Charted territory: How pitching charts benefit Nationals starters

Charted territory: How pitching charts benefit Nationals starters
Pitching coach Mike Maddux has brought new strategies with him from the Rangers to the Nationals. One such strategy is that he requires his starting pitchers to chart the game the day before their scheduled outing. Most of the Nationals starters did this when they were in college or in the minors, some more than others. The Nationals have a young starter in Joe Ross, who is mixed with veterans like Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg and Tanner Roark. All of the starters agree that...

Why Dusty Baker doesn't believe in personal catchers

Why Dusty Baker doesn't believe in personal catchers
Dusty Baker isn't a big believer in the concept of personal catchers, but when he took the job as Nationals manager over the winter, he inherited the Gio Gonzalez-Jose Lobaton pairing. Gonzalez and Lobaton never formally were named as permanent batterymates, but the two had worked together in 19 of the left-hander's final 23 starts in 2015 and enjoyed success. So Baker kept them together each of the first eight times Gonzalez pitched this season. Until tonight. Seeking more offense from his...

Calm, poised Gonzalez turning into "a different guy on the mound"

Calm, poised Gonzalez turning into "a different guy on the mound"
KANSAS CITY - There were moments during tonight's game that looked all too familiar to Gio Gonzalez, moments when the left-hander could have been on the brink of disaster and too often in the past succumbed to the pressure. A 28-pitch first inning that featured tough at-bat after tough at-bat from the Royals. A two-on, two-out jam in the third with the heart of the lineup at the plate. A two-on, one-out jam in the sixth as his pitch count approached and then topped the century mark. Each time,...

Ramos returns from bereavement leave, Severino optioned

Ramos returns from bereavement leave, Severino optioned
ST. LOUIS - Wilson Ramos rejoined the Nationals this morning and was activated off the bereavement list, making the veteran catcher eligible to play in today's series finale against the Cardinals. Ramos had been away from the team five days following the death of his grandfather, Jesus Campos, missing the Nats' entire series against the Phillies and then this weekend's first two games in St. Louis. It wasn't immediately clear whether Ramos would be activated today or not, but he emerged...

Game 19 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 19 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
This should be Joe Ross' turn in the Nationals rotation, but the club decided to be cautious with the young right-hander's blister and skip his turn (made possible by yesterday's off-day). So it'll be Max Scherzer, still on normal rest, taking the mound for tonight's series opener against the Phillies. Scherzer is coming off a ragged start in Miami in which he was tagged for five runs and eight hits in only five innings. Afterward, he described his problem as "not finishing my pitches,"...

Lobaton's bat helps lift Gonzalez, Nats to 8-4 win

Lobaton's bat helps lift Gonzalez, Nats to 8-4 win
Catcher Jose Lobaton does not get many chances to start. Usually, it is only on the fifth day as left-hander Gio Gonzalez's personal backstop. So when Lobaton gets his shot to play, he likes to make the most of it. Friday night, he was a key component in an 8-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. In addition to calling a good game for Gonzalez, Lobaton smacked two hits, including a spectacular triple that highlighted a three-run fourth, giving the Nationals a commanding 7-0 lead. Lobaton smiled...

Friday night fire: Nats jump out early against Twins, win 8-4

Friday night fire: Nats jump out early against Twins, win 8-4
Last Friday night in Philadelphia, the Nationals set the tone for the weekend series with five runs on six hits in the first inning. They went on to roll past the Phillies 9-1. Back home in D.C. tonight, the Nationals took it to Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson in the bottom of the first. Daniel Murphy smacked an RBI single and Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jose Lobaton then slapped a two-run single to make it 4-0 Nationals. Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez started...

Game 6 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 6 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
The Nationals have a chance tonight to do something they've never done in their previous 11 years in the District, nor something any Washington ballclub has done in 65 years: start a season 5-1. With a win tonight over the Braves, the Nats would match the 1913 and 1953 Senators for the best six-game start to D.C. baseball history. No small achievement. In order to do it, they'll need to get a solid outing from Gio Gonzalez, who 16 days after he last pitched in Florida is finally making his...

Baker offers high praise for Severino after demotion to Triple-A

Baker offers high praise for Severino after demotion to Triple-A
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Nationals sent Pedro Severino to the minors this afternoon, but their new manager offered lofty praise for the catching prospect on his way out of the big league clubhouse. "I love this guy," Dusty Baker said. "I think he's going to be an All-Star someday." Severino, 22, impressed Baker and his coaching staff during his month in major league camp. Returning club officials already had a high opinion of the catcher from his breakthrough 2015 that concluded with a...

Taking stock of a 4-2 victory and 6-1 spring start

Taking stock of a 4-2 victory and 6-1 spring start
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Dusty Baker smiled at the mention that the Nationals had just won their fourth straight spring training game, improving to 6-1 in Grapefruit League play. "That's fine with me," Baker said. "I'll take it." A lineup populated with few players who will head north with the Nationals dispatched the Astros 4-2 on Tuesday afternoon. Luckily, the battery of right-hander Max Scherzer and Jose Lobaton was mostly in synch, even if Scherzer did have to battle through a 37-pitch...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Rays in Port Charlotte

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Rays in Port Charlotte
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla - After five long months, the Nationals today will take the field and play another team in an actual (exhibition) baseball game. No, it's not opening day, but it is the Grapefruit League opener, and that counts for something, right? Game 1 of 31 total exhibitions to be played over the next month in Florida and Washington takes place clear on the other side of the state from the Nationals' home base. This is their first-ever trip to Rays camp, and all it takes for them to...

