NEW YORK - Matt Adams took batting practice at Citi Field on Tuesday, sending pitch after pitch into the bleachers. So when the Nationals had to decide today whether to send the big slugger (whose strained left shoulder has now healed) on a brief minor league rehab assignment or just activate him off the injured list now, they didn't hesitate to activate him and put him right in the heart of tonight's lineup against Mets ace Jacob deGrom. "He's ready," manager Davey Martinez said. "He...

NEW YORK - Javy Guerra won't join the Nationals bullpen until Tuesday at the earliest. But once he does, the club hopes the versatile veteran will help stabilize the majors' worst relief corps. Guerra, claimed off outright waivers from the Blue Jays earlier today, wasn't able to make it to New York in time for the Nationals' series opener against the Mets. Manager Davey Martinez, who spoke to the right-hander over the phone, hopes to have him available for Tuesday's game. "If he gets here...

NEW YORK - As they prepare to open a four-game series against a reeling Mets club, the Nationals are remaking their bullpen on the fly again. The Nats have activated left-hander Tony Sipp off the injured list while also claiming veteran right-hander Javy Guerra off outright waivers from the Blue Jays. Dan Jennings, an in-season acquisition who never found his footing, was designated for assignment to clear one roster spot. They'll need to clear another spot on the 25-man roster for Guerra once...

On May 2, Paul Menhart took over for Derek Lilliquist as the Nationals pitching coach. He started his new position with a 10-game road trip from Philadelphia through Milwaukee to Los Angeles. In the midst of the Nationals' four-game set at Dodger Stadium, I had a chance to sit down with Menhart, who has been a coach in the Nationals system for 14 seasons, to see how his first two weeks on the job were going. Menhart spoke about what he wants to accomplish as the pitching coach and what he has...

Left-hander Dan Jennings made his first appearance with the Nats April 30 and pitched 2/3 of an inning without allowing a run against the Cardinals. His second stint was May 1, against St. Louis again, and this time he was even better: one inning of scoreless relief with two strikeouts. But then he hit a rough patch. In his next three outings, Jennings allowed a combined five earned runs while recording only three outs. The 32-year-old surrendered the game-changing three-run shot to Rhys...

MILWAUKEE - Anthony Rendon was a welcome addition to the Nationals lineup, until he got ejected. Stephen Strasburg was dominating a tough lineup, until he couldn't get one final out. And Dan Jennings ... well, he simply couldn't get any outs, turning a competitive game into a rout. The Nationals' 6-0 loss to the Brewers tonight was dripping with all sorts of new drama, none of it positive for a team that has now lost 10 of 13 and is barely hanging on by a thread. Not even Strasburg's...

MILWAUKEE - The sleep-deprived Nationals landed in Milwaukee 16 hours later than scheduled, thanks to a travel nightmare late Sunday night and early this morning in Philadelphia. They had every reason to complain about their travails, and the fact they now had to open another tough road series while fielding an injury depleted lineup. But they chose to try to look on the bright side. They shrugged off their charter flight mechanical problems and wondered if somehow the whole experience might...

PHILADELPHIA - It doesn't happen every single night, but on occasion a major league manager faces a critical pitching decision in the latter innings of a tight ballgame, one that is likely to impact the outcome of the contest. Sometimes the pitchers involved get the job done and reward the manager for his decision-making process. Sometimes they fail and the manager is left to explain why he did what he did. Tonight, in the aftermath of an agonizing, 4-2 loss to the Phillies, Davey Martinez had...

With Anthony Rendon moving to the injured list, the Nationals purchased the contract of veteran southpaw reliever Dan Jennings from Double-A Harrisburg. Jennings had a 4-5 record with a 3.22 ERA in 72 appearances last season with Milwaukee. The Senators were in Reading, Pa., when Jennings was told he had to get to D.C. "After the game they told me, then it became a scramble to get here," Jennings said. "I took an Uber here from Reading. I think the guy was a little surprised when he picked...

If you've been following, you knew this was coming: Anthony Rendon is now on the injured list. The Nationals officially placed the third baseman on the 10-day IL with a bruised left elbow today, a move that's backdated the maximum three days allowed but now prevents him from being activated until May 7 at the earliest. The Nats are using that roster spot to help the bullpen, purchasing the contract of left-hander Dan Jennings, who had just recently been signed to a minor league deal. To clear...

The Nationals finally had to give up on hoping Anthony Rendon could quickly get back from a left elbow injury. The Nats placed Rendon on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow contusion on Tuesday prior to their second game against the Cardinals. The team has purchased the contract of left-hander Dan Jennings from Double-A Harrisburg to add depth to the bullpen. To make room for Jennings on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-hander Austin Adams for assignment. Rendon's status is...

The amazing start to the 2019 season continued last night for Double-A Harrisburg in a 10-7 extra-inning win over Hartford. The Senators scored four runs in the eighth and four runs in the 11th to seal the victory. Harrisburg is a franchise-best 17-3 after 20 games, dating back to 1987. Chuck Taylor went 2-for-2 and drove in four runs after arriving as a pinch-hitter in the eighth. Starter Tyler Mapes allowed only one unearned run in five frames. Dan Jennings tossed 1 2/3 innings and allowed...

The Nationals have made another move, adding from a division rival. This time, it's off the field, as former Marlins general manager and manager Dan Jennings is joining the Nationals front office as a special assistant to president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. Jennings will focus on all facets of scouting operations for the Nationals, according to a team-issued release. Jennings, 55, is considered one of the most highly respected minds in the game and was the Marlins...

MIAMI - The Orioles lost a game tonight in 13 innings. They tried their hardest not to collectively lose their cool after returning to the clubhouse. It's obvious that the team is incensed that Marlins manager Dan Jennings asked umpires to check reliever Brian Matusz's right arm with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning of a scoreless game. Matusz was ejected for having an illegal substance on his arm and could be facing a suspension. Matusz declined to talk about it, saying he would...

According to an industry source, the Marlins have denied the Orioles permission to interview assistant general manager Dan Jennings for the position of president of baseball operations. Jennings, who is currently in Arizona scouting the fall league, has a contract that runs through 2015. The Marlins have denied teams permission to interview Jennings on three other occasions. The Orioles are interviewing Diamondbacks senior vice president of scouting and player development Jerry Dipoto today...