Hellickson progressing, will he start Monday in New York?

Hellickson progressing, will he start Monday in New York?
Manager Davey Martinez gave an update on Jeremy Hellickson's progress in extended spring training, saying the veteran right-hander is getting very close to being ready. "He threw a side actually (on Wednesday)," Martinez said. "I guess he threw well. Now we'll just have to wait and see. He's getting to the point now where he feels like he's ready. I know he's got another side coming up so we'll see where we're at." The Nats current fifth starter, right-hander A.J. Cole, made a vast...

"MASN All Access" podcast: Byron Kerr on Nats' rebound

"MASN All Access" podcast: Byron Kerr on Nats' rebound
The Nationals are back on track and Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com is back on your airwaves! The Nationals were able to take two of three from the Braves to rebound from getting swept at home by the Mets. Byron, formally of the late "District 34" podcast, joins Paul and I to discuss how the Nats turned things around this week with stellar outings from Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. We first touch on Byron's recent story on Matt Adams' value to his new team after the left-handed backup...

"MASN All Access" podcast: Wrapping up road trip and preparing for home opener

"MASN All Access" podcast: Wrapping up road trip and preparing for home opener
The Nationals had an historic start to the season, winning their first four games and leading for 36 straight innings. But they dropped the final two games in Atlanta to finish the season's first road trip 4-2. So what went right and what went wrong over the season's first six games? Who impressed and who didn't? Paul Mancano and I are back on the "MASN All Access" podcast to break down the Nats' impressive trip through Cincinnati and Atlanta before the team comes back to open the home...

Cole gets dismantled as Nats fall for first time this season 13-6

Cole gets dismantled as Nats fall for first time this season 13-6
ATLANTA - Right-hander A.J. Cole struggled with consistency in his first start and the Braves took full advantage. Highlighted by a pair of three-run homers from Preston Tucker and Freddie Freeman, Atlanta scored nine runs in the first three innings and cruised to an emphatic 13-6 win. It was the Nationals' first loss of the season. The Braves pounded out 15 hits, including two homers and four doubles. It was the most runs the Nats had allowed since a 13-0 loss to Atlanta July 8, 2017 at Nats...

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Braves
ATLANTA - Right-hander A.J. Cole wants to be just like his buddies. The first four starters for the Nationals were 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA and the offense has provided their pitching staff with a league-leading 29 runs. The Nats pitching staff has allowed only 13 runs and other than the them, the Pirates are the only undefeated teams remaining at 4-0. Cole's major league debut came here in Atlanta back in 2015. The Nats made a miraculous comeback on April 28, 2015 to win 13-12 but Cole struggled...

With one week to go, what's left for Nats to decide?

With one week to go, what's left for Nats to decide?
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We are down, if you can believe this, to the final seven days of spring training. Yep, one week from now the Nationals will be home in Washington, getting settled into their digs for the season and preparing to face the Twins in one last exhibition game on South Capitol Street before heading out to Cincinnati for opening day. Which means it's crunch time down here in Florida. All those decisions that have been looming for five weeks? It's about time to make them. All...

Wieters' guidance helped Nats pitching staff flourish in 2017

Wieters' guidance helped Nats pitching staff flourish in 2017
Catcher Matt Wieters' influence on the success of the Nationals pitching staff cannot be underestimated. From Gio Gonzalez increasing his tempo between pitches to Tanner Roark using all of his pitches in unique situations, Wieters has been able to bring out the best in each of his pitchers. Wieters said his philosophy has always been to measure and think out each pitch he suggests to the pitcher and not necessarily what the pitcher might have thought he should throw in a particular moment....

Revisiting our opening day media predictions

Revisiting our opening day media predictions
The Nationals' season is far from over. If anything, the last six months were nothing but a big tease for what is still to come over at least the next week, possibly more. But the regular season has concluded, and that means it's time to revisit all those predictions all of us on the Nats beat made way back on opening day. This always leads to embarrassment for us (though traditionally some more than others) but I have to say the crew did a pretty good job overall this year, with a couple of...

Scherzer pulled in fourth with apparent leg issue (Nats lose 4-1)

Scherzer pulled in fourth with apparent leg issue (Nats lose 4-1)
The last thing the Nationals needed in Game 161 of the season was to pull Max Scherzer in the top of the fourth inning for any reason other than performance, but that's what they got tonight. Scherzer was removed from his final postseason tune-up with what appeared to be a right leg issue after he landed awkwardly while throwing a pitch to the Pirates' Josh Bell. Whether his removal by manager Dusty Baker was a move of extreme caution or reason for actual concern is the question that now...

Cole and Taylor key 3-1 win; Baker updates Harper's status

Cole and Taylor key 3-1 win; Baker updates Harper's status
PHILADELPHIA - Right-hander A.J. Cole and center fielder Michael A. Taylor, whose paths have crossed a few times in the organization over the years, combined to lift the Nationals past the Phillies 3-1 in the opening game of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night. Cole spun 5 2/3 solid innings, allowing only an Odubel Herrera line drive homer in the fourth, for his third win of the season. He struck out five batters, using his changeup and slider to mix up hitters. "He's...

