On the rash of Tommy John surgeries, struggles for Zimmermann and offense

On the rash of Tommy John surgeries, struggles for Zimmermann and offense
Let's quickly bounce through a few topics on the morning of the Nationals' much-needed off-day. First, if you didn't happen to see my report on last night's "Nats Xtra" pregame show about left-handed prospect Matt Purke needing Tommy John and the rash of elbow injuries that we've seen in the game recently, check it out. The number of Tommy John surgeries that have already been needed this season is staggering, and unfortunately for teams (and for the game as a whole, really), it...

Fister reluctantly plays role of stopper for Nats

Fister reluctantly plays role of stopper for Nats
The Nationals wanted to end a season-high four-game losing streak, and needed a good game from right-hander Doug Fister in order to accomplish that goal. But that doesn't make Fister the team's stopper. He said as much after working 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball as the Nats salvaged the final game of a four-game series in Pittsburgh with a 5-2 win over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon. "That's the mentality we come in every day with," said Fister, who allowed six hits, walked none and...

Williams meets with the media after Nats' 4-3 loss

Williams meets with the media after Nats' 4-3 loss
PITTSBURGH - The Nationals have now dropped three in a row and four of their last five. It's not for a lack of scoring opportunities, that's for sure. The Nats had eight hits and drew six walks tonight. They had chances. They just couldn't come through enough times and dropped a 4-3 ballgame to the Pirates. The makings of another late-game comeback were there, as the Nats scored once in the sixth and twice in the eighth to cut a 4-0 deficit to 4-3. But Ian Desmond's drive to the wall in...

Treinen solid early, Desmond homers to tie game (Nats lose 3-1)

Treinen solid early, Desmond homers to tie game (Nats lose 3-1)
Rookie Blake Treinen has been solid thus far in his second major league start, but he did come a little undone in the third inning. Treinen matched Pirates starter Edinson Volquez at the outset, retiring the first eight batters of the game. But he then ran into trouble. Treinen walked Volquez with two outs in the third. Josh Harrison then singled for the Pirates' first hit of the game and Neil Walker walked to load the bases. The Nats right-hander followed by plunking Andrew McCutchen,...

Another forgettable first for Gonzalez (Nats lose 5-2)

Another forgettable first for Gonzalez (Nats lose 5-2)
The first inning proved to be a problem for Gio Gonzalez for the second straight start. Gonzalez allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while needing 37 pitches, 21 for strikes, to get through the first frame today against the Mets. So down 3-0, the Nationals will need to come from behind yet again if they'll make it two wins in a row over New York. On Sunday, Gonzalez had his worst performance of the season, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Most of the damage came...

Nats give Roark an early 3-0 lead (Nats win 5-2)

Nats give Roark an early 3-0 lead (Nats win 5-2)
It didn't take long for the Nationals to break through against Mets lefty Jonathon Neise. An RBI single by Jayson Werth, a Wilson Ramos sac fly and a run-scoring ground ball off the bat of Tyler Moore have staked right-hander Tanner Roark to a 3-0 lead after one inning. Right from the start, Neise struggled. He allowed a leadoff single to Denard Span, watched as third baseman David Wright booted Anthony Rendon's grounder and served up a run-scoring single to left to Werth. Both Werth and...

Lineups for Friday's Mets-Nationals opener

Lineups for Friday's Mets-Nationals opener
With left-hander Jonathon Neise on the mound for the Mets, Scott Hairston will return to left field for tonight's opener of a three-game series at Nationals Park. Right-hander Tanner Roark starts for the Nationals in the 7:05 p.m. For the Mets LF Eric Young Jr.2B Daniel Murphy3B David WrightCF Curtis GrandersonRF Bobby Abreu1B Lucas DudaC Anthony ReckerSS Ruben TejadaLHP Jonathon Niese For the Nationals CF Denard Span3B Anthony RendonRF Jayson WerthC Wilson RamosSS Ian DesmondLF Scott...

Gonzalez allows four in first in return to Oakland (Nats lose 9-1)

Gonzalez allows four in first in return to Oakland (Nats lose 9-1)
Gio Gonzalez didn't have a dream start to his first game in Oakland since being traded to the Nationals. The left-hander was torched in the first, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk - all after retiring the first two batters of the game. Josh Donaldson drew a base on balls to start the rally. Yoenis Cespedes then reached on an infield single. Catcher Derek Norris, who was a part of the package Washington sent to the A's for Gonzalez, provided the big blow - a three-run homer to left...

LaRoche headed to DL with strained quad

LaRoche headed to DL with strained quad
OAKLAND - Just as it looked like the Nationals were starting to get healthier, they'll lose one of their most productive hitters for at least 15 days. Manager Matt Williams announced after tonight's 4-3 walk-off loss to the A's that Adam LaRoche will have to be placed on the 15-day DL with a right quad strain. LaRoche underwent an MRI earlier today, and after examination of the test results, the Nats have decided to shut their first baseman down for the time being. "It's high quad, hip...

LaRoche at DH, Frandsen at first for Fister's Nats debut

LaRoche at DH, Frandsen at first for Fister's Nats debut
OAKLAND - Adam LaRoche will serve as the designated hitter while Kevin Frandsen will man first base as right-hander Doug Fister makes his anticipated Nationals debut tonight against the Athletics. LaRoche will be the Nats' DH for the second time this season while Frandsen plays first for the first time in 2014. He did start at first 35 times, and appeared there 40 times overall, for the Phillies last season. Fister comes off the disabled list to make his first start of the year, and first...

