Grace preparing body and arm for big responsibilities in 2018 bullpen

Grace preparing body and arm for big responsibilities in 2018 bullpen
Left-hander Matt Grace made quite a transformation in his role out of the bullpen in 2017. He faced lefties and righties, came at different points in the game and even started a game at San Diego, providing a versatility on the roster that was close to unmatched. But that was no big deal to Grace, who didn't appear in a game until April 26 and bounced around in May before finally staying on the Nationals roster beginning with a June 17 game. Hit total usage was less than seven innings in May...

Nationals pick up Gonzalez's 2017 option, cut loose Petit

Nationals pick up Gonzalez's 2017 option, cut loose Petit
Gio Gonzalez is returning to the Nationals in 2017 - and possibly 2018. Yusmeiro Petit is returning to the free agent market. The Nationals announced today they have picked up Gonzalez's $12 million option for next season, keeping the veteran left-hander in their rotation. But they are declining Petit's $3 million option, cutting loose the rubber-armed reliever. The decision to retain Gonzalez may at first glance raise some eyebrows, given the pitcher's erratic performance this season and...

Baker on Nationals' "upside-down" pitching options

Baker on Nationals' "upside-down" pitching options
The skies have cleared - apparently, all of those gusty winds are good for something - and there will be baseball today at Nationals Park. But there's little clarity in the Nationals' postseason rotation past left-hander Gio Gonzalez's start in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Manager Dusty Baker said during his Sunday morning media briefing that the Nationals remain undecided who will start Games 4 and 5 of the NLDS, and that how the Nationals...

Dusty Baker explains final NLDS roster decisions

Dusty Baker explains final NLDS roster decisions
The Nationals' decision to carry only seven relievers with a six-man bench for the National League Division Series boiled down their opponent for this first round of the playoffs and the fact that several of their position players are still dealing with nagging ailments. Manager Dusty Baker said the Dodgers' left-handed-laden lineup necessitated the carrying of three lefties in his NLDS bullpen. And with Daniel Murphy (buttocks), Bryce Harper (thumb), Jayson Werth (back), Ryan Zimmerman...

Nats go with seven relievers for NLDS (Roark starting Game 2)

Nats go with seven relievers for NLDS (Roark starting Game 2)
The Nationals' finalized roster for the National League Division Series includes only seven relievers but six bench players, not to mention several notable names left out altogether. For their best-of-five series with the Dodgers, the Nationals opted to carry only 11 total pitchers. That leaves a seven-man bullpen of closer Mark Melancon; right-handers Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinen and Reynaldo Lopez; and left-handers Marc Rzepczynski, Sammy Solis and Oliver Perez. Among those left out of the...

Sunday's starter could depend on tonight's outcome

Sunday's starter could depend on tonight's outcome
PITTSBURGH - The Nationals will hold off naming Sunday's starting pitcher until after tonight's game, a decision that could hinge on whether or not they pop any champagne corks in the clubhouse later this evening. If the Nationals clinch the NL East title tonight - their magic number remains two entering the game - manager Dusty Baker probably will rest most of his regulars in Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. That would likely leave a rookie taking the mound: A.J. Cole, or perhaps...

More on Petit, Gonzalez, Harper and Zimmerman

More on Petit, Gonzalez, Harper and Zimmerman
PITTSBURGH - The primary focus of last night's game was on the bottom of the ninth, when Mark Melancon blew his first save with the Nationals on Sean Rodriguez's two-out double past a possibly mis-positioned Trea Turner in center field. But there was a lot more to the Nats' 6-5 11-inning loss than that, so let's recap some other important (or mildly interesting) developments ... * We'll start with the end of the game, which saw Yusmeiro Petit give up the winning run on a bases-loaded...

Steve Mears: Lack of pitching depth has put Nats in a tough spot

Steve Mears: Lack of pitching depth has put Nats in a tough spot
The Nationals' formula to success begins with great starting pitching. "You can never have enough starting pitching," general manager Mike Rizzo said in spring training. The Nationals had signed Bronson Arroyo in the offseason, and it was looking like Arroyo could make the 2016 team, allowing Rizzo to stash Joe Ross in Triple-A. The best-laid plans don't always work out, as Arroyo was injured in spring, and the Nationals' depth looked like a pick 'em from Taylor Jordan, Taylor Hill and...

Bryce Harper ejected in Nats' 9-4 11-inning loss to Rockies

Bryce Harper ejected in Nats' 9-4 11-inning loss to Rockies
The Rockies thwarted the Nationals' comeback in the ninth inning, scoring five runs in the 11th to win 9-4. The five-run outburst came immediately after Bryce Harper was ejected in the bottom of the 10th. It was the eighth time in his career that Harper had been tossed, and the second ejection this season. Frustration clearly got to the Nationals cleanup hitter in the 10th inning and contributed to the short bench later in the game. Leading off the 10th, Harper was called out on a low and...

Only replay can catch Turner trying to steal (Nats lose 8-1)

Only replay can catch Turner trying to steal (Nats lose 8-1)
BALTIMORE - Apparently, the only way Trea Turner can be called out trying to steal a base is via slow motion replay. Turner twice tonight has had stolen bases wiped out by replay challenges, a pair of disappointing outs that have contributed to snuffing out potential Nationals rallies and helped leave them in an early deficit against the Orioles. Turner led off the game with an infield single against Kevin Gausman and then stole second, setting the table nicely for the Nationals out of the...

