Zimmerman: "I feel lucky" to be with Nationals

Zimmerman: "I feel lucky" to be with Nationals
Ryan Zimmerman returns to the Nationals starting lineup tonight at first base for Game 4 of the National League Division Series with his club trailing the Dodgers two games to one in the best-of-five series. He will bat sixth behind second baseman Howie Kendrick. Tonight will be Zimmerman's 23rd postseason game. He has a career .294/.338/.500 slash line in the playoffs, with five doubles, five walks, three homers and 10 RBIs. He has a pretty good track record in big games, especially a game of...

Dodgers' Buehler ready to face pressure of NLDS elimination Game 5

Dodgers' Buehler ready to face pressure of NLDS elimination Game 5
The Dodgers arrived at Nationals Park on Monday night hoping to punch their ticket to a fourth consecutive National League Championship Series. Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer had other ideas. So did Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon. Scherzer pitched seven innings, Zimmerman launched a home run to center field in a four-run fifth inning and Rendon had three RBIs in the Nationals' 6-1 victory in Game 4 of their best-of-five NLDS. Game 5 is in Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night with Walker...

Rendon evens Game 4 with sacrifice fly (Nats win 6-1)

Rendon evens Game 4 with sacrifice fly (Nats win 6-1)
The Dodgers were able to jump out on top early against the Nationals in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Facing Max Scherzer, Justin Turner blasted a solo homer to left-center field on a 95.5 mph fastball. Turner's second postseason homer came on an 0-1 pitch with two outs in the top of the first. He now has nine career postseason homers, which is third all-time in Dodgers history. Scherzer got out of the inning allowing just that one run. Corey Seager had a double in the second...

Corbin on how Dodgers feasted on his normally elusive slider

Corbin on how Dodgers feasted on his normally elusive slider
With the Nationals clinging to a 2-1 lead after five innings in pivotal Game 3 of the National League Division Series, manager Davey Martinez opted to have left-hander Patrick Corbin relieve starter Aníbal Sánchez. "Aníbal was at 87 pitches. He gave us all he had. We were at a good spot in the lineup where we thought Corbin could get through it," Martinez said. "And his stuff was good, he's throwing 94 (mph), slider was good. I think he left one ball up. But he had every hitter...

Robles' MRI reveals mild right hamstring strain

Robles' MRI reveals mild right hamstring strain
Victor Robles will not start in tonight's National League Division Series Game 3 due to a mild strain of his right hamstring. Nationals skipper Davey Martinez said Robles is available as an "emergency" pinch-hitter. "He had a MRI and it's a very, very mild strain," Martinez said. "His right hamstring. If need be, on an emergency (basis), he'll be available to pinch-hit. As we all know how Victor plays, he wanted to play today, but I really believe that it's best that ... we get him...

When they most needed it, Dodgers manufacture a rally to take command of NLDS

When they most needed it, Dodgers manufacture a rally to take command of NLDS
The Nationals pitchers held power-hitting Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger to a single and a double with no RBIs on Sunday night. The only problem? Both hits came in the same inning. The Dodgers scored seven runs in the sixth inning to beat the Nationals 10-4 in Game 3 of their National League Division Series before 43,423 at Nationals Park. The Dodgers lead the best-of-five series two games to one and need one more win to advance to their fourth consecutive NL Championship Series, against...

NLDS Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

NLDS Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
The Nationals now look to get greedy after knotting the best-of-five National League Division Series at one game apiece with a thrilling 4-2 win over the Dodgers on Friday night in Los Angeles. Now they enjoy home field advantage with the next two games at Nationals Park. The Nats have decided on Aníbal Sánchez as their Game 3 starter. Max Scherzer, who was scheduled to start today, threw 14 pitches in a shutout eighth inning in Game 2. Sanchez has not pitched since Sept. 25 and has...

Dodgers, Nats' NLDS foe, boast left-handed power bats and strong rotation

Dodgers, Nats' NLDS foe, boast left-handed power bats and strong rotation
Of all the ups and downs the Nationals bullpen has struggled through this season, the biggest challenge is waiting for them in Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers offense is loaded with left-handed batters. The Nationals bullpen, as was seen with the wild card roster, has only one lefty, Sean Doolittle. The Dodgers, who host the Nationals in the National League Division Series starting Thursday, have a versatile power-hitting lineup that hit 279 home runs during the regular season, most in the NL. Los...

Some key points entering regular season's final week of play

Some key points entering regular season's final week of play
Baseball's final week of the regular season has arrived. Here's what we know: The Brewers haven't missed National League MVP candidate Christian Yelich: The Brewers are 10-2 since Yelich was sidelined with a knee injury. They are 17-4 during September, a repeat performance of last season when they won 20 games in the final month to make the postseason. The Brewers, who have the tiebreaker to get home field in case of a wild card tie with Washington, have scored 32 runs in their last four...

