SB Nation DC: All Posts by Patrick Reddington

Washington Nationals' Depth Chart At Second: Nats Not Ready To Give Up On Danny Espinosa

2013-05-21T14:50:53Z

In an article by FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal this morning, Washington Nationals' skipper Davey Johnson is asked the possibility discussed everywhere on Nats' sites in recent weeks of bringing 2011 1st Round pick Anthony Rendon up to take over at second for struggling infielder Danny Espinosa. Rendon started at second last night for Double-A Harrisburg, going 1 for 4 with a double to leave him with a .346/.482/.654 line so far in his second pro season in the Nationalns' system. So is he being groomed to take over at second, Mr. Rosenthal asked? Johnson's response:

"We like him – we like him a lot," Johnson said of Rendon. "But putting him at second at the major-league level, he’s not there yet. He’s not (playing second) specifically. He’s just occasionally going over there."

"We like him – we like him a lot," Johnson said of Rendon. "But putting him at second at the major-league level, he’s not there yet." -Davey Johnson on Anthony Rendon to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal

The start at second last night was just Rendon's fifth. He's made most of his starts at third, though the Nationals do have him playing around the infield this season. Johnson goes on to say that Steve Lombardozzi and Triple-A infielder Zach Walters are currently above Rendon on the depth chart at second behind Espinosa, but as the bow-tied FOXSports.com reporter notes, neither Espinosa, Lombardozzi or Walters are hitting right now, and Rendon is kind of crushing.

The way Davey Johnson was talking in an interview posted on MASNSports.com yesterday, however, it doesn't sound like the team is ready to give up on Danny Espinosa just yet, in spite of the fact that the infielder, who's playing with a torn rotator cuff, has a .163/.191/.296 line over the first 37 games and 141 plate appearances of the 2013 campaign. Espinosa, who is 1 for 24 on the current road trip, sat last night, but worked out with the Nationals' hitting coach before Monday night's game in AT&T Park in San Francisco.

"I think he's a little beat up," Johnson said in explaining the decision to sit him in the first game with the Giants, an 8-0 loss. "I wanted him to sit back again and relax a little bit. He had a little early session with [Rick] Eckstein, our hitting coach, and I think that went real well. I hate to just single him out, but he's certainly not doing the things he knows he's capable of doing. So it's frustrating for him and he feels a lot like he's letting everybody down, but he's trying to do his best and sometimes just getting away from it a little bit helps."

"When you don't do the things you're capable of doing, it kind of beats you up," Johnson said. "It can wear on you." - Davey Johnson on MASN on Danny Espinosa

By "beat up," Johnson said, he meant that Espinosa was struggling mentally. "When you don't do the things you're capable of doing, it kind of beats you up," Johnson said. "It can wear on you. You expect to do things -- to keep improving and do them at a higher level and he's taken a step or so back, so, but he's still a tremendous player, still got tremendous talent and I haven't given up on him by any means."

"You have to have patience with young players," Johnson concluded, "And I know that our fans and ownership and everybody else, they expect us to play good and do well and believe me, of all people, I'm the one that expected the most and how you handle adversity is a large part of your success. And we'll get through this. Coming into this year I felt like Danny was a key guy that if he started doing the things that I know he's capable of doing, it could make the year a whole lot of fun."

Washington Nationals' Ryan Mattheus To DL With Broken Hand; Nats Expected To Call Up RHP Yunesky Maya; LHP Fernando Abad

2013-05-21T06:25:07Z

I refuse to quote Crash Davis. Right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus apparently broke his right hand while slamming his glove into his locker after he gave up four hits and five runs in an inning of work in the Washington Nationals' loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday night. The rough inning of work broke a streak of seven scoreless relief appearance by the 29-year-old right-hander, but Mattheus offered no excuse when he spoke to reporters after the game. "It's just [inexcusable]," Mattheus said, "Not commanding the strike zone and leaving the ball up." The right-hander wouldn't use a lack of work as an excuse for his poor showing. "No I don't think that's it," he said when a reporter asked, "I've been up the last two nights in the bullpen, so I should definitely be sharp. Not getting into the games isn't an excuse. I've still got to get the job done."

