-hander Taylor Jordan optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Additionally, right-handers Taylor Hill and Paolo Espino and catchers Raudy Read and Brian Jerolomon have been reassigned to minor league camp. "A couple guys were surprised because they were such early cuts, but some of the guys need some work," manager Dusty Baker said. Difo, one of the organization's most...

Joe Ross, Tanner Roark set to fill up Nationals starting rotation in 2016

Joe Ross, Tanner Roark set to fill up Nationals starting rotation in 2016
Despite knowing the Nationals were losing right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister from their rotation, there was still plenty attractive about coming to D.C. for new pitching coach Mike Maddux. "What an inventory of arms over here, man," said an excited Maddux when asked about the opportunity. "I look at a rotation that features Max Scherzer up top ... Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Joe Ross, Tanner Roark. Everybody's got their own little shtick going on there. One guy is...

Baseball America No. 9 Nats prospect: Austin Voth

Baseball America No. 9 Nats prospect: Austin Voth
Another pitcher who really had a very strong and very consistent 2015 season was right-handed starter Austin Voth. Baseball America's scouting department was also impressed with the University of Washington product's advancing skills. He is the No. 9 Nationals prospect on Baseball America's top 10. No. 9 RHP Austin Voth: The 23-year-old from Redmond, Wash., went 6-7 in 27 starts (28 games) in 2015, all with Double-A Harrisburg. Voth recorded 148 strikeouts in 157 1/3 innings, surrendering...

Plenty of opportunities for Taylor Jordan and A.J. Cole this spring

Plenty of opportunities for Taylor Jordan and A.J. Cole this spring
As January began a year ago, the Nationals starting rotation appeared locked and loaded for the 2015 season. But by month's end, general manager Mike Rizzo had stunned everyone by adding another considerable piece, dominant right-hander Max Scherzer. Despite the losses of right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister through free agency this winter, Rizzo maintains satisfaction with a projected starting five arsenal featuring aces Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, veteran lefty Gio Gonzalez,...

Who will take Zimmermann's innings in the Nationals rotation?

Who will take Zimmermann's innings in the Nationals rotation?
Now that right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has moved on to the Detroit Tigers, the Nationals must figure out how they will replace the coveted starter. Zimmermann tossed 201 2/3 innings in 2015, compiling a 13-10 record with a 3.66 ERA. He matched Max Scherzer with 33 starts and was second on the team for innings pitched, 27 innings less than Scherzer. With right-hander Doug Fister also not returning, the Nationals must look to find a pair of starters. Right-hander Joe Ross would be the most...

Gonzalez aims to prevent season sweep; Hill recalled (with lineups, game postponed)

Gonzalez aims to prevent season sweep; Hill recalled (with lineups, game postponed)
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes the hill as the Nationals attempt to prevent a season sweep by the Reds. Gonzalez has pitched brilliantly his last two starts, allowing just one run over 14 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks. The Reds tagged Gonzalez for four runs over 5 1/3 innings in the Nationals' 8-5 loss back on May 30. The big blow came on a two-run homer from Reds first baseman Joey Votto in the third. Votto has torched the Nats in the Reds' five wins this year. He's batting .450...

Oblique strain sends Stephen Strasburg to DL

Oblique strain sends Stephen Strasburg to DL
The Nationals have placed right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain, an injury that forced him out of yesterday's start after 3 2/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball. To take Strasburg's place on the 25-man roster, the Nats recalled right-hander Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse. Jordan is 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in two games (one start) for the Nationals this season and 2-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 11 starts for Syracuse. This is Strasburg's second...

Notes on Turner, Hague, Keyes, Desmond, Jordan and Wooten

Notes on Turner, Hague, Keyes, Desmond, Jordan and Wooten
Ricky Hague had a smashing debut for Triple-A Syracuse with a three-run homer in the Chiefs' 8-1 dispatch of Toledo. It was Hague's first homer since June 27, 2014 while with Double-A Harrisburg. He finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs in his Triple-A debut. Kevin Keyes also debuted with an RBI double in his first at-bat. He also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Taylor Jordan had a nice bounce back performance extending to seven innings, allowing five hits, no runs, no...