Adams available to pinch-hit, Nationals DFA Miller (Nats win 6-3)

Adams available to pinch-hit, Nationals DFA Miller (Nats win 6-3)
Nationals manager Davey Martinez had some cautiously optimistic news on the status of Matt Adams. The first baseman had to leave the game after getting hit by a pitch on the outside near the lateral longitudinal arch of his right foot. "He had a CT scan today - came back negative," Martinez said. "He's good. It's a contusion. He's getting treated right now. Hoping that he's available to pinch-hit today for the game." With Max Scherzer being placed on the injured list, Martinez confirmed...

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...

Grace has good opening, but Ross struggles in 9-3 loss to Dodgers

Grace has good opening, but Ross struggles in 9-3 loss to Dodgers
The Matt Grace experiment as an opener could not have gone much better. The Nationals found a way to get to Clayton Kershaw early on. All looked good for the Nats after they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning Saturday afternoon before 39,616 at Nats Park. Grace ended up pitching in two innings. But once he left, right-hander Joe Ross allowed seven runs as the potent and unrelenting Dodgers lineup demonstrated they can take over games. Will Smith went 3-for-3 with a homer, two doubles...

Martinez did research before putting Grace in to start (Nats fall 9-3)

Martinez did research before putting Grace in to start (Nats fall 9-3)
Nationals manager Davey Martinez decided to make an unorthodox move and start left-hander Matt Grace for today's Game 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It will be Grace's first start this season and second of his career. He last started Aug.18, 2017, at San Diego after Max Scherzer was a late scratch with neck inflammation. Grace delivered with 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run on two hits. The Nats beat the Padres 7-1. Grace has thrown at least two innings six times this season....

Game 104 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

Game 104 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
The Nationals will make the unusual step today of not using a traditional starting pitcher in Game 2 of this home series versus the Dodgers. Left-hander Matt Grace will take the mound as the opener for the Nats. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said postgame Friday night, after the club's 4-2 loss to Los Angeles, that right-hander Joe Ross will make his second start of the season for Game 2. Plans have changed, however, with Grace getting the ball to start. Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner...

Barraclough believes he needs to trust slider more in big situations

Barraclough believes he needs to trust slider more in big situations
Of course, Nationals right-hander Kyle Barraclough is not thrilled with allowing Justin Turner to hit the game-changing, three-run homer in the eighth inning of Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers. Turner hit the homer on Barraclough's 94.7 mph four-seam fastball. Before the game, manager Davey Martinez said Barraclough had been working on his mechanics, specifically his slider, in his time in the minors rehabbing on the injured list. After giving up that homer, Barraclough said he will...

Sánchez rolls after shaky first frame, retires 20 in a row

Sánchez rolls after shaky first frame, retires 20 in a row
Aníbal Sánchez fought through a tumultuous first inning and then shut down the Dodgers. Despite allowing four of the first five batters he faced to reach base, Sánchez bore down and got out of the inning with only one run crossing the plate. He ended up finishing seven innings, retiring the final 20 batters he faced. The Dodgers enjoyed all three of their base hits in the first frame. After Cody Bellinger's RBI single gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, they did not threaten again against...

Game 99 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies (game postponed)

Game 99 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies (game postponed)
The Nationals wanted to win at least three of four in Atlanta this weekend. But they instead hold steady at 6 1/2 games back in the National League East after splitting four games, falling 7-1 in Sunday night's series finale at SunTrust Park. Now the Nats return home for 10 games through July 31, beginning with four games against the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers and Braves also visit D.C. this week and next. The Rockies are in a mile-high tailspin, losers of seven out of their first nine...

Rendon not going to All-Star Game (Nats fall 7-4 in 11)

Rendon not going to All-Star Game (Nats fall 7-4 in 11)
Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon will not participate in this year's All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced via Twitter this evening. MLB tweeted that Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy would replace Rendon at the Midsummer Classic next week in Cleveland. Rendon has been nursing what he's called a "nagging injury" for a few weeks now, and has not been running full speed down the line. The third baseman has said recently he would not mind using the four days off during the break...

Ryu outduels Strasburg, Nats head home after 3-7 road trip

Ryu outduels Strasburg, Nats head home after 3-7 road trip
LOS ANGELES - Dodgers southpaw Hyun-Jin Ryu was hard to solve and Corey Seager blasted a grand slam Sunday in a 6-0 shutout of the Nationals. The left-hander did not allow a base hit until the eighth inning, thanks to another gritty at-bat from veteran Gerardo Parra. Seager put the game away with his second career grand slam in the eighth. The Nats were held to that Parra double. Brian Dozier earned the only walk off of Ryu, but finished 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against his former...

Pitchers' duel unfolding Sunday in SoCal (Nats fall 6-0)

Pitchers' duel unfolding Sunday in SoCal (Nats fall 6-0)
LOS ANGELES - A tremendous pitching battle is unfolding on a sun splashed Sunday afternoon in Southern California between right-hander Stephen Strasburg and Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. Ryu began with strikeouts of Brian Dozier and Juan Soto in the first inning. He retired the first nine batters he faced, holding the Nationals without a base hit for the first three innings. Strasburg struck out Joc Pederson to begin the game and enjoyed a 1-2-3 first inning. But the Dodgers plated a run in...