No decision yet on final bullpen spot (Abad, Maldonado cut)

No decision yet on final bullpen spot (Abad, Maldonado cut)
VIERA, Fla. - Following this afternoon's 11-2 split-squad win over the Braves, the Nationals made two cuts, sending left-hander Fernando Abad and catcher Carlos Maldonado over to minor league camp. Abad, who came into camp competing for a spot in the bullpen, impressed this spring. He went 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in eight appearances spanning seven innings. Maldonado was 3-for-13 (.231) with a double in 15 games played. The cuts leave the Nats with 28 players remaining in big league...

Nats add to catching depth, sign Snyder to minor league deal (Nats sign Accardo)

Nats add to catching depth, sign Snyder to minor league deal (Nats sign Accardo)
Of all the positions on the diamond, the Nationals might have the most organizational depth at catcher. Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos appear poised to make up one of the most talented catching duos at the major league level, and waiting in the wings on the farm, the Nats have Jhonatan Solano, Sandy Leon and Carlos Maldonado, ready to step in if needed. But with Ramos coming back from major knee surgery, the Nationals aren't willing to take any chances. That's why they've signed veteran...

Carroll, Maldonado elect free agency

Carroll, Maldonado elect free agency
Outfielder Brett Carroll and catcher Carlos Maldonado, two players who spent the bulk of the 2012 season with Triple-A Syracuse but had brief stints with the Nationals, have filed for free agency. Carroll was on the Nationals' opening day roster and appeared in five games before being designated for assignment. The 30-year-old went 0-for-2 with two runs scored with the Nats and batted .250 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 111 games at Syracuse. The former 10th-round pick of the Marlins in...

One area which must be improved

One area which must be improved
Sometimes, you just run into a hot pitcher. You face a guy that can't be touched. Last night was one of those times. Mike Fiers has come out of nowhere. He was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 draft out of little-known Nova Southeastern University and didn't make his first appearance in the big leagues until he was 26. Apparently the guy is a late bloomer. Fiers dominated the red-hot Nationals last night, allowing just four hits and striking out nine over 6 1/3 scoreless...

Offense looking a bit offensive

Offense looking a bit offensive
Remember that six-game winning streak the Nationals compiled by sweeping the Red Sox and Blue Jays on the road? Since then, the Nats have won just three of 10 games. In those 10 games, they've scored an average of 2.5 runs per contest. And that includes a game where they played 14 innings. When your offense is performing that poorly, it doesn't matter how good your guys on the mound are. Your pitching staff can put up a 3.09 ERA in those 10 games, as Washington's has, and you can still...

Nationals' Perry, DeRosa, Perez, Maldonado and Moore news

Nationals' Perry, DeRosa, Perez, Maldonado and Moore news
Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Mark DeRosa emailed him and said he "feels great" and would like to return to the roster. Johnson wants DeRosa to spell third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, maybe every once and awhile if he needs to rest his shoulder. Currently, Steve Lombardozzi is the backup for Zimmerman, but has gotten a lot of playing time in the outfield. This is again another opportunity for Tyler Moore to solidify his spot on the roster. The right-handed first baseman starts in left...

Johnson back in Baltimore (plus rehab updates)

Johnson back in Baltimore (plus rehab updates)
Making his second rehab appearance for Triple-A Syracuse last night, Henry Rodriguez walked two batters but worked a scoreless ninth inning in the Chiefs' win over Pawtucket. This comes after Rodriguez delivered a scoreless frame for Syracuse on Tuesday, but tossed a pitch to the backstop. The control issues will need to get worked out at some point before Rodriguez works meaningful, high-leverage innings for the Nationals again. The righty landed on the DL on June 7 with a strained right...

Maldonado to DL, Moore returns to Nats

Maldonado to DL, Moore returns to Nats
Manager Davey Johnson said after tonight's game that the Nationals will place catcher Carlos Maldonado on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury and will call up outfielder/first baseman Tyler Moore from Triple-A Syracuse. Maldonado said that he's having an issue with a muscle in the right side of his back, and described the injury as somewhat of a spasm. He has played in four games since getting called up from Syracuse back on May 15, going hitless in nine at-bats with two walks and...

Tough bullpen decisions to come shortly (plus Maldonado injury note)

Tough bullpen decisions to come shortly (plus Maldonado injury note)
With the addition of Michael Gonzalez a couple days ago, the Nationals now have four lefties in their bullpen. It might not be that way for long, however. Both Brad Lidge and Ryan Mattheus are closing in on returns to the Nats, and when the righties are ready to come back, the team will need to make some tough decisions on how they want to structure their bullpen. Lidge is pitching in his second rehab game for Single-A Potomac tonight as he works back from hernia surgery, while Mattheus, who...

Mattheus, DeRosa both closing in on a return

Mattheus, DeRosa both closing in on a return
You already know all the details regarding outfielder Michael Morse and his return from what he said today was an injury to the teres major tendon around his right shoulder. Quickly, here are a handful of additional injury updates: Catcher Jesus Flores was in the lineup today and was set to play for the first time since suffering a hamstring strain Sunday. Flores said he could've played on Wednesday, but the Nats held him out just to be sure. Tonight's rain delay will give him an additional...

