Home confinement re-watch: 2019 World Series Game 4

Home confinement re-watch: 2019 World Series Game 4
If Game 3 of the World Series was the most frustrating four hours of the Nationals' entire postseason run, what was Game 4? Awfully frustrating in its own right, that's what it was. There weren't as many squandered opportunities at the plate as there were the previous night, but there were more than a few. And though the final score (an 8-1 Astros victory) was lopsided, the game was very much there for the taking in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, perhaps the key stretch of...

Home confinement re-watch: 2019 NLDS Game 1

Home confinement re-watch: 2019 NLDS Game 1
The Nationals' run last October, when viewed in its entirety, was thrilling. That doesn't mean every single game along the way matched that description. There were a few clunkers mixed into those 17 postseason games. And maybe the biggest clunker of them all came only 48 hours after the euphoric National League wild card win over the Brewers. Flying high from that dramatic victory, the Nats headed west to open their best-of-five NL Division Series with the powerhouse Dodgers. And if you were...

Only two members of World Series roster remain unsigned

Only two members of World Series roster remain unsigned
As the clock ticks down to the start of spring training, so does the scramble for the remaining unsigned free agents out there to find jobs. One member of the Nationals' World Series-winning roster found a job Friday: Matt Adams, who agreed to a minor league deal with the Mets. Adams, the left-handed half of the Nats' first base platoon for most of the last two seasons, will get an invitation to big league camp in Port St. Lucie and have a chance to make the Mets' opening day roster. But...

Could the Nats re-sign any more of their remaining free agents?

Could the Nats re-sign any more of their remaining free agents?
The Nationals had an usually large number of players become free agents off their championship roster: 12 in total, including those who either opted out of the rest of their contracts or had options declined by the club after the season. To their credit, they've managed to re-signed five of those free agents so far (Stephen Strasburg, Howie Kendrick, Yan Gomes, Asdrúbal Cabrera, Javy Guerra) while losing only two (Anthony Rendon, Gerardo Parra). But that still leaves five more players from...

No bloops from Nats, one Astros blast leave series tied (updated)

No bloops from Nats, one Astros blast leave series tied (updated)
The defining moment of Game 4 of this World Series, the moment that will be replayed over and over and remembered fondly in Houston, was Alex Bregman's seventh-inning grand slam off Fernando Rodney, an MVP candidate blasting an erratic 42-year-old reliever deep into the D.C. night and propelling the Astros to an 8-1 victory to even up the series. The moment that created that nightmare scenario, though, the rally that was squandered by the heart of the Nationals lineup the previous inning, was...

Nats hope fresh bullpen gives them advantage in Game 4

Nats hope fresh bullpen gives them advantage in Game 4
Frustrating as Friday night's 4-1 loss was, the Nationals perhaps could take some solace knowing this: While the Astros had to burn up five relievers, including three of their top guys, the Nats used only three low-leverage bullpen arms. And that could prove significant tonight in Game 4 of the World Series, especially when considering the two teams' pitching plans. The Nationals will start Patrick Corbin, who threw one inning of relief in Game 1 but is rested enough to top the 100-pitch...

Hudson and Doolittle fine with sharing closing role

Hudson and Doolittle fine with sharing closing role
The strength of the Nationals bullpen heading into the World Series boils down to Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle. Hudson has been a difference maker for the 'pen since his arrival July 31 in a trade with the Blue Jays. Hudson not only provided an arm that could close games but also brought the endurance to be a reliever that could extend past one inning if needed. Doolittle said Hudson's addition changed everything for him. Doolittle missed 12 games in late August due to right knee...

Nats have several decisions to make before start of Series

Nats have several decisions to make before start of Series
This extended break between the National League Championship Series and the World Series offers the Nationals a chance to rest their overworked pitchers and a chance to figure out how to make sure their hitters stay in a rhythm without facing live pitching in actual games for six days. It also offers ample opportunity for the Nats to consider all their roster, lineup, bullpen and bench options for either potential opponent. Maybe too much opportunity. "Do our homework," general manager Mike...

Martinez needs to be more aggressive with bullpen in Game 2

Martinez needs to be more aggressive with bullpen in Game 2
LOS ANGELES - In Tuesday's do-or-die wild card game, Davey Martinez could justify an all-hands-on-deck philosophy with his pitching staff. In Thursday's opener of a best-of-five National League Division Series, the Nationals manager felt such an approach wasn't justified. Given the way his team lost 6-0 to the Dodgers, Martinez might have no choice but to treat tonight's Game 2 more like the elimination game he managed earlier this week. After getting six harrowing but ultimately effective...

Nationals bats are silent in Game 1 shutout loss (updated)

Nationals bats are silent in Game 1 shutout loss (updated)
LOS ANGELES - We can talk about the Nationals pitching staff - their dominant starters, their shaky relievers - and how they are deployed in the postseason until the cows come home. Until their hitters start, you know, hitting, it won't matter much. Game 1 of the National League Division Series saw Patrick Corbin battle disastrous command early to still produce a quality start. It saw a trio of setup men (Tanner Rainey, Fernando Rodney and Hunter Strickland) fail to keep the game close in the...

