Jordan Zimmermann's possible final act (Escobar scratched, Turner in)

Jordan Zimmermann's possible final act (Escobar scratched, Turner in)
Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound for possibly the last time in a Nationals uniform tonight. The free agent-to-be is expected to sign elsewhere this offseason after spending his entire career with the organization after the Nationals selected with him with the 67th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Zimmermann made his major league debut with a victory over the Braves on April 20, 2009. The right-hander went on to become the winningest pitcher in Nats history, compiling a 70-49...

Bryce Harper returns aiming for a batting title (with lineups)

Bryce Harper returns aiming for a batting title (with lineups)
Bryce Harper returns to the Nationals lineup a day after sitting out for disciplinary reasons resulting from his role in Sunday's dugout fight with Jonathan Papelbon. Lost in all the mess of the past few days is Harper's chance at National League batting title. Harper's .336 batting average is tied with Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for highest in the majors. Miami's Dee Gordon enters play tonight trailing Harper by just four points in the NL. After winning NL Player of the Week honors for...

Bryce Harper looks to bust out of mini slump

Bryce Harper looks to bust out of mini slump
Bryce Harper enters today's matinee with the Phillies without a hit in his last four games, all losses for the Nationals. The 22-year-old went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts last night and is 0-for-10 over the four games, his longest hitless streak of the season. "He's a touch frustrated right now getting some pitches to hit and not hitting them," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "And that's human. But he's one swing away from getting right back at it. It's been a pretty special...

Nats suffer costly 6-4 loss to Marlins

Nats suffer costly 6-4 loss to Marlins
Dee Gordon singled to center to start tonight's game. Two batters later, Martin Prado smacked a hanging slider from Tanner Roark over the wall in left-center for a two-run homer. Update: Jayson Werth drew a leadoff walk in the second. After Clint Robinson grounded out, Ian Desmond hit a missile into the Marlins bullpen. The two-run homer was Desmond's 18th of the season, but first in his his last 18 games. Update II: Miguel Rojas doubled to start the fifth. After advancing to third on...

Bryce Harper not showing concussion symptoms after violent collision

Bryce Harper not showing concussion symptoms after violent collision
The Nationals beat the Marlins 5-0 this afternoon essentially without the services of star outfielder Bryce Harper. Harper left in the first inning after a violent collision with Marlins second baseman Derek Dietrich. With two outs and Harper on first, Jayson Werth hit a sharp grounder to Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas, who fired to first baseman Justin Bour to end the inning. Harper was running hard on the play in the event of a miscue. As he turned for third, Dietrich met him at second base....

Updates on Stephen Strasburg, Michael A. Taylor and Tanner Roark

Updates on Stephen Strasburg, Michael A. Taylor and Tanner Roark
The Nationals were able to prevent a sweep in St. Louis last night, securing a much-needed win as they prepare to begin a seven-game homestand with four against the Braves followed by three versus the NL East leading Mets. With New York off tonight, the Nationals have the ever important opportunity to gain a ½ game in the standings. The Nats own a 37-26 record in D.C. this year. "We've got work to do," manager Matt Williams said after last night's 4-3 win over the Cardinals. "We've got...

Tyler Moore back from DL, A.J. Cole recalled for bullpen support

Tyler Moore back from DL, A.J. Cole recalled for bullpen support
The Nationals reinstated Tyler Moore (sprained left ankle) after his stint on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse. Moore batted .200 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 79 games (28 starts) for the Nationals this season. In six minor league rehab games, Moore went 5-for-22 (.227) with a home run, two doubles, two walks and three RBIs. Cole's major league debut came in the Nationals' historic 13-12 comeback win over the Braves on April 28....

Stephen Strasburg looks to continue dominant stretch (with lineups)

Stephen Strasburg looks to continue dominant stretch (with lineups)
Stephen Strasburg aims to deliver the Nationals' fourth consecutive series win when he takes the mound in the finale against the Marlins this afternoon. Strasburg has overmatched hitters in four starts since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 8 after missing more than a month with a strained left oblique. The hard-throwing right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA while striking out 32 and walking just three in 26 innings over the four-game stretch. Battling nagging injuries, Strasburg's ERA...

Nats flex their muscles with three homers in 5-1 win

Nats flex their muscles with three homers in 5-1 win
For the first time in 11 days, the Nationals actually gained ground on the Mets. The Red Sox helped the Nats by knocking off the Mets 3-1, while Washington took care of business, smacking three homers in a 5-1 win over Miami. Ryan Zimmerman began the longball parade with a solo shot into the Red Porch to start the second. He has now driven in runs in six straight games. Zimmerman is batting .286 (6-for-21) with three homers and 11 RBIs over the mini hot streak. "I think he's swinging it good....

Injuries to Span, Escobar and Taylor take luster off of Nats' gutsy 4-2 win

Injuries to Span, Escobar and Taylor take luster off of Nats' gutsy 4-2 win
The Nationals dropped the Padres 4-2 Thursday night behind strong pitching from Joe Ross and home runs from Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman. But news about three injured players - center fielder Denard Span, third baseman Yunel Escobar and center fielder Michael A. Taylor - made it feel a bit like a loss rather than a joyous series-clinching victory. The worst news involved Span, who is heading back to the disabled list with left hip inflammation. He was activated from the DL on Tuesday and...

