Once a weakness, revamped 'pen enters spring as strength

Once a weakness, revamped 'pen enters spring as strength
As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the bullpen ... Undeniably the club's biggest weakness through the first half of the 2017, the Nationals bullpen morphed into one of its true strengths by season's end. For that, thank general manager Mike Rizzo, who acquired three key arms in July and transformed the nature of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings in dramatic...

Nats still need bullpen help beyond the big three

Nats still need bullpen help beyond the big three
The Nationals bullpen will enter the 2018 season in far better shape than it did a year ago. Lest anyone forget the open competition to be the closer between Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover. That won't be an issue this time, not with Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler all back in the late-inning roles they inherited (and thrived in) following their July acquisitions. But the Nats bullpen doesn't exactly look pristine beyond that trio. The loss of Matt Albers - who...

Rizzo on Kintzler, Glover and the state of the Nats bullpen

Rizzo on Kintzler, Glover and the state of the Nats bullpen
As much as he wanted to bring back Brandon Kintzler and keep the back end of his bullpen intact for the 2018 season, Mike Rizzo admittedly thought the Nationals would be at a disadvantage in negotiations. Kintzler, who recorded 29 saves this season (28 while with the Twins), figured to get offers to close somewhere else. And sure enough, he did. Only to decide to re-sign with the Nationals after all. "I think there were those offers to go pitch the ninth inning exclusively, to have more save...

Glover has begun throwing, vows to be ready for spring camp

Glover has begun throwing, vows to be ready for spring camp
Like many Nationals fans, right-hander Koda Glover keeps replaying the fateful fifth inning in Game 5 of the National League Division Series in his mind. Unlike most Nats fans, however, Glover isn't focusing on the fact that eventual National League Cy Young winner Max Scherzer failed to throttle the Cubs in a rare relief appearance when his team most needed him to. Glover thinks about Scherzer being undone by bloops and bleeders, bad luck and a debatable call by a home plate umpire and...

Koda Glover rehabbing pain in shoulder, shut down until November

Koda Glover rehabbing pain in shoulder, shut down until November
Nationals right-hander Koda Glover returned to the clubhouse Friday after rehabbing in Florida since mid-June. Glover had been placed on the disabled list June 11 with lower back stiffness. It was his second trip to the DL. Back in late April, he worked through a left hip impingement. Despite all that time on the disabled list, there was optimism about a month ago that Glover might be able to return to pitch for the team before the end of the season. But on Saturday, Glover confirmed he has...

Scherzer will start Friday; Glover getting second opinion

Scherzer will start Friday; Glover getting second opinion
MIAMI - Max Scherzer is cleared to start Friday night as scheduled for the Nationals. The odds of Koda Glover returning to pitch for the Nats this season, however, appear to have dwindled. Scherzer was able to throw a bullpen session this afternoon with no ill effects from his bruised left calf, and the Nationals have officially listed him as Friday's starter against the Phillies. "He's getting treatment and getting his leg worked on and stuff," manager Dusty Baker said. "So, yeah, as of...

Madson goes on DL with finger sprain, Kelley activated

Madson goes on DL with finger sprain, Kelley activated
SAN DIEGO - Just when the Nationals appeared to have to solved their bullpen woes, one of their recently acquired arms has gone down with an injury. Ryan Madson was placed on the 10-day disabled list today with a sprained right index finger, an injury that is not believed to be serious but will nonetheless sideline the club's new setup man for the time being. Shawn Kelley, who already had been close to returning from a long rehab assignment, was activated off the DL and is available out of the...

Baker: Heisey, Raburn and Werth will head to West Palm Beach

Baker: Heisey, Raburn and Werth will head to West Palm Beach
Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Chris Heisey, Jayson Werth and Ryan Raburn will accompany the team to Florida when the Nationals begin their six-game road trip in Miami. All three will rehab at the club's West Palm Beach facility. "Raburn and Heisey could be ready pretty soon, not sure when exactly," Baker confirmed, but Werth is not close to running yet. "They backed him off from running because it's not quite healing as fast as we would've liked," he said. "We are hoping," Baker...

Ross has Tommy John surgery, plus other injury updates

Ross has Tommy John surgery, plus other injury updates
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Joe Ross had Tommy John surgery this morning, a procedure that the Nationals said went smoothly but nonetheless will sideline the right-hander until at least the middle of the 2018 season. Ross had the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow replaced in Dallas by orthopedist Keith Meister, who reported it "went well," according to manager Dusty Baker. The typical timeline for pitchers returning from the surgery is 12 to 18 months, giving Ross a chance to contribute for...

Baker on roster move, Taylor, bullpen makeup and more

Baker on roster move, Taylor, bullpen makeup and more
CINCINNATI - Dusty Baker knows who his starting pitcher will be for tomorrow's series opener in Anaheim. He's just not ready to make an announcement yet. "It's the same as yesterday: I can't tell you yet," Baker said before Monday's series finale against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. "There's an update. Same as yesterday." However, general manager Mike Rizzo, in an interview this morning on MLB Network Radio on XM, said that right-hander Edwin Jackson would get the call for...