"He's going to be out a while. It's a broken bone in your pitching hand. That's going to be out a while." - Davey Johnson on Ryan Mattheus' broken right hand

There were no reports of Mattheus' injury until after tonight's game when Davey Johnson told reporters about the reliever's injury. Mattheus told the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore that he was embarrassed by what happened:

"It's pretty embarrassing. I let the whole Washington Nationals organization down doing something stupid." -- Ryan Mattheus
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 21, 2013

According to tweeted reports from AT&T Park tonight, the Nationals are going to call up right-hander Yunesky Maya and left-hander Fernando Abad to fill out their bullpen, which is going to be shorthanded tomorrow after Zach Duke, Craig Stammen and Henry Rodriguez all had extended outings as the Nats tried to piece together a start with Ross Detwiler sidelined by an oblique issue. Eury Perez is reportedly being set back to Triple-A to make room for the relievers:

To recap: Ryan Mattheus broke his hand punching a locker and will be on the DL. Eury Perez demoted. Fernando Abad, Yunesky Maya coming up.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 21, 2013

Ryan Mattheus has a broken right hand. Fernando Abad and Yunesky Maya getting called up. Eury Perez heading out.
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 21, 2013

"It was unfortunate [Mattheus] didn't tell anybody that he broke his hand [Sunday night]," Davey Johnson said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to have anyone here to help us out." - Davey Johnson on Ryan Mattheus

Davey Johnson told reporters how it all happened after tonight's game, explaining that it was a rough night in the loss to the Giants because the team was shorthanded in the pen. "It was unfortunate [Mattheus] didn't tell anybody that he broke his hand [Sunday night]," Johnson said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to have anyone here to help us out."

"Last night after the game he came in and when he was in the locker room he banged his glove against his locker with his hand in it," Johnson explained, "And he didn't say anything to anybody. His hand didn't swell up, but when he went out to throw today his hand swelled up and he couldn't throw the ball."

"He felt real bad about," Johnson continued, "but I wish he had said something about what he did." Johnson said that the right-hander had his right hand in his glove when he slammed it into his locker and now he has a long rehab ahead of him. "He's going to be out a while. It's a broken bone in your pitching hand. That's going to be out a while."

"We have a couple pitchers coming in," the manager reported, "one of the moves we had to make was to send out a position player, go short on the position side because of the uncertainty." The called-up relievers, Maya and Abad, will be with the team in San Francisco tomorrow. Mattheus told reporters, including the Washington Times' Amanda Comak, that he was embarrassed:

Ryan Mattheus is heading back to DC tomorrow to see a hand specialist. "I let my emotions get the best of me. It's pretty embarrassing."
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 21, 2013

Washington Nationals Lose 8-0 To San Francisco Giants In AT&T; Giants' Starter Ryan Vogelsong Suffers Fractured Right Hand On HBP

2013-05-21T05:10:45Z

Veteran left-hander and middle reliever Zach Duke's first start of year for the Washington Nationals began about as well as you could hope for it to... 10 pitches, three ground ball outs and a scoreless first in the first of three with San Francisco in AT&T Park. Giants' starter Ryan Vogelsong followed up on a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 first of his own with an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 second after which [counts on fingers] he'd retired six straight Nats to start the game.

Hunter Pence hit a one-out single to center off the Nationals' starter in the home-half of the second for the first hit by either team. The Giants' right fielder decided not to test the Nats' right fielder Bryce Harper's arm on a second-straight single by Brandon Belt in the next at bat, settling for advancing to second in front of Andres Torres, and Torres hit an RBI double to left to drive Pence in and make it a 1-0 game early tonight in the Giants' home. A Brandon Crawford groundout to second brought in the second run, 2-0, before Duke retired the opposing pitcher to end a 17-pitch frame at 27 pitches overall after two.

Zach Duke lined to left for a two-out single in the Nationals' third, collecting the first hit of the game off Vogelsong. The second hit, as it often does, came in the at bat immediately following the first, when Denard Span lined one right back at the Giants' starter and up the middle of the infield for a single of his own, but Steve Lombardozzi popped up on the first pitch he saw to give San Francisco's veteran right-hande three scoreless innings in AT&T. Duke gave up back-to-back one-out singles by Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval in the Giants' half of the third, but both runners were stranded at the end of an 18-pitch inning that had Duke at 45 overall after three.

Ryan Zimmerman took a 2-1 curve from Ryan Vogelsong to right for a one-out single in the top of the fourth, but he was erased from the basepaths when Adam LaRoche, in search of a hit to stretch his streak to 17 games, grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3. Giants' first baseman Brandon Belt battled for six pitches and singled through the right side of the infield for a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth. Andres Torres singled through the left side in the next AB, collecting San Francisco's seventh hit off Duke. The Nats' lefty knocked a grounder from Brandon Crawford down and recovered in time to get a force at second for out no.1 of the Giants' fourth. Craig Stammen took over for Duke there with runners on first and third. A safety squeeze by the opposing pitcher brought the run in from third to make it 3-0 San Francisco, an RBI double to right by Angel Pagan made it 4-0 and an RBI single by Marco Scutaro made it 5-0 Giants over the Nationals after four.

