The cases for and against recalling Lucas Giolito to face Mets

The cases for and against recalling Lucas Giolito to face Mets
MILWAUKEE - Dusty Baker said the Nationals will dip into their minor leagues to find a starting pitcher for Tuesday night's home game against the Mets. Since news broke that the Nats would need a starter Tuesday night, social media has been buzzing about the possibility that the hometown fans would get to see right-hander Lucas Giolito, the team's top pitching prospect, make his major league debut. Right now, it appears either Giolito, who is pitching for Double-A Harrisburg, or right-hander...

Strasburg on injury and treatment, Baker on pitching plans vs. Mets

Strasburg on injury and treatment, Baker on pitching plans vs. Mets
MILWAUKEE - Stephen Strasburg has spent more time with the chiropractor over the past week than he has on the mound. The right-hander didn't want to go on the disabled list after a recurring upper back strain twice forced him to be scratched from scheduled starts, but he understands why the DL move was necessary. "Goal No. 1 is to figure out what it is and what's causing it and get back here as soon as I can," Strasburg said in the Nationals clubhouse after Sunday's 3-2 victory over the...

Voth a good choice for spot start with Strasburg on DL

Voth a good choice for spot start with Strasburg on DL
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with an upper back strain. The Nationals announced a corresponding move will be made on Monday. The Nationals will need a spot start on Tuesday. It is a good possibility that right-hander Austin Voth will get the call for his first major league start. He will have to be placed on the 40-man roster to get that spot. The 24-year-old Voth has distinguished himself with Triple-A Syracuse. He has a 4-3 record with a 2.99 ERA...

Who pitches against Mets? (Strasburg placed on DL)

Who pitches against Mets? (Strasburg placed on DL)
MILWAUKEE - When the Nationals scratched right-hander Stephen Strasburg from today's start with a recurrence of his upper back strain and decided to start righty Tanner Roark instead, it threw their rotation for this week's key home series against the Mets into disarray. Instead of starting Roark, then right-handers Joe Ross and Max Scherzer against their division rivals, the Nats are now reassessing their options. They haven't yet announced starters for the series, which begins Monday night...

Valdez, Voth, Perkins and Turner shine in Nats minors Thursday

Valdez, Voth, Perkins and Turner shine in Nats minors Thursday
Wilmer Difo and Phillips Valdez shined in Thursday's Double-A Harrisburg 5-2 win over Portland. The shortstop Difo went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Valdez (1-1) earned his first Double-A victory, going five innings and allowing one run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Georgia Tech right-hander Andew Robinson struck out three in three innings, allowing one run on one hit for his fifth hold. His ERA is 2.11. Right-hander Abel de los Santos recorded his third save...

Baker on Friday's cuts and Papelbon's illness

Baker on Friday's cuts and Papelbon's illness
VIERA, Fla. - A.J. Cole was among the four right-handers cut from Nationals camp Friday, the second straight day the team has reduced its spring roster. All were packing their bags and exiting the clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium for the adjacent minor league complex before morning stretch began Cole and Abel De Los Santos were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, while Austin Voth and Wander Suero were reassigned to minor league camp. Nats manager Dusty Baker was particularly impressed with how...

Austin Voth relishing first big league camp

Austin Voth relishing first big league camp
Right-hander Austin Voth is getting acclimated to the Nationals spring training clubhouse, even if he can't hang close to the other pitchers. Voth, 23, a non-roster invitee, is the only pitcher who's locker is not with the other hurlers. His belongings are on the same side of the clubhouse as all of the position players in Viera, Fla. But Voth doesn't care; he's just thrilled to be in a big league camp for the first time. "I'm just happy to be here," Voth said in an interview with...

Baseball America No. 9 Nats prospect: Austin Voth

Baseball America No. 9 Nats prospect: Austin Voth
Another pitcher who really had a very strong and very consistent 2015 season was right-handed starter Austin Voth. Baseball America's scouting department was also impressed with the University of Washington product's advancing skills. He is the No. 9 Nationals prospect on Baseball America's top 10. No. 9 RHP Austin Voth: The 23-year-old from Redmond, Wash., went 6-7 in 27 starts (28 games) in 2015, all with Double-A Harrisburg. Voth recorded 148 strikeouts in 157 1/3 innings, surrendering...

Baseball America's Nationals top 10 prospects list includes Giolito, Turner and Robles

Baseball America's Nationals top 10 prospects list includes Giolito, Turner and Robles
Baseball America released its top 10 Nationals prospects list in its digital edition this week. Here is the Nationals top 10: 1. RHP Lucas Giolito 2. SS Trea Turner 3. CF Victor Robles 4. RHP Erick Fedde 5. RHP Reynaldo Lopez 6. SS Wilmer Difo 7. RHP A.J. Cole 8. CF Andrew Stevenson 9. RHP Austin Voth 10. 3B Anderson Franco Franco is 18 out of the Dominican Republic and hit a combined .269 for two teams in 2015. Voth has advanced well and has shown stuff that plays at higher levels; he can...

