Nats ransacked by Padres in second-half opener (updated)

Nats ransacked by Padres in second-half opener (updated)
Had this performance come last weekend, with the Nationals on fumes at the end of a brutal stretch heading into the All-Star break, it might've been understandable. Annoying, but understandable, given the circumstances. But for this to happen in the first game out of the break? With everyone refreshed and ready to go again? That isn't going to sit well with anyone employed by the Nationals who had to watch tonight's 24-8 beatdown at the hands of the Padres, a game that featured all kinds of...

Nationals second-half storylines

Nationals second-half storylines
A roller coaster of a first half ended for the Nationals last weekend with a sweep in San Francisco, the final unexpected twist to 3 1/2 months of baseball that featured all kinds of unexpected twists. What, then, do the next 2 1/2 months have in store for this team? Can anyone truly say they know? You can make a compelling case for just about anything to happen to the Nats in the second half. Get healthy and surpass the Mets to win the National League East? Sure, that's possible. Completely...

Nationals' first-half report card

Nationals' first-half report card
This wasn't the best first half in Nationals history, nor was it the worst. It was arguably the most eventful they've ever had, a 3 1/2-month roller coaster ride that began with a shocking drop (the COVID-19 outbreak), slowly began to climb back up, then gave everyone a June thrill ride before hitting some major bumps in early July. The end result of all that was a 42-47 record at the All-Star break. Some years, that would leave the Nats out of contention and looking to sell at the trade...

Scherzer and Soto lead Nats All-Stars in Midsummer Classic

Scherzer and Soto lead Nats All-Stars in Midsummer Classic
Although the American League won its eighth straight All-Star Game 5-2, the Nationals were well represented on the National League side Tuesday night. In taking the mound to kick off the game at Coors Field in Denver, Max Scherzer went from one of the last players named to the NL roster to making his fourth Midsummer Classic start. He is now one of just six pitchers in the game's history to make that many starts. Scherzer started the game by getting opposing starting pitcher and leadoff...

If Nats are going to make a run, stars must lead the way

If Nats are going to make a run, stars must lead the way
Seven major league clubs will have four or more players representing them tonight at Coors Field in the All-Star Game. Five of those clubs (the Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox and Astros) entered the break in possession of a postseason berth, and a sixth (the Blue Jays) owns a winning record. The seventh? That would be the Nationals, who despite climbing two games over the .500 mark two weeks ago, limped into the break having lost nine of 11 and now own a disappointing 42-47 record. And that...

Soto's Home Run Derby charge ends in semifinal loss to Alonso

Soto's Home Run Derby charge ends in semifinal loss to Alonso
Maybe Juan Soto was drained from his first-round victory in Monday night's Home Run Derby at Coors Field, when he vanquished the favored Shohei Ohtani of the Angels in a three-swing swing-off to advance to the semifinals against the Mets' Pete Alonso. Perhaps his hand-selected pitcher, Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long, tired as the night went along, failing to deliver enough pitches to Soto's up-and-in happy zone. At one point in the opening round, teammates Max Scherzer and Trea Turner...

For Scherzer, All-Star nod - even late - is still a big deal

For Scherzer, All-Star nod - even late - is still a big deal
When the call finally came from Major League Baseball on Saturday afternoon, inviting Max Scherzer to his eighth All-Star Game as a replacement player for a pitcher who was throwing Sunday or had to beg off with an injury, the Nationals ace reacted with the glee of a rookie rather than the carefully measured words of a grizzled 14-year veteran. "Just excited. Awesome. Anytime, it's a heck of an accomplishment," Scherzer said in a Zoom call with reporters before Saturday's game against the...

Scherzer chosen as an All-Star replacement

Scherzer chosen as an All-Star replacement
Turns out Max Scherzer will get another star turn after all. The Nationals right-hander was selected as a replacement player for Tuesday's All-Star Game in Denver, Major League Baseball announced Saturday morning. Scherzer, who is 7-4 with a 2.66 ERA, 0.878 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 98 innings, is an All-Star for the eighth time in his career. He has been chosen for the Midsummer Classic each season since 2013 He, Dodgers righty Walker Buehler, Brewers righty Freddy Peralta and Mets...

Game 86 lineups: Nats at Padres

Game 86 lineups: Nats at Padres
We talked about the daunting two-week stretch the Nationals were going to face heading into the All-Star break, with 14 games in 14 days against five contenders. Well, 10 games in they've managed to go 5-5 despite a swath of injuries and a four-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers last weekend. And tonight they have a chance to win three of four on the road from the Padres. That's not bad at all. It's a premier pitching matchup for the series finale at Petco Park, with All-Star Yu Darvish...

Nats bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego (updated)

Nats bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego (updated)
There was the tone-setter, the three-run homer by Juan Soto in the top of the first that seemed to leave Petco Park in 1.3 seconds. There were the back-to-back, two-run singles by Josh Bell and Starlin Castro in the top of the second that kept the pressure on Padres starter Chris Paddack. And then there were the three additional runs the Nationals scored soon thereafter to extend their lead to a whopping 10 runs by the top of the fourth and ensure this would be a very good (albeit very long)...

