Cabrera excited to "come back home" to D.C. with D-backs

Cabrera excited to "come back home" to D.C. with D-backs
When Asdrúbal Cabrera was picked up by the Nationals in early August 2019, he figured he'd finish out the season in D.C. and then probably call it a career. "I told my family: Probably this is going to be my last three months," the veteran infielder said today during a Zoom session with reporters. "I'm just going to try to have fun here and see what happens. And we made it to the World Series, and we won the World Series. "I'm never going to forget that year." Neither will Nationals...

Bell, Schwarber and Harrison activated, Lucroy designated

Bell, Schwarber and Harrison activated, Lucroy designated
The Nationals activated Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison from the COVID-19-related injured list and will have all three veterans available for tonight's series opener in St. Louis. Bell, Schwarber and Harrison were cleared to return today after completing their league- and city-mandated protocols. All had been quarantined since mid-to-late last week after either testing positive for COVID-19 or being deemed close contacts to someone else who did. Manager Davey Martinez hasn't...

For now, trio of catchers is fine with Martinez

For now, trio of catchers is fine with Martinez
By the time he arrived in the major leagues with the Cubs in 1986, Davey Martinez was playing on teams that had transformed their benches, ditching the traditional third catcher for a more versatile player or an extra bullpen arm. But for a couple of generations, most clubs carried three catchers on what was then a 25-man roster. Most times, one backstop was a bat-first guy, the second could both hit and play defense, and the third was pretty much a defensive specialist. Though as the game...

Game 4 lineups: Nats at Dodgers (four players activated)

Game 4 lineups: Nats at Dodgers (four players activated)
Here's some good news to share as the Nationals prepare to open their weekend series at Dodger Stadium against the 2020 World Series champs: They've got four of the nine players who were sidelined for COVID-19 reasons back on the active roster, including both catchers and their closer. Yes, the Nats announced the activation of Yan Gomes, Alex Avila, Brad Hand and Jordy Mercer from the injured list in time for today's game in L.A. It's not as much of a boost as ideally they could've...

Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
And we're back. Already. For a doubleheader. Already. Hey, no complaining about anything this season, alright? It's certainly got to be easier for the Nationals to get right back to work after Tuesday's walk-off win over the Braves in the season opener. Now, they realistically just need to think about winning at least one of today's seven-inning games to win the series against the three-time defending division champs. It's a nice position to be in. It'll be Erick Fedde on the mound for...

Lucroy finds himself thrust into spotlight in Nats debut

Lucroy finds himself thrust into spotlight in Nats debut
Jonathan Lucroy wasn't a National on Saturday. Three days later, he somehow found himself squatting behind the plate to catch Max Scherzer's first pitch of the 2021 season. And then playing a significant role in the Nationals' 6-5 walk-off win over the Braves. How did the 34-year-old catcher process all of that? "It's kind of funny, but I feel like a mercenary," he said during a postgame Zoom session with reporters. "You know the movie 'The Replacements' with Keanu Reeves as the...

Turner cleared to play, nine veterans placed on IL

Turner cleared to play, nine veterans placed on IL
The Nationals have unveiled their opening day roster, and as expected, it's missing a whole lot of prominent veterans. Though not Trea Turner. The club's 26-man roster does not include Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber, Josh Harrison, Yan Gomes, Alex Avila, Patrick Corbin, Jon Lester, Brad Hand or Jordy Mercer. All were officially placed on the injured list, with no reason or timeline given. Only four of them actually tested positive for COVID-19; the others were deemed close contacts either by Major...

As rest of team deals with chaos, Scherzer just wants to pitch

As rest of team deals with chaos, Scherzer just wants to pitch
This past week has been difficult for everyone associated with the Nationals. For the four players who learned they tested positive for COVID-19, for the nine players and staff members who were forced into quarantine because they were deemed close contacts, for all the others who were nervous about their teammates' and their own health. And then there's Max Scherzer, who endured though a completely different kind of agony. The Nationals ace knew he wasn't in danger of contracting the virus,...

As frustrating wait continues, Nationals sign catcher Lucroy

As frustrating wait continues, Nationals sign catcher Lucroy
As they waited for approval to resume full workouts in preparation for the delayed start to their season, the Nationals added the first player from outside the organization who could find himself on an opening day roster that will be stacked with unexpected reinforcements. Veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy agreed to terms on a minor league contract Saturday night, a source familiar with the deal confirmed, and presumably will be available should the Nats need to replace one or both of their major...

Brewers caught batting out of order (Nationals lose 1-0)

Brewers caught batting out of order (Nationals lose 1-0)
Ryan Braun singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the first inning off Max Scherzer in this morning's Independence Day game at Nationals Park. Except in doing so, he actually charged teammate Jonathan Lucroy with an unassisted putout to the catcher. As if 11 a.m. baseball isn't weird enough, the Brewers turned today's game even more bizarre when they batted out of order in the top of the first, costing themselves a hit, not to mention some of their dignity. When Braun, the third...

Ross to start, Roark to follow against Marlins (with lineups)

Ross to start, Roark to follow against Marlins (with lineups)
VIERA, Fla. - Right-hander Joe Ross will get the start for the Nationals today, with righty Tanner Roark set to follow him to the mound. Both pitchers are expected to throw about 50 pitches, with a maximum of three innings. Both Ross and Roark have designs on spots in the starting rotation, so today's game amounts to a little head-to-head competition. Jose Fernandez starts for the Marlins in his Grapefruit League debut. Jonathan Papelbon is scheduled to pitch today for the Nationals, so it...

As spring training nears, still a few roster questions for Nats

As spring training nears, still a few roster questions for Nats
A flip of the page in the calendar, and you can almost hear the crack of the bat, the pop of the glove and the smell the hot dogs. February is here and in just 17 days the clubhouse lockers at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., will be filled with brand new snow-white Nationals jerseys. So how close is general manager Mike Rizzo from establishing which 25 players will don the curly W cap on opening day in Atlanta? Probably the biggest surprise this offseason for the Nationals is that...

Are the Nats looking for a new catcher?

Are the Nats looking for a new catcher?
There has been speculation about the Nationals potentially looking to upgrade at catcher this winter. Wilson Ramos, 28, is coming off his most durable season in the majors, but also his least productive at the plate. Ramos slumped to a career-low .229/.258/.358 slash line with 101 strikeouts in 504 plate appearances. He also hit into 16 double plays in 128 games. And despite being named as a Gold Glove finalist in 2015, there remain concerns with his defense, particularly on plays at the plate....

Jackson leads by example with eight solid innings

Jackson leads by example with eight solid innings
Edwin Jackson did not join the other four Nationals starters in double-digit wins Friday night. In a heartbreaking 4-2 loss to Milwaukee, Jackson's no decision might have been literally lost in the shuffle. It should not be. Instead, it might be his biggest and most important no-decision of the season for the Nationals. Jackson went eight strong innings, allowing a solo homer to Jonathan Lucroy but virtually nothing else. He walked none, struck out six and gave up only five other...