Are the Nationals looking for a catcher?

Are the Nationals looking for a catcher?
If Wilson Ramos' 2015 season was a stock chart, it would drive you crazy on whether to buy or sell. There were plenty of highs: staying healthy resulting in a career-best 128 games played, catching both of Max Scherzer's no-hitters, tying for the major league lead by throwing out 44 percent of potential basestealers and receiving recognition as a Gold Glove finalist. But there were also several lows: a career-worst .229/.258/.358 slash line, a career-high 101 strikeouts with just 21 walks in...

Nationals avoid arbitration with Moore, Lobaton (Stammen is lone non-tender)

Nationals avoid arbitration with Moore, Lobaton (Stammen is lone non-tender)
The Nationals have agreed to a one-year, $900,000 deal with first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore, reaching a pact ahead of tonight's 11:59 p.m. Eastern time deadline to tender contracts to unsigned players. Moore was the first of eight arbitration-eligible Nationals to sign. CBSSports.com was first to report the agreement. The 28-year-old Moore has seen his statistical output and playing time fall over the past few seasons, and he has been unable to replicate the .263/.327/.513 slash line with...

Will the Nationals non-tender any arbitration-eligible players?

Will the Nationals non-tender any arbitration-eligible players?
Tomorrow is another one of those important housekeeping dates on the Major League Baseball offseason calendar. By 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, teams must offer their arbitration-eligible players contracts or non-tender those whose services they're no longer interested in. While some Nationals players have multi-year contracts - think Max Scherzer, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper and other guys who helped push the team's 2015 opening day payroll north of $162 million -...

What does the future hold for Wilson Ramos?

What does the future hold for Wilson Ramos?
Anyone else a little bit surprised to see Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos among the National League finalists for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award? Yes, Ramos effectively controls the opposition's running game - gunning down 24 of 54 would-be base stealers last season - and has improved his game-calling ability. His .995 fielding percentage certainly looks impressive. But I don't know anyone who doesn't cringe when a throw from the outfield skips in front of the plate because of Ramos' inability...

Gio Gonzalez felt he should have stuck to game plan in 4-1 loss to Orioles

Gio Gonzalez felt he should have stuck to game plan in 4-1 loss to Orioles
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got into some trouble in the second inning with an issue that has hurt him in the past: walks. Two walks in that frame fueled an Orioles rally. Baltimore got back-to-back run-scoring base hits from Ubaldo Jimenez and Nolan Reimold to lead 2-0. Later, the top of the order went after Gonzalez in the fifth. RBI doubles from Chris Davis and Steve Pearce added to the Orioles' advantage. The Orioles eventually won the game 4-1. "The inning that (Gonzalez) gave up the two...

Max Scherzer's fiery response to Matt Williams highlighted in Nats' 5-4 win

Max Scherzer's fiery response to Matt Williams highlighted in Nats' 5-4 win
Right-handers Max Scherzer and Jose Fernandez went toe-to-toe for the first six innings tonight, both allowing two runs. But Scherzer outlasted Fernandez, taking his start into the seventh where his defining moment of the night took center stage. With the game knotted 2-2, Miguel Rojas smoked a double off Scherzer with one down. Scherzer quickly responded, fanning Casey McGehee for the second out. With Dee Gordon - owner of the National League's second best batting average - stepping to the...

Watch the celebration following Jose Lobaton's walk-off sac fly

Watch the celebration following Jose Lobaton's walk-off sac fly
Two Fridays ago, the Nationals sported their blue jerseys and faced their National League East rivals, the Braves, in front of the hometown crowd at Nats Park. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th, Michael A. Taylor came on to pinch-hit and sent a walk-off three-run home run into the stands. Fast forward to last night's scene in D.C. The boys dawned their patriotic get-up as they hosted another division foe, the Marlins. The ballgame was knotted at 4-4 after nine innings. To the...

Jose Lobaton gets to play role of hero as Nats drop Marlins

Jose Lobaton gets to play role of hero as Nats drop Marlins
Jose Lobaton does not get many opportunities to play as the backup catcher. Even more rare is the chance for him to impact the game in his last at-bat. Friday night, Lobaton's fly ball to left field scored Jayson Werth from third base with the winning run as the Nationals completed a 5-4 comeback win over the Marlins in 10 innings. "What do you want me to say, (I am) happy," Lobaton said afterwards at his locker. "That was something that you really want to do every time you got that...

Williams addresses Werth, Ramos and improving outfield defense, throws to the plate

Williams addresses Werth, Ramos and improving outfield defense, throws to the plate
Manager Matt Williams announced in pregame that Jayson Werth is back in the lineup and leading off, which wasn't exactly the plan earlier Saturday afternoon. "We planned on giving him a day off, tough travel, late night, into yesterday," Williams said. "The fact that (Ryan Zimmerman) was scheduled for a day off yesterday, we planned on Jayson today. But he got here, feels good, and he's got good numbers certainly." Werth had trouble defensively Friday night in the Nationals' 10-3 loss to...