Michael Taylor Returns To Lineup Saturday

Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Taylor (side) has returned to the Nationals lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit game. He'll man his usual position in center field and bat fifth. That's a few slots above his normal position of eighth, which would be notable but Anthony Rendon is sitting and manager Dave Martinez is tinkering with batting his […]

Jeremy Hellickson Jumps Right In With Nationals

Washington Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson took a red-eye flight to be with his new team first thing Saturday morning. Upon arriving in Florida, he threw four simulated innings (60 pitches) and looks ready to go. Hellickson was signed to a minor league contract and given his major league experience, instantly becomes the front-runner to become the […]

Jeremy Hellickson Signs Minor League Deal With Nationals

Washington Nationals new starter Jeremy Hellickson has signed a minor league deal with the club, a source has told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The details of the deal aren't know yet. Hellickson was not very good last season for the Phillies and Orioles, amassing a 5.43 ERA (FIP of 5.77) across 164 innings in 30 starts. […]

After Brief Scare, Gio Gonzalez Finishes Solid Outing

Washington Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez (leg) scared everyone during his third Grapefruit League start on Friday. He grabbed his leg and shook it after a play to first, something that he says he does often. It was indeed nothing and Gonzalez finished up the outing by scattering four hits and three strikeouts while walking one batter […]

Adam Eaton To Make Grapefruit Debut Saturday

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton (knee) will make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday. He'll play left field and bat third in the order. Eaton has been recovering from a torn ACL in the early part of last season and the club has been slowly ramping up his baseball activities. He's played in some minor league […]

Walker Buehler To Make Cactus League Start Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers top pitching prospect Walker Buehler will come up from minor league camp to start in the club's Cactus League game on Friday before heading back to the minors. Buehler won't be on the Opening Day roster but looks to be called up toward the end of the season to give the team […]

Michael Taylor Takes The Field In Minor League Game

Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Taylor (side) is playing the field in a minor league game on Thursday, his first game action in a week. Taylor was sidelined by side tightness, which doesn't seem major, but it's the same kind of injury that knocked him out of competition last season for over a month. His breakout […]

Daniel Murphy Won't Be Pushed For Opening Day

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (knee) continues to work his way back to game action but is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. He's been limited to batting practices and grounders hit right to him, so until he can move laterally, he won't play in a game. This basically eliminates him for Opening […]

Adam Eaton Likely To Make Grapefruit Debut This Weekend

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton (knee) will probably make his Grapefruit League debut this weekend, manager Dave Martinez hinted on Thursday. Eaton will start another minor league game Thursday and has about 40 at-bats so far. But he hasn't played the field in order to make sure he doesn't aggravate his knee, which ruptured 23 games […]

Corey Seager Predicts Readiness For Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) said that his throwing elbow is good and anticipates being ready for Opening Day. He will serve as the designated hitter on Thursday and make his Cactus League debut playing short on Friday. Seager's elbow has been giving him trouble since last August. The reduced playing time created a confrontation […]

Daniel Murphy Takes Grounders For First Time

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (knee) did some fielding drills on Tuesday, according to Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post. She notes that he wasn't moving laterally, however. Murphy is being brought back slowly from microfracture surgery on his right knee. He's also been hitting in the batting cage during regular batting practice. Murphy […]

Matt Wieters Coming Alive Finally

Washington Nationals catcher Matt Wieters is having himself a spring. In contrast to his disappointing 2017 numbers (wOBA of .273 and 62 wRC+), he's now 7-for-17 at the plate this spring with a home run and five RBI. It's only a small sample, but any news from him is encouraging. The Nationals were looking to […]

Trea Turner Shows Off His Wheels

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner stole his first two bases of spring training and scored two runs in the team's Grapefruit League victory over the Mets on Tuesday. He also singled and drew a walk. Turner is a top-shelf talent in fantasy baseball. He's a potential five-category contributor whose speed is shared by only a […]

Feeling Better, A.J. Cole Will Return For Next Start

Washington Nationals starter A.J. Cole (illness) has recovered from his stomach bug and will pitch "this weekend or Monday," according to manager Dave Martinez. Despite being ill, Cole nonetheless threw a bullpen session off the mound last Monday. He's expected to begin the year as the team's fifth starter. Cole didn't exactly light the league […]

Clayton Kershaw Looks Ready For Regular Season

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw was absolutely dealing in his fourth Cactus League start on Monday. In 3 2/3 innings, he gave up no runs, two hits, struck out seven and walked one. He also threw another inning in the bullpen after being pulled. He has yet to allow a run and has punched […]

