Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS

Nats have to alter bullpen plan for Game 1, entire NLCS
ST. LOUIS - When Daniel Hudson left the Nationals in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, he hoped to spend only 24 hours in Phoenix for the birth of his daughter, then fly to St. Louis this morning and be ready to pitch tonight in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. But as anyone who's ever had a baby can attest, Mother Nature doesn't care about best-laid plans. When the baby's ready, the baby's ready. And in this case, the newest member of the Hudson family wasn't ready to...

NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)

NLCS Game 1 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Hudson on leave)
ST. LOUIS - It's 46 degrees. The wind chill is 39. It's not going to be pleasant at all. But none of that matters, because there's a ballgame tonight and the Nationals are playing in it. The Nats' first National League Championship Series gamesis going to present some challenges, and we're not just talking about the weather at Busch Stadium. The lineup and roster are missing three key players: Daniel Hudson, Kurt Suzuki and Victor Robles. Hudson, who flew from Los Angeles to Phoenix early...

NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize

NLDS demons behind them, Nats now have eyes on bigger prize
ST. LOUIS - As cathartic as Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium was - and how could it not be, given the massive roadblock they finally overcame in their fifth try - the Nationals were in no mood to rest on their laurels and take satisfaction out of their first postseason series win in club history. No, there was a good night's sleep still to get, then a flight to catch to St. Louis, then another good night's sleep before they take the field again for their first ever appearance in the National...

After final tune-up today, Nats begin planning for Tuesday

After final tune-up today, Nats begin planning for Tuesday
With nothing at stake in today's regular season finale, Davey Martinez should be able to enjoy a rare, stress-free afternoon at the ballpark. The Nationals manager insists that will not be the case. "No, they're all stressful," he said with a laugh. "I love what I do. I enjoy what I do, but ... you know, I wear whatever these guys do. I want 'em all to do good. So it doesn't matter who's playing. As long as you're wearing the Nationals uniform, I want 'em all to do good." Martinez...

Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen

Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen
The decision was made a few days ago. And to hear Davey Martinez talk about it, it wasn't that tough of a decision: Max Scherzer will start Tuesday night's National League wild card game. Martinez delivered the news to his ace a few days ago, and his reaction was probably what you assume it was. "I can't exactly say what he said to me, but he was excited," Martinez said with a laugh. "He's ready." Though Scherzer will be on the mound to start the winner-take-all game against either the...

Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)

Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)
The Nationals, as they have made clear for the last 36 hours, are motivated to get home field advantage for the wild card game. While they intend to give most of their weary lineup regulars and relievers at least one day off this week, they're still attempting to win as many games as they can in an attempt to ensure Tuesday night's winner-take-all contest is played on South Capitol Street. But it's no longer a formality who they will face in that game, no matter if at home or on the...

Martinez rejoining Nats in Miami, will manage tonight

Martinez rejoining Nats in Miami, will manage tonight
MIAMI - Davey Martinez will be back in the Nationals dugout tonight. Martinez, who has not been able to manage the team since suffering from chest pain during the sixth inning of Sunday's win over the Braves, was cleared by doctors to travel to Miami and will rejoin the club in time for tonight's series opener at Marlins Park. Club officials were hopeful the 53-year-old skipper would be ready to return this weekend but were at the mercy of doctors, who had to clear Martinez for travel after...

Agonizing loss to Cards has familiar feel for Nats (updated)

Agonizing loss to Cards has familiar feel for Nats (updated)
ST. LOUIS - They broke out the Greatest Hits this afternoon at Busch Stadium, with all of your least favorite moments in the history of Nationals-Cardinals matchups rolled into 2 hours and 55 minutes of agony for anyone who has ever worn a curly W cap and ecstasy for anyone who has ever donned the birds-on-the-bat jersey. It's not that the Nationals lost 5-1, dropping the rubber game of a key September series that was right there for the taking. It's how they lost, in much the same manner...

No rest for veterans, plus a rotation tweak (Nats down 5-1)

No rest for veterans, plus a rotation tweak (Nats down 5-1)
ST. LOUIS - Day games following night games - especially day games with a 12:15 p.m. local time first pitch - are prime opportunities for veterans to get some rest and reserves to get some playing time. The Nationals, though, have reached crunch time of a season that appears likely to go right down to the wire. And so when it came time to fill out the lineup card for today's matinee with the Cardinals, Davey Martinez and Chip Hale decided it was appropriate to keep things exactly as they were...

Game 151 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

Game 151 lineups: Nats at Cardinals
ST. LOUIS - Funny how much a team's outlook can change in 12 hours. The Nationals had reason to be nervous when they carried a slim, 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, the possibility of falling out of the No. 1 wild card slot very much real. But then they finished off the Cardinals 6-2 and saw the Cubs lose to the Reds. Now they report to the ballpark for today's matinee with Max Scherzer on the mound and a chance to take two of three from St. Louis. I...

