Zimmerman to the rescue with 11th career walk-off homer

Zimmerman to the rescue with 11th career walk-off homer
There is plenty still for the Nationals to be concerned about, most notably Stephen Strasburg's health after a worrisome performance in his return from the disabled list tonight. But remarkably, there are still reasons for this team to have some optimism no matter how hopeless their situation appears, and tonight an old friend provided the moment that helped raise those hopes another notch. Trailing with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Zimmerman launched a game-ending, two-run homer...

Seven relievers helped Nats in 10-4 comeback over the Phillies

Seven relievers helped Nats in 10-4 comeback over the Phillies
Because of a rain delay that almost reached two hours, starter Tanner Roark was limited to three innings. That left the Nats having to rely on seven different relievers to hold off the Phillies in a 10-4 win. Left-hander Matt Grace did well in relief of Roark with two scoreless innings, but got into trouble when he could not record an out to start the sixth. He allowed four batters in a row to reach base and it looked like the Phillies had a chance to run away with the game. But Jimmy Cordero...

Replacements come through in win over Phillies (updated)

Replacements come through in win over Phillies (updated)
Hours after watching their front office trade away two popular veterans and their owner issue a statement that all but served as a concession speech for the 2018 season, the Nationals took the field tonight to face a Phillies team that is very much in a pennant race for the first time in seven years, then sat through a 1-hour, 42-minute rain delay in the third inning before re-taking the field in front of a crowd with a vibe not felt around here since maybe 2010. With Daniel Murphy on his way...

Bullpen update: Martinez "hopeful" to have Herrera back versus Phillies

Bullpen update: Martinez "hopeful" to have Herrera back versus Phillies
Along with having Stephen Strasburg return for the Nationals' critical series this week against the Phillies, manager Davey Martinez believes there is a very good chance his bullpen will get an important arm back in closer Kelvin Herrera. Herrera, who arrived from the Kansas City Royals in a trade in mid-June, struggled to begin the second half of the season, going just 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA and three saves since the All-Star Break. In the first half of the season, most of that time with the...

Glover, Suero could ascend into late-inning roles

Glover, Suero could ascend into late-inning roles
CHICAGO - For all the difficulty Sammy Solís and Greg Holland had in the sixth and seventh innings, ultimately costing the Nats the game, Koda Glover and Wander Suero pitched exceptionally well after that. And in doing so may have earned their manager's trust to start pitching in big situations like the ones Solís and Holland failed in at Wrigley Field. After Holland walked in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh, manager Davey Martinez summoned Glover to enter from the bullpen...

Big inning dooms Voth in debut, Nats fall below .500 again (updated)

Big inning dooms Voth in debut, Nats fall below .500 again (updated)
NEW YORK - As the bottom of the fifth arrived at Citi Field, Davey Martinez knew what he needed from Austin Voth: one more scoreless inning. One more clean inning, and the rookie manager could pull his rookie starter and be content with the three early runs he allowed, at the very least giving his team a chance to come back from that three-run deficit with four innings yet to play. But as the bottom of the fifth played out, it became apparent that best-case scenario simply wasn't going to come...

Roster decisions await Nationals before tonight's game

Roster decisions await Nationals before tonight's game
Monday was an eventful day on South Capitol Street. The Nationals split a pseudo-doubleheader with the Yankees. Juan Soto hit a home run five days before making his major league debut. Kelvin Herrera was acquired from the Royals for three minor leaguers. Today might not quite rival that, but it figures to be a newsworthy day at the ballpark nonetheless, with multiple roster moves on tap before the Nationals and Orioles open the second half of this year's Battle of the Beltways. It begins with...

Soto's latest blast propels Nats to long-awaited win over Yanks (updated)

Soto's latest blast propels Nats to long-awaited win over Yanks (updated)
The visiting Yankees took the field first in their gray road uniforms, a reliever trotting from the dugout to the mound. The home Nationals, in their red alternate jerseys, sent Bryce Harper into the on-deck circle to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning of a game that began a month earlier. And then a rookie outfielder who went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Double-A Harrisburg in a game played in Bowie on May 15 came up to bat at Nationals Park and launch the titanic home run that gave the Nats a...

Adams a gametime decision, Voth available as 26th man

Adams a gametime decision, Voth available as 26th man
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said that he expects that right-hander Wander Suero will remain in the suspended game against the Yankees to pitch the top of the seventh. The game resumes in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning at 5:05 p.m. on MASN. "Suero is still in the game," Martinez said. "When the game starts, we will see where we are at. Hopefully, we score a couple of runs and then things will change. But he's still in the game. "We will have guys warming up. Depending on,...

