Castro banned 30 games under MLB policy; Nats to release him
MLB Nationals Castro Leave Baseball FILE - In this June 19, 2021, file photo, Washington Nationals third baseman Starlin Castro looks on during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets in Washington. Castro was placed on administrative leave Friday, July 16, 2021, by Major League Baseball under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File) (Nick Wass)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro has been suspended for 30 games without pay and fined an undisclosed amount for violating Major League Baseball's policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Shortly after MLB announced the penalty Friday, the Nationals said they would release Castro when the ban concludes. The 31-year-old Castro is a 12-year major league veteran and a four-time All-Star who has played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.
wftv.comLEADING OFF: Jays finish up in Buffalo, Pads-Braves twinbill
Orioles Blue Jays Baseball Toronto Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez waves to young fans calling his name during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex) (Joshua Bessex)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:___SHUFFLE OUTTA BUFFALOVladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays are set to play their final home game in Buffalo when they host the Red Sox. The Blue Jays will return to Toronto for a homestand beginning July 30 after the Canadian government granted them an exemption to the U.S.-Canada travel ban. The Blue Jays haven’t played at Rogers Centre since 2019 because of coronavirus protocols. The Blue Jays then moved to Sahlen Field, home of their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, in June.
wftv.comNats GM doesn't plan on having Castro back this season
MLB Nationals Castro Leave Baseball FILE - In this June 19, 2021, file photo, Washington Nationals third baseman Starlin Castro looks on during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets in Washington. Castro was placed on administrative leave Friday, July 16, 2021, by Major League Baseball under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File) (Nick Wass)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo says he doesn't plan on having infielder Starlin Castro back with the team this season. Castro was placed on administrative leave July 16 by Major League Baseball under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Rizzo said he learned about the situation the night before Castro was placed on leave.
wftv.comCronenworth hits for cycle, Padres rout Nationals 24-8
Padres Nationals Baseball San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth celebrates in the dugout after his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, July 16, 2021, in Washington. The Padres, who finished the first half by losing two of three to the Rockies, had 22 hits against seven Washington pitchers. San Diego scored in every inning except the seventh as the Nationals allowed the most runs since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. Nationals: CF Victor Robles left the game in the second inning with an apparent illness. Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin (6-7, 5.40) defeated the Padres in his last start, on July 7 in San Diego.
wftv.comNats' Starlin Castro placed on administrative leave by MLB
Nationals Padres Baseball Washington Nationals' Starlin Castro hits a two-RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro was placed on administrative leave Friday as part of the joint Major League Baseball-MLB Players Association domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Castro can be on administrative leave for up to seven days barring an extension. Washington faces San Diego this weekend in the first series out of the All-Star break. He is in his second season with the Nationals after stints with the Cubs, Yankees and Marlins.
wftv.comBirthday boy Turner ties mark with 3rd cycle, Nats top Rays
Rays Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals' Trea Turner (7) slides on his way to stealing second against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, left, during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Washington. Two innings later, Turner hit a ball into the right-field corner, and the Nationals Park crowd immediately stood anticipating a play at third. Mike Zunino belted his 18th home run and fourth in his last five games for Tampa Bay. ... Tampa Bay placed RHP Ryan Thompson on the 10-day injured list with shoulder soreness, retroactive to Monday. Nationals: RHP Daniel Hudson (right elbow) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session and will throw another on Friday.
wftv.comCastro's 2-run single in 9th rallies Nats past Phils 13-12
(AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson) (Laurence Kesterson)PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Starlin Castro hit a go-ahead, two-run single off closer Hector Neris in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals rallied three times to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 13-12 Wednesday. It was the first game in major league history that featured a grand slam and three-run homer for each team. Josh Bell answered Andrew McCutchen’s slam with one of his own as the Nationals overcame deficits of 5-0, 9-5 and 12-11. Castro then lined a single to center to put Washington ahead to stay as Neris (1-4) blew his fifth save in 15 tries. Phillies: Velasquez yielded four runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings.
wftv.comPanda! Sandoval helps Braves sweep doubleheader against Nats
Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings to lift the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep.
Padres star Tatis has shoulder problem, to be re-evaluated
The Padres said Tatis had discomfort in his non-throwing left shoulder and would be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Corbin Burnes turned in 4 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing two runs on three hits. Jon Lester allowed one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings in his second start of the spring for Washington. He gave up five hits, hit two batters and struck out three. PADRES 5, REDS 4MacKenzie Gore worked 3 2/3 innings in his third start for San Diego, allowing two runs on three hits.
