Sipp dropped from roster, Scherzer begins throwing (Nats up 2-0)

Sipp dropped from roster, Scherzer begins throwing (Nats up 2-0)
PHOENIX - Needing to clear one more roster spot for the trio of relievers they acquired before Wednesday's trade deadline, the Nationals designated Tony Sipp for assignment today, cutting ties with the veteran reliever who never was able to consistently perform after signing with the club late in spring training. Sipp had a 4.71 ERA in 36 appearances, and though he had done a better job in recent weeks retiring left-handed batters, he may have sealed his fate when he put back-to-back lefties...

Nationals' fatal flaw on display in 4-2 loss to Dodgers (updated)

Nationals' fatal flaw on display in 4-2 loss to Dodgers (updated)
The pennant race tonight returned to South Capitol Street, where a crowd of 37,491 turned the ballpark as electric as it had been in at least a month, the last time the Nationals faced a fellow National League contender. The Nationals and Dodgers put on a show worthy of these kind of high stakes and gave a taste of what a potential five-game series might look and feel like should they meet again come October. Then again, during a 4-2 loss the Nats also offered up a painful look at the fatal...

After clutch hits, exhausted Nats bullpen takes loss (updated)

After clutch hits, exhausted Nats bullpen takes loss (updated)
After getting an abbreviated start from Max Scherzer, yet another clutch hit from Gerardo Parra, a tack-on homer from Matt Adams and six outs from Tanner Rainey, Tony Sipp and Wander Suero, Davey Martinez reached the top of the ninth this evening with the Nationals holding a one-run lead over the Rockies. But now the second-year manager had to answer the most pressing question of the day: Who was going to pitch the ninth? This isn't a difficult question the vast majority of the time. Sean...

After Fedde's quick hook, bullpen implodes in 9-2 loss

After Fedde's quick hook, bullpen implodes in 9-2 loss
BALTIMORE - Ask him before the game how he'd feel about six innings of one-run ball from Erick Fedde, and Davey Martinez would've scooped it up in a heartbeat and been content with it 'til the cows come home. But when that very proposition came true tonight, Martinez was faced with a decision he never could have foreseen. Fedde had only thrown 66 pitches in those six innings. His bullpen was rested and ready to go, trying to protect a one-run lead over the Orioles. Would he let his young...

Over-rested relievers may have to work today (Nats up 5-2)

Over-rested relievers may have to work today (Nats up 5-2)
Nationals starters have averaged more than 6 1/2 innings pitched over the last 11 games, with only one starter failing to at least get through the sixth. That's a good thing, and it's no surprise it has helped this team go 8-3 during the stretch. But it's also had a domino effect on the bullpen, which could be seen as positive or negative, depending on your point of view. Needing only a couple of innings every night from his bullpen, and almost always with his team up a handful of runs,...

Rendon hits despite "nicks and bruises," but Nats fall 7-5

Rendon hits despite "nicks and bruises," but Nats fall 7-5
DETROIT - The Tigers outlasted the Nationals 7-5 as the bullpen faltered late Saturday from Comerica Park to even the series at 1-1. Arriving with a 5-3 lead, Tanner Rainey took the loss (1-3) when he walked two batters to open the door to a three-run Tigers' seventh inning rally, adding to a troubling weekend for the right-hander. Rainey has handed out four free passes in the first two games of the series which is a concern for Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "What I'm seeing is, for me,...

On "little things" in loss, plus the latest Eaton-Frazier ruckus

On "little things" in loss, plus the latest Eaton-Frazier ruckus
NEW YORK - More on some little things that may have been lost in the shuffle during Monday night's 5-3 loss to the Mets, plus the latest ruckus between Adam Eaton and Todd Frazier: * It wasn't the difference in the game, but the insurance run the Mets scored in the bottom of the eighth was plenty significant. And it came about in large part because of the Nationals' inability to do some little things right. Trying to keep their deficit at one run, Joe Ross struck out Frazier but then walked...

Guerra could join bullpen Tuesday (Nats trail 4-2)

Guerra could join bullpen Tuesday (Nats trail 4-2)
NEW YORK - Javy Guerra won't join the Nationals bullpen until Tuesday at the earliest. But once he does, the club hopes the versatile veteran will help stabilize the majors' worst relief corps. Guerra, claimed off outright waivers from the Blue Jays earlier today, wasn't able to make it to New York in time for the Nationals' series opener against the Mets. Manager Davey Martinez, who spoke to the right-hander over the phone, hopes to have him available for Tuesday's game. "If he gets here...

Sipp activated, Jennings designated, Guerra acquired

Sipp activated, Jennings designated, Guerra acquired
NEW YORK - As they prepare to open a four-game series against a reeling Mets club, the Nationals are remaking their bullpen on the fly again. The Nats have activated left-hander Tony Sipp off the injured list while also claiming veteran right-hander Javy Guerra off outright waivers from the Blue Jays. Dan Jennings, an in-season acquisition who never found his footing, was designated for assignment to clear one roster spot. They'll need to clear another spot on the 25-man roster for Guerra once...

Updates on Zimmerman, Rosenthal, Adams, Sipp

Updates on Zimmerman, Rosenthal, Adams, Sipp
First baseman Ryan Zimmerman - on the injured list since April 28 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot - and first base coach Tim Bogar were working on the field during pregame at first base with Gerardo Parra and Juan Soto. They were relaying pointers and defensive strategies for positioning and glove awareness unique to playing first base. Martinez said Zimmerman is "going to get loose today, do everything again. He's thinking about running on the field. But we'll see (where) he's at....