Ramos returns and instantly helps deliver Nats' win over Dodgers (Moore optioned)

Ramos returns and instantly helps deliver Nats' win over Dodgers (Moore optioned)
Wilson Ramos waited 38 days for a chance to get back with the Nationals. The catcher had a double, a walk and a sac fly that drove in the winning run in a 3-2 Nationals win over the Dodgers, which gave Washington a series victory. The double came on the first pitch he saw from Dodgers starter Dan Haren. I think the Nationals are glad he is back as well. "I am excited to be back with the team," Ramos told MASN's Dan Kolko. "I know I can help the team a lot. That is what I want to do. I want...

Treinen gets help from defense early against Dodgers (L.A. wins 8-3)

Treinen gets help from defense early against Dodgers (L.A. wins 8-3)
It is a pretty big night for Blake Treinen. In one day, he is called up again to the big leagues and later that night he makes his first major league start. Oh, and he has to face the Los Angeles Dodgers' potent offense and ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw. The Nationals right-hander has pitched well for Triple-A Syracuse to begin this season, with four starts and a 1.59 ERA. Last season, he made 22 starts for the Chiefs, going 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA. As a reliever for the Nationals this season,...

Barrett and Williams on bullpen's finishing of marathon game, Nats win

Barrett and Williams on bullpen's finishing of marathon game, Nats win
It was a game that officially took two hours and 59 minutes to play. But, in reality, it had another three hours and 17 minutes of a rain delay sandwiched inside the regular game. The Nationals ended up winning the opener against the Dodgers, 4-0. The pair of two-run shots by Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa were critical. Also crucial to the victory was the bullpen's ability to stay focused and hold the Dodgers scoreless for the final five innings of the game. Nationals reliever Aaron...

Updates on Ramos, Hairston and Zimmerman

Updates on Ramos, Hairston and Zimmerman
Manager Matt Williams is excited at the prospect of getting three starters back by the end of the week. He got one back Monday. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (hand) started for Double-A Harrisburg on Monday night. Scott Hairston (oblique) was activated off the disabled list before Monday's opener against the Dodgers. Doug Fister (lat) is expected to make his Nationals debut Friday night at Oakland. But Williams would like it even more if no one else gets hurt for a little while. "We just...

Missed opportunities dog Nats in 1-0 loss to Phillies

Missed opportunities dog Nats in 1-0 loss to Phillies
You won't find the Nationals lamenting breaks that didn't go their way in a 1-0 loss to the Phillies on Sunday. To a man, they admitted they ran into a tough pitcher in Phillies righty Roberto Hernandez., who outdueled Washington's Gio Gonzalez on an afternoon when windy conditions made things tough for both teams. They Nats ran themselves out of a possible big inning in the first and didn't come through with the tying run on third in the eighth. It all added up to a loss capping a 3-2 road...

Gonzalez strong, but Nats drop finale 1-0

Gonzalez strong, but Nats drop finale 1-0
Phillies right-hander Roberto Hernandez is pitching more like Fausto Carmona circa 2010 than the guy who toted a 5.74 ERA into today's game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Gio Gonzalez is doing his usual routine of holding the opposition in check, but trails 1-0 after three innings. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jimmy Rollins tripled with one out and scored on Chase Utley's single to center.r. The Nats had runners on first and second with one down in the third,...

Souza gets first start, LaRoche takes a seat, Werth at DH

Souza gets first start, LaRoche takes a seat, Werth at DH
HOUSTON - Steven Souza Jr. will get his first major league start tonight when the Nationals wrap up a quick, two-game series with the Houston Astros. He will play right field and bat eighth. First baseman Adam LaRoche is sitting with a tight quad. Combined with tomorrow's scheduled off-day, LaRoche hopes to be ready for Friday's game at Philadelphia. With LaRoche out, shortstop Ian Desmond moves into the cleanup spot. Jayson Werth is listed as tonight's designated hitter, since the Nats are...

Clubhouse reactions to Span's grab, Frandsen's blind stab and more

Clubhouse reactions to Span's grab, Frandsen's blind stab and more
HOUSTON - Two ridiculous defensive plays were made by Nationals outfielders tonight. One of them resulted in an out. The other only temporarily held one runner from scoring, but was still just baffling. Denard Span's basket catch while falling to the ground on the hill in center and Kevin Frandsen's blind backhanded pick of a ball off the scoreboard in left are the two plays I'm describing. And those plays were blowing up social media during tonight's game. Your browser does not support...

Werth blasts off in first at Houston (Nats win 4-3)

Werth blasts off in first at Houston (Nats win 4-3)
Well, that didn't take long. Three batters into Tuesday's series opener, Jayson Werth crushed his fourth homer of the year, a two-out shot to left, to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead in Houston. Werth, serving as the Nats' designated hitter tonight, has tremendous success in his limited time filling that role. In six career appearances as a DH, Werth is now batting .417 (5-for-12) with two homers and five RBIs. His latest blast has given the Nats the early upper hand at Minute Maid...

Nats recall Ryan Mattheus, option Taylor Jordan to Triple-A

Nats recall Ryan Mattheus, option Taylor Jordan to Triple-A
HOUSTON - The Nationals announced this afternoon that they've recalled right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus from Triple-A and optioned right-hander Taylor Jordan to Syracuse. The move almost certainly means that the Nats will go with a four-man rotation for now, skipping what would have been Jordan's turn on Sunday against the Phillies, and they will have an eight-man bullpen with the addition of Mattheus. Off-days in the schedule yesterday and Thursday will allow the Nats to skip...