Roger Bernadina reached first safely on an error by Scutaro at second. One out later, Craig Stammen worked a two-out walk out of Ryan Vogelsong to get Denard Span to the plate, but a groundout to first ended the Giants' starter fifth scoreless. 5-0 San Francisco in AT&T. Buster Posey singled to start the bottom of the fifth, but was doubled up on a Hunter Pence grounder to short that started a 6-4-3. A Brandon Belt home run to center in the next at bat made it 6-0 San Francisco, but after back-to-back two-out singles by Andres Torres and Brandon Crawford, Craig Stammen hit the opposing pitcher on the hand and Vogelsong quickly exited the game and headed straight for the Giants' clubhouse. Not good*. 6-0 Giants after five.

* - Update from the Giants later said Vogelson suffered a "fractured right hand."

Left-handed sidewinder Javier Lopez took over on the mound for San Francisco in the top of the sixth and retired the side in order in a quick 14-pitch inning of work for the Giants' reliever. Pablo Sandoval lined a two-out opposite field single to left for the 14th hit of the night by the home team in the home-half of the inning. Buster Posey stepped in with two down and popped out to Adam LaRoche at first to end the Giants' sixth.

LaRoche K'd swinging to start the seventh, leaving him 0 for 3 tonight and in serious jeopardy of seeing his hit streak end at 16 games. Giants' right-hander Jean Machi took over for Javier Lopez with one down in the top of the inning, and retired the next two Nats in order to hold the Nationals scoreless through seven in San Francisco. Henry Rodriguez walked Hunter Pence to start the bottom of the seventh. A single to right by Brandon Belt sent Pence around to third and left the Giants' first baseman 4 for 4 tonight. Pence was run down and tagged out trying to score on an Andres Torres' grounder to first, but the second walk of the inning by the Nats' right-handed reliever put Brandon Crawford on first and loaded the bases with one out. Gregor Blanco popped to short for out no.2, but a two-out, two-run single to center by Angel Pagan made it 8-0 Giants over the Nationals after seven.

San Francisco right-hander Santiago Castilla issued a one-out walk to Tyler Moore in the Nats' eighth, but Denard Span grounded into his second double play of the season in the next AB, grounding back to the mound to start an inning-ending 1-4-3. 8-0 Giants after seven and a half. Henry Rodriguez was up to 36 pitches in his second inning of work when Buster Post hit a one-out single to center for the Giants' 17th hit of the game. A walk to Hunter Pence put two runners on for Brandon Belt, who was 4 for 5 tonight after flying out to deep center. A fly to center from Andres Torres ended the eighth.

Jeremy Affeldt came out for the top of the ninth and

Nationals now 23-22

Washington Nationals' Jayson Werth Update: Washington Post's Adam Kilgore On What Davey Johnson Calls An "Alarming Report" On Werth

2013-05-21T03:05:37Z

As Jayson Werth explained it to reporters after his lone rehab start last week with High-A Potomac, things went well in the game he played with the High-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

"'I got some work in today,'" Werth was quoted stating in the team's official game report, "We talked about getting two to three at-bats. I got two just because of all of the activity. I feel pretty good. We'll try again tomorrow. And then we'll see.'"

Werth did not play in the game the next day. As the Nationals' now-34-year-old (Happy Birthday?) outfielder told the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore tonight, however, he actually felt something happen in his hamstring early in that game:

"'When I played in Potomac last week I felt my hammy grab on my first [at-bat] when I left the box on the groundout,' Werth said in an e-mail."

Werth went to see his personal doctor after the rehab start and said an MRI confirmed what he already knew. The Nationals' outfielder's hamstring is going to take longer to heal than originally expected. Reports out of AT&T Park tonight, where the Nats started a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants, said Davey Johnson told reporters he got an "alarming report" on his right fielder and two-hole hitter.

As Johnson explained it to reporters, including the WaPost's Mr. Kilgore, the doctors said Werth might be out for at least two more weeks as he takes a more cautious approach to his recovery. Werth hasn't played in a game since May 2nd, and his 15-Day DL stint was backdated to the 3rd so he would have been eligible to return to the field this past Saturday. When it was clear that he wouldn't make that date, the hope was that Werth could return for the Nationals' homestand next weekend, but the reports today say that's not going to happen either.