Looking back on a wild holiday weekend

Looking back on a wild holiday weekend
No, I'm not talking about my trip to Vegas, which was lots of fun but will not be discussed in this space. I can tell you that I'm back on the East Coast in one piece, sunburn-free and with more money than when I left. So that's all good news. Not much went down Nationals-wise while I was away, unless you count an injury to the Nats' top pinch hitter, a change in the starting rotation, a sweep of a hot division rival, another (yes, another) Nats catcher being knocked out of a game due to...

Moore optioned to Syracuse, Solano to be recalled

Moore optioned to Syracuse, Solano to be recalled
The Nationals made a roster move after today's 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins, optioning first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore to Triple-A Syracuse. They are expected to recall catcher Jhonatan Solano from Syracuse before Tuesday's game to serve share duties with catcher Carlos Maldonado, who went 0-for-4 in today's defeat. The only other catcher on the active roster is Jesus Flores, who left Sunday's game with a mild right hamstring strain. The impending arrival of the 26-year-old Solano...

Maldonado in for Flores as Nats open series in Miami (updated)

Maldonado in for Flores as Nats open series in Miami (updated)
The Nationals get their first look at brand-new Marlins Park in Miami today, after playing an ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball" game in Atlanta last night. It's a quick turnaround made easier by the fact that Memorial Day dawns with the Nats in first place in the NL East. The only change in today's lineup is the presence of catcher Carlos Maldonado instead of Jesus Flores behind the plate. Flores sustained a mild right hamstring strain in the finale of the Braves series, and gets today off,...

Chippin' away at a big deficit (updated)

Chippin' away at a big deficit (updated)
Ross Detwiler put the Nationals in a hole. They're slowly working their way out of it. The Orioles came through with six runs off Detwiler in just five innings, and jumped out to a 6-0 lead after four and a half. Detwiler allowed 10 baserunners in his time on the mound tonight (nine hits, one walk) and wasn't fooling anyone all outing. Two of those nine hits were two-run home runs, which came off the bats of Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. But the Nats are battling back, and now trail just...

Maldonado gets start, Desmond hitting fifth, day off for Espinosa

Maldonado gets start, Desmond hitting fifth, day off for Espinosa
Carlos Maldonado gets his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace the injured Sandy Leon, but tonight's Nationals lineup against the Orioles also includes some other surprising shuffling. Shortstop Ian Desmond gets his first shot at the five-hole this season, with Steve Lombardozzi hitting leadoff and playing second base. This isn't the first time Desmond has hit fifth - he did so once in 2010 and three times in 2011, and is a career .353 (6-for-17) in that spot in...

Catching up on things

Catching up on things
Despite the initial forecast for today, it's turned into a beautiful day at Nationals Park. The sun is beaming down right now, and the grounds crew is tending to the infield and taking squeegees to the outfield turf to spread out the water that accumulated overnight and into the morning. We might get some light rain later in the afternoon, but it appears the heavy stuff will miss us. And weatherman Dan is done for the day. Davey Johnson was asked what his plans are for catcher Jhonatan...

Maldonado activated, Ramos placed on 60-day DL (plus Nats lineup)

Maldonado activated, Ramos placed on 60-day DL (plus Nats lineup)
The Nationals have officially placed catcher Sandy Leon on the 15-day DL with a high right ankle sprain and selected catcher Carlos Maldonado from Triple-A Syracuse. Maldonado made it here in time for today's game, although he might be a little bit worn out after making the late-night trip from Columbus, Ohio. To make room for Maldonado on the 40-man roster, the Nats have moved catcher Wilson Ramos from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Lot of catcher maneuverings today. Here is the Nats'...

Leon has high ankle sprain, Maldonado to be called up

Leon has high ankle sprain, Maldonado to be called up
A player's major league debut is supposed to be a thrilling time in his life, a day he'll never forget. Unfortunately, years from now, Sandy Leon will not look back too fondly on his first-ever game in the big leagues. Manager Davey Johnson announced after today's game that Leon suffered a high right ankle sprain when he was run into at the plate by Padres third baseman Chase Headley in the fourth inning, an injury which will land Leon on the DL just a day after he was officially activated...

Rookie Leon helped off after injuring right leg (updated twice)

Rookie Leon helped off after injuring right leg (updated twice)
A cool moment - Bryce Harper's first major league home run - is quickly trumped by a sad one. Nationals catcher Sandy Leon, making his major league debut tonight, was run into by Padres third baseman Chase Headley as Headley was trying to score from second on a fourth-inning single to right-center. Leon's right leg got bent back, and he was clearly in pain after Headley touched home to make it a 4-3 game. It was a clean play by Headley, as Leon was blocking almost the entire plate, but the...

Maldonado reassigned, Gonzalez reacts to final spring start

Maldonado reassigned, Gonzalez reacts to final spring start
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals made one roster move after today's game, reassigning catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp. Maldonado, who really impressed manager Davey Johnson this spring, will back up Jhonatan Solano at Triple-A Syracuse. "I hate to lose him," Johnson said. "He's been like my favorite chair." The Nats now officially have 33 players left in major league camp. Gio Gonzalez didn't just throw five very impressive innings today in his final outing before the...