Jordan gets the best of Cabrera (Moore cuts lead to 4-3)

Jordan gets the best of Cabrera (Moore cuts lead to 4-3)
LAKELAND, Fla. - Joker Marchant Stadium is one of the Grapefruit League's gems. From its retro styling on the ediface to the variety of smells (from barbecue to burgers to grilled corn on the cob) permeating the concourse to the ever-present olde English D-clad fans, the place just oozes baseball. The fans are some of the most knowledgeable around, too, and right now, they're none too pleased after watching Miguel Cabrera - yes, the former Triple Crown winner and one of the game's greatest...

Williams awaiting report on Fister's bullpen session

Williams awaiting report on Fister's bullpen session
LAKELAND, Fla. - Right-hander Doug Fister, who has been sidelined since March 2 with inflammation in his pitching elbow, threw a bullpen session this morning in Viera, Fla., one day after feeling tightness in the affected arm following three consecutive days of throwing. Nationals manager Matt Williams was awaiting the arrival of pitching coach Steve McCatty with a report on Fister's progress, but continued to preach that the team wasn't as concerned with Fister missing a couple of spring...

Strong spring starts from LaRoche and Span (with note)

Strong spring starts from LaRoche and Span (with note)
VIERA, Fla. - Neither Adam LaRoche nor Denard Span had the type of 2013 season he was hoping for. LaRoche hit just .237 with a lowly .735 OPS, which, if you exclude his injury-plagued 2011 season, was the lowest on-base plus slugging percentage the veteran first baseman has posted in his career. Span finished the season really strongly, hitting .338/.375/.459 over his final 39 games, but was slow to adjust to a new team and a new league, and it took him 4 1/2 months to find a groove. Now,...

Detwiler takes a step in the right direction (Nats lose 7-5)

Detwiler takes a step in the right direction (Nats lose 7-5)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Mets 7, Nationals 5 Recap: Ross Detwiler was solid in his third start of spring, allowing a run over 3 2/3 innings. The Nats took a 2-1 lead into the eighth, but allowed six total runs in the last two frames. Brock Peterson's three-run homer in the eighth wasn't enough to overcome the damage. Need to know: Christian Garcia, Rafael Soriano and Tyler Clippard combined to allow just one baserunner and strike out four over their 3 1/3 collective innings. Impressive...

A host of injury updates on Fister, Zimmerman and others (plus lineups and more)

A host of injury updates on Fister, Zimmerman and others (plus lineups and more)
VIERA, Fla. - After throwing off flat ground this morning, the third straight day he'd done so, Doug Fister felt "a little bit tight" in his right arm, according to Nationals manager Matt Williams. As a result of that tightness, the Nationals will evaluate Fister tomorrow morning before clearing him to throw his scheduled Friday bullpen session. Fister has been sidelined since March 2 because of inflammation in his right elbow. He had thrown off flat ground the last two days without any...

Nats cut six, including Taylor, Purke, Hensley

Nats cut six, including Taylor, Purke, Hensley
VIERA, Fla. - With yesterday's split-squad games in the books, the Nationals made six cuts today, optioning outfielder Michael Taylor and left-hander Matt Purke to Double-A Harrisburg and reassigning right-handers Clay Hensley, Josh Roenicke and Daniel Stange and left-hander Danny Rosenbaum to minor league camp. Taylor, considered the top defensive outfielder in the Nats' organization, went 3-for-16 (.188) with a triple and three RBIs in 13 games played this spring. This will be the...

Desmond update plus replay reactions after Nats' 10-9 loss

Desmond update plus replay reactions after Nats' 10-9 loss
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ian Desmond was scratched from today's game against the Astros due to a cut on the pinky finger of his throwing hand, manager Matt Williams said after the Nationals' 10-9 loss to Houston. Fielding grounders during batting practice, Desmond had a ball hop up on him, and the finger split open. The shortstop was taken out of the starting lineup, and was replaced by Jamey Carroll. "He's fine, but we just decided to hold him out today and not push it," Williams said of...

We get our first replay review (Nats lose 10-9)

We get our first replay review (Nats lose 10-9)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Astros 10 Nationals 9 Recap: Tanner Roark threw 3 1/3 innings, throwing 62 pitches (37 for strikes). He allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Nate McLouth hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning. It was McLouth's first home run of the spring. The Astros scored three runs in the ninth off of Xavier Cedeno. Need to know: Replay was used twice during the game. Nationals manager Matt Williams unsuccessfully challenged a close play at...

Desmond scratched, plus game update (Nats lead 9-4)

Desmond scratched, plus game update (Nats lead 9-4)
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ian Desmond was scheduled to start at shortstop and hit third in today's lineup against the Astros, but when the game began, Jamey Carroll was the third Nationals hitter into the batter's box. Desmond has been scratched from the lineup today, with Carroll taking over as the Nats' shortstop to begin the game. No word from the Nationals yet as to why Desmond was a late scratch. He did make the trip here to Kissimmee, so it must've been something that came up shortly before...

As two-time Tommy John patient, Garcia feels Medlen's pain

As two-time Tommy John patient, Garcia feels Medlen's pain
VIERA, Fla. - Christian Garcia knows what Kris Medlen is going through right now. He knows the disappointment. He knows the frustration. He knows the doubts that might be swirling through Medlen's mind as he wonders if he'll ever pitch at a high level again. Four days ago, Medlen - a talented 28-year-old right-hander with the Braves who won 15 games last year - threw a pitch to Mets first baseman Matt Clark and immediately walked off the mound toward the Atlanta dugout. Medlen, who...

Updates on Fister, Zimmerman, Solis and more (we're in a rain delay)

Updates on Fister, Zimmerman, Solis and more (we're in a rain delay)
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Not only did Doug Fister come through yesterday's throwing session without any incident, the Nationals right-hander felt good enough that the team is having him throw off of flat ground again today, manager Matt Williams said. Fister felt discomfort in his right elbow after his spring training debut against the Marlins on March 2, and an MRI revealed that the veteran righty had inflammation in the elbow. After being shut down and getting treatment on the elbow for a week,...

Our first look at instant replay

Our first look at instant replay
VIERA, Fla. - In a couple of hours, I'll be making the trip over to Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, spring home of the Astros. It was in that stadium last year when the Astros' mascot walked right up to the front of the press box, stood directly in front of me, tapped on the glass and creepily started waving at me. Talk about nightmare city. That's the type of image that will haunt your dreams, right there. Fourteen games into spring training, the Nationals finally will get their...

Zimmermann perfect in four innings of work (Nats win 3-2)

Zimmermann perfect in four innings of work (Nats win 3-2)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 3, Yankees 2 Recap: Anthony Rendon scored a run in the first and then drove in two in the second with a double into the left field corner. Jordan Zimmmermann retired all 12 batters he faced and the Nats held on for the one-run win. Need to know: Zimmermann has now thrown nine scoreless innings this spring, allowing just three hits and one walk and striking out nine. On deck: Wednesday, (ss) at Braves, 1:05 p.m.; (ss) at Astros, 1:05 p.m. VIERA, Fla. -...

Strasburg bounces back after slow start, Rendon homers

Strasburg bounces back after slow start, Rendon homers
VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg began his outing this afternoon looking pretty out of sorts. The Nationals right-hander walked the first two batters he faced and gave up an RBI single to Allen Craig, making it 1-0 Cardinals seemingly before most fans had even settled in to their seats. Strasburg eventually settled down, however, and ended up allowing just that one run on two hits with the two walks over three solid innings of work. The righty threw 48 pitches, 28 for strikes, in his second...

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...

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...

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...

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...