Roark, Murphy sharp in first game back (Nats win 4-1)

Roark, Murphy sharp in first game back (Nats win 4-1)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 4, Astros 1 Recap: In his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic, Tanner Roark was exceptionally sharp. The right-hander carried a shutout into the sixth inning before allowing back-to-back hits and departing with one run across the plate, having thrown 71 pitches. Daniel Murphy, his Team USA mate, went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in his first game back from the WBC. Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, a stolen base and a nifty move to elude a...

Sans windup, Strasburg cruises in spring debut (Nats split a pair)

Sans windup, Strasburg cruises in spring debut (Nats split a pair)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAPScore: Nationals (ss) 8, Marlins 5 Recap: Jhonathan Solano's two-run single capped a four-run seventh inning as the Nationals rallied past the Marlins. ... Right-hander A.J. Cole started and was battered for six hits and four runs (three earned) in three innings, with his ERA zooming to 13.50. Need to know: Wilmer Difo, a career infielder, made his first appearance in the outfield when he subbed for center fielder Adam Eaton. The Nationals are hoping to increase Difo's...

What to watch for in tonight's Hall of Fame election results

What to watch for in tonight's Hall of Fame election results
For lifelong baseball fans, few days on the calendar compare to Hall of Fame election day. It's a day to celebrate some of the greatest players in the game's history, not to mention fiercely debate the credentials of those who either just squeaked in or missed out. Shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson will make the official announcement, revealing who received at least 75 percent of the vote from tenured members of the Baseball Writers' Association of...

Arbitration deadline day for four key Nationals

Arbitration deadline day for four key Nationals
Perhaps the quietest offseason the Nationals have experienced in a long time will perk up with a little bit of news today. All major league clubs have until 1 p.m. EST to agree to salary terms with their arbitration-eligible players or else formally submit competing offers to the league, setting the stage for hearings next month. It's not necessarily the most important day of the offseason. We're not talking about decisions that affect whether someone will be playing for the Nationals in 2017...

Nationals hopeful they're closing in on trade for lefty Sale

Nationals hopeful they're closing in on trade for lefty Sale
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Nothing is done until it's done. And nothing is done in this case. But the Nationals front office went to bed late Monday night hopeful they were closing in on a blockbuster trade for White Sox left-hander Chris Sale, one that would likely cost them at least two of their top four prospects. Club officials spent a good part of Day One of the Winter Meetings engaged in talks with the White Sox and by early evening had made significant progress toward a deal for Sale,...

Nats face tender decisions before deadline tonight

Nats face tender decisions before deadline tonight
So much of what the Nationals do this winter is dependent on something else they do. They won't know if Trea Turner is their center fielder or shortstop until they either acquire another outfielder or not. They won't know if Danny Espinosa is still their shortstop until they know if Turner is switching positions. There are dominoes lined up all over the place, but most of them can't fall until the first one does. Which may finally begin to happen today. Whether they're able to consummate a...

After erratic year, Nats have decision to make on Gonzalez

After erratic year, Nats have decision to make on Gonzalez
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Gio Gonzalez, who after another erratic season faces a somewhat uncertain future with the franchise. PLAYER REVIEW: GIO GONZALEZ Age on opening day 2017: 31 How acquired: Acquired from Athletics with Robert Gilliam for A.J. Cole, Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock, December 2011. MLB service time: 7 years, 162 days 2016 salary: $12 million Contract status:...

Espinosa lifts Nationals to early lead (Dodgers win 4-3, take NLDS 3-2)

Espinosa lifts Nationals to early lead (Dodgers win 4-3, take NLDS 3-2)
Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer benefited from a spectacular diving catch to begin Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. Chase Utley drove a ball deep into the gap of left-center field. Trea Turner raced to his right and dove to make the catch. Scherzer was able to get the next two batters on grounders. For the first time in the NLDS, the Dodgers did not score in the first inning. Scherzer also got the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the second inning. Left-hander Rich Hill...

Game 4 begins with back-and-forth early runs (Dodgers win 6-5)

Game 4 begins with back-and-forth early runs (Dodgers win 6-5)
LOS ANGELES - In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw struck out the side. With Kershaw starting Game 4 on three days' rest, the Nationals got off to a much better start. Trea Turner laced the first pitch into left field. Bryce Harper then battled through a nine-pitch at-bat to earn a free pass and put men on first and second with no outs. Daniel Murphy followed with an RBI single to right field and the Nats scored first for the first time in the...

Lobaton's homer gives Nats first lead (Nationals win 5-2)

Lobaton's homer gives Nats first lead (Nationals win 5-2)
Well, it didn't take long for the Dodgers to take a lead in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. And they followed a familiar script. Corey Seager, the second batter of the game, blasted a 93 mph 3-0 fastball from Tanner Roark over the wall in right-center for a 1-0 lead. Seager did the same in Friday's series opener, connecting off Max Scherzer. This time, he went deep three pitches after Roark sailed an uh-oh pitch over his helmet. The wind didn't really aid Seager's shot, but...

