Game 98 lineups: Nats at Orioles

Game 98 lineups: Nats at Orioles
Needing a win to prevent a three-game sweep by the Orioles at Camden Yards, the Nationals today turn to a most unlikely pitcher to halt a three-game skid, secure a win in the season series against the Birds and provide some momentum heading into a four-game series in Philadelphia that could make or break Washington's campaign. Righty Paolo Espino (2-2, 3.00 ERA) is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in six starts this season, morphing from a journeyman to a trusted resource out of necessity. The 34-year-old...

Could Stevenson supplant Robles in center field?

Could Stevenson supplant Robles in center field?
Andrew Stevenson has played an important role for the Nationals since debuting in 2017. A left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield positions with a great glove and speed that also poses a threat on the basepaths is a manager's dream player off the bench. The only role Stevenson hasn't played is that of a regular starter, aside from filing in for players dealing with long-term injuries. Could that possibly be changing as we see him get more starts in center field over Victor...

Game 87 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 87 lineups: Nats at Giants
The beauty of baseball is the everyday nature of the sport, making it easy to shake off bad losses and move on to the next game. So even though it wasn't a happy flight from San Diego to San Francisco following last night's heartbreaking loss to the Padres, the Nationals can put it behind them right away with tonight's opener against the Giants. Paolo Espino will take the mound for his first road start of the season (and the first since his major league debut back on May 19, 2017 with the...

Schwarber starts with a bang, Hand hangs on late (updated)

Schwarber starts with a bang, Hand hangs on late (updated)
It's not quite on par with Dodger Stadium, but Nationals Park typically takes a couple innings to fill up most nights. Such is life in this traffic-infested town we call home. If you've got a ticket to watch the local nine, though, you might want to start budgeting some extra commuting time to make sure you're in your seats well before the first pitch of the bottom of the first. Because if you're not here, there's a good chance you're going to miss something memorable from the hottest...

Game 77 lineups: Nats vs. Rays

Game 77 lineups: Nats vs. Rays
It's a rare thing when a ballclub plays three different opponents on three consecutive days, but that's the case for the Nationals tonight. After wrapping up their weekend series with the Marlins on Sunday, then facing the Mets in a one-off makeup game Monday, tonight they welcome the Rays to town for the first of two games in an interleague series. These two teams split a series at Tropicana Field a couple weeks ago, but things have changed a bit since then. The Nationals have gotten red...

Robles out of lineup with sore knee, but able to take BP

Robles out of lineup with sore knee, but able to take BP
Victor Robles is out of the Nationals lineup, his right knee still bothering him enough to keep him from starting against the Mets one day after he was struck by a pitch in Miami. It was not bothering the 24-year-old center fielder enough, though, to keep him from participating in batting practice, suggesting he may not need to miss much time. Robles took a full round of BP with teammates, and though he wasn't moving around at full strength, he didn't appear to be significantly...

Game 76 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 76 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
And so begins the closing stretch of the first half of the 2021 season, a stretch that will test the Nationals unlike any that have come before. Fourteen games in 14 days, all against contending teams. It begins tonight with a one-off against the Mets, another makeup from the season-opening series that was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The great mystery for the last 24 hours has been the identity of the Nats' starting pitcher tonight. This should've been Erick Fedde's game, but...

Nationals ride homers, Scherzer to victory in Miami (updated)

Nationals ride homers, Scherzer to victory in Miami (updated)
There are any number of reasons you can point to for why the Nationals have won or lost a ballgame this season, but here's a simple one to consider: When they hit a home run, they usually win. When they don't, they usually don't. And when they clear the fence twice in the same inning, as they did today during a 5-1 win over the Marlins? Well, that's about as good a piece of evidence as you'll get to foretell a Nats victory. Trea Turner and Josh Bell provided the big blows in this one, each...

Martinez on Bell's return and Parra's start

Martinez on Bell's return and Parra's start
When the Nationals posted their lineup for this afternoon's game in Miami, two things jumped out: Josh Bell was back at first base after sitting out two games with a sore right side that required a precautionary MRI and Victor Robles was on the bench, with Gerardo Parra getting his first start in center field since 2019. Bell has been one of the Nationals' hottest hitters over the past six weeks, batting .298 with a .360 on-base percentage, a .544 slugging percentage and a .904 OPS since May...

Another gutsy pitching effort, but an extra-inning loss (updated)

Another gutsy pitching effort, but an extra-inning loss (updated)
That the Nationals found themselves with a real chance to win Friday night after Max Scherzer departed 12 pitches in with a tweaked groin was fairly remarkable. And that they found themselves again with a real chance to win tonight after giving surprise call-up Jefry Rodriguez the start against the Giants was fairly remarkable in itself. That after all that, they didn't win either game? Well, that's downright agonizing. But hardly surprising during this season of offensive offense. And...

