Martinez explains final wild card roster decisions
Martinez explains final wild card roster decisions
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When it came time to make their final roster decisions for tonight's National League wild card game, the Nationals decided to prioritize speed. As in the speed of pitches and the speed of baserunners. In choosing to keep Tanner Rainey and Hunter Strickland in their bullpen over the likes of Wander Suero, Austin Voth and Javy Guerra, the Nats went with a couple of hard-throwing right-handers who get hitters out with velocity. And in choosing to keep both Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Stevenson...
NL wild card game lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
NL wild card game lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Well, here we go. Tonight the Nationals take the field for a ballgame that both feels familiar and yet completely foreign. It's another winner-take-all home game in October, the fourth in eight years for this team. But it's the first wild card game, so that gives tonight's proceedings an entirely different context. So much of the talk leading up to this game has been about the Nationals' pitching plan. And certainly it will be important who Davey Martinez decides to use after Max Scherzer...
Bundy on his season: "It was an up and down year"
Bundy on his season: "It was an up and down year"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Dylan Bundy wasn't ready to reflect. He was polite and funny about it. But the weekend wasn't the proper time to think about his season beyond the unevenness of it. Get him back to Oklahoma first. Put him in a tree stand instead of a visiting clubhouse. Maybe that's the ideal setting for him. "You know how I am," Bundy said. "I don't look too deep into it right now until the season's over and you get home and then you're like, thinking about the season and how things went." Bundy...
Orioles claim Cole Sulser off waivers
Orioles claim Cole Sulser off waivers
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles didn't waste much time filling their 40-man roster again. One day after outrighting pitcher Chandler Shepherd to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles have claimed right-handed reliever Cole Sulser off waivers from the Rays and slipped him into the vacant spot. Sulser, 29, made seven relief appearances for the Rays last month and didn't allow a run. He surrendered five hits, walked three batters and struck out nine in his first 7 1/3 innings in the majors. The Rays included Sulser on...
Wild card roster features nine pitchers, eight on bench
Wild card roster features nine pitchers, eight on bench
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals roster for tonight's wild card game includes four members of their rotation, only five members of their usual bullpen, three catchers and an eight-man bench. Suffice it to say, the strategy for this do-or-die game against the Brewers is just a bit different than it is for any other game in the regular season or postseason. The Nationals announced their 25-man roster this morning, and while most of the names come as no surprise, there are a few twists. Most notably, the Nats...
Eaton's plan for wild card success: "Turn it down"
Eaton's plan for wild card success: "Turn it down"
Byron Kerr
Nationals
This is Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton's eighth season in the major leagues, but tonight's National League wild card game against the Brewers at Nats Park will be his first playoff experience. "I'm excited. Kind of wait your whole life for this," Eaton said. "Not just professionally (but) even in high school and middle school when you're 10, 12 years old. You dream about getting the big hit in the playoffs or just getting into the playoffs, getting on a big stage like beyond...
Looks like he made it: John Means earned his rotation spot
Looks like he made it: John Means earned his rotation spot
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When spring training began for the 2019 Orioles, left-hander John Means appeared to be a pitcher who would get a brief look before heading to minor league camp to prepare for a Triple-A season. That never happened. He showed a velocity increase along with an outstanding changeup. He made the opening day roster. By April 9 he was in the rotation. In July he was headed to the All-Star Game, and with a strong finish he ended the year as the Orioles' best starter and a rotation fixture. He'll...
After the grind of 162, season comes down to one game
After the grind of 162, season comes down to one game
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There are very few flukes in baseball. This sport requires every team to play 162 games, and after 162 games the best teams almost always emerge from the pack and prove their worthiness over others. Some clubs get off to hot starts, then are exposed over the long haul. Others need some time to come together before going on a sustained run. Some are fortunate enough to play at a consistently effective rate straight through from opening day to the season finale. Point is, after 162 games we know...
With season at stake, Nationals put their faith in Scherzer
With season at stake, Nationals put their faith in Scherzer
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When he takes the mound shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Max Scherzer will bear the weight of the Nationals' season on his broad shoulders. There are no do-overs. There's no chance to come back the next day and make up for whatever happened the previous one. The National League wild card game is their one and only shot to keep their season alive and advance to a full, five-game Division Series against the Dodgers. And they've chosen to entrust Scherzer with this assignment. That wouldn't...
Soto's and Robles' all-around play takes center stage in postseason
Soto's and Robles' all-around play takes center stage in postseason
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals center fielder Victor Robles was on the 2017 National League Divisional Series roster and played in two games against the Cubs, scoring a run in Game 2 and going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in Game 5. But Tuesday's National League wild card game against the Brewers will be his first postseason start. "It's the same game," Robles said via team translator Octavio Martinez. "Trying to maintain and contain my excitement inside and not let it get to me. I got out there any way I can to...