Game 106 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 106 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
The Nationals wrap up their long homestand with their biggest series to date against the first-place Atlanta Braves. The Nats' deficit in the National League East is 5 1/2 games with 10 contests remaining in the regular season against Atlanta. Following Wednesday's series finale, the Nats embark on a nine-game road trip to Arizona, San Francisco and New York. The Nats and the Braves are each 30-23 at home. Atlanta's advantage comes on the road, where the Braves are 32-21 and the Nats...

Riley gets to Strasburg early (Nats win 4-3)

Riley gets to Strasburg early (Nats win 4-3)
The Braves got on the board early against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Josh Donaldson walked to lead off the second inning. With one out, Austin Riley belted a two-run homer over the left-center field to give Atlanta the lead. Riley connected on a 93.6 mph two-seam fastball for his 12th homer of the season. Braves left-hander Dallas Keuchel, making his 2019 debut, allowed leadoff singles to Trea Turner and Brian Dozier in the first and second innings, respectively, but no...

Ross recalled, Sanchez sent to Double-A; Nats prep for Keuchel

Ross recalled, Sanchez sent to Double-A; Nats prep for Keuchel
Nationals manager Davey Martinez confirmed this afternoon that right-hander Joe Ross was on a flight today, heading to D.C. to presumably be the starting pitcher against the Braves on Sunday. But the story was adjusted a bit an hour later when the club announced that Ross was officially recalled from Triple-A Fresno prior to Friday's series opener. Infielder Adrián Sanchez was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg. Ross will be available out of a taxed bullpen tonight. Sean Doolittle, Tanner...

With draft comes second wave of free agent chatter concerning Kimbrel, Keuchel

With draft comes second wave of free agent chatter concerning Kimbrel, Keuchel
A second season of free agent speculation is upon us, but it's probably not going to be prolonged. Starter Dallas Keuchel and closer Craig Kimbrel are hot commodities among contenders now that the draft is here. That's because the Astros with Keuchel and the Red Sox with Kimbrel offered each of them a one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer last winter. Each player rejected the offer and because of that, given the rules established in the labor agreement, any team that signed either of the...

Nats facing plenty of competition for frontline starters

Nats facing plenty of competition for frontline starters
The Nationals have been aggressive in addressing some of their needs early this offseason, more aggressive than most teams. They acquired two relievers (Kyle Barraclough and Trevor Rosenthal) before the calendar even reached November. They signed a catcher (Kurt Suzuki) before any of the other top free agents at the position found a new home. Those were important moves, and all should help the Nationals in areas where they clearly needed help. But let's not kid ourselves here, because the...

Texas-sized pitchers' duel (Nats win 5-4 in 11th)

Texas-sized pitchers' duel (Nats win 5-4 in 11th)
HOUSTON - As one might expect, two of the best pitchers in all of baseball are locked in a pitchers' duel through three innings. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has not allowed a hit through three innings. He has struck out four Astros. But Carlos Beltrán used up 12 Strasburg pitches when he grounded out to shortstop to begin the bottom of the third. Brian McCann was then walked. Strasburg bounced back to strike out Derek Fisher and get George Springer to pop up to first base. Houston still...

A look at a pitcher who once didn't look like a Cy Young winner (plus an O'Day take)

A look at a pitcher who once didn't look like a Cy Young winner (plus an O'Day take)
You would think a pitcher that wins a Cy Young Award would probably be a high draft pick, got a big-dollar signing bonus and never pitched to an ERA of 5.00 or more in the majors leagues. You might think that, but then check out Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros. The bearded one won that award last night. Jim Stevenson is the scout that signed Dallas Keuchel and told Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle that Keuchel was never considered a top prospect. He said of Keuchel's American League...