Taylor goes yard to help Cole (Nats win 3-1)

Taylor goes yard to help Cole (Nats win 3-1)
PHILADELPHIA - Right-hander A.J. Cole did a nice job of getting out of what could have turned into difficult situations in his first two innings tonight against the Phillies. In the first, Nick Williams singled with two outs. But Cole was able to get Rhys Hoskins to ground into a fielder's choice to third to end the inning. In the second, Aaron Altherr singled and moved to second on a sacrifice. Down 3-1 to Maikel Franco, Cole again got a groundout to third base. He walked Andrew Knapp with...

Game 156 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 156 lineups: Nats at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - Welcome to Bryce Harper Day! The Nationals are hoping this will be the night they get their star right fielder back into a game after missing close to a month and a half with a hyperextended knee and strained calf. To date, he hasn't been activated, and he's not in the starting lineup for tonight's game at Citizens Bank Park. The Nats are in town for their final regular season road series of the year with three against the last-place Phillies, coming off a series victory in...

Baker on facing Dodgers without Scherzer, Harper and others

Baker on facing Dodgers without Scherzer, Harper and others
Seeing the Nationals fall to the Dodgers 7-0 and 3-2, with Edwin Jackson and A.J. Cole starting, some wonder whether the Nats are holding back a bit, perhaps waiting to step on the gas until they can turn Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Tanner Roark or Gio Gonzalez loose on the Dodgers in October. Manager Dusty Baker offered that one might analyze the Dodgers in the same way. After all, the Nats are missing Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish in this series. "Well, I don't know what their rotation was...

Luke Erickson: Who they gonna call?

Luke Erickson: Who they gonna call?
For the first six seasons in D.C., Sept. 1 meant one thing for fans of the Washington Nationals: Let's see if any of these minor leaguers might make the team next spring. Like, for example, Ian Desmond in 2009, Wilson Ramos in 2010, and the trio of Steve Lombardozzi, Tommy Milone and Brad Peacock in 2011 (yes, it counts because Milone and Peacock were key pieces in the trade for Gio Gonzalez). But this season, like the last five, the Nats are playoff contenders and the expectations for the...

Cole steady early on (Marlins win 7-3)

Cole steady early on (Marlins win 7-3)
Nationals Right-hander A.J. Cole got off to an outstanding start with strikeouts of Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stanton. He finished off a 1-2-3 first inning with a groundout off the bat of Christian Yelich. He hit a batter in the second and endured a fielding error by second baseman Adrián Sanchez in the third, but managed to complete three innings without allowing a run or a hit. The Nats broke through against Marlins starter Vance Worley in the third. Brian Goodwin doubled and took third on...

Fedde improves in second start, Scherzer ready to start tonight

Fedde improves in second start, Scherzer ready to start tonight
CHICAGO - There's nothing like experience, and Erick Fedde made sure to take what he learned from his major league debut last week and apply it to Sunday's start against the Cubs. For example: Trust his entire repertoire, not just two of his four pitches. "The first game, I felt like I really got away from my breaking ball, and just turned into a two-pitch pitcher," the right-hander said. "Today, I got to all four of my pitches and stayed with them throughout the game and kept guys...

Examining Nats' interest in A's relievers, possible Tuesday starters

Examining Nats' interest in A's relievers, possible Tuesday starters
CINCINNATI - Yes, the Nationals are interested in obtaining a pair of A's relievers to bolster their beleaguered bullpen. And that should not come as a surprise. Last night's report by Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network that the Nationals are interested in acquiring relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson is indeed accurate and would seem to check a couple of boxes heading into the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. It would give the Nats two veteran bullpen arms, both of whom have closed at...

Kelley to disabled list again, Cole called up from Syracuse

Kelley to disabled list again, Cole called up from Syracuse
NEW YORK - The Nationals have recalled right-hander A.J. Cole and placed right-hander Shawn Kelley on the 10-day disabled list with a right trapezius strain. The move is retroactive to June 17. Kelley pitched in Friday's game, but his fastball velocity was way down to 88 mph and manager Dusty Baker said Kelley felt "tightness" in his neck. He said Saturday that Kelley was unlikely to pitch in that day's game. Now the club has returned Kelley to the disabled list for the second time this...

Luke Erickson: Do Nats have bullpen arms ready on the farm?

Luke Erickson: Do Nats have bullpen arms ready on the farm?
It's never been lost on me that some folks are only interested in the Washington farm insofar as who can replace (fill in name of player struggling). These days, it's the Nationals bullpen where the firemen are bringing the gas and not the water, if you know what I mean. Before I go any further, let me be very plain: I believe the Tony La Russa-style bullpen with so-called roles is both overblown and overrated. I'm with Dick Radatz, who famously sneered, "Your job is to throw strikes when...

Baker on J. Turner, Taylor and Kelley

Baker on J. Turner, Taylor and Kelley
The Nationals have announced their pitching probables for the weekend series in Philadelphia. Friday it will be Stephen Strasburg facing former Nationals property Nick Pivetta. They have listed "to be announced" for Saturday's game against Vince Velasquez. Manager Dusty Baker had said Wednesday night after Jacob Turner pitched four innings that A.J. Cole would pitch Saturday. Sunday's series finale will have Tanner Roark against Jeremy Hellickson. Turner was the hot subject of Thursday's...