Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)
NEW YORK - The Nationals will have their first set of September reinforcements at their disposal for tonight's series opener against the Mets, including a pair of well-known veterans getting a shot at redemption. The club promoted seven players to the big league roster this afternoon: left-handers Sean Burnett and Matt Grace; right-handers Mat Latos, Trevor Gott and Rafael Martin; catcher Pedro Severino; and outfielder Brian Goodwin. Needing to clear two spots on the 40-man roster so Burnett...

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...

Martin called up from Syracuse to bolster bullpen for now

Martin called up from Syracuse to bolster bullpen for now
The Nationals called up right-hander Rafael Martin from Triple-A Syracuse, giving themselves another reliever for tonight's series opener against the Mets but still leaving the question of Tuesday night's starter unanswered for now. Martin becomes the eighth member of the Nationals bullpen, but his stay in D.C. could be brief. Unless the club intends to use long reliever Yusmeiro Petit as Stephen Strasburg's replacement in the rotation - and manager Dusty Baker said Sunday in Milwaukee that...

Bullpen makeover could be long-term project this offseason

Bullpen makeover could be long-term project this offseason
We know the Nationals want to remake their bullpen for 2016, and we also know that that potentially means significant changes over the corps of relievers who ended the 2015 season in Washington. But right now, there are more questions than answers when it comes to general manager Mike Rizzo's plan to reconfigure his relief corps. While the two biggest questions seem to be right-handers Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon, and while at least one of those arms could be gone before or at the Winter...

Rizzo searching for depth in the bullpen

Rizzo searching for depth in the bullpen
Without a doubt, the Nationals bullpen has the most questions on the team's roster this winter. General manager Mike Rizzo's decisions with his core of relievers begins with whether to forge forward or part ways with veteran right-handers Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen after stormy conclusions to both of their seasons. Right-hander Casey Janssen had a nightmare of a year and the Nationals declined his 2016 option, making him a free agent. Left-hander Matt Thornton also entered free agency...

Michael A. Taylor scratched tonight, Danny Espinosa now starts in left

Michael A. Taylor scratched tonight, Danny Espinosa now starts in left
ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer returns home to pitch at Busch Stadium for only the second time in his career. The St. Louis native looks to rebound from a brutal August, where the right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in five starts after dominating for most of the season's first four months. Scherzer allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 23. He is 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against St....

Pregame notes on Uggla, Werth, Span, Harper, Roark and Martin

Pregame notes on Uggla, Werth, Span, Harper, Roark and Martin
Nationals manager Matt Williams was asked during his pregame media session Thursday about second baseman Dan Uggla and how the veteran must change his preparations each game now that he comes off the bench. "It's never easy. Being an everyday player his whole career, it's not easy to learn how to do it," Williams said. "The objective when he walks up there is to be him and not try to be something that he is not. His thought process when he goes up there is(to) get a good one to hit and...

Matt of Matt's Bats: Rafael Martin's long and winding road

Matt of Matt's Bats: Rafael Martin's long and winding road
We are barely into the third week of baseball, but there is already a heartwarming story about one of the players on the Nationals, Rafael Martin. Martin's story is like something out of a rock and roll ballad. Martin almost let go of his dream of becoming a professional baseball player, but held on tightly, kept working hard and now he's a pitcher for the Nationals. Rafael Martin Romero was born on May 16, 1984, in San Fernando, Calif. That makes him about 31. He attended Jurupa Valley High...

Rafael Martin's dazzling major league debut

Rafael Martin's dazzling major league debut
When right-hander Rafael Martin came off the field at hallowed Fenway Park yesterday, starter Gio Gonzalez was waiting with a new nickname for the 30-the-year-old rookie. "I'm the Mexican Assassin," Martin said with a smirk after working two impressive innings in the Nats' 10-5 victory. Martin was just that in his major league debut, as he struck out five straight Red Sox hitters, including three-time All Star Hanley Ramirez, in helping to preserve the Nats' third win of the season. "I...

On the Phillies, the weekend series, Span and Martin

On the Phillies, the weekend series, Span and Martin
The Phillies have gone into a tailspin since their last meeting with the Nationals. The three-game set last weekend in Philly was their last and only win streak, when they won two of three versus the Nats. A team meeting called by closer Jonathan Papelbon did not help them snap a three-game skid yesterday, when they lost to the Mets 6-1. Both teams begin play tonight in D.C. with identical 3-6 records. Alongside the Marlins, the trio is tied for third place in the National League East. The...

Denard Span looked close to returning after seven innings for Harrisburg

Denard Span looked close to returning after seven innings for Harrisburg
Nationals center fielder Denard Span, who is on the disabled list recovering from right core muscle surgery, went 1-for-4 and played seven innings in a rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg. The Senators went on to win 8-4 over Bowie at Metro Bank Park. Span was the leadoff hitter and played center field. He cranked a single in his fourth at-bat. Span also apparently did well defensively. Denard Span just ran a long way to nab a dying flyball in RCF...I'd say he's moving just fine...