Marmolejos, Voth and Williams take home organizational honors

Marmolejos, Voth and Williams take home organizational honors
The Nationals have named first baseman Jose Marmolejos-Diaz their organization player of the year, right-hander Austin Voth pitcher of the year and right-hander Austen Williams received the Bob Boone Award, MASNsports.com has learned. Low Single-A Hagerstown lefty-hitting first baseman Marmolejos-Diaz had a breakout season for the Suns. The 22-year-old Dominican Marmolejos-Diaz hit .310 in 124 games with 39 doubles, five triples, 11 homers and 87 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .363 and his...

Skole, Voth, Marmolejos and others headline minor league update

Skole, Voth, Marmolejos and others headline minor league update
We've seen more power from Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Matt Skole. The 26-year-old Skole hit two homers, with four RBIs, in a Syracuse 7-1 dispatch of Buffalo. The Chiefs hit three homers off of Bison starter Todd Redmond. They blew it open in the seventh. Up 2-0, Skole launched a solo homer. Kevin Keyes then cranked one over the fence in left field to make it 4-0. Caleb Ramsey added a triple. Later, Steve Lerud dropped in a double and Syracuse was up 5-0. Syracuse pounded out 15...

Review of Harrisburg Senators pitching pre-All-Star break

Review of Harrisburg Senators pitching pre-All-Star break
The Double-A Harrisburg Senators have reached the All-Star break with a 45-46 record and are six games out of the first place Bowie Baysox in the Western Division. A review of the pitching staff in the first half revealed some good control from the Senators hurlers. Harrisburg has allowed only 214 walks pre-All-Star break, the lowest mark in the Eastern League. Their 3.46 team ERA is fifth in the league. They have worked, throwing 797 2/3 innings in the first 91 games, second most to Akron's...

Harrisburg Senators announce 2015 roster, which includes Ross and Voth

Harrisburg Senators announce 2015 roster, which includes Ross and Voth
The Double-A Harrisburg Senators announced their 2015 team roster on Tuesday. The roster is highlighted by a pair of MLB.com Nationals top 10 prospects in pitchers Joe Ross (No. 5) and Austin Voth (No. 10). The other notable top prospects include catcher Pedro Severino, outfielder Drew Vettleson, infielder Matt Skole, infielder Tony Renda and pitcher Abel De Los Santos. The Senators open at home April 9 against the Altoona Curve. Pitchers (13)Tim Alderson Robert Benincasa Robert Bleier Abel De...

Baseball America Nos. 11, 12 Nats prospects: Nick Pivetta and Austin Voth

Baseball America Nos. 11, 12 Nats prospects: Nick Pivetta and Austin Voth
The Baseball America top 10 Nationals prospects list was altered a bit after the acquisitions of Joe Ross and Trea Turner. The list bumped Nick Pivetta to No. 11 and Austin Voth to No. 12. Voth, a 22-year-old right-hander, spent last season with three teams, going 4-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 13 starts. He went 2-1 with a 1.43 ERA in six starts with Single-A Potomac. And now let's turn our focus to ... No. 11: right-hander Nick Pivetta Pivetta went 13-8 with a 4.22 ERA for low Single-A...

Updates on young pitchers Voth, Mooneyham, Orlan and Silvestre

Updates on young pitchers Voth, Mooneyham, Orlan and Silvestre
21-year-old Austin Voth made a nice jump last season from short-season Single-A Auburn to low Single-A Hagerstown. The right-handed starter Voth went a combined 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA in 11 games, striking out 55 batters in 46 1/3 innings. Voth is continuing to prepare for the 2014 campaign alongside 22 of his pitching teammates in the accelerated development program in Viera, Fla. Newly appointed Single-A Hagerstown pitching coach Sam Narron, and former Auburn pitching coach, was impressed...

Solis, Treinen and Voth headline big night for Nationals' affiliates in postseason

Solis, Treinen and Voth headline big night for Nationals' affiliates in postseason
A glimpse into the possible future of the Nationals' starting rotation is on display as three affiliates continue their postseasons tonight. Double-A Harrisburg opens the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series tonight in Trenton, N.J., against the Trenton Thunder. Right-hander Blake Treinen takes the hill for Harrisburg. Treinen was part of the three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to Seattle in the offseason. Ian Krol, A.J. Cole and Treinen were traded to the Nationals as part...

Cathcart on Voth's opponents: "Looked like they were swinging underwater"

Cathcart on Voth's opponents: "Looked like they were swinging underwater"
Right-hander Austin Voth has put together a very solid first year with short-season Single-A Auburn. This week he was rewarded with an invitation to join the low Single-A Hagerstown. He was called up the same day as teammate Jake Johansen. Voth has gone 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in seven starts for the Doubledays. He has an impressive 42 strikeouts to only four walks in 30 2/3 innings. He began the season with the GCL Nats, so his combined numbers total is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 35 2/3 innings, 46...

Source: Nationals promote three more prospects

Source: Nationals promote three more prospects
One day after promoting top prospect Lucas Giolito to short season Single-A Auburn, according to a source the Nationals have announced plans to promote three more prospects. Left-hander Brett Mooneyham will start for Single-A Potomac on Thursday, weather permitting. Mooneyham was 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts with Single-A Hagerstown. Austin Voth and Jake Johansen will also be promoted to Hagerstown. Both started the season with Auburn. Johansen, the Nats' top pick in the June draft,...