Strasburg, Zimmerman lead Nats to 8-3 win

Strasburg, Zimmerman lead Nats to 8-3 win
Stephen Strasburg gave up a leadoff single to Yonder Alonso in the second. Jedd Gyorko then smacked Strasburg's 97 mph fastball over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Strasburg retired the next three Padres in order. The right-hander has four strikeouts through two innings. The fans at Nationals Park welcomed Denard Span back from the disabled list with a standing ovation before his first at-bat. Span grounded out to shortstop. Update: Yunel Escobar singled off Padres starter James Shields...

Denard Span returns to the Nationals lineup

Denard Span returns to the Nationals lineup
The Nationals get Denard Span back in the leadoff spot tonight for the first time since 31-year-old went on the disabled on July 7 with back spasms. When Span starts, the Nats are 35-24 this year. He is batting .304 with five homers, 15 doubles, 22 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Yunel Escobar also returns to the lineup after missing the past two games with hyperextended neck. Escobar suffered the injury while trying to make a catch in foul territory in the first inning of Friday's loss to the...

Nats blown out 10-3 (Escobar hurt, Turner debuts)

Nats blown out 10-3 (Escobar hurt, Turner debuts)
With two outs in the first, Milwaukee's Adam Lind lifted a foul pop toward the seats on the third base side. Third baseman Yunel Escobar chased in pursuit, crashing into the railing and then into a fan. Unable to make the catch, Escobar remained down as Ian Desmond signaled for assistance. It appeared Escobar injured his left side colliding with the top rail and then his upper body, which flung into a gentleman in the front row. Nationals manager Matt Williams and head athletic trainer Lee...

Max Scherzer looks to rebound for series sweep (with lineups)

Max Scherzer looks to rebound for series sweep (with lineups)
For much of this season, Max Scherzer was the game's most imposing right-hander, tossing a no-hitter and one-hitter in consecutive games. But Scherzer has come back to earth in August. He's 0-1 with a 7.80 ERA while surrendering five home runs over three starts this month. Scherzer takes the hill tonight aiming to correct his recent troubles and claim the Nationals' first series sweep since July 3-5 over the Giants. The 31-year-old fanned 10 Rockies over six innings but was tagged for three...

The consistently inconsistent Nationals offense

The consistently inconsistent Nationals offense
No question Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner was lights out yesterday, just as Dodgers aces Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw were in their blanking of the Nationals earlier in the week. But how monotonous has that cop out become for the Nats scuffling offense? The season has reached the point where simply "tipping your cap" to the guy on the mound is unacceptable. "We gotta grind ... we gotta grind at-bats," Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters after yesterday's 5-0 shutout loss....

Max Scherzer aims to regain dominant form (with lineups)

Max Scherzer aims to regain dominant form (with lineups)
The Nationals send ace Max Scherzer to the mound tonight looking to end a three-game losing streak. Scherzer, who was arguably the National League's best pitcher through the first half of the season, has not been as dominant since the All-Star break. Scherzer is 1-1 with a 3.90 in his last five starts. The 31-year-old is coming off six innings on Sunday where the Rockies tagged him for three homers in the Nats' 6-4 loss. It was the second time in his last four outings that Scherzer...

Nationals recall Treinen, option Barrett (with lineups, updated)

Nationals recall Treinen, option Barrett (with lineups, updated)
The Nationals look for a series split with the Arizona Diamondbacks in Thursday's late afternoon tilt. The club announced prior to the game that right-hander Blake Treinen has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Right-hander Aaron Barrett, who took the loss Wednesday night, was optioned to Syracuse to make room for Treinen, who has had five scoreless appearances with the Chiefs. Treinen recorded 14 strikeouts in 12 innings, allowing six hits since July 21 with Syracuse. Barrett is 3-3 with a...

Nats bats quiet in 3-1 loss

Nats bats quiet in 3-1 loss
PITTSBURGH - Michael A. Taylor crushed a 1-0 fastball from Pirates starter Gerrit Cole over the wall in right-center field for a solo home run with two outs in the third. Taylor has now homered in consecutive games. The rookie has six hits and four RBIs in the series. The Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame with RBI singles from Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen. Right-hander Joe Ross has allowed two runs on four hits with one walk, one hit batter and four strikeouts through three...

Anthony Rendon sits in series finale (with lineups)

Anthony Rendon sits in series finale (with lineups)
PITTSBURGH - A day after returning from the 15-day disabled list, Anthony Rendon is not in the lineup as the Nationals aim for a split with the Pirates in the series finale. Rendon went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but he did collect an RBI on a sacrifice fly in Washington's 9-3 win last night. Nationals manager Matt Williams has indicated Rendon will be rested until he fully returns to playing shape after missing 25 games with a left quad strain. Yesterday's game was Rendon's sixth in a...

Max Scherzer faces Pirates for first time since no-hitter (Robinson scratched)

Max Scherzer faces Pirates for first time since no-hitter (Robinson scratched)
PITTSBURGH - Max Scherzer makes his first start against the Pirates since he tossed his first career no-hitter against them on June 20 at Nationals Park. Scherzer was one strike away from throwing the 24th perfect game in major league baseball history when his slider clipped Pittsburgh's Jose Tabata on the left elbow. Eight days later, the Pirates designated Tabata for assignment. The Nationals have scored only four total runs in Scherzer's four starts in July, leading to a 1-3 record in the...