Williams explains lineup changes, talks plan for Span

Williams explains lineup changes, talks plan for Span
BOSTON - With the Nationals sitting dead last in the majors in team batting average at .185, manager Matt Williams has decided to make some changes in his lineup. Third baseman Yunel Escobar has been one of the offensive bright spots, going 8-for-27 (.296) through the first seven games. Williams has decided to move Escboar into the leadoff spot, followed by left fielder Jayson Werth, while center fielder Michael A. Taylor falls to the last spot in the order after striking out six times over the...

Zimmermann not worried after rough start, Nats make roster moves in crunch time

Zimmermann not worried after rough start, Nats make roster moves in crunch time
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals were shut out for the second consecutive day, as the Marlins pounded starter Jordan Zimmermann right out of the gates en route to an 8-0 loss in the seventh and final meeting between the two clubs in Grapefruit League play. Marlins first baseman Michael Morse and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton both belted deep homers off Zimmermann, who allowed all eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks. "It's spring training, that's a good...

Nationals announce non-roster invitees to spring training

Nationals announce non-roster invitees to spring training
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo today announced 20 non-roster invitees for spring training. First baseman/outfielder Mike Carp, second baseman Dan Uggla, third baseman Ian Stewart and right-hander Heath Bell were among 13 players the Nationals agreed to terms with on minor league contracts with invites to major league spring training. Seven additional minor league players received spring training invites, including right-hander Rafael Martin and infielder Cutter Dykstra. Carp started 56...

Skole, Martin, Vettleson could be of interest to teams in Rule 5 draft

Skole, Martin, Vettleson could be of interest to teams in Rule 5 draft
SAN DIEGO - The Rule 5 draft takes place at 9 a.m. Pacific time (noon Eastern time) at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, and is the final official activity of this year's Winter Meetings. Unlike in past years, the Nationals won't be able to make a pick among players not included on teams' 40-man rosters. To do so, the Nats would have to have an opening on their 40-man roster, which is currently full. But the Nationals have to consider the possibility that players they chose not to add to their...

Another National excelling in winter league play

Another National excelling in winter league play
He's not a minor leaguer that will sit atop various prospect lists or have Nationals fans clamoring for his jersey this winter. But Rafael Martin had a tremendous 2014 campaign, and he's now dominating winter league action, as well. The 30-year-old reliever appeared at three different levels of the Nats' minor league system this year, and put up a stellar 1.39 ERA in 58 1/3 innings over 38 appearances. Martin struck out 66, walked just 12, had a 0.806 WHIP and allowed only one home run all...

Rendon, Purke part of first round of Nats cuts

Rendon, Purke part of first round of Nats cuts
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals trimmed nine players from their stable of players at big league camp today, including two of their top three picks in the 2011 draft. First-round pick Anthony Rendon, who has seen time at multiple infield positions this spring, and third-round left-handed pitcher Matt Purke were both optioned to Single-A Potomac. Infielder Carlos Rivero was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, while six others - right-handed pitchers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Rafael Martin, catcher Sandy...

Nationals beat Mets 8-2, tie Tigers

Nationals beat Mets 8-2, tie Tigers
Chien-Ming Wang went two innings, gave up two runs and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Mets 8-2 in one half of Saturday's split-squad games. Wang was followed by right-hander Craig Stammen, who was able to shut down the Mets for three innings. The pitching was just one strong part in the Nationals' win. Led by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche, the offense was able to knock around Mets' starter R.A. Dickey for five runs and eight hits in three innings. Zimmerman drove in two runs...

Purke's spring debut a strong one

Purke's spring debut a strong one
VIERA, Fla. - Sure, it was against collegiate opposition, but Matt Purke looked pretty darn good in his spring debut. Facing Georgetown University in the Nationals' first game of the spring, Purke - the Nats' third-round pick in June's draft - went three strong innings, allowing no runs and just one hit. Purke struck out three (including two looking) and did not walk a batter. He threw 32 pitches, 23 for strikes, and was pulled in favor of righty Rafael Martin to start the fourth...

Reliever Rafael Martin looking to show he belongs in first big league camp

Reliever Rafael Martin looking to show he belongs in first big league camp
Right-handed reliever Rafael Martin is looking to get off on the right foot in his first big league camp as he will get a chance to pitch in Friday's exhibition against Georgetown University. Double-A Harrisburg Senators pitching coach Paul Menhart has coached the San Fernando, Calif., native for quite some time now in the system and could tell the 27-year-old reliever was desperate to make a good impression this first week. "He was a little anxious (on the first day)," Menhart said. "But...