Solis roughed up in rehab for Harrisburg (Update: Solis reinstated and optioned)

Solis roughed up in rehab for Harrisburg (Update: Solis reinstated and optioned)
Double-A Harrisburg's offense opened up to drop New Britain 9-6. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak. Five Senators had multi-hit performances. Wilmer Difo went 3-for-5, Tony Renda 2-for-5, Brian Goodwin 2-for-4, Matt Skole 3-for-5 and Brian Jerolman 2-for-5. Harrisburg totaled 14 hits. Skole hit his ninth homer and finished with four RBIs. Austin Voth (3-4) went six innings for the win, allowing three runs on four hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts. Sammy Solis (left shoulder...

Nats dominated by Jays 8-0 in series finale

Nats dominated by Jays 8-0 in series finale
The Nationals won nine consecutive series behind an explosive offense and stingy pitching. Tonight, they had neither while falling to the Blue Jays 8-0 and dropping their second straight series. With Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister on the disabled list, Nationals manager Matt Williams turned to right-hander Taylor Jordan to make a spot start tonight. It couldn't have started any worse for Jordan, who walked Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes, one of the game's most dangerous leadoff men, on...

Taylor Jordan roughed up in Nats' 8-0 loss

Taylor Jordan roughed up in Nats' 8-0 loss
Not the beginning right-hander Taylor Jordan was looking for in his first big league start of the season. Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes drew a four-pitch leadoff walk. Third baseman Josh Donaldson, the reigning American League Player of the Week, followed with a line drive pounded over Denard Span's head for a double. Reyes crossed the plate when right fielder Jose Bautista singled. Another base hit from left fielder Chris Colabello brought Donaldson home to increase his major league-leading...

Jordan on mound, Span back for finale (with lineup)

Jordan on mound, Span back for finale (with lineup)
Taylor Jordan will get his first start of the season tonight, and the right-hander will look to lead the Nationals to a series win over the Blue Jays after a split in yesterday's doubleheader. He made his season debut Friday, coming in for Stephen Strasburg who exited after an inning plus a batter with neck tightness. Jordan was solid through his first four innings of relief, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning, giving up three earned runs. Strasburg is currently on the 15-day disabled...

Jordan gets the start tonight, plus notes on Treinen and Taylor

Jordan gets the start tonight, plus notes on Treinen and Taylor
Right-hander Taylor Jordan makes his first start for the Nationals this evening as they attempt to claim the finale of the three-game interleague set with the Blue Jays. Jordan is filling Stephen Strasburg's spot in the rotation after the right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left trapezius muscle. Jordan's only appearance this season came in relief of Strasburg last Friday. He was called on in emergency duty shortly after the second inning began when Strasburg...

Options for Williams if Strasburg can't go

Options for Williams if Strasburg can't go
Stephen Strasburg threw only 16 pitches in last night's 5-2 loss to the Reds before leaving the game with neck tightness. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated to reporters that the discomfort was in Strasburg's left trapezius muscle. Strasburg isn't familiar with this type of pain in this particular area. "We don't know at this point," Williams told reporters after the game. "We have to see how he is (Saturday) and evaluate. I don't know. It's the other side, so we'll see what he...

Strasburg exits early with injury in Nats' 5-2 loss

Strasburg exits early with injury in Nats' 5-2 loss
Stephen Strasburg faced just five batters before leaving tonight's game with an undiclosed injury. With one out in the first, Reds first baseman Joey Votto belted a 97 mph fastball from Strasburg deep over the centerfield fence for a solo homer. Third baseman Todd Frazier followed with a single to left before Ryan Zimmerman ended the inning with an unassisted double play on a grounder from right fielder Jay Bruce. Strasburg immediately got ahead of catcher Brayan Pena 0-2 to start the second...

Nats recall Taylor Jordan for long relief support

Nats recall Taylor Jordan for long relief support
The Nationals recalled right-hander Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday morning. The 26-year-old Jordan is 1-2 with a 2.14 ERA (10 earned runs in 42 innings) in seven starts for Syracuse this season. Jordan has held opposing hitters to a lowly .208 batting average while striking out 26 and walking only eight. Jordan was recalled briefly on April 15 but returned to Syracuse the following day without making an appearance with the Nats. The Nationals selected Jordan in the ninth-round...