On Fedde's turnaround, Castro's RBIs and Hand's pitch count

On Fedde's turnaround, Castro's RBIs and Hand's pitch count
The 2021 debuts of Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison, and the effect they had on the Nationals lineup, were the dominant storyline to Monday night's game. But this 5-2 victory was made possible by several other players and several other developments worth exploring a bit deeper ... * Fedde's 180 After Erick Fedde was rocked by the Braves in his season debut five days earlier, who saw this coming? The right-hander completely reversed course against the Cardinals, allowing just one...

Newly activated regulars deliver late to end skid (updated)

Newly activated regulars deliver late to end skid (updated)
It was appropriate - probably wise - to temper expectations when the Nationals emerged from visitors' dugout tonight in St. Louis and for the first time in 2021 had their entire lineup active. As much as everyone hoped Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison would make an immediate impact, logic suggested it was too much to expect in their first game of the season after being stuck in COVID-19-related quarantine. And for a few innings, that was indeed the appropriate sentiment. The three...

Game 7 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

Game 7 lineups: Nats at Cardinals
For the first time in 2021, the Nationals will field their full starting lineup. Now it's up to that reinforced unit to actually produce and help end a five-game skid. Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison all were activated from the COVID-19-related injury list today and all three are in manager Davey Martinez's lineup for the series opener against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Bell will hit cleanup and provide protection for the already-red-hot Juan Soto, with Schwarber behind him...

Should opening series encourage or discourage Nats?

Should opening series encourage or discourage Nats?
There are a couple of ways to think about the Nationals' season-opening series. You can take the optimistic view and point out that in spite of their severely depleted roster, the Nats showed themselves to be pretty much on par with the Braves and very easily could've won the three-game series or even swept it. Or you can take the pessimistic view and lament the fact that the series was indeed right there for the taking, and the Nats instead gave it to the Braves by blowing an early lead in...

Fedde squanders early lead, Nats lose twinbill opener (updated)

Fedde squanders early lead, Nats lose twinbill opener (updated)
Five runs in two innings against the opposing ace should be a pretty air-tight formula for success. For the Nationals, it somehow meant a frustrating loss in the opener of a 14-inning doubleheader. Despite getting to Braves left-hander Max Fried early and often, the Nats watched helplessly as Erick Fedde gave it all back and then some during an eventual 7-6 loss at Nationals Park that took some of the luster out of Tuesday's thrilling opening day win. They nearly pulled off another last-second...

Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
And we're back. Already. For a doubleheader. Already. Hey, no complaining about anything this season, alright? It's certainly got to be easier for the Nationals to get right back to work after Tuesday's walk-off win over the Braves in the season opener. Now, they realistically just need to think about winning at least one of today's seven-inning games to win the series against the three-time defending division champs. It's a nice position to be in. It'll be Erick Fedde on the mound for...

Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter
Anybody want to get weird on March 25? Well, let's get weird! The Nationals tonight are starting Luis Avilán., a reliever. He will serve as an "opener," pitching the bottom of the first against the Marlins for sure and possibly taking the mound for the bottom of the second as well. He's also batting eighth, and Davey Martinez says if that spot in the lineup comes up before Avilán is done pitching, he'll indeed bat for himself. Erick Fedde, originally named tonight's starter, will...

Nats face tough decisions after learning Fedde is out of options

Nats face tough decisions after learning Fedde is out of options
Davey Martinez's message to the three pitchers competing for the No. 5 starter's job this spring has been consistent throughout. "Regardless of who's going to start or what, they'll have an opportunity to pitch," the Nationals manager repeated Tuesday during a Zoom session with reporters. "Like I've said before, we're gonna need all these guys across the course of the year." Indeed, the Nats know they'll need far more than five starters in a 162-game season. And that's why even as...

Strasburg will start on schedule, but in simulated game

Strasburg will start on schedule, but in simulated game
Stephen Strasburg won't miss any time with a left calf strain and will make his next start Friday on schedule. But the Nationals right-hander won't be doing it in a Grapefruit League game. Strasburg will throw four innings in a simulated game against teammates prior to the Nationals' official 6:05 p.m. exhibition against the Astros, manager Davey Martinez revealed this morning. "He says he feels fine," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "But we want to make sure...

Ross continues to make his case for final spot in rotation

Ross continues to make his case for final spot in rotation
If the conventional wisdom entering the spring was that the No. 5 spot in the Nationals rotation was Joe Ross' to lose, the right-hander has done nothing to date to suggest he's in serious danger of coughing up the job to someone else. Ross hasn't necessarily dominated in his two starts, but he's been good enough. He's been healthy. And he's feeling quite comfortable sliding back into the five-day routine of a big league starter after sitting out the 2020 season. "It's just good to be...

Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in West Palm Beach

Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in West Palm Beach
Juan Soto, as promised, is making his spring debut today in West Palm Beach, Fla. And Soto, as speculated for a while around here, is going to be batting second as part of a potentially newfangled top of the Nationals lineup. Manager Davey Martinez is trotting out 1-2-3 of Victor Robles, Soto and Trea Turner, a combination that seemed possible for a while but had not actually been utilized previously. It certainly has potential, if Robles can do his part and get on base at a much higher clip as...

In spring debut, Fedde rides 28-pitch roller coaster

In spring debut, Fedde rides 28-pitch roller coaster
The last thing Erick Fedde wanted to do in his first inning of the spring Sunday was get into a bases-loaded jam before recording an out, then watch as Nolan Arenado strode to the plate and received a standing ovation for his first at-bat with the Cardinals. And when he promptly spiked a sinker in the dirt to bring home a run, Fedde's 2021 debut appeared on the brink of collapse. But then, an adjustment. And a flip of the script, turning a potentially disastrous first inning in Jupiter, Fla.,...

A sense of normalcy in Nationals' first spring game with fans

A sense of normalcy in Nationals' first spring game with fans
Normalcy - or, at least, some semblance of normalcy - returned to Florida today. On an 82-degree Sunday afternoon in Jupiter that included abundant sunshine at times and popup showers at others, the Nationals and Cardinals played a baseball game. At 1:05 p.m., Victor Robles dug in at the plate and took a 94-mph fastball from Jack Flaherty for strike one. Trea Turner singled and advanced Andrew Stevenson to third on a hit-and-run. Josh Bell took a 3-2 slider at the knees for a walk, and home...

Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter

Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
And away we go ... Yes, there's a ballgame today in Florida. The Nationals are playing the Cardinals in Jupiter, the first of 24 games on the Grapefruit League schedule. And there are a whole lot of starters playing for both clubs. Davey Martinez's lineup includes Victor Robles leading off and Trea Turner batting third (yep, they really are going to test this out this spring). It doesn't include Juan Soto, but it does feature a 4-5-6 of Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Starlin Castro. If you...

Martinez on Fedde starting opener, Hand closing and Parra's knee

Martinez on Fedde starting opener, Hand closing and Parra's knee
With his top two starting pitchers spending the beginning of spring training ramping up after injuries, Nationals manager Davey Martinez has chosen right-hander Erick Fedde to start Sunday's Grapefruit League opener against the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla. "We want to get him out there," Martinez said of Fedde this afternoon during his Zoom conference call with reporters. "He looks good. Built him up a little bit. So feel like he'll be the guy." Fedde will be limited to 30 pitches, which...

Spring training storylines: Who's the fifth starter?

Spring training storylines: Who's the fifth starter?
Would you believe we've reached the final countdown to spring training? That's right, pitchers and catchers are holding their first official workout in West Palm Beach, Fla., in five days. So it's time to count down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with a familiar battle for the No. 5 starter's job ... So much about this spring will be different for the Nationals, from the new faces in uniform to the new protocols in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But...

Which players are on Nationals' roster bubble?

Which players are on Nationals' roster bubble?
When the Nationals convene in 10 days at West Palm Beach, Fla., they will be full of optimism and eager to erase the stench of a 26-34 record in the truncated 2020 season that earned them a share of last place in the National League East. But amid all the cliches about being in the best shape of their lives, boundless hope that things will be better in 2021 and the inevitable focus on how newcomers to the organization will adjust, one factor drives performances more than any other. Some guys in...

Strasburg's return to full health crucial to formulating 2021 rotation

Strasburg's return to full health crucial to formulating 2021 rotation
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg has recovered well from right hand surgery and is expected to be at full health when spring training begins, hopefully in mid-February 2021. Strasburg pitched in only two games in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, severely hampering a rotation that has been the strength of the Nats success for many seasons. "He was just re-examined on Dec. 4," general manager Mike Rizzo during today's Zoom video call with reporters. "He's coming along great. He should be...

On the importance of rotation depth

On the importance of rotation depth
The Nationals' acquisition Monday of Rogelio Armenteros didn't generate much buzz, nor should it have. A 26-year-old right-hander with five games of big league experience claimed off waivers? That's not exactly blockbuster material. But the move did offer up a reminder of an important but oft-overlooked area of concern for the Nationals and all clubs: rotation depth. Armenteros isn't going to make the Nats rotation out of spring training. If he somehow does, a bunch of things have gone...

Was strong finish enough for Fedde to earn spot in rotation?

Was strong finish enough for Fedde to earn spot in rotation?
Our offseason player review series continues today with Erick Fedde, who showed improvement after getting a chance to stick in the rotation. PLAYER REVIEW: ERICK FEDDE Age on opening day 2021: 28 How acquired: First-round pick, 2014 draft MLB service time: 2 years, 99 days 2020 salary: $563,500 (prorated $208,704) Contract status: Possibly arbitration-eligible in 2021, free agent in 2025 2020 stats: 2-4, 4.29 ERA, 11 G, 8 GS, 0 CG, 50 1/3 IP, 47 H, 25 R, 24 ER, 10 HR, 22 BB, 28 SO, 3 HBP, 1.371...