A primer for tonight's unusual, sort-of doubleheader

A primer for tonight's unusual, sort-of doubleheader
No two days at the ballpark are ever alike, but it's safe to say today at Nationals Park isn't going to be like any previous day in the stadium's 10-year history. What was originally supposed to be an off-day on the schedule instead turned into an unusual, pseudo-doubleheader against the Yankees, thanks to a whole lot of rain when the Bronx Bombers were in town last month. The May 15 game that was suspended in the middle of the sixth inning with the score tied 3-3 will be completed today,...

Strasburg leaves with early injury, Nats fall to Giants in opener

Strasburg leaves with early injury, Nats fall to Giants in opener
A sellout crowd of 41,591, the vast majority wearing red and more boisterous than usual thanks to the good vibes still permeating through the city after Thursday night's Stanley Cup celebration, filed into Nationals Park this evening ready to celebrate the local baseball team. Two innings in, that crowd was murmuring and lamenting an all-too-familiar sight from this town's pre-championship days: the early departure of a star player due to injury. Stephen Strasburg lasted only two innings,...

Martinez lays out plan for suspended game and nightcap

Martinez lays out plan for suspended game and nightcap
The resumed game from Tuesday's suspended contest is scheduled to begin at 5:05 p.m. ET today. The Nationals and the Yankees were tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth. After a one-plus hour weather delay, the game was suspended. In the bottom of the sixth, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Matt Adams are scheduled due up for the Nationals. Nationals manager Davey Martinez will have to make a decision with his bullpen when the top of the seventh rolls around. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez went five...

Nationals like what they see from Austin Voth

Nationals like what they see from Austin Voth
Right-hander Austin Voth only came up for a 24-hour period a couple of weeks ago. He did not get into that game on April 29, but expect to see Voth again in a Nationals uniform this season. The starter has built himself to a point in his young career to be an extremely valuable asset to the Nats. Nats director of player development Mark Scialabba said Voth's dedication to getting stronger in the offseason has positively affected his pitching repertoire and his ability to strive towards the end...

Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?

Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?
Sammy Solís and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay? Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon...

Suero says "it feels incredible" to get call to the Nats

Suero says "it feels incredible" to get call to the Nats
Last season was right-hander Wander Suero's best as a pro. He went 3-2 with a 1.79 ERA over 54 games and 65 1/3 innings, splitting his time between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. In 2017, he was named the Nationals minor league organizational pitcher of the year. Manager Davey Martinez said they went with Suero now because he is healthy and he has the ability to pitch to both sides of the plate with success. Right-hander Austin Voth was optioned to Syracuse one day after he...

Game 29 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Suero promoted)

Game 29 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Suero promoted)
Another day, another roster move for the Nationals, who have been burning up the transaction wire during a busier-than-expected opening month of the season. One day after calling up Austin Voth from Triple-A for the first time, the Nats sent the right-hander back to Syracuse and called up Wander Suero from Syracuse for the first time. The rationale behind it all: The Nationals desperately needed someone who could throw multiple innings in case of emergency Sunday, so Voth was the guy. But he's...

Scherzer ramps things up, Nats make six more cuts

Scherzer ramps things up, Nats make six more cuts
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Maybe it was the fact they were playing under the lights for the first time this spring. Maybe it was the fact he was stretched out to five innings for the first time. Or maybe it was simply the fact he's Max Scherzer. Whatever the case, the Nationals ace seemed to be even more amped up than usual for tonight's start against the Mets, one in which he posted five zeros, allowed one hit, struck out nine and strutted around the mound more than once. Scherzer may not be...

Seeking his rhythm, Strasburg sees fine-tuning producing results

Seeking his rhythm, Strasburg sees fine-tuning producing results
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg wants to embrace the notion of using spring training to get his arm in shape and try some new things in games that really don't matter a lick. He really does. He comes to camp in that mode, but when you're a veteran who relies heavily on a comfort zone provided by pattern and routine, even the smallest deviations can seem like huge changes. "I would say I don't give myself too long a leash," Strasburg said this afternoon after working 3 1/3 innings...

Suero and Sierra off to good starts in spring training

Suero and Sierra off to good starts in spring training
Early spring training games are a good chance for younger players to get a shot to play in major league games. One right-handed pitcher for the Nationals, Wander Suero, has gotten off to a very good start. He has not allowed a run in four appearances. Suero pitched in games on Feb. 23 and 27, and March 2 and 4. He has recorded seven strikeouts and one walk, allowing only two hits over four innings. In yesterday's 6-2 win over the Tigers, Suero struck out the side in one inning of relief. In...

Martinez's dugout debut "just another spring training game"

Martinez's dugout debut "just another spring training game"
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - His position along the first base line, with 70-some others in Nationals uniforms standing to his right and only home plate to his left, was unfamiliar. Davey Martinez had never stood at the head of the line for a national anthem before, and this was a particularly poignant anthem, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Angelique Meneses singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" one week after 17 people were killed at her high school in nearby...