Ryan Zimmerman will make his spring training debut on Sunday, manager Davey Johnson said Thursday night. Published February 28 2013
The Washington Nationals and New York Mets played to a 4-4 tie Thursday night, and while spring training ties aren't all that rare (it was the Nationals' second tie in six games), what Ryan Mattheus did was, somewhat. Mattheus, one of the Nationals' relievers who can go multi-innings but rarely pitches two full ones, was asked to pitch the ninth and the 10th innings on Thursday. Published February 28 2013
The nerves that Stephen Strasburg felt in his first start of the spring were still there on Thursday night, just lessened. But unlike in his first start, Strasburg was able to make most of the adjustments he needed before the game began. Published February 28 2013
While the Nationals have a pretty good idea of the 25 players they’ll be taking north with them at the end of the month, the one spot they have a small bit of flexibility is with the final spot in the bullpen. One left-hander who could be in the mix there is Fernando Abad. Published February 28 2013
Chris Young didn't sign with the Washington Nationals until Feb. 21, nine days after pitchers and catchers had reported to camp and begun the slow process of building toward the season. So the 6-foot-10 right-hander is a bit behind the rest of the group when it comes to his progress. Young did take an important step toward being game-ready on Thursday when he threw his first live batting practice of the spring. Published February 28 2013
The Washington Nationals will play under the lights tonight on MASN and the viewing audience at home will have plenty to see. Manager Davey Johnson has loaded his lineup up with regulars, save for left fielder Bryce Harper who is just getting a day off. Published February 28 2013
The Washington Nationals have a rare spring morning off on Thursday, with a 6:05 p.m. game against the New York Mets at Space Coast Stadium and no one even working out until later this afternoon. With that in mind, it seemed like as good a time as any to take an early crack at projecting a 25-man roster that, barring injury, holds very little mystery -- even on Feb. 28. Published February 28 2013
The Nationals will get a rare morning off on Thursday when they play their first home night game of the season. The game, which will be broadcast on MASN at 6:05 p.m., means even the players not scheduled to play will have their workout in the afternoon. Published February 27 2013
As a pitcher who possesses one of the Top 10 best strikeout-to-walk ratios in baseball history, Dan Haren's game starts and finishes with impeccable command of his pitches. Three times in the last five years, Haren has led the major leagues in that category. It was unlike him, then, when he started his first spring game as a Washington National falling behind the first two hitters 1-, and the third 3-0. Published February 27 2013
When Rafael Soriano walked into the Nationals' clubhouse Wednesday morning, shortstop Ian Desmond began to question him on what he'd be offering up in the his live batting practice session. Soriano's answer boiled down to this: You want to see? Grab a bat. Published February 27 2013
Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson was asked a question about the new, new-look Miami Marlins on Wednesday morning. Johnson, never one to mince words, joked that he was "still trying to learn their names." Published February 27 2013
When Ross Detwiler was done with his work for the day, when it was time to stand in front of reporters and discuss what he thought of his outing, he had no trouble coming up with what he thought was the best aspect of his 2 2/3 innings of work. Published February 26 2013
Bryce Harper continued his torrid start to the spring season, going 3-for-3 in the Nationals' 9-5 loss to the Braves on Tuesday, and talked his way into Wednesday's lineup. Harper, now 6-for-8 this spring, was originally scheduled to get a day off on Wednesday. But when arrived at the Nationals' complex Tuesday morning and saw Jayson Werth and Denard Span already in the lineup, he brought his case to manager Davey Johnson. Published February 26 2013
The rain appears to be coming down fairly hard right now at ESPN's Wide World of Sports with about an hour before the Nationals are scheduled to take on the Atlanta Braves. It's unclear right now if they'll be able to get the game in, but it's important for at least one Nationals player that they do. Published February 26 2013
When Wilson Ramos arrived at spring training a few weeks ago, he said that he felt his surgically-repaired right knee was about 80 percent healthy. He was still afraid of what might happen when he blocked balls, his knee still tired somewhat easily when he caught a bullpen session. Just more than two weeks later, the Washington Nationals' catcher happily reports that he feels the health of his knee is now up to 95 percent. Published February 26 2013
The road Nate Karns took the mound at Tradition Field Monday night was by no means direct. It made pit stops in doctors' offices, an operating table, and ballparks littering the the low levels of the minor leagues. But Karns, the Washington Nationals' 2012 minor league Pitcher of the Year, took the mound in a major league spring training game and proved just why the organization has thought so highly of him through it all. Published February 25 2013
On Monday night, Gio Gonzalez climbed a mound and faced opposing hitters for the first time since Game 5 of the National League Division Series. He pitched. He felt butterflies. It felt good. Published February 25 2013
The Nationals-Mets game Monday night is being broadcast on MLBNetwork, for those of you who'd like to check out Gio Gonzalez's first start of the spring. Gonzalez will get three starts with the Nationals before he departs for Team USA. Here are the full lineups: Published February 25 2013
The Washington Nationals didn't bring too many of the players who figure to make their 25-man roster to Port St. Lucie this evening as they take on the Mets in Gio Gonzalez's first start of the spring. But they did bring a few intriguing minor leaguers like Anthony Rendon, Zach Walters, Matt Skole, and even some no in major league camp like Michael Taylor and Destin Hood Published February 25 2013
The Washington Nationals will travel back to Port St. Lucie Monday night for their third game of the spring. Published February 24 2013
By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
The young drop coverage to avoid higher premiums
