Strasburg not throwing yet, may see another specialist

Strasburg not throwing yet, may see another specialist
More than a week removed from his latest start cut short by injury, Stephen Strasburg remains shut down from throwing and may be headed to see another specialist, who will attempt to figure out what precisely is causing the nerve irritation in his neck that has shelved the right-hander once again. Strasburg, who last pitched June 1 in Atlanta, was placed on the 10-day injured list with what the Nationals initially termed a neck strain. He flew home to Washington for an MRI, which revealed nerve...

Voth out "for some time" after surgery to repair nose

Voth out "for some time" after surgery to repair nose
Austin Voth is recovering from surgery to repair multiple fractures in his nose, and though the Nationals right-hander is feeling fine after getting hit by a fastball during Sunday's game in Philadelphia, he will need some time to heal before returning to pitch. In addition to needing to have his nose reset in multiple places during Monday's surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Voth's left eye is swollen shut. He posted a message to his Instagram account thanking...

Fedde appears ready to rejoin rotation, Gomes out again

Fedde appears ready to rejoin rotation, Gomes out again
Though circumstances dictated they go with a bullpen game this afternoon in Philadelphia - Austin Voth will start, for those who haven't heard yet - the Nationals shouldn't need to take this unconventional route again unless someone else gets hurt. That's because Erick Fedde appears ready to return from the COVID-19 injured list after making a five-inning rehab start Saturday for Single-A Wilmington. Fedde, whose last appearance for the Nationals was a seven-scoreless-inning gem in Arizona...

Gomes sits for third straight day, Sunday starter still TBD

Gomes sits for third straight day, Sunday starter still TBD
Yan Gomes is out of the Nationals lineup for the third straight day with a tight right hamstring, and until the veteran catcher can comfortably squat behind the plate for an entire game without being hindered, he'll remain out of the Nationals lineup. "This is going to be a day-to-day thing with him," manager Davey Martinez said in his Zoom session with reporters before today's game in Philadelphia. "The position he plays, with him squatting and stuff, I just want to make sure that he can...

Scherzer's start may have made Nats' Sunday starter plan clearer

Scherzer's start may have made Nats' Sunday starter plan clearer
Every team is bound to run into this conundrum over the course of a 162-game season: The need for a replacement starting pitcher. With off-days, rainouts and injuries - all while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic this season and last - it happens more often than managers would like. But that comes with the job. Nationals manager Davey Martinez has been dealing with this issue for the better part of the last week, trying to figure out a starter for Sunday's series finale against the Phillies...

Schwarber sits to rest sore knee, Sunday's starter is TBD

Schwarber sits to rest sore knee, Sunday's starter is TBD
When Kyle Schwarber walked into Davey Martinez's office this morning in Atlanta, the Nationals left fielder told his manager his right knee was still sore after a hard landing while attempting to make a diving catch Wednesday night. Martinez told Schwarber he wouldn't be starting this afternoon's series finale against the Braves, but to get treatment on his knee, and then if he thinks he can pinch-hit later in the game, to let him know. "I couldn't even get the words out," Martinez...

Strasburg placed on 10-day IL with neck strain (updated)

Strasburg placed on 10-day IL with neck strain (updated)
The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day injured list with a neck strain after sending the right-hander back to Washington for an MRI. Kyle McGowin, who was already in Atlanta as part of the club's traveling taxi squad, was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take Strasburg's roster spot and provide another fresh arm for tonight's game against the Braves, in which Jon Lester will be starting on short rest the day after Strasburg's 1 1/3-inning start added more strain to the...

Strasburg's latest ailment has ripple effect on entire staff

Strasburg's latest ailment has ripple effect on entire staff
For all the positive things that happened Tuesday night during the Nationals' 11-6 win in Atlanta, the departure of Stephen Strasburg in the bottom of the second with yet another physical ailment was by far the most significant development of the evening. And it's not simply because of what this means for Strasburg, who reported tightness in his right trapezius muscle and will undergo an MRI this morning, according to manager Davey Martinez. This also has a domino effect on several other...

Lester to start Wednesday night on short rest

Lester to start Wednesday night on short rest
The Nationals won't be turning to a sixth starter to take the mound in a pinch Wednesday night. They'll instead ask the oldest player on their roster to pitch on short rest against the Braves. Jon Lester, who started the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, will return to pitch at Truist Park in Atlanta on only three days' rest, manager Davey Martinez revealed during this afternoon's Zoom session with reporters. That doubleheader created a situation where on Wednesday...

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...

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...

Series opener postponed, Nats reach vaccination threshold

Series opener postponed, Nats reach vaccination threshold
The Nationals are getting the night off. And then another shortened doubleheader Saturday. If the weather permits. Tonight's series opener against the Brewers was officially postponed, with sustained rain forecast for the entire evening and into Saturday. The two clubs, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, made the call about 3 1/2 hours before scheduled first pitch, opting not to wait it out and risk another lengthy delay like the Nats and Reds experienced Wednesday night before the...

Rainey activated off COVID-19 IL, Fedde to be cleared Friday

Rainey activated off COVID-19 IL, Fedde to be cleared Friday
It's not often a team has the ability to change its roster mid-game, but the Nationals and Reds both were afforded the opportunity today for the completion of Wednesday night's suspended game. The Nats have activated Tanner Rainey off the COVID-19 injured list and will have the reliever available to them for the final five innings of the resumed game, plus tonight's seven-inning series finale. They'll also have Kyle McGowin available for the nightcap even though the right-hander was...

Martinez on Rainey, Fedde and García

Martinez on Rainey, Fedde and García
Right-hander Tanner Rainey, on the COVID-19 injured list since May 19, could be on the verge of rejoining the Nationals after throwing an extended bullpen session Tuesday, manager Davey Martinez said this afternoon. "He threw 32 pitches yesterday," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with the media. "I want to talk to him today and see how he feels after a long bullpen. If he feels good, he hasn't missed that much time. There's been times where guys in the bullpen, especially the...

García called up from Triple-A, Fedde and Rainey back in D.C.

García called up from Triple-A, Fedde and Rainey back in D.C.
In deciding who would take Victor Robles' spot on their roster, the Nationals elected not to promote another outfielder from Triple-A Rochester, nor did they call up their top prospect who only two months ago was supposed to be their starting third baseman. The Nats' decision to recall infielder Luis García before tonight's series opener against the Reds instead of Carter Kieboom or an outfielder revealed a few things about the current state of things in the organization. With no other...

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...

Another rough start could leave Ross' job in jeopardy (updated)

Another rough start could leave Ross' job in jeopardy (updated)
For weeks, these two questions have loomed over the Nationals: When will Stephen Strasburg return from a shoulder injury, and who will lose his spot in the rotation once he does? As this seven-game road trip to Arizona and Chicago progressed, the answer to the first question became clear: Strasburg would be ready to come off the 10-day injured list Friday to start the Nats' homestand opener against the Orioles. The answer to the second question has become a bit more complicated, not because of...

Nats cap eventful night with tight win at Wrigley (updated)

Nats cap eventful night with tight win at Wrigley (updated)
Maybe it's Wrigley Field. The Friendly Confines just seem to bring out the highest of drama when the Nationals are in town, and have so for many years now. From epic playoff games to devastating walk-off grand slams to intentional walk records to wild back-and-forth contests, the Nationals and Cubs have experienced it all at the corner of Clark and Addison streets on Chicago's North Side. Add tonight's 4-3 victory to the list. Maybe the stakes weren't as high as some of the previous...