More from Barraclough on what's wrong with beleaguered bullpen

More from Barraclough on what's wrong with beleaguered bullpen
The Nationals bullpen has failed this season at times, but the way they gave up the game Friday night was pretty spectacular. When it counted most, the 'pen allowed a whopping nine runs on nine hits. Push back to the seventh inning, and the total rises to 11 runs on 12 hits. It was a miserable night after Max Scherzer had fought back from a slow start of his own to keep his team in the game. When he left, the Nats were down only 3-2. They lost 14-6. Justin Miller, Joe Ross, Kyle Barraclough,...

Turner is back, plus updates on injured players and other notes

Turner is back, plus updates on injured players and other notes
For the first time since April 2, Trea Turner is back with the Nationals, playing shortstop and leading off tonight against the Cubs. Turner missed 39 games with a broken right index finger. "It was real nice to write his name in the lineup," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's been itching to get back, as we all know. He's excited to be back. No expectations. I told him to go out there and play the game and do what you do best. "He's been working diligently for a while now....

Rosenthal makes rehab appearance with Harrisburg (Nats win 5-2)

Rosenthal makes rehab appearance with Harrisburg (Nats win 5-2)
LOS ANGELES - Nationals reliever Trevor Rosenthal participated in a rehab game tonight for Double-A Harrisburg. He tossed a scoreless inning for the Senators, striking out one and walking none. He fired 11 pitches in the seventh inning at Hartford, eight for strikes. Nationals manager Davey Martinez talked about Rosenthal's status prior to that rehab appearance. "We'll see how he feels after today's game," Martinez said. "We'd like for him to go back and pitch a couple more...

On today's flurry of roster moves, plus injury updates (Nats down 6-0)

On today's flurry of roster moves, plus injury updates (Nats down 6-0)
MILWAUKEE - Though they got one key player back from the injured list today, the Nationals placed a key reliever on the IL. All while watching two players hurt during Monday night's loss avoid the IL (for now) and another key regular who has been on the IL more than a month take an important step forward his recovery. Oh, they also demoted their top prospect and recalled one of their top young starters, making him a full-time reliever for the first time. Yeah, it's been an eventful day. Just...

Asked to hold slim lead at Coors, Nats bullpen delivers (updated)

Asked to hold slim lead at Coors, Nats bullpen delivers (updated)
DENVER - The Nationals seemed determined to make the four early runs they scored tonight hold up through an entire ballgame. At Coors Field. With the majors' least effective bullpen. A bold strategy, to say the least. And yet somehow they pulled it off. (With a little help from two long-awaited insurance runs via ineffective relief from the opposition.) Behind three scoreless innings from four relievers - some of them used in unfamiliar fashion - the Nationals survived the harrowing late...

Sipp strengthening shoulder, acknowledges game speed is tougher than expected

Sipp strengthening shoulder, acknowledges game speed is tougher than expected
Left-hander Tony Sipp continues to build strength in his shoulder even as the season heads into its fourth week. Sipp said working to strengthen his shoulder has been the focus for him since spring training. But Sipp signed late with the Nationals this offseason, so this first month with the team has felt like an extended spring training as he works the shoulder back to where he can throw every pitch and full velocity and torque. There have been some rough appearances to begin the season for...

Corbin's gem, Rendon's blasts wasted by another bullpen loss

Corbin's gem, Rendon's blasts wasted by another bullpen loss
Only two weeks in, the Nationals' lineup has established an encouraging trend for late-game heroics, often making up for the club's bullpen woes. Alas, they can't always count on their bats to do the job their relief corps cannot. Especially when they've already done it once on a given night. It happened tonight during a 6-3, 10-inning loss to the Pirates that was as discouraging as any to date this season. The Nationals wasted a brilliant performance by Patrick Corbin. They wasted Anthony...

Scherzer pushed back to Sunday, Sipp good to go tonight

Scherzer pushed back to Sunday, Sipp good to go tonight
Max Scherzer insists he could start as planned Saturday, but the Nationals decided not to take any chances with their ace after he was struck by a comebacker in his last outing, so they've pushed him back to Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. Aníbal Sánchez will now start Saturday afternoon, though the veteran right-hander will be on normal rest thanks to the club's off-day in between their just completed road trip and upcoming homestand. "It didn't affect anything,"...

As bullpen finally settles down, Nats say no to Norris

As bullpen finally settles down, Nats say no to Norris
That minor league deal the Nationals were working on with Bud Norris? It isn't happening anymore. And that Nationals bullpen that had been a train wreck through the season's first eight games? It might be starting to come together. Norris had been invited to West Palm Beach earlier this week to work out at extended spring training as Nationals baseball and medical personnel determined whether they believed the veteran right-hander was worth signing right now as a potential Band-Aid for their...

Nats win laugher, head home above .500 (updated)

Nats win laugher, head home above .500 (updated)
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals left town one week ago having survived a ragged homestand against the Mets and Phillies, with a mess of a bullpen, a shortstop with a broken finger and a daunting road trip looming against those same two division rivals. The Nationals will return home tonight owners of a winning record, thanks to a potent lineup that scored 49 runs in six games, quality starting pitching, better bullpen work, and a renewed vibe that has allowed this club to relax and enjoy the ride...