On homer and strikeout records, and the goal of 90 wins

On homer and strikeout records, and the goal of 90 wins
ST. LOUIS - Some news and notes to cleanse your palette before the Nationals and Cardinals return to action this afternoon for their series finale ... * Howie Kendrick's fourth-inning homer Tuesday night was big because it helped set the tone for an eventual 6-2 victory, but it also was historic. Kendrick's solo blast to center was the Nationals' 215th home run of the season. That ties the franchise record. Which was set only two years ago. But still. Home run records are being set left and...

Nats take early lead, ride 'pen to much-needed win (updated)

Nats take early lead, ride 'pen to much-needed win (updated)
ST. LOUIS - "Late and close" has not been the Nationals' forte in recent weeks. When they've won, they've won by a sizeable margin. When they've been in a tight battle late, they've tended to lose. Evidence of that? They entered tonight's game against the Cardinals having used a reliever in a ninth-inning save situation only once in a calendar month. The situation simply hadn't come up. Chip Hale has been prepared for it to happen. And given how little current closer Daniel Hudson has...

Suzuki starts hitting, but still not throwing (Nats up 3-1)

Suzuki starts hitting, but still not throwing (Nats up 3-1)
ST. LOUIS - Kurt Suzuki took a full round of batting practice early this afternoon at Busch Stadium and also caught Aníbal Sánchez's bullpen session, but the Nationals catcher is still days away from being cleared to throw and test his injured right elbow. Suzuki, who hasn't played since feeling a tingling sensation in his elbow after trying to throw out a basestealer Sept. 7 in Atlanta, did take some important steps today in his recovery and was cautiously optimistic about his...

Martinez out of hospital, not cleared to travel yet

Martinez out of hospital, not cleared to travel yet
ST. LOUIS - Davey Martinez has been released from the hospital and has returned to his home in Washington, but doctors have not yet cleared him to travel, so the Nationals manager will miss at least his team's three-game series against the Cardinals. Martinez, who felt chest pain during the sixth inning of Sunday's win over the Braves, was taken to a D.C. hospital, where he underwent a cardiac catheterization Monday. He won't need any more procedures, according to general manager Mike Rizzo,...

Game 150 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

Game 150 lineups: Nats at Cardinals
ST. LOUIS - There's going to be a lot of scoreboard watching tonight - and pretty much every night over the next 12 days - as four teams (the Nationals, Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers) go down to the wire to secure the three remaining postseason berths available in the National League. There's one thing the Nationals can do, however, to make life easier on everyone: Win tonight's game. Every day the Nats win a game from here on out is a day they get closer to locking up a wild card berth....

How the Nationals turned a comfortable lead into a tight race

How the Nationals turned a comfortable lead into a tight race
ST. LOUIS - For more than two months now, the Nationals have not only been in wild card position but (aside from a couple of days) have been in the driver's seat to host the Oct. 1 winner-take-all game. As recently as two weeks ago, they held a four-game lead over the Cubs for home field advantage and a seven-game lead for a spot in the wild card game. And by the end of play tonight, they could have given all of it back. The combination of a sluggish September (6-9) for the Nationals with a...

Nats' lead in wild card shrinks again after 4-2 loss (updated)

Nats' lead in wild card shrinks again after 4-2 loss (updated)
ST. LOUIS - Chip Hale insisted he would manage this game just like Davey Martinez, believing that he wanted to keep things as similar as possible tonight, even as the Nationals skipper watched from back home in Washington while recovering from a minor procedure after experiencing chest pain. Beyond that, Hale just believes he and Martinez are on the same wavelength when it comes to managing this team through a tight ballgame. The key decisions Hale made tonight - pulling Stephen Strasburg after...

Strasburg laboring against patient Cards lineup (game tied 2-2)

Strasburg laboring against patient Cards lineup (game tied 2-2)
ST. LOUIS - On a muggy Monday night at Busch Stadium, the last thing the Nationals needed was a short outing from Stephen Strasburg. Alas, that's exactly what they appear to be getting. Though he has allowed only two runs so far, Strasburg has thrown a whopping 76 pitches through three innings against a Cardinals lineup that is making the Nats right-hander work as hard as he has all season. Strasburg needed 38 pitches just to complete the bottom of the first, with four of St. Louis' first six...

Martinez has procedure after chest pain, stays in D.C.

Martinez has procedure after chest pain, stays in D.C.
ST. LOUIS - Davey Martinez experienced chest pain during Sunday's game and underwent a minor procedure this morning in Washington that will prevent him from managing tonight's game and perhaps more until doctors clear him to return to work, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo revealed late this afternoon. Bench coach Chip Hale, who finished out Sunday's 7-0 win over the Braves after Martinez fell ill during the sixth inning, will manage in his stead. First base coach Tim Bogar will shift to...

Game 149 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Martinez stays in D.C.)

Game 149 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (Martinez stays in D.C.)
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals have just announced that Davey Martinez remains in Washington for precautionary medical testing. Bench coach Chip Hale revealed after Sunday's game that the manager had gone to the hospital because he wasn't feeling well, but that he was expected to be with the team in St. Louis for tonight's series opener. Instead, Hale will manage the club in Martinez's absence tonight. The Nationals face another stiff challenge in the Central-leading Cardinals, who suffered a...