Pitching staff, defense falter in Nats' 10-inning loss to Braves

Pitching staff, defense falter in Nats' 10-inning loss to Braves
ATLANTA - They tried to overcome some of their ugliest defensive play of the season and a cobbled-together bullpen, but the Nationals couldn't pull off one more victory at Turner Field to complete a series sweep, and instead were left to stew over a 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Braves at the end of a long week of baseball. Leading by three runs in the sixth, the Nationals let the Braves claw back to win. Yusmeiro Petit, the only fully fresh arm in their bullpen, recorded 1 1/3 scoreless innings...

Turner proving to be more than "speed guy" (Nats lose 7-6 in 10)

Turner proving to be more than "speed guy" (Nats lose 7-6 in 10)
ATLANTA - The Nationals made the decision to make Trea Turner their everyday leadoff hitter because of his ability to get on base and then let his legs do the rest. Nearly a month into the experiment, they're learning there's a lot more to Turner's game, including some legitimate power potential. Turner enters today's series finale against the Braves sporting not only a .319 batting average, but also a .546 slugging percentage. That latter mark would rank eighth in the National League if he...

Game 123 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 123 lineups: Nats at Braves
ATLANTA - It's another steamy day at Turner Field, with (of course) a chance for rain this afternoon as the Nationals and Braves wrap up their four-game series. The Nats, who are already 11-1 against Atlanta this season, are going for a rare, four-game sweep. Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth are getting the day off. For Rendon, it's his first since July 19. He had started 28 consecutive games at third base. That was necessary in part because Stephen Drew has been on the disabled list, and...

Baker monitoring bullpen after heavy use in first game

Baker monitoring bullpen after heavy use in first game
DENVER - The Nationals had to employ five relievers Monday night after Max Scherzer was unable to get past the fourth inning. The bullpen was outstanding, keeping the Rockies off the scoreboard for the final five innings, en route to a 5-4 comeback victory. Matt Belisle, Sammy Solis, Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley and Mark Melancon all pitched to combine for five scoreless innings. Oliver Perez and Yusmeiro Petit were the only relievers to not get into Monday's game. Kelley said they should be OK...

Depleted bullpen caves in seventh during Nats' 5-3 loss

Depleted bullpen caves in seventh during Nats' 5-3 loss
SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals will be getting much-needed bullpen reinforcement Sunday when new closer Mark Melancon joins the club following his trade from the Pirates. But before that happened, they still needed to get through the latter innings of this afternoon's game against the Giants. And that proved a significant challenge. Three relievers combined to give up a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, helping hand San Francisco a 5-3 victory at AT&T Park. Forced to turn to his...

The domino effect of the Melancon trade (Nats lose 5-3)

The domino effect of the Melancon trade (Nats lose 5-3)
SAN FRANCISCO - Mark Melancon is expected to join the Nationals in time for Sunday's series finale against the Giants and told reporters in Milwaukee (where the Pirates are currently playing) he believes he'll immediately be available to close for his new club. The Nationals will need to make another roster move to clear a spot for Melancon, but the trade comes at a particularly fortuitous time for the team that allows them to make a simple transaction. With three off-days coming up in the...

Revere's 14th-inning double gives Nats sixth straight win

Revere's 14th-inning double gives Nats sixth straight win
They played until it was too late for fireworks and too late for many fans to catch the Metro home. But those who stuck it out at Nationals Park at least got to see the home team win in dramatic fashion. Ben Revere launched a double off the wall in right-center with two outs in the bottom of the 14th inning, scoring Danny Espinosa from second base and giving the Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Reds in a game that took 4 hours, 30 minutes to complete. And that was after a 35-minute rain delay...

Strasburg on injury and treatment, Baker on pitching plans vs. Mets

Strasburg on injury and treatment, Baker on pitching plans vs. Mets
MILWAUKEE - Stephen Strasburg has spent more time with the chiropractor over the past week than he has on the mound. The right-hander didn't want to go on the disabled list after a recurring upper back strain twice forced him to be scratched from scheduled starts, but he understands why the DL move was necessary. "Goal No. 1 is to figure out what it is and what's causing it and get back here as soon as I can," Strasburg said in the Nationals clubhouse after Sunday's 3-2 victory over the...

Nats won't wait until last minute to make decision on Strasburg

Nats won't wait until last minute to make decision on Strasburg
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals don't know yet if Stephen Strasburg will be able to make his next scheduled start, but they don't intend to wait til the last minute to make a decision the way they did Monday night when they scratched the right-hander about 90 minutes before first pitch with an upper back strain. For now, the Nationals are hoping Strasburg will be able to go Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee, slotting back into his original spot in the rotation. But for that to happen, they'll likely...

Strasburg hopeful of making next start after L.A. scratch

Strasburg hopeful of making next start after L.A. scratch
LOS ANGELES - Stephen Strasburg first felt what he described as "a little pinch" in his upper back Saturday while lifting weights in San Diego, but over the course of the next 48 hours, the Nationals right-hander and his club held out hope he'd still be able to make his scheduled start tonight against the Dodgers. It wasn't until sometime after 5 p.m. PDT, less than two hours until first pitch, when Strasburg realized the treatment he had been receiving wasn't going to be enough to allow...