Tag Archives: Michael Morse

Nationals-Dodgers doubleheader preview

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After being swept in a three-game weekend series by the second-place Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals, now 89-57, have had plenty of time to regroup following a scheduled day off on Monday and the postponement of last night’s series opener with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who bring a record of 76-71 to Nationals Park. For those who have yet to hear, last night’s game will be made up this afternoon as part of a single-admission doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m.

The good news for the Nationals is that their magic number for clinching the National League East, which had remained stagnant since September 12, finally ticked down a notch with the Braves’ extra-innings loss to the Miami Marlins last night. As for their magic number to clinch an NL Wild Card, that number still sits at three. It could, however, vanish altogether with a sweep of the Dodgers in this afternoon’s doubleheader and would mark the first playoff berth for a D.C. baseball team since the 1933 Washington Senators.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson, however, will not be celebrating a Wild Card.

“The additional Wild Card, to me, just really put more of a burden on the manager, because nobody wants that one,” Johnson said. “A one-game playoff to get in? The other format, if you were the Wild Card, you’re in the playoffs. So clinching a one-game playoff doesn’t have any appeal to me.”

As such, one can assume that the Nationals will still be looking to take both games of the doubleheader, but only to put as much distance between themselves and the Braves as possible in an effort to ensure a division crown. To do so, they will have to best Dodgers right-hander Aaron Harang, who will be opposed by Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann in game one of the doubleheader. Continue reading →

Nationals reeling, but far from falling

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For some reason, there seems to be an air of uneasiness about the Washington Metropolitan Area – uneasiness that is amplified by every passing mention of the Washington Nationals and their shrinking lead in the National League East, which now sits at five games.

Perhaps a part of the anxiety was brought about by a recent series sweep, suffered at the hands of the Atlanta Braves, who appear unwilling to settle for one of the two NL Wild Cards. More than likely, a good part stems from the uncertainty surrounding a few key players in the Nationals’ starting lineup. Continue reading →

Pitching matchup – game 144

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What was originally scheduled to be the most significant series of the year for the Washington Nationals (89-54) and the Atlanta Braves (81-63) is now scheduled for standard fanfare – and it begins tonight as the two division rivals open a three-game series in what will be their final meeting of the regular season.

Since drawing to within four games of the Nationals on August 28, the Braves have played .500 baseball and watched their deficit jump to 8 1/2 games while the Nationals have scored a league-high 96 runs. Now, rather than hoping to close the gap that separates them from the Nationals, the Braves will look to put distance between themselves and the myriad teams hoping for a wild card.

Tonight’s matchup pits Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler against Braves righty Kris Medlen, who has returned to the rotation in his first full season since a 2010 Tommy John surgery, in what will be a rematch of their last meeting on August 22 at Nationals Park. Continue reading →

The Morse mystery

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Yesterday, during the Washington Nationals’ 2-1 victory in the first of a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Michael Morse was pulled from the game in the middle of the fourth inning. It was announced that Morse, who has been dealing with several nagging injuries since early August, was removed due to soreness in his right thumb.

It came as a surprise, then, when manager Davey Johnson told the media in a post-game interview that the reason Morse was removed was a precautionary one. Johnson had hoped to spare Morse discomfort in his right hand – a right hand that was hit by a Kyle Kendrick changeup on August 24.

“Where he got hit was acting up,” Johnson said. “I knew their pitcher was going to pound him in, and I didn’t want to aggravate it worse. He didn’t want to come out. I just said, ‘You’re coming out.’ I don’t need you aggravating it.”

It came as an even bigger surprise, then, when Morse spoke to the media and claimed he felt fine.

“No, my hand feels fine,” Morse said. “My hand feels good.”

What a curious little mystery. Continue reading →

Pitching matchup – game 128

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The weekend was not kind to the Washington Nationals (77-50), who were swept in a three-game series by the Philadelphia Phillies and extended their losing streak to four games. That is the big story. The bigger story is Nationals’ right-hander Stephen Strasburg and his impending shutdown. After making 25 starts and tossing 145 1/3 innings, Strasburg is only expected to have a handful of remaining starts for the Nationals before he is shut down as part of his Tommy John surgery rehabilitation plan.  One of those starts will come tonight when Strasburg and the Nationals begin a two-game series with the Miami Marlins (58-71) – a series that could prove to be a potential turning point in the Nationals’ season. Looking to keep the Nationals in the loss column will be Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco. Continue reading →

Pitching matchup – game 127

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After dropping the first two of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies (60-67), the Washington Nationals (77-49) look to put an end to their first three-game skid since July 19-21. They will also be looking to avoid being swept for the fourth time this season and will do so without All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond and outfielder Michael Morse, both of whom are once again out of the lineup. If the Nationals hope to salvage this afternoon’s finale, they will need a strong showing from right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, who will take the mound opposite Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee. Continue reading →

Pitching matchup – game 126

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The series opener at Citizens Bank Park last night between the Washington Nationals (77-48) and the Philadelphia Phillies (59-67) was anything but a high point in the season for the first-place Nationals. It did not take long before the team’s season-long theme of injury reared its head again, forcing outfielder Michael Morse out of the game after taking a Kyle Kendrick changeup to his right hand in the top of the first inning. Luckily for the Nationals, Morse’s X-rays came back negative. The injury, which came on the heels of hearing that All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond was scratched from the lineup, is not expected to keep Morse out of action for long. Tonight, they will look to get back in the win column after dropping back-to-back games to divisional rivals as they send Gio Gonzalez, who is tied for the major league lead in wins with three other players, to the mound to face off against two-time Cy Young award-winner Roy Halladay. Continue reading →

Morse narrowly escapes injury

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Michael Morse

Michael Morse was forced from the lineup after taking a Kyle Kendrick changeup to his right hand. Photo: H. Rumph, Jr. / AP

After sustaining a strained lat muscle that sidelined Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Morse for the first 50 games of the season, the last thing he and the team were hoping for was another prolonged injury.

Luckily, after taking a Kyle Kendrick changeup to his right hand during the top of the first inning in last night’s 4-2 loss to the Phillies, the Nationals’ 2011 batting leader is not expected to miss significant time. Continue reading →

Pitching matchup – game 118

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Last night, young right-hander Madison Bumgarner tossed his second complete game of the season, striking out six and giving up just one run on five hits and one walk to take the second of a three-game series. This afternoon, the Washington Nationals (72-45) look to remain undefeated in their last eight road trips by taking the rubber match from the San Francisco Giants (64-53) before returning to Nationals Park for a six-game home stand. Stephen Strasburg eyes his 14th win of the season as he takes on two-time National League Cy Young Award-winner Tim Lincecum, who is suffering his worst professional season to date. Continue reading →

Nationals notes

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Twelve wins in 14 tries was just not in the cards for the Washington Nationals, who dropped the second of a three-game series last night to young right-hander Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants, bringing their road trip record to 7-2 before this afternoon’s finale. Nationals’ starter Jordan Zimmermann, arguably the team’s strongest pitcher this season, lasted just 5.2 innings after giving up two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four. He appeared to have trouble locating his pitches and was unable to get decent movement on a slider that opposing hitters refused to chase. No matter, as Bumgarner was nearly untouchable, tossing his second complete game of the season and yielding a single run on five hits and a walk while striking out five for his 13th win.

The Nationals will have to put the loss behind them as they send Stephen Strasburg to the mound this afternoon and look to take the rubber match of the series before heading to Washington for a six-game home stand. Until then, here are a few of the many exciting stories that broke yesterday – starting with the biggest news. Continue reading →