Werth missed significant time after suffering a broken left wrist on a play in the outfield early last season, then returned to lead the Nationals in their first run at the NL East division title. In 27 games and 107 plate appearances so far in 2013, Werth has a .260/.308/.400 line with two doubles and four home runs. Werth joins fellow hamstring injury victim Wilson Ramos on the DL. Ramos is on his second DL stint of the year after injuring the hamstring earlier this season and re-injuring it upon returning from action.

Washington Nationals At San Francisco Giants: GameThread 45 Of 162

2013-05-21T01:36:04Z

Next Game

Washington Nationals
@ San Francisco Giants

Monday, May 20, 2013, 10:15 PM EDT
AT&T Park

Zach Duke vs Ryan Vogelsong

Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 60.

• D.C. Starting Lineup:

1. This is D-SPAN - CF

2. Steve "#LOMBOLOBBY" Lombardozzi - 2B

3. "Run-Until-He's-Tagged, Tape-Measure-Testing, Laser-Throwing, Eyeblack-Oozing Baseball Cyborg" (aka Bryce Harper) - RF

4. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! - 3B (Word.)

5. Adam "Graceful, Effortless" LaRoche - 1B

6. Ian "+Arm, +Range" Desmond - SS

7. The Shark - LF

8. Onion - C

9. Zach Duke - LHP

• LINKS:

Washington Nationals Rewind: Davey Johnson - "You Have To Have A Lot Of Patience Sometimes In This job."

posted by Patrick Reddington 21 minutes ago

1 comment | 0 recs

Game 44 WPA: Not encouraging. Nats 4, SD 13

posted by Doghouse about 17 hours ago

52 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals Settle For Split In San Diego: 13-4 Padres In Series Finale With Nats

posted by Patrick Reddington about 17 hours ago

0 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

• For A San Francisco Giants Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SB Nation's Giants Site: McCovey Chronicles.

*********Washington Nationals Tickets**************

• Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare At You Now:

Ryan Vogelsong

#32 / Pitcher / San Francisco Giants

Height: 6-4

Weight: 215

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jul 22, 1977

• 2012 Stats - (14-9), 31 G, 31 GS, 189.2 IP, 3.37 ERA, 3.70 FIP, ERA+ = 103, 17 HR (0.81 HR/9), 62 BB (2.94 BB/9), 158 Ks (7.50 K/9), 1.23 WHIP.

• 2013 Stats - (1-4), 8 G, 8 GS, 41.1 IP, 8.06 ERA, 6.10 FIP, ERA+ = 42, 11 HR (2.40 HR/9), 17 BB (3.70 BB/9), 38 Ks (8.27 K/9), 1.84 WHIP.

• vs D.C. - (0-1), 5 G, 1 GS, 10.2 IP, 7.59 ERA, 0 HR, 5 BB (4.22 BB/9), 10 Ks (8.44 K/9), 1.69 WHIP.

Zach Duke

#30 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-2

Weight: 210

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Apr 19, 1983

• 2012 Stats - (AAA) - (15-5), 26 G, 26 GS, 2 CG, 1 SO, 164.1 IP, 3.51 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 16 HR (0.88 HR/9), 39 BB (2.14 BB/9), 91 Ks (4.98 K/9), 1.32 WHIP.

• 2013 Stats - (0-0), 9 G, 0 GS, 15.0 IP, 8.40 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 2 HR (1.20 HR/9), 4 BB (2.40 BB/9), 10 Ks (6.00 K/9), 1.73 WHIP.

• vs SFG - (2-3), 10 G, 8 GS, 1 CG, 1 SO, 54.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 5 HR (0.82 HR/9), 15 BB (2.47 BB/9), 22 Ks (3.62 K/9), 1.32 WHIP.

• Vogelsong vs the Nats:

	PA	AB	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Kurt Suzuki	7	7	1	1	3	0	3	.143	.143	.286	.429
Chad Tracy	4	4	1	0	0	0	1	.250	.250	.250	.500
Steve Lombardozzi	3	2	2	0	0	1	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Ryan Zimmerman	3	3	2	1	1	0	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667
Roger Bernadina	2	2	1	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Danny Espinosa	2	2	1	0	1	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Gio Gonzalez	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Bryce Harper	2	2	1	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Adam LaRoche	2	1	0	0	1	1	1	.000	.500	.000	.500
Zach Duke	1	1	1	0	1	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Total	28	26	10	2	8	2	9	.385	.429	.462	.890

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/20/2013.

• Duke vs the Giants:

	PA	AB	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	SH	GDP
Hunter Pence	18	17	5	0	0	1	0	.294	.333	.294	.627	0	0
Pablo Sandoval	15	15	2	1	1	0	0	.133	.133	.200	.333	0	1
Angel Pagan	11	10	5	1	4	1	1	.500	.545	.600	1.145	0	0
Andres Torres	8	7	1	1	0	1	2	.143	.250	.286	.536	0	0
Matt Cain	7	6	1	1	0	0	3	.167	.167	.333	.500	1	0
Marco Scutaro	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.250	.000	.250	0	0
Gregor Blanco	3	1	1	0	0	2	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000	0	0
Buster Posey	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667	0	0
Total	69	62	17	5	5	6	6	.274	.338	.355	.693	1	1

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/20/2013.

• Mr. Wilbon? Way To Go Nats!!!

• Mr. Kornheiser? "Don't Hate on the Nats, Baby!"

• Who's Watching The Nationals?

Next Game

Washington Nationals
@ San Francisco Giants

Monday, May 20, 2013, 10:15 PM EDT
AT&T Park

Zach Duke vs Ryan Vogelsong

Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 60.

• D.C. Starting Lineup:

1. This is D-SPAN - CF

2. Steve "#LOMBOLOBBY" Lombardozzi - 2B

3. "Run-Until-He's-Tagged, Tape-Measure-Testing, Laser-Throwing, Eyeblack-Oozing Baseball Cyborg" (aka Bryce Harper) - RF

4. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! - 3B (Word.)

5. Adam "Graceful, Effortless" LaRoche - 1B

6. Ian "+Arm, +Range" Desmond - SS

7. The Shark - LF

8. Onion - C

9. Zach Duke - LHP

• LINKS:

Washington Nationals Rewind: Davey Johnson - "You Have To Have A Lot Of Patience Sometimes In This job."

posted by Patrick Reddington 21 minutes ago

1 comment | 0 recs

Game 44 WPA: Not encouraging. Nats 4, SD 13

posted by Doghouse about 17 hours ago

52 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals Settle For Split In San Diego: 13-4 Padres In Series Finale With Nats

posted by Patrick Reddington about 17 hours ago

0 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

• For A San Francisco Giants Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SB Nation's Giants Site: McCovey Chronicles.

*********Washington Nationals Tickets**************

• Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare At You Now:

Ryan Vogelsong

#32 / Pitcher / San Francisco Giants

Height: 6-4

Weight: 215

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jul 22, 1977

• 2012 Stats - (14-9), 31 G, 31 GS, 189.2 IP, 3.37 ERA, 3.70 FIP, ERA+ = 103, 17 HR (0.81 HR/9), 62 BB (2.94 BB/9), 158 Ks (7.50 K/9), 1.23 WHIP.

• 2013 Stats - (1-4), 8 G, 8 GS, 41.1 IP, 8.06 ERA, 6.10 FIP, ERA+ = 42, 11 HR (2.40 HR/9), 17 BB (3.70 BB/9), 38 Ks (8.27 K/9), 1.84 WHIP.

• vs D.C. - (0-1), 5 G, 1 GS, 10.2 IP, 7.59 ERA, 0 HR, 5 BB (4.22 BB/9), 10 Ks (8.44 K/9), 1.69 WHIP.

Zach Duke

#30 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-2

Weight: 210

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Apr 19, 1983

• 2012 Stats - (AAA) - (15-5), 26 G, 26 GS, 2 CG, 1 SO, 164.1 IP, 3.51 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 16 HR (0.88 HR/9), 39 BB (2.14 BB/9), 91 Ks (4.98 K/9), 1.32 WHIP.

• 2013 Stats - (0-0), 9 G, 0 GS, 15.0 IP, 8.40 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 2 HR (1.20 HR/9), 4 BB (2.40 BB/9), 10 Ks (6.00 K/9), 1.73 WHIP.

• vs SFG - (2-3), 10 G, 8 GS, 1 CG, 1 SO, 54.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 5 HR (0.82 HR/9), 15 BB (2.47 BB/9), 22 Ks (3.62 K/9), 1.32 WHIP.

• Vogelsong vs the Nats:

	PA	AB	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Kurt Suzuki	7	7	1	1	3	0	3	.143	.143	.286	.429
Chad Tracy	4	4	1	0	0	0	1	.250	.250	.250	.500
Steve Lombardozzi	3	2	2	0	0	1	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Ryan Zimmerman	3	3	2	1	1	0	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667
Roger Bernadina	2	2	1	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Danny Espinosa	2	2	1	0	1	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Gio Gonzalez	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Bryce Harper	2	2	1	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Adam LaRoche	2	1	0	0	1	1	1	.000	.500	.000	.500
Zach Duke	1	1	1	0	1	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Total	28	26	10	2	8	2	9	.385	.429	.462	.890

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/20/2013.

• Duke vs the Giants:

	PA	AB	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	SH	GDP
Hunter Pence	18	17	5	0	0	1	0	.294	.333	.294	.627	0	0
Pablo Sandoval	15	15	2	1	1	0	0	.133	.133	.200	.333	0	1
Angel Pagan	11	10	5	1	4	1	1	.500	.545	.600	1.145	0	0
Andres Torres	8	7	1	1	0	1	2	.143	.250	.286	.536	0	0
Matt Cain	7	6	1	1	0	0	3	.167	.167	.333	.500	1	0
Marco Scutaro	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.250	.000	.250	0	0
Gregor Blanco	3	1	1	0	0	2	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000	0	0
Buster Posey	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667	0	0
Total	69	62	17	5	5	6	6	.274	.338	.355	.693	1	1

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/20/2013.

• Mr. Wilbon? Way To Go Nats!!!

• Mr. Kornheiser? "Don't Hate on the Nats, Baby!"

• Who's Watching The Nationals?

Washington Nationals' Monday Night Lineup vs San Francisco Giants: Bryce Harper In; Zach Duke Starts In AT&T

2013-05-20T22:41:37Z

Bryce Harper is back. Washington Nationals' manager said last night, after the Nats' loss to the San Diego Padres, that they would have to take a wait-and-see approach with their 20-year-old outfielder. Harper's been recovering from his collision with the right field wall in Dodger Stadium early last week, which apparently bruised the entire left side of his body, but it was the left knee in particular that kept Harper on the sidelines in the the third and fourth games in Petco Park. "He's been getting a lot of treatment on it," Johnson told reporters after the finale with the Padres. "He's still got some swelling in there, we'll see how it is tomorrow." Apparently the knee is healed up enough for Harper to get into the lineup tonight in San Francisco, California's AT&T Park:

Tonight's lineup at SFG: Span CF, Lombardozzi 2B, Harper RF, Zimmerman 3B, LaRoche 1B, DesmondSS, Bernadina LF, Solano C, Duke P.
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) May 20, 2013

Zach Duke is on the mound for the Nationals tonight in place of injured left-hander Ross Detwiler, who's out with an oblique issue. Though Duke, 30, has struggled in his role as the Nats' left-handed long man this season, with an 8.40 ERA, a 4.42 FIP, four walks (2.40 BB/9) and 10 Ks (6.00 K/9) in 15.0 IP, the veteran lefty started at Triple-A Syracuse in the Nationals' organization in 2012, posting a (15-5) record, a 3.51 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 39 walks (2.14 BB/9) and 91 Ks (4.98 K/9) in 26 starts and 164.1 IP in his first year with Washington.

Duke is (2-3) in 10 games, 8 starts and 54.2 IP in his career against the Giants, with a 3.79 ERA, 5 HR (0.82 HR/9) and 15 BB (2.47 BB/9) allowed, 22 Ks (3.62 K/9) collected and a 1.32 WHIP. Jhonatan Solano gets the start behind the plate tonight with Kurt Suzuki getting a rest and Danny Espinosa, who is 1 for 24 with 12 Ks on the current road trip, sits for Steve Lombardozzi, who gets a start at second in the first game of three for the Nats in AT&T.

Game time 10:10 pm EST from San Francisco.

Washington Nationals: 44 Games Later; And Nats' GM Mike Rizzo On The Nationals' Roster

2013-05-20T20:43:22Z

After 44 games, the 23-21 Washington Nationals' pitchers, all of them, starters and relievers, have the 4th lowest ERA in the National League (3.43) tied with Atlanta behind Cincinnatti (3.37), Arizona and Pittsburgh (3.35) and St. Louis (3.18). They're 3rd in FIP (3.63) behind the D-Backs (3.56) and Cardinals (3.11), ninth in xFIP (3.89) and 4th in fWAR (+4.7) behind the Diamondbacks (+5.9), Rockies (+6.2) and Cards (+6.6).

The Nats' starters, separately, have the 3rd lowest ERA in the NL (3.25), the 4th lowest FIP (3.67), 5th lowest xFIP (3.90) and 4th highest fWAR (+4.0) with the Cardinals' +6.2 the NL's best. The Nationals' relievers are less impressive, with a 3.87 ERA (9th in the NL), 3.52 FIP (5th), 3.89 xFIP (8th) and +0.8 fWAR (6th).

The defense? The Nationals have committed more errors than anyone else in the National League. Their .977 fielding percentage is the NL's lowest. The 31 bases stolen on Nats' catchers (and pitchers in many cases) are the 4th highest. Their 4 CS are the 3rd lowest.

"We like the bullpen as is," Mike Rizzo said, "And we like the way the 25-Man roster is constructed. If there was any deal to be had, as always, it would be some type of depth for us." - Nats' GM Mike Rizzo on MLB Network Radio

The offense? It has some issues. The Nats' .230 AVG is the 14th out of 15 NL teams, ahead of only the Miami Marlins (.220). The Nationals' lamentable .292 OBP is 14th too, again, ahead of only the Marlins (.282). The .373 SLG is 13th of 15, ahead of the Dodgers (.361) and Fish (.317). The Nationals' 7% BB% is 9th overall amongst NL teams. Their 23.0% K% is second-highest behind only the free-swinging Braves from Atlanta (24.4% K%). The Nats' BABIP as a team (.278) is 13th out 15 NL teams, ahead of only the Mets (.274) and Marlins (.261). wRC+? 14th of 15. fWAR? 14th.

The Nats' -17 run differential is 2nd in the NL East, behind the Braves +34. After Sunday's loss in San Diego, Davey Johnson told reporters he still has faith in his team and thinks it's just a matter of time before they get it together, after all, they are two games above .500 and 2.5 games out of first in the NL East in spite of the poor defensive and paltry offensive production.

"You have to have a lot of patience sometimes in this job," the manager in his 17th MLB season on the bench said. "But the middle of the lineup is swinging that bat very good, and the other guys -- it looks like they're starting to come around. I like the way the pitching has been. Sometimes it just takes time to gel, to get it all together."

"For me to go out and get a left-handed reliever, it would have to be an extremely talented left-handed reliever and a guy that we can control for a period of time..." - Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo on MLB Network Radio

So if there was one thing they could change right now, a small move to address a weakness or "fill a void" as former Nationals' GM Jim Bowden asked recently, during an MLB Network Radio interview with Mike Rizzo last week, what would it be? "You know, I'm not sure," Rizzo said. "We like the team as is. Everyone looks at our bullpen situation and would like for us to have another left-handed relief pitcher in there. But for me to go out and get a left-handed reliever, it would have to be an extremely talented left-handed reliever and a guy that we can control for a period of time and can get left-handers and right-handers out. And those are few and far between."

"We like the bullpen as is," Rizzo continued, "And we like the way the 25-Man roster is constructed. If there was any deal to be had, as always, it would be some type of depth for us, that would help us in case of an injury to one of our regulars." As for the non-regulars, or the bench players, Rizzo said that the Nationals like what they have and the guys on the bench are working hard to get going in very difficult jobs that they did extremely well in last season.

"We like what we've got," the Nationals' GM said, summing it all up. "We like the way the team is constructed. There's an energy and a togetherness on the team and we feel good about where we're at. We haven't played up to our capabilities yet, but we're still in the hunt in a very tough division and we're looking forward to getting healthy, getting our lineup back in tact and taking off and making a run."

Washington Nationals Rewind: Davey Johnson - "You Have To Have A Lot Of Patience Sometimes In This job."

2013-05-20T15:51:02Z

"That was real disappointing," Davey Johnson told reporters Sunday afternoon, after the Washington Nationals' 13-4 loss to the San Diego Padres. "That one, I hate to even talk about that one today," the Nats' 70-year-old skipper said, "We didn't pitch very well. We got back in the ballgame. [Dan] Haren obviously didn't have his good stuff, but got back in the ballgame and the reliable bullpen just didn't do it." The Nationals trailed 3-0 early, but made it close with Ryan Zimmerman's two-run blast in the top of the fourth. An inning later, after Zimmerman had grounded out in a two-on, two-out chance in the top of the fifth, the Padres scored four on a leadoff home run by Will Venable, RBI single by Jedd Gyorko and two-run home bomb by Kyle Blanks.

Haren ended up surrendering nine hits and seven runs in his ninth start of the year. The middle of the Nats' lineup tried once more to get back in the game with Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche singling in runs in the top of the seventh, but by the time Ryan Mattheus got the third out of the San Diego seventh, the Padres had added five runs on four hits in what ended up a 13-4 loss in Petco Park.

"You have to have a lot of patience sometimes in this job," Davey Johnson said, "But the middle of the lineup is swinging that bat very good, and the other guys -- it looks like they're starting to come around..." - Davey Johnson after loss to Padres

"You have to have a lot of patience sometimes in this job," Johnson said, "But the middle of the lineup is swinging that bat very good, and the other guys -- it looks like they're starting to come around. I like the way the pitching has been. Sometimes it just takes time to gel, to get it all together." The middle of the Nationals' lineup, namely Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche, was a combined 3 for 8 with a run scored and four RBIs on Sunday. Zimmerman's 10 for 26 (.385/.448/.654) with a double and a home run seven games into the Nats' 10-game road trip. LaRoche's RBI single in the seventh extended his current hit-streak to 16 games, over which he's 21 for 55 (.382/.462/.636) with two doubles and four home runs.

Danny Espinosa, on the other hand, continues to struggle at the plate. Nats' GM Mike Rizzo reiterated on Sunday, in a conversation with the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, that the second baseman was the team's best option right now in spite of the fact that he's 1 for 24 with 12 Ks so far on the Nationals' trip out west, with a .163/.191/.296 line on the year after 37 games and 141 plate appearances. "Danny's been trying to get it together," Davey Johnson told a reporter who asked about his approach at the plate after Espinosa's 0 for 4 game in Sunday's loss. "He's been just struggling, everybody knows that," Johnson said, "He's probably sometimes his own worst enemy. But he's not alone, there's some other guys right there with him."

"'Danny's been trying to get it together. He's been just struggling, everybody knows that,' Davey Johnson said." - Davey Johnson on Danny Espinosa

The Nationals won't ever use it as an excuse since every team has to deal with injuries throughout the season, but they have been missing Wilson Ramos, Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and pitcher Ross Detwiler, who would have started tonight if not for the oblique issue which has sidelined him. Zach Duke will start in Detwiler's place in San Francisco's AT&T Park. Werth's return has apparently been delayed by a flare-up of the hamstring issue which has him on the DL, but Harper, who's still recovering from the effects of his collision with Dodger Stadium's right field wall, could return as soon as tonight, bringing some pop back to the Nationals' lineup.

"It's a tough situation with [Bryce Harper] out," Davey Johnson said, "He's getting better, he should be -- maybe he'll be okay for tomorrow." - Davey Johnson on Bryce Harper

"It's a tough situation with [Bryce Harper] out," the Nationals' skipper said on Sunday night, "He's getting better, he should be -- maybe he'll be okay for tomorrow. Detwiler, his pain is getting less in his side, so it's possible that he's only going to miss one start. He probably won't play catch tomorrow. But if it's better tomorrow, he'll probably play the next day and that will line him up to start at nine days, something like that. And that puts a little crimp in things. But we'll survive it. We've got some good guys. We'll survive this thing."

Johnson went on to say that Harper, whose left knee has kept him out, is working hard to get back in the lineup. "He's been getting a lot of treatment on it, he's still got some swelling in there, we'll see how it is tomorrow."

Harper sounds like he's ready to play:

San Fran is one of my favorite places to play! Such an incredible ballpark and fan base! Ready to play there again! #baseball #blessed
— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) May 20, 2013

10:10 pm EST tonight from San Francisco...

SB Nation DC: All Posts by Patrick Reddington

Washington Nationals' Depth Chart At Second: Nats Not Ready To Give Up On Danny Espinosa

Washington Nationals' Ryan Mattheus To DL With Broken Hand; Nats Expected To Call Up RHP Yunesky Maya; LHP Fernando Abad

Washington Nationals Lose 8-0 To San Francisco Giants In AT&T; Giants' Starter Ryan Vogelsong Suffers Fractured Right Hand On HBP

Washington Nationals' Jayson Werth Update: Washington Post's Adam Kilgore On What Davey Johnson Calls An "Alarming Report" On Werth

Washington Nationals At San Francisco Giants: GameThread 45 Of 162

Next Game

#32 / Pitcher / San Francisco Giants

#30 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Next Game

#32 / Pitcher / San Francisco Giants

#30 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals' Monday Night Lineup vs San Francisco Giants: Bryce Harper In; Zach Duke Starts In AT&T

Washington Nationals: 44 Games Later; And Nats' GM Mike Rizzo On The Nationals' Roster

Mike Rizzo On MLB Network Radio On The 2013 MLB Draft; Danny Espinosa And More

Washington Nationals Rewind: Davey Johnson - "You Have To Have A Lot Of Patience Sometimes In This job."