Wild card roster features nine pitchers, eight on bench

Wild card roster features nine pitchers, eight on bench
The Nationals roster for tonight's wild card game includes four members of their rotation, only five members of their usual bullpen, three catchers and an eight-man bench. Suffice it to say, the strategy for this do-or-die game against the Brewers is just a bit different than it is for any other game in the regular season or postseason. The Nationals announced their 25-man roster this morning, and while most of the names come as no surprise, there are a few twists. Most notably, the Nats...

Nats turn to offense to secure home field Tuesday with 10-7 win

Nats turn to offense to secure home field Tuesday with 10-7 win
The Nationals raced out to a big early lead, then held off the Indians the rest of the way for a 10-7 victory over the Indians at Nats Park. The win guarantees the Nats home field advantage for Tuesday's National League wild card game. After starting the season 19-31, the Nats rebounded to go 72-38 (.655), and are now 92-69 with one game remaining in the regular season. Gerardo Parra crushed his second grand slam of the season, Anthony Rendon delivered a two-run double in a nine-run second...

Strasburg dominates as Nats sweep five from Phillies

Strasburg dominates as Nats sweep five from Phillies
We don't know yet when Stephen Strasburg will make his next start for the Nationals. Or his first career relief appearance. Or perhaps whether he'll take the mound again in 2019 at all. That dilemma will be resolved in the coming days by Davey Martinez and his coaching staff, not to mention the Nationals players who take the field Tuesday night in the National League wild card game and determine whether this wild season is extended to at least 166 games instead of only 163. For now, let's...

Ross and five relievers lift Nats closer to postseason, eliminate Phillies

Ross and five relievers lift Nats closer to postseason, eliminate Phillies
Right-hander Joe Ross and five relievers lifted the Nationals to a crucial 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of this afternoon's doubleheader at Nats Park. The Nationals improved to 87-69 and reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two. They also eliminated the Phillies from postseason contention. Ross went four innings, wiggling out of a big jam in the first. He allowed a walk to start the game to César Hernández. Then three of the next four batters singled, including a...

Nats must put games in hands of two best relievers

Nats must put games in hands of two best relievers
It's been a ragged September for the Nationals, who despite hanging on to remain in strong position to reach the National League wild card game have gone 9-11. This is crunch time, of course, a time for the best players on the roster to step up and deliver in key moments to help lift their team into the postseason. Problem is, when it comes to the Nationals bullpen, the best players aren't the ones on the field in those key moments. If you had to guess, who would you think had made the most...

More on Saturday night's wild win in Miami

More on Saturday night's wild win in Miami
MIAMI - A lot happened during the course of the Nationals' 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins on Saturday night, and much of it was covered in the game story. But let's make sure we give a few more significant moments and developments from the game their just due. ... * Asdrúbal Cabrera injured his right ankle. He hurt himself sliding while getting tagged out at the plate on a fourth-inning play that had plenty of folks up in arms, with third base coach Bob Henley waving the veteran...

After disastrous eighth, a joyous 10th for Nats (updated)

After disastrous eighth, a joyous 10th for Nats (updated)
MIAMI - They led by four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Stephen Strasburg had dominated the Marlins for the umpteenth time. The Nationals just needed to finish off a last-place opponent and move one step closer to a berth in the wild card game. And then Fernando Rodney took the mound, charged with protecting a four-run lead. And the enigmatic reliever remained on the mound until that four-run lead was gone and panic began to consume living rooms throughout the DMV while hope suddenly emerged...

Bullpen closes out Marlins to extend Nats' wild card lead

Bullpen closes out Marlins to extend Nats' wild card lead
MIAMI - It's crunch time in the National League wild card race, and if the Nationals have any intention of extending their season beyond 162 games, they're going to have to win some close games over the next 10 days and do whatever's necessary to try to win those games. Tonight, that meant a six-out save attempt for Daniel Hudson, the second time the veteran reliever has been asked to do that this week. And for the second time this week, Hudson pulled it off, in the process moving his team...

Culberson cleared to fly home, Martinez explains request

Culberson cleared to fly home, Martinez explains request
Charlie Culberson suffered multiple facial fractures when he was hit in the right cheek trying to bunt a fastball from Nationals reliever Fernando Rodney during Saturday's game, but the Braves utilityman was released from the hospital later in the evening, spent the night at the team's hotel and has been cleared to fly home to Atlanta today. All things considered, that was positive news from everyone's perspective today at Nationals Park, where the two clubs are preparing to play their...

Nats' reaction to Culberson being hit in face by pitch

Nats' reaction to Culberson being hit in face by pitch
Pinch-hitter Charlie Culberson squared to bunt in the top of the seventh inning of the Braves' 10-1 win over the Nationals on Saturday. But a Fernando Rodney fastball hit him in the face near his right eye. Culberson collapsed at the plate and was down for several minutes. He was then assisted to a cart by medical personnel and driven off the field to the hospital. As he was carted off, he gave the crowd a thumbs-up gesture. Rodney ended up facing nine more batters and had difficulty recording...