Nats GM Rizzo won't reveal length of Martinez's new contract
WASHINGTON – Dave Martinez spoke Saturday about managing the Washington Nationals for “many, many years” and over the “long term” and “quite some time,” thanks to his contract extension. “We don’t talk about terms as far as years, length and salaries and that type of thing. How many years do you have?”Moments later, as the back-and-forth continued, Rizzo said: “It’s kind of an individual thing with certain people. The Nationals then beat the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals to reach the World Series, where they beat the Houston Astros in Game 7. Washington joined the 1914 Boston Braves as the only teams in major league history to win a World Series after being 12 games below .500 during a season.
Champs done: Time to look toward 2021 for eliminated Nats
FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, file photo, The Washington Nationals celebrate after Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros in Houston. A year after winning the World Series thanks to a historic turnaround, the Nationals woke up Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, with a 23-33 record and no mathematical chance of returning to the playoffs. There was no opportunity for a sellout crowd to roar during the raising of a championship banner or to witness a World Series ring ceremony. Most notably, World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg’s season lasted all of five innings before he was done because of a nerve issue in his throwing hand. The Nationals conclude their 60-game regular season with four games at home against the New York Mets, starting Thursday.
LEADING OFF: Pads upgrade 'pen, Mets-Yanks play 2 again
The San Diego Padres acquired the reliever from Kansas City on Saturday for outfielder Edward Olivares and a player to be named. The 30-year-old Rosenthal has a 3.29 ERA and seven saves after struggling with injuries and poor performance in recent years. The Mets plan to start righty Rick Porcello (1-4, 6.43 ERA) and converted closer Seth Lugo (1-2, 2.03). That year, he became the only player to hit for the cycle in a postseason game. They made the move with infielder Starlin Castro expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken wrist.
LEADING OFF: Cardinals emerge from long layoff in Chicago
FINALLYRemember the St. Louis Cardinals? The twinbill is one of at least seven St. Louis will play in the coming weeks to make up for lost time. Game 1 on Saturday will be just the sixth of the season for the Cardinals. St. Louis will have to find a way to race back into contention without longtime coach Willie McGee. The team put the star right fielder is on the injured list retroactive to Wednesday with a strained right calf.
Strasburg hurt as Nationals beat Orioles 15-3 for 'split'
Strasburg threw only 16 pitches before leaving with hand issue in the first inning of Washington's 15-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Martinez said Strasburg was feeling numbness in his thumb and that the sensation originated in the wrist. The Nationals withstood the injury to Strasburg after rebounding from a defeat that took five days to decide and weathering a lengthy rain delay. His first outing came against the Orioles in a game that was suspended Sunday at Nationals Park and completed Friday at Camden Yards with Baltimore winning 6-2. Orioles: Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 3.95) makes his sixth career appearance against the Nationals, still looking for his first win against them.
Strasburg hit hard in debut; O's-Nats suspended after rain
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Baltimore strung together a double, four singles and a walk, including Hanser Albertos two-run double and Anthony Santanders two-run single. We are not making any firm announcement, but I would imagine he is going to take the mound on Tuesday, Rizzo said. UP NEXTOrioles: Open a three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. That will be followed by series at Baltimore and Atlanta.
Yanks don't let Nats toot own horn, beat 2019 champions 3-2
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON Gleyber Torres helped the New York Yankees prevent the Washington Nationals from tooting their own horn. Torres had started 2020 by going 0 for 7 before delivering hits in three consecutive at-bats Sunday. But with one out in the seventh, Torres took Corbin deep on a first-pitch fastball to make it 2-1. Honestly, I really dont know what theyre planning on doing with that thing, Martinez said about the trumpet. On Monday, Washington RHP Anbal Snchez faces RHP Trent Thornton.
LEADING OFF: Opening day in DC, Dodger Stadium amid pandemic
Later, Los Angeles lefty Clayton Kershaw takes on the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. This opening day doubleheader begins the most unusual year in the history of Major League Baseball. MLB players can put a patch with Black Lives Matter or United For Change on a jersey sleeve during opening day. The 27-year-old Betts helped beat the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series when he was the AL MVP for Boston. The six-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and 2012 NL MVP and his wife have adopted twin identical girls who were born prematurely.
More positive tests, canceled workouts add to MLB unease
The San Francisco Giants suspended workouts at Oracle Park as they awaited the results of weekend tests for the coronavirus. Rodriguez, who broke out in 2019 as a star, