Nats and Tigers lineups from Nats Park

Nats and Tigers lineups from Nats Park
The Nationals and Tigers are preparing for the final exhibition game today here at Nats Park. Detroit arrives with a 15-12-2 record in spring games. The Nationals are 15-13-2. Also, the teams will work under American League batting rules, so designated hitters will be employed and the pitchers will not bat. Here are the starting lineups: For the Nationals Denard Span CF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Jayson Werth RF Wilson Ramos C Bryce Harper LF Ian Desmond SS Adam LaRoche 1B Danny Espinosa DH Anthony...

Zimmermann finishes a stellar spring, Ramos done after three innings (Nats win 4-0)

Zimmermann finishes a stellar spring, Ramos done after three innings (Nats win 4-0)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 4, Mets 0 Summary: Jordan Zimmermann went five scoreless innings, and Rafael Soriano, Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen and Jerry Blevins combined to go four scoreless with three hits allowed and seven strikeouts. Danny Espinosa went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, Denard Span had three hits and has a .370 average this spring, and Bryce Harper had two hits, including a single off the left field wall and an RBI knock on a liner up the middle. Need to know:...

Nats cut Carroll, Young, Moore, Mattheus and Cedeno; Barrett makes roster (updated)

Nats cut Carroll, Young, Moore, Mattheus and Cedeno; Barrett makes roster (updated)
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a host of roster moves following today's 7-3 win over the Mets, a couple of which are a bit surprising. The team has released infielder Jamey Carroll and right-hander Chris Young, and optioned first baseman Tyler Moore, right-hander Ryan Mattheus and left-hander Xavier Cedeno to Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Matt Williams also informed right-hander Aaron Barrett, the closer at Double-A Harrisburg last season, that he's made the Nats' opening day...

Eight cuts left to make

Eight cuts left to make
VIERA, Fla. - Last night's release of catcher Chris Snyder leaves the Nationals with 34 players remaining in big league camp, 33 of which are active and participating in games. Right-hander Erik Davis is progressing from a right elbow injury, but he will start the season still on the 60-day disabled list, and so he is not currently on the 40-man roster or a factor in the decisions the Nats must make before opening day. The 33 remaining active players are listed below, split up into position...

Nats release catcher Chris Snyder (with Nieto note)

Nats release catcher Chris Snyder (with Nieto note)
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Nationals announced tonight that they've released catcher Chris Snyder, one more step to getting their roster down to the 25 players it will contain come opening day. Snyder, 33, signed a minor league contract with the Nats in December. He hit .294 (5-for-17) with a homer, a double and five RBIs in 12 games this spring. The veteran had a solid enough camp, but he had no realistic chance of making the Nats' opening day roster after the team acquired catcher Jose Lobaton...

G. Gonzalez doesn't allow much damage, but fails to go five (Nats lose 2-0)

G. Gonzalez doesn't allow much damage, but fails to go five (Nats lose 2-0)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 2, Nationals 0 Recap: Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Craig Stammen, Tyler Clippard, Blake Treinen and Xavier Cedeno combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Adam Wainwright, meanwhile, held a Nats lineup filled with reserves and minor leaguers scoreless over eight strong frames. Need to know: Gonzalez didn't have his good stuff today, but he still got his work in. Stammen and Clippard looked sharp. On deck: Saturday,...

Looking at the final bench and bullpen candidates

Looking at the final bench and bullpen candidates
VIERA, Fla. - Let's assume, for the sake of this discussion, that the Nationals end up going with a seven-man bullpen and a five-man bench come opening day. Let's also assume, for the sake of this discussion, that Danny Espinosa has locked up a roster spot as a reserve infielder and that Doug Fister will be stretched out enough to open the season in the Nats' rotation. (More on that last part in a minute.) If that all is the case, then what we're currently looking at, barring any...

Strasburg on his outing, his holding of runners and his upcoming opening day start

Strasburg on his outing, his holding of runners and his upcoming opening day start
VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg sure looked regular season-ready during today's 8-1 Nationals win over the Tigers, throwing five scoreless innings, striking out five, working around an error in the first, getting two double play balls and contributing to a runner being cut down on the bases. Solid day overall. Anything really left to accomplish at this point for the Nats' ace before he gets the ball on opening day? "Definitely just building arm strength and staying where I'm at,"...

Henley gets aggressive, Desmond goes yard (Nats win 8-1)

Henley gets aggressive, Desmond goes yard (Nats win 8-1)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Tigers 1 Recap: Stephen Strasburg threw five scoreless innings and looked very sharp in the process. Ian Desmond smoked his third homer of spring, and Ryan Zimmerman added an RBI triple. The Nats added three more runs in the ninth after Anthony Rendon singled and Jose Lobaton doubled. Need to know: Strasburg struck out five, and now has allowed just one earned run in 14 spring innings. The Nats' opening day starter looks like he's ready for games...

Walters, Ohlendorf, Garcia among latest Nats cuts (updated)

Walters, Ohlendorf, Garcia among latest Nats cuts (updated)
VIERA, Fla. - Despite putting together a strong spring, infielder Zach Walters was sent to minor league camp this morning. The move is not official yet, but once it is formally announced, Walters will be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Walters hit .379 (11-for-29) in 15 Grapefruit League games this spring, with one homer, a triple, two doubles and five RBIs. He drew four walks and struck out eight times. It was an impressive offensive showing from the 24-year-old, but with a handful of...

