Harper, Ramos crush their first homers of spring (Nats win 8-5)

Harper, Ramos crush their first homers of spring (Nats win 8-5)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Astros 5 Recap: The Nats put up a six-spot in the first inning thanks mostly to a two-run shot by Bryce Harper and a three-run bomb off the bat of Wilson Ramos that launched into orbit. Zach Walters' two-run single added some cushion in the late innings after Houston had trimmed the Nats' lead to one. Need to know: Tanner Roark looked solid in 2 2/3 innings, Rafael Soriano allowed two runs in his spring debut and Jerry Blevins kept a spotless...

Fister scratched with right elbow inflammation (with Ohlendorf update)

Fister scratched with right elbow inflammation (with Ohlendorf update)
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Doug Fister, who was scheduled to start today's game against the Astros, has been scratched due to right elbow inflammation. Manager Matt Williams said that Fister will be evaluated in the coming days and have his throwing schedule pushed back, but that the team doesn't believe the injury is anything serious. With Fister sidelined, right-hander Tanner Roark will make today's start for the Nationals. "We had an MRI taken yesterday and it shows a...

Williams wants to get a closer look at Jordan (plus lineups and other notes)

Williams wants to get a closer look at Jordan (plus lineups and other notes)
VIERA, Fla. - Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie is here at Space Coast Stadium today, wearing a personalized No. 22 Nationals jersey. Flutie, who went to Boston College, also has shorts with a Red Sox logo on them, repping two organizations at once. I guess we can let that slide. Flutie took batting practice in the Nats' third hitting group today and spent some time talking to players and team staffers. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler actually has a pretty good swing and...

Ohlendorf leaves game with trainer (Braves win 3-2)

Ohlendorf leaves game with trainer (Braves win 3-2)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 3, Nationals 2 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann was sharp in his second start of spring, throwing three scoreless innings, striking out four. The Nats rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth on Michael A. Taylor's two-out, two-strike RBI single, but Braeden Schlehuber dropped in an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to give the Braves a 3-2 win. Need to know: Ross Ohlendorf left the game after facing just four batters in the sixth (none of whom he...

Pitching order set through Saturday (with tonight's lineup, weather update)

Pitching order set through Saturday (with tonight's lineup, weather update)
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will have their first split-squad games of spring Saturday, and they've posted their pitching order through those games. Doug Fister will start tomorrow at home against the Astros, with Tanner Roark piggybacking him. (For those unaware, that's the term used when another starter immediately follows the pitcher who began the spring game. I don't expect Roark to actually get a piggyback ride from Fister.) Rafael Soriano is also scheduled to pitch tomorrow, which...

Williams discusses Nats' 11-5 win over Mets (with Walters update)

Williams discusses Nats' 11-5 win over Mets (with Walters update)
VIERA, Fla. - The guys at the back end of the Nationals' spring training roster were the ones doing the heavy hitting today, as the Nats put up nine total runs in their final two turns to the plate en route to an 11-5 win over the Mets. Ian Desmond homered early on for the Nats, but they got the bulk of their offense from minor leaguers and non-roster invitees, as Brian Goodwin, Sandy Leon and Matt Skole all homered in the seventh or eighth innings and the Nationals pulled away late. "The...

G. Gonzalez works two scoreless, plus updates on the rotation and more (updated)

G. Gonzalez works two scoreless, plus updates on the rotation and more (updated)
VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez has completed two scoreless innings of work against a Mets split squad in his spring debut, allowing one hit and striking out one. It was an easy two frames for Gonzalez, who surrendered a Kirk Nieuwenhuis single through the hole on the left side with one out in the first, only to then get Andrew Brown to tap out to catcher Jhonatan Solano and Brandon Allen to fly out to center. In the second, Gonzalez got Wilmer Flores to fly out to right, then struck out Eric...

Many factors need to be considered in Nats' bullpen battle

Many factors need to be considered in Nats' bullpen battle
VIERA, Fla. - Even prior to yesterday, the Nationals had a great deal of competition for the final couple of spots in their bullpen. The signing of left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez to a minor league deal only adds to that competition. With Rafael Soriano, Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, Jerry Blevins and Craig Stammen having a lock on five of the Nats' relief jobs (as long as they stay healthy in spring), that seemingly leaves two slots available in the opening day bullpen. And going...

Strasburg discusses his debut (Nats lose 8-4)

Strasburg discusses his debut (Nats lose 8-4)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Braves 8, Nationals 4 Recap: Matt Williams rolled the dice late in the game, deciding to implement something the Nats have worked on in drills. With the game tied and the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Williams brought in right fielder Steven Souza Jr. to play first base, giving the Nats five infielders. The move backfired, as Braves infielder Phil Gosselin ripped a bases-clearing triple to right - exactly where Souza would have been...

Strasburg's spring debut goes smoothly, ends quickly (game update)

Strasburg's spring debut goes smoothly, ends quickly (game update)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg barely had time to get loose today and his spring debut was already over. Strasburg went two innings against the Braves this afternoon, facing the minimum six hitters. He allowed a groundball single to Justin Upton in the second, but then got a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Chris Johnson to end the inning and his outing. In total, Strasburg threw just 15 pitches, nine for strikes. He had a nine-pitch first, getting a first-pitch flyout to left...