Corey Seager Plays Shortstop For First Time Without Incident

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) played at shortstop for the first time all spring in the team's "B" game against minor leaguers on Monday. He played the position for five innings and handled two routine grounders in the second without incident. He's been on a reduced throwing program to relieve any stress on […]

Walker Buehler Optioned To Minor Leagues

Los Angeles Dodgers top starting pitcher prospect Walker Buehler was optioned by the club on Monday. The move was expected despite his dazzling outing on Saturday where he struck out five batters in two innings. Manager Dave Roberts pointed out that Buehler will make one more Cactus League start. The team is saving him for […]

After Clean Inning, Kenley Jansen Will Pitch In Cactus League Game Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (hamstring) threw a clean 1-2-3 inning on Monday in the team's "B" game, striking out two. He said afterwards his hamstring and leg felt fine. His next appearance will be in a Cactus League game on Thursday. The Dodgers have been brining Jansen along slowly this spring. He's pitched […]

Adam Eaton Seeing Game Action Versus Minor Leaguers

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton (knee) has been playing in minor league games in preparation for the 2018 season. He's been recovering from a knee injury since last April and looks likely to be ready for Opening Day. The Nationals acquired Eaton prior to the 2017 campaign, and it was easy to see why in […]

Chase Utley Will Return To Action Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley will play on Monday after being given two days off for "family reasons." The veteran was signed to a two-year deal by the Dodgers, mostly to mentor their younger players and provide depth at second. He's a hard-nosed player who is as competitive as they come, but he […]

Ross Stripling To Start Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Ross Stripling will start for the team on Wednesday. He'll throw a bullpen session Sunday and should be fine after that. Stripling has had a quiet spring so far. He was one of the players hit by the virus that swept through the clubhouse a few weeks ago. He picked his […]

Walker Buehler Dominates In First Cactus Outing

Los Angeles Dodgers top pitching prospect Walker Buehler was absolutely dominant in his first Cactus League appearance on Saturday against the Cubs. In two innings of relief work, Buehler struck out five batters and gave up one hit while walking none. Granted, none of the Cubs regulars (aside from Addison Russell and Ian Happ) played. […]

Daniel Murphy Takes First Spring Batting Practice

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (knee) took batting practice on the field for the first time all spring on Saturday. The slugger is about to turn 33 on April 1 and is coming back slowly from an offseason microfracture procedure on the cartilage in his left knee. While seeing him hit is a good […]

Kenley Jansen Scratched With Hamstring Tightness

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (hamstring) was scheduled to pitch in his first Cactus League game Friday but was scratched with hamstring tightness. It doesn't seem serious since manager Dave Roberts said that Jansen will next pitch on Monday in the team's "B" game against minor leaguers. The plan is to then bring Jansen […]

Walker Buehler To Make First Cactus League Start Saturday

Los Angeles Dodgers top pitching prospect Walker Buehler (back) will make his first Cactus League start on Saturday. He's been slowly ramping up his throwing activities due to a sore back but seems ready to go. Buehler didn't fare very well in limited bullpen action last season in the majors, but has flown through the minors […]

Wander Suero Leaves Game With Trainer

Washington Nationals reliever Wander Suero left the game on Thursday with his trainer and manager after throwing just two pitches. He's likely hurt but the team hasn't announced what happened. Suero was having a good spring. Through four appearances and innings, he had given up one run, two hits and one walk, while striking out […]

Chris Taylor Will Start At Short If Corey Seager Isn't Ready

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and occasional second baseman Chris Taylor will start at shortstop if Corey Seager (elbow) isn't ready in time for the regular season. Seager, who has been nursing a sore elbow all year, is slated to start his first game at short on Monday versus minor leaguers and will see his first […]

Ryan Zimmerman Gets Three Hits In Minor League Game

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman had three hits in a minor league game that really no one saw on Tuesday. He's fine, according to manager Dave Martinez, and was seen taking infield practice with the team earlier in the day. The Nats are easing Zimmerman into action, as they are mindful of Zimmerman's history of […]

Corey Seager Will Play Shortstop On Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) will finally play the position for the first time this spring on Monday. He will play in the team's "B" game against minor leaguers, and the hope is that he'll start in a Cactus League game on Wednesday. That's the first piece of good news in a while […]

Wilmer Font Could Join Dodgers Bullpen

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Wilmer Font has a good chance to make the roster as a bullpen arm in 2018. He is making what is likely his last start in spring training Tuesday. Font lit up the Pacific Coast League in 2017 and was named the league's Pitcher of the Year. He was called up […]