Notes on additional fans, Robles' spot in order and a Nats alum

Notes on additional fans, Robles' spot in order and a Nats alum
Pressed unexpectedly into service when Max Scherzer sustained a groin injury while pitching to his second batter in Friday night's game, Paolo Espino barely had time to process what had happened as he began his warmups on the mound at Nationals Park. Espino took over for Scherzer and - save for a slider that didn't really break that Buster Posey hammered over the fence for the only run in a 1-0 win - throttled the Giants over the course of a 3 1/3-inning stint that lowered his ERA to 2.78 and...

Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves
We've seen the Nationals put together isolated offensive explosions this season. Seven times they've scored seven or more runs. How have they done in their next game? They've averaged three runs. So there's been an issue with sustaining offensive success. Tonight the Nats will try to finally do that and put together back-to-back big performances at the plate in the wake of their 11-6 victory Tuesday night. As was the case then, they're facing a left-hander, this time Drew Smyly. He's got...

Robles active but not starting, Fedde likely needs rehab start

Robles active but not starting, Fedde likely needs rehab start
Victor Robles is back on the Nationals' active roster. He's just not back in the Nationals' starting lineup quite yet. Though he was activated off the 10-day injured list this afternoon, Robles is not starting in tonight's series opener at the Braves. Manager Davey Martinez, who got encouraging reports on the 24-year-old center fielder's rehab game for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, did suggest he would likely be in the lineup Tuesday night, provided he gets through pregame work today with...

Game 50 lineups: Nats at Braves (Robles activated)

Game 50 lineups: Nats at Braves (Robles activated)
The Nationals need something to inject some life in their moribund offense. For now, that something will have to be Victor Robles, who has rejoined the active roster 12 days after spraining his right ankle. Robles was officially activated off the 10-day injured list today, in time for the nine-game road trip that begins late this afternoon in unincorporated Atlanta. The 24-year-old center fielder appeared in one rehab game for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, going 1-for-2 with a double, two...

Monday morning thoughts on Robles, Fedde and Castro

Monday morning thoughts on Robles, Fedde and Castro
Some thoughts on this Memorial Day morning as the Nationals try to put a brutal weekend sweep at the hands of the Brewers behind them and look ahead to a four-game series at the Braves beginning at 5:05 p.m. today ... * Victor Robles might be ready to rejoin the club today. The injured center fielder went on a rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon at Bowie and put together a solid batting line. Serving as the Senators leadoff man and designated hitter, he went 1-for-2...

Harris to have thoracic outlet surgery, Robles rehabs in Bowie

Harris to have thoracic outlet surgery, Robles rehabs in Bowie
For 2 1/2 months, the Nationals and Will Harris hoped they could find a reason for the swelling that would occur in his hand sometimes when he pitched, and hoped there was a way to continue to pitch while treating the mysterious ailment. Now, though, they finally have a concrete answer, and a course of action: Harris has been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and later this week will undergo surgery that is likely to end the right-hander's season. "I spoke to him for a while yesterday,...

Weather throws wrench into Robles and Fedde's rehab plans

Weather throws wrench into Robles and Fedde's rehab plans
Victor Robles is eligible to come off the injured list Sunday, but with little opportunity to test his sprained right ankle on a wet field all weekend, the Nationals may need to wait a bit longer to activate their starting center fielder. Robles was supposed to run the bases Friday, but the postponement of the series opener versus the Brewers shelved those plans. And with more on-and-off rain today as the two teams attempt to play a doubleheader, the Nationals won't take a chance with the...

Nats likely need to make IL decision on Robles by Sunday

Nats likely need to make IL decision on Robles by Sunday
Victor Robles is out of the Nationals lineup for the third straight day with what has now officially been diagnosed as a sprained right ankle, and if his condition doesn't improve in the next 24 hours, the club may have no choice but to put its starting center fielder on the injured list. Robles, who hurt himself in scary looking fashion rounding first base Wednesday night in Chicago, has shown some signs of improvement since, but not enough to allow him to play. "As of right now, no,"...

Robles out of lineup again, getting MRI on ankle

Robles out of lineup again, getting MRI on ankle
The Nationals are without Victor Robles again tonight and now are awaiting results of an MRI taken on the center fielder's right ankle, which remains sore two days after it buckled while he rounded first base in Chicago. Manager Davey Martinez said during his Zoom session before tonight's game against the Orioles that Robles remains day-to-day for now. "He went to get an MRI today, we're waiting on the results," Martinez said. "As the day progressed yesterday, he got sore. So we wanted to...

Game 41 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

Game 41 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
The last time we saw Stephen Strasburg on the mound in a big league game, it was obvious he wasn't right. The veteran hurler was throwing fastballs that barely registered 90 mph. His pitches weren't sharp at all. His mechanics were off. His body language suggested he didn't feel right. Turns out Strasburg was indeed injured, dealing with right shoulder inflammation. The Nationals placed him on the 10-day IL and left him to go through a full rehab process. Tonight, that process finally ends...