Nats sign left-hander Michael Gonzalez to minor league deal (with Nats lineup)

Nats sign left-hander Michael Gonzalez to minor league deal (with Nats lineup)
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals and popular left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez have reunited. The team announced this morning that it has signed Gonzalez to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Gonzalez posted a 4.68 ERA over 50 innings with the Brewers last season. He struck out 60 and walked 25, posting a 1.660 WHIP. The 35-year-old lefty was a well-liked member of the Nats' 2012 roster and put up a 3.03 ERA over 47 appearances that season. He made one...

Hearing from Detwiler, Roark and Lobaton after 4-2 Nats loss

Hearing from Detwiler, Roark and Lobaton after 4-2 Nats loss
TAMPA, Fla. - It may only be spring training, and the results may mean nothing, but that doesn't mean that Ross Detwiler wasn't nervous before today's 4-2 loss to the Yankees. After all, it was his first time in a big league game in exactly eight months. Detwiler, who missed the last half of last season with a back injury, went 1 1/3 innings today, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out three and walked none, showing good fastball velocity (up to 94 mph on the gun)...

Detwiler retires four batters in spring debut (Nats lose 4-2)

Detwiler retires four batters in spring debut (Nats lose 4-2)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Yankees 4, Nationals 2 Recap: Ross Detwiler allowed four runs, three earned, in 1 1/3 innings of work in his spring debut, while Zach Walters kept his hot spring going by crushing a solo homer to center. Need to know: Detwiler showed some positive signs, but struggled with his fastball command, while Tanner Roark delivered two uneventful, scoreless frames. Those two, along with Taylor Jordan, are competing for the No. 5 spot in the Nats rotation. On deck:...

On Walters' strong start to spring and how his game needs to evolve

On Walters' strong start to spring and how his game needs to evolve
VIERA, Fla. - Today marks the one road trip this spring when the Nationals will make the drive across the state to the west coast of Florida. There are some gorgeous spring facilities on that side of the Sunshine State. The Red Sox have a nice new stadium in Fort Myers. The Orioles' facility in Sarasota is snazzy. We made the trip to Clearwater last year when the Nats played the Phillies, and that was a beautiful park in a beautiful location. The problem with all of these road games? The...

Werth dealing with biceps strain, Harper sent home due to flu-like symptoms

Werth dealing with biceps strain, Harper sent home due to flu-like symptoms
VIERA, Fla. - Right fielder Jayson Werth was set to make his spring training debut this afternoon against the Marlins, but that will have to wait. Werth was scratched from today's game less than an hour before first pitch due to a right biceps strain, according to Nationals manager Matt Williams. Williams said after the Nats' 10-3 win over the Marlins that Werth felt discomfort in the lower biceps area yesterday. He was originally written into today's lineup but was scratched when the...

Fister fans two, allows a run in Nats spring debut

Fister fans two, allows a run in Nats spring debut
VIERA, Fla. - Doug Fister's first spring inning as a Washington National couldn't have gone much better. His second wasn't quite as smooth, but he still completed a solid Nats spring training debut. Fister struck out two and got a pop-up to short in the first inning, breezing through the top of the Marlins order, and then allowed two hits, a walk and a run in the second. He'll exit today's game having thrown 30 pitches, 19 for strikes. Fister got Matt Angle looking at a called strike...

Zimmermann works through two quick, scoreless innings (Purke hit hard)

Zimmermann works through two quick, scoreless innings (Purke hit hard)
VIERA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann's work day is over 25 minutes after he threw his first pitch. But as manager Matt Williams likes to say, "That's a good thing." Zimmermann quickly got in his two innings of work this afternoon, allowing just an infield single to Jordan Schafer leading off the game. The Nationals right-hander got five ground balls and struck out Dan Uggla to end the second inning. He threw 20 pitches, 15 for strikes. Zimmermann worked quickly, he attacked the zone and now...

Ramos doubles, Garcia gets hit hard

Ramos doubles, Garcia gets hit hard
PORT ST. LUCIE - After being set down in order in their first 12 trips to the plate today, the Nationals got something going in the fifth inning when Wilson Ramos smoked an RBI double off the wall in left-center. The long fly ball plated Ian Desmond, who had reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Adam LaRoche led off the inning with a single before being retired on the Desmond fielder's choice. Ramos didn't just show off his power, he also showed off his wheels when advancing...

Two scoreless innings in the books for Taylor Jordan

Two scoreless innings in the books for Taylor Jordan
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Taylor Jordan has gotten the Nationals' slate of spring training games off to a good start. The 25-year-old right-hander has completed two scoreless innings against the Mets, allowing just a first-inning leadoff single to left by Chris Young. Jordan struck out the left-handed-hitting Ike Davis looking to end the first inning on what looked like a good changeup on the inner half of the plate, and he then got Wilmer Flores swinging to end the second. Flores tried to...

Span turns 30, Ramos puts on a show

Span turns 30, Ramos puts on a show
VIERA, Fla. - Today is Denard Span's 30th birthday, and a handful of fans who were in attendance for this morning's casual workout inside Space Coast Stadium sang "Happy Birthday" to the Nationals center fielder when he stepped into the cage for his first round of batting practice. After the song was over, one fan shouted, "Old man!" at Span. Not nice, dude. Not nice. Not only did Wilson Ramos get a crash course on the new rules regarding home plate collisions today, he also crushed a...