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Tag: Nationals

  • Braves ride 5-run inning to win over Nationals to open DH

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    (Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

    Jurickson Profar homered and drove in a pair of runs, Jose Suarez threw seven quality innings and the visiting Atlanta Braves posted a 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday.

    Suarez (2-0) was called up on Monday to make his first major league appearance since April 10 and his first start since Sept. 25, 2024 while with the Los Angeles Angels.

    In the spot start, Suarez allowed two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out a career-high nine batters. Matt Olson homered in his fourth straight game, while Raisel Iglesias worked a scoreless ninth, securing his 26th save of the year and the 250th of his career.

    The Braves (68-83) have won three straight following a four-game losing streak. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris II each had three hits for Atlanta.

    Jake Irvin (8-13) allowed five runs on eight hits across six innings, striking out five and walking two for Washington (62-89), which has dropped five of its last seven. Daylen Lile had two hits, while Jacob Young, CJ Abrams and Jorge Alfaro each drove in a run.

    After the Nationals’ Dylan Crews walked and Brady House singled with one out in the second inning, Young’s RBI base hit scored the game’s first run. Abrams’ sacrifice fly then gave Washington a 2-0 lead.

    Atlanta’s Ha-Seong Kim and Harris singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth, before Eli White’s run-scoring groundout and Vidal Brujan’s RBI double knotted the score at two apiece.

    Profar followed with his 14th homer of the season and Olson then hit his 27th of the year, extending the Braves’ lead to 5-2.

    Kim, Harris and Brujan singled in the eighth off reliever Orlando Ribalta to give Atlanta a 6-2 advantage.

    Lile tripled and then scored on Alfaro’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to cut Washington’s deficit to 6-3 off reliever Pierce Johnson.

    –Field Level Media

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  • How Should the Phillies Use Ranger Suarez in the Postseason? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    How Should the Phillies Use Ranger Suarez in the Postseason? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    It’s 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning against the Washington Nationals in the 160th game of the regular season.
    In the previous four games, the lowly Nationals have scored a combined four runs–tonight, they’ve matched that total over 42 meandering pitches from Ranger Suarez.
    Sep 21, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
    PHOTO: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images

    One of those pitches, in a pivotal 3-2 count, was taken 432 feet to left-center by designated hitter Stone Garrett in his very first at-bat of the season. In total, Suarez would scatter 59 pitches over two innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks in his last start of the season. 

    Just three months ago, Suarez was on top of the world—a leading candidate for the N.L. Cy Young Suarez owned a dominant 10-2 record with a 1.83 ERA in 16 starts through June 25, landing him a spot on his first All-Star team.

    It was a coronation of one of the sport’s top young arms–Suarez had come into the season uncharacteristically healthy and was the team’s best pitcher from Opening Day–no more was he just the team’s best-kept postseason secret; he was a legitimate, top-five starting pitcher in the National League. 

    Unfortunately, Suarez must have flown too close to the early summer sun, and with his innings totaling higher than ever, he began to crash and burn.

    In four starts from June 30 through July 22, Suarez went 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA before landing on the IL with a back injury. Since returning from the IL on August 24, it’s been much of the same: an uninspiring 2-3 record with a 5.74 ERA in seven starts. His velocity has been down. His signature command has wavered. He hasn’t logged a quality start since June 25.In the wake of Suarez’s disastrous second half–and with the emergence of Cristopher Sanchez–the Phillies have demoted Ranger to being the fourth starter in the upcoming NLDS. A decision is to be made as to whether or not Aaron Nola or Sanchez will start Game 2, but regardless, it is known that if the series comes to a fourth game, Ranger Suarez will make the start. 

    Is that the right move?

    I’m not sureif even the Phillies can admit

    that it is at this point. It’s incredibly strange to say that, given just how clutch Suarez has been in the postseason the last two years. It is, however, perhaps the only move that the Phillies can make when your Weapon X turns into a hot mess down the stretch. Behind Suarez–who will assuredly have the shortest of leashes in October–there isn’t much in the ‘pen to eat innings. Taijuan Walker won’t make the postseason roster, and long-man Spencer Turnbull, out since June 26, will attempt to pitch in the team’s intrasquad game this week but hasn’t exactly faced Major League competition in his limited rehab stints in Lehigh Valley.

    While the chances of Suarez making a complete 180 in time for the postseason are unlikely; however, it isn’t all doom and gloom. The depth of the starting rotation, in theory, can allow for one of the team’s top pitchers to not play to the best of their ability while still having success.

    If Ranger can be just 80% of his potential, if he can provide three to five innings of two-run ball and save the bullpen just a little bit, then the Phillies will have a shot.
    And if we’ve learned anything over the last two years, it’s that one chance is all that this team needs to go all the way.

    PHOTO: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images

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    Dylan Campbell

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  • Report: Cubs sign RP, member of ’16 World Series team

    Report: Cubs sign RP, member of ’16 World Series team

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    CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have signed a reliever who spent last season pitching for the Washington Nationals, but was also a member of their 2016 World Series-winning team, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.

    Murray said the Cubs are in agreement on a one-year minor league contract with relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr, with an invite to spring training.

    Edwards Jr. notched a 3.69 ERA across 31.2 innings pitched in 2023 for the Nationals. In 32 games for Washington, Edwards Jr. also struck out 24 batters compared to giving up 17 walks.

    A nine-year veteran of Major League Baseball, Edwards began his MLB career with Chicago, pitching four-plus seasons with the North Siders from 2015-19, which included 36 appearances with a 3.75 ERA during the team’s 2016 season when they won the World Series.

    Edwards Jr. has a career record of 16-14 with a 3.54 ERA and 280 IP across 295 games with 328 career strikeouts.

    Pitcher and catchers are expected to report to spring training around Feb. 13-15, with the Cubs opening up spring training exhibition games against the White Sox on Feb. 23.

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    Eli Ong

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