Nats rally comes up short in 4-3 loss to Dodgers

Nats rally comes up short in 4-3 loss to Dodgers
Right-hander Max Scherzer struck out Chase Utley to begin the National League Division Series and the sellout crowd at Nationals Park went crazy. But shortstop Corey Seager crushed the first offering after the strikeout, a 96 mph four-seam fastball, well over the center field fence, for a 1-0 Dodgers lead over the Nationals. Left-hander Clayton Kershaw announced his presence by striking out the side in the bottom of the first employing three different out pitches. He got Trea Turner on a...

Wilson Ramos goes down with apparent knee injury, leaves game

Wilson Ramos goes down with apparent knee injury, leaves game
Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was injured when he collapsed on his right leg after leaping to take a throw from right field in the top of the sixth against the Diamondbacks on Monday night. Ramos appeared to injure his right knee on a relay throw from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. D-backs right fielder Yasmany Tomas doubled to score two runs on the play. The second run scored on a Zimmerman's high relay throw on a peg from right fielder Brian Goodwin. Ramos leaped to catch the throw, came...

Roark and Fernandez duel in Miami (Marlins win 1-0)

Roark and Fernandez duel in Miami (Marlins win 1-0)
MIAMI - As one might have expected, a pair of pitchers with identical 15-8 records and sub-3.00 ERAs are locked in a pitchers' duel at Marlins Park on Tuesday night. Right-hander Jose Fernandez, who is 6-0 against the Nationals, has struck out five through four innings, allowing only a first-inning double to Stephen Drew. Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark got into trouble in the bottom of the third when he allowed a two-out single to Dee Gordon and then a pair of walks to load the bases. But...

Baker rejoins club, Espinosa on his way (Nationals win 7-2)

Baker rejoins club, Espinosa on his way (Nationals win 7-2)
ATLANTA - Dusty Baker is back in the Nationals dugout tonight, back with his team after spending two days at home in California following the death of a family member. Baker arrived at Turner Field shortly after 4 p.m., luggage in tow after an all-day flight from the West Coast. He said he was able to watch Wednesday's game (a 1-0 victory over the Mets) on television, and found himself getting perhaps even more emotionally invested than he usually does when he's watching up-close. "It's a...

Ramos puts Nats on top early with double (Mets win 4-3 in 10)

Ramos puts Nats on top early with double (Mets win 4-3 in 10)
Right-hander A.J. Cole, making his second start against the Mets in 11 days, allowed a double and a walk in the first inning against New York. But the Mets' Jay Bruce flew out to center field to end the inning. In the second, Cole surrendered back-to-back singles to Rene Rivera and Noah Syndergaard with two outs. But Cole struck out leadoff hitter Jose Reyes for the second time in as many at-bats to end the threat. The Nationals scored a run in the second off of Syndergaard. Bryce Harper was...

Scherzer departs in seventh (Nats win 3-0 on Harper homer)

Scherzer departs in seventh (Nats win 3-0 on Harper homer)
The Phillies have gotten base hits off of Max Scherzer in three of the first four innings, but have not been able to capitalize. Cesar Hernandez singled and Andres Blanco walked in the first. Scherzer proceeded to get two infield popups to end the threat. In the third, Hernandez walked and stole second. Later, Blanco was hit by pitch and stole second. But Tommy Joseph struck out to end the inning. In the fourth with one out, Freddy Galvis singled. He was wiped out by a 4-6-3 double play to...

Strasburg leaves in third inning with apparent injury

Strasburg leaves in third inning with apparent injury
What should have been among the most encouraging moments of the season's final month - Stephen Strasburg returning to the mound after a brief stint on the disabled list - instead turned into a potential nightmare scenario for the Nationals and their $175 million right-hander, who had to depart in the top of the third inning with an apparent injury that left the ballpark in stunned silence. Strasburg grimaced after throwing each of his last two pitches: a fastball to Braves pitcher Mike...

Nats rally on Rendon's grand slam (Nats win 9-7)

Nats rally on Rendon's grand slam (Nats win 9-7)
The Braves were able to connect off left-hander Gio Gonzalez quickly in the first inning. Ender Inciarte singled and then scored on an Adonis Garcia double that rolled all the way to the right-field wall. Two batters later, a Matt Kemp grounder scored Garcia for a 2-0 Braves lead. The Braves added a run in the second on one of the rarest plays in baseball. Former Vanderbilt star Dansby Swanson slammed a pitch off of the right-center field wall and the ball ricocheted past center fielder Trea...

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)
NEW YORK - The Nationals will have their first set of September reinforcements at their disposal for tonight's series opener against the Mets, including a pair of well-known veterans getting a shot at redemption. The club promoted seven players to the big league roster this afternoon: left-handers Sean Burnett and Matt Grace; right-handers Mat Latos, Trevor Gott and Rafael Martin; catcher Pedro Severino; and outfielder Brian Goodwin. Needing to clear two spots on the 40-man roster so Burnett...

Nats finish toughest portion of schedule with series sweep

Nats finish toughest portion of schedule with series sweep
PHILADELPHIA - It won't go down as their best 20-game stretch of the season, but it didn't need to be that. The Nationals simply needed to make it through the toughest three weeks of the 2016 campaign in one piece and not squander what they'd already built up over the previous four months. So in that regard, the Nationals' 11-9 record over the last 20 days - capped off by tonight's 2-1 victory over the Phillies - turned out to be an important development for a team that looked gassed at...