Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again
Robles sits again, Kendrick in lineup again
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Victor Robles took a full round of batting practice this afternoon. He was not, however, in the Nationals lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with club officials not wanting to take any chances he might severely injure his already strained right hamstring. "He's still a little bit sore," manager Davey Martinez said. "He'll be available to pinch-hit, but that's it." Robles, who hurt himself trying to run out a bunt during Game 2 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, did...
Zimmerman: "I feel lucky" to be with Nationals
Zimmerman: "I feel lucky" to be with Nationals
Byron Kerr
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...
NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
NLDS Game 4 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
This is the fourth time the Nationals have trailed two games to one in a best-of-five series. Twice in the past, they've gone on to win Game 4 (Jayson Werth's walk-off homer in 2012, Stephen Strasburg's dominant start at Wrigley Field in 2017) and force a Game 5. Once they lost and were eliminated (Aaron Barrett and Matt Thornton in San Francisco in 2014). What does tonight hold in store for us? Well, Max Scherzer is on the mound, and if he's in peak form, obviously the Nationals have a...
More on Means and the Orioles rotation
More on Means and the Orioles rotation
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The final game of the season hadn't reached its strange conclusion - a bouncing single into right field at Fenway Park allowing a runner to score from first base because ... you had to be there - and a topic already came up among some writers regarding opening day 2020. Who's the top candidate to start? Of course, we knew that it was much too early to collect the votes. We also knew that the dozens of Dunkin' Donuts boxes behind the press box weren't going to lower our blood sugar counts,...
No offense, but it's not just about the bullpen for the Nats to survive
No offense, but it's not just about the bullpen for the Nats to survive
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals need to win tonight to extend their season. Much of the talk has been about their bullpen struggles all season, but the bottom line in this National League Division Series against the Dodgers is that if the offense doesn't get going tonight, it will be all over anyway. So far in the NLDS, the Nats have managed just eight runs on 18 hits over the three games, and were shut out once. The Nats have not scored more than four runs in any of the three games. They trail in the...
Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5
Nats need Scherzer, and a whole lot more, to force Game 5
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Imagine you were presented with this scenario on May 24. Or July 24. Or even Sept. 24, for that matter. The Nationals are facing the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with Max Scherzer on the mound, needing to win to force a Game 5 in which they'd have Stephen Strasburg on the mound. Would you have taken that opportunity? Just know this: The Nationals themselves are happily taking it. "I think we're really comfortable right now, even though our backs are against the...
Corbin on how Dodgers feasted on his normally elusive slider
Corbin on how Dodgers feasted on his normally elusive slider
Byron Kerr
Nationals
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...
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
Mel Antonen
Nationals
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...
After seven-run sixth, Nationals' season on brink (updated)
After seven-run sixth, Nationals' season on brink (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
In electing to start Aníbal Sánchez tonight for Game 3 of the National League Division Series and hold Max Scherzer back for Game 4, the Nationals mapped out what felt like a viable path to victory. They were confident in Sánchez's ability to hold the Dodgers lineup in check, but they also were confident in Patrick Corbin's ability to replace him at some point and serve as tonight's much-needed bridge from starter to back end of the bullpen. So when the very scenario they had...
In September, Austin Hays showed his tools and smarts
In September, Austin Hays showed his tools and smarts
Steve Melewski
Orioles
His skills were on display on offense and defense often in September, but for center fielder Austin Hays maybe they were never more evident then on the night of Monday, Sept. 23 at Toronto. In a game the Orioles would eventually lose 11-10 in 15 innings, Hays made several strong plays on defense and hit two homers as the team dug out of an early 5-0 hole. According to STATS, LLC., Hays became the first major league rookie to have five or more RBIs, a stolen base and an outfield assist in the...