Game 92 lineups: Nats at Reds

Game 92 lineups: Nats at Reds
CINCINNATI - The Nationals have selected the contract of right-hander Jacob Turner, who takes Blake Treinen's spot on the 25-man roster as a long-relief option out of the bullpen. Edwin Jackson is still in line to start Tuesday's game in Anaheim. To create a 40-man roster spot, right-hander Koda Glover has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Turner is 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA in 18 games (two starts) for the Nats this year. Glover's move to the 60-day DL is a signal that he's nowhere...

By answering the call, Grace making Baker take note

By answering the call, Grace making Baker take note
CINCINNATI - It took Matt Grace one pitch to escape a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night. But the 90 mph sinker he got Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart to ground to second base for the game's final out was more than just a shining example of pitch efficiency of a pitcher whose stock continues to rise. When Stephen Drew dove to his left to smother the grounder, throwing to first base for the 27th out the Nationals needed to secure a 5-0 win, Grace got his first...

Baker on days off, Glover, Kelly and Adams (Nats win 5-0)

Baker on days off, Glover, Kelly and Adams (Nats win 5-0)
CINCINNATI - Second baseman Daniel Murphy's absence from the Nationals lineup for tonight's opener of a four-game series against the Reds is nothing more than a day off, manager Dusty Baker's way of making sure a guy who was busy during the All-Star break gets some much-needed rest. "I've just learned over the years that whoever goes to the All-Star Game - I've had Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, I've had some of the best come back and start slow because they don't' get that mental and...

Glover reveals shoulder injury, leaving his return uncertain

Glover reveals shoulder injury, leaving his return uncertain
It doesn't appear Koda Glover will be pitching for the Nationals anytime soon. And that could dramatically impact the way general manager Mike Rizzo approaches next month's trade deadline. Glover revealed today he has "severe inflammation of the rotator cuff and two strains" in his right shoulder, an injury he admits he had been dealing with prior to landing on the disabled list 2 1/2 weeks ago with lower back stiffness. There is no concrete timetable for Glover's return, but the reliever...

Updates on Werth, Glover, Kelley, Solís and Heisey

Updates on Werth, Glover, Kelley, Solís and Heisey
Your daily injury updates from the Nationals clubhouse, with several recovering players making progress and others still in a holding pattern as the season's first half nears its conclusion ... * Jayson Werth participated in some portions of pregame workouts today with his teammates, the first time the veteran outfielder has done that since going on the disabled list more than three weeks ago. Werth, out since June 4 with a bone bruise in his left foot, stretched with teammates prior to...

Werth "doing a lot better" as he deals with severe bone bruise

Werth "doing a lot better" as he deals with severe bone bruise
Left fielder Jayson Werth continues to make progress in his recovery from what is listed as a left foot contusion that has kept him on the shelf since June 4. Nationals manager Dusty Baker had a positive update on Werth during Monday's pregame media availability before the Nats faced off against the Cubs. Baker thinks a target date might be July 14 in Cincinnati for Werth's return to the field. "Well, he's doing good," Baker said. "He comes in to see me every day. He took a few swings...

Baker updates Taylor, Kelley, Glover and day game record

Baker updates Taylor, Kelley, Glover and day game record
Nationals manager Dusty Baker has Michael A. Taylor back in the starting lineup for Saturday's late afternoon tilt with the Reds. It will mark Taylor's first start since June 20. He has missed the last few games due to an undisclosed injury. Taylor pinch-hit and struckout late in Friday's series opener against the Reds. "He's doing better," Baker said. "He's in there today. We decided it was better to keep him out and he hit yesterday in the cage. Much to my surprise I didn't know he...

Solís close to returning from DL, Werth and Glover need more time

Solís close to returning from DL, Werth and Glover need more time
The Nationals hoped they'd have Jayson Werth and Koda Glover back by now. Turns out the player closest to returning from the disabled list is Sammy Solís. Solís has made four rehab appearances for Triple-A Syracuse, including back-to-back games earlier this week, and appears to be on the verge of rejoining the Nationals bullpen. "Sammy Solis is getting close," manager Dusty Baker said this afternoon. "He's getting very close." The left-hander has been on the DL since April 19 with...

After 20 games in 20 days, finally a break for weary Nationals

After 20 games in 20 days, finally a break for weary Nationals
MIAMI - It began nearly three weeks ago in Oakland, with Bryce Harper serving his suspension, Jayson Werth and Koda Glover healthy, the Nationals coming off a sweep in San Francisco and the NBA Finals just getting underway next door. It finally ended yesterday afternoon in Miami, with Max Scherzer losing a no-hitter (and the game) in the bottom of the eighth, Anthony Rendon returning to the lineup after suffering a neck stinger and Ryan Raburn (who wasn't even on the roster at the beginning of...

Glover back to disabled list, Blanton reinstated

Glover back to disabled list, Blanton reinstated
The Nationals have reinstated right-hander Joe Blanton from the 10-day disabled list and placed right-hander Koda Glover on the 10-day disabled list with lower back stiffness. Blanton has been on the disabled list since May 17 with right shoulder inflammation. Blanton started for Double-A Harrisburg against Altoona on June 8 and threw one scoreless, hitless inning with no walks and two strikeouts. Glover allowed two runs on three hits and recorded two outs in the ninth inning Saturday as the...