Game 85 lineups: Nats at Padres

Game 85 lineups: Nats at Padres
The Nationals have done OK at the plate through the first two games of this weekend's series in San Diego, scoring 11 total runs. (Though they did strand a bunch of runners on base late during Tuesday night's 7-4 loss.) Of greater concern has been a pitching staff that has given up 12 runs in 17 innings. Or more specifically, a rotation that has given up 11 runs in 7 2/3 innings. That's not going to cut it, and it has put quite a strain on the bullpen. So the pressure's on Patrick Corbin...

Soto will participate in Monday night's Home Run Derby

Soto will participate in Monday night's Home Run Derby
Maybe the cure for Juan Soto's struggles to elevate the ball is to hit a bunch of balls at high elevation in the Home Run Derby. Whether it helps him rediscover his power stroke or not, Soto is going to participate in Monday night's derby at Coors Field, the Nationals star outfielder announced today. It's Soto's first career appearance in the Home Run Derby, and it coincides with his first career All-Star selection. The timing may seem a bit off, given that Soto is currently struggling...

Fedde rusty in return from IL, Nats fall to Padres (updated)

Fedde rusty in return from IL, Nats fall to Padres (updated)
The Nationals' resurgent June was built upon multiple developments, but high on the list was the resurgence of their rotation into an elite unit for the first time all season. Now as the calendar has shifted to July, they're finding out just how important that development was. It's hard to win games when your starter doesn't provide both quality and length. And the Nats haven't been getting either over the last week. They got away with Jon Lester's poor start Monday night in San Diego,...

Turner, Soto, Schwarber all earn first All-Star selection

Turner, Soto, Schwarber all earn first All-Star selection
The Nationals will send three players to next week's All-Star Game, all of them first-time selections, while their most decorated star stays home - at least for now - despite producing one of the best first halves of his storied career. Trea Turner, Juan Soto and Kyle Schwarber all were named reserves to the National League All-Star team this afternoon, each earning a spot in the Midsummer Classic for the first time. They'll head to Denver to represent the Nats, but unless there's a need to...

Game 82 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

Game 82 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
Good morning from Nationals Park - and, yes, it was morning when last we spoke. Less than 11 hours after they wrapped up a rain-delayed 5-3 loss to the Dodgers, the Nationals are back to work for their annual Independence Day morning game, needing a win to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the defending World Series champs. They will do so with a lineup that remains depleted. Trea Turner is out for the fourth straight day with a left finger injury. Yan Gomes also isn't catching today,...

Game 81 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers (Schwarber, Avila to IL)

Game 81 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers (Schwarber, Avila to IL)
How's this for a primetime nationally televised matchup tonight at Nationals Park: one of the best pitchers in baseball versus Clayton Kershaw. What, you don't believe Paolo Espino is one of the best pitchers in baseball? Among all major leaguers with at least 35 innings pitched this season, he ranks 11th in ERA (2.02), 12th in WHIP (0.869) and first in walks per nine innings (1.01). Are you a believer now? OK, so the 34-year-old journeyman faces a really tough test tonight in the Dodgers,...

Game 79 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

Game 79 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
Good afternoon from Nationals Park, which just experienced a minor hurricane a few minutes ago. Seriously, it was intense. The skies have let up since then, and at this moment the forecast suggests it will be dry until about 8 p.m. That, of course, doesn't guarantee anything. So don't assume anything. As always, when we know something about the status of the game, we'll let you know. If they play, the Nationals will be looking to stay red hot against a particularly difficult opponent: the...

Schwarber starts with a bang, Hand hangs on late (updated)

Schwarber starts with a bang, Hand hangs on late (updated)
It's not quite on par with Dodger Stadium, but Nationals Park typically takes a couple innings to fill up most nights. Such is life in this traffic-infested town we call home. If you've got a ticket to watch the local nine, though, you might want to start budgeting some extra commuting time to make sure you're in your seats well before the first pitch of the bottom of the first. Because if you're not here, there's a good chance you're going to miss something memorable from the hottest...

Soto doesn't have concrete answer for lack of power

Soto doesn't have concrete answer for lack of power
When Juan Soto steps to the plate these days, he does so with one task in mind: Get on base. Don't worry about hitting a ball 450 feet somewhere. Just do whatever it takes to reach, whether via single, walk or some other mechanism. And he's done quite well in that department, with a .396 on-base percentage that ranks among the league leaders. "Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do," Soto said Monday during a face-to-face interview with several reporters at Nationals Park. "Like I told the...

Corbin delivers quality, but Nats struggle versus rookie (updated)

Corbin delivers quality, but Nats struggle versus rookie (updated)
Patrick Corbin followed a familiar script, allowing an opponent to take an early lead before settling in to record a quality start. And while the Nationals eventually knotted the score, they did precious little against a 27-year-old rookie making his fourth major league start. Zach Thompson kept the Nats at bay, striking out 11 in six innings, and Jon Berti's tiebreaking solo homer in the fifth inning - the only hit Corbin allowed after the opening frame - gave the Marlins a 3-2 win over the...