What's up with Adrian Nieto in Arizona? (Roark update)

What's up with Adrian Nieto in Arizona? (Roark update)
MELBOURNE, Fla. - You'll notice a change in dateline for today's entry. The Nationals have reached the 32nd day of spring training, and are enjoying their first off-day of camp. How off are they? There's not even a pithy motivational quote from Matt Williams on this morning's lineup sheet. In fact, there's no lineup sheet at all. The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association mandates that each team receive two days...

Detwiler headed to 'pen; Roark, Jordan, Young in mix for fifth starter

Detwiler headed to 'pen; Roark, Jordan, Young in mix for fifth starter
LAKELAND, Fla. - The competition to be the fifth starter in the Nationals rotation took an unexpected turn today, when manager Matt Williams announced that left-hander Ross Detwiler would start the season in the bullpen. That leaves three right-handers - Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan and Chris Young - battling for the last spot in the rotation, the manager said. "We've asked Ross to start our season in the bullpen," Williams said after the Nationals' scheduled game against the Tigers was...

McCatty on Fister's start: "He had no complaints" (rain delay update)

McCatty on Fister's start: "He had no complaints" (rain delay update)
LAKELAND, Fla. - Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty and manager Matt Williams delayed their departure for today's game against the Tigers in order to watch right-hander Doug Fister throw two innings in a minor league game. McCatty liked what he saw, but wasn't ready to slot the right-hander, who is progressing in his recovery from right elbow inflammation, for his first regular season start. "It was fine," McCatty said. "He gave up a hit on a curveball, but he hasn't thrown that...

Souza, Perez, Solis among six cuts from Nats camp

Souza, Perez, Solis among six cuts from Nats camp
LAKELAND, Fla. - Greetings from Joker Marchant Stadium, where the Nationals are supposed to play the Tigers today at 1:05 p.m. I say "supposed" because the weather radar is showing a large multi-colored blob of precipitation closing in on us, and the tarp is covering the field. The forecast calls for morning thunderstorms followed by scattered afternoon thunderstorms with damaging winds, conditions not necessarily conducive to exhibition play. But we'll forge on. It's nothing like the snow...

Dissecting responsibility for a stolen base allowed

Dissecting responsibility for a stolen base allowed
VIERA, Fla. - When an opposing baserunner steals against the Nationals, who's at fault? Sometimes it's the pitcher, who didn't do enough to hold the runner on, disrupt his attempt to swipe a bag or get the ball quickly enough to the plate. Sometimes it's the catcher, who didn't uncork a strong enough throw to nab him. And sometimes no one's at fault - even when you execute properly, the guy trying to steal may execute a little better. All three situations were apparent to an extent in...

Hearing from Zimmermann and Zimmerman

Hearing from Zimmermann and Zimmerman
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann had one of those days. He battled with his command, fought a gusty wind and the opposing catcher didn't believe Zimmermann when the pitcher told him that he was bunting with two outs and requested a fat pitch over the middle of the plate. That was Zimmermann's fourth spring start in a nutshell. He threw 44 of his 66 pitches for strikes, gave up his first run of the spring and still managed to adroitly work around four singles in four...

Zimmermann yields first run of spring, but limits damage (Nats lose 2-1)

Zimmermann yields first run of spring, but limits damage (Nats lose 2-1)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Tigers 2, Nationals 1 Recap: Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann allowed his first run of the season during a four-inning stint in a match-up against Tigers ace Justin Verlander. Zimmermann yielded four hits, hit a batter and fanned four, and his spring ERA now stands at 0.69. Need to know: Zimmermann became the first pitcher to bat this spring, and was under orders from Nats manager Matt Williams to bunt with two outs in the third, even though he was hecked after...

Zimmerman at third base for home game of split-squad series (with Nats lineups)

Zimmerman at third base for home game of split-squad series (with Nats lineups)
VIERA, Fla. - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took early grounders this morning and declared himself fit enough to play the field in the home half of a pair of split-squad games this afternoon. That one, against Justin Verlander and the Tigers, airs on MASN HD beginning at 1 p.m.; the other game is in Kissimmee against the Astros at the same time. Zimmerman will hit fifth and man third base. "Everything feels good," said Zimmerman, whose appearance as a designated hitter yesterday was his...

Nats, Strasburg grab 2-0 lead over Marlins (Nats win 2-1)

Nats, Strasburg grab 2-0 lead over Marlins (Nats win 2-1)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 2, Marlins 1 Recap: Stephen Strasburg worked four shutout innings, matching Jordan Zimmermann for the longest outing by a Nationals pitcher this spring. Strasburg allowed two hits, walked one and fanned four. Need to know: Nationals manager Matt Williams will use the off-day Tuesday to set his rotation, but it's no guarantee that Strasburg will start the March 31 season opener in New York against the Mets. That honor could go to Zimmermann. On deck:...

Ayala roughed up, hearing from Jordan (Nats lose 12-6)

Ayala roughed up, hearing from Jordan (Nats lose 12-6)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Tigers 12, Nationals 6 Recap: Detroit scored four runs in the third inning off starter Taylor Jordan and came back with five more in the fourth against reliever Luis Ayala, who got only two outs. Tyler Moore and Scott Hairston homered for the Nats. Need to know: Today's contest is the first of three games between the Nats and Tigers in a four-day span, one of those little Grapefruit League scheduling quirks. A trip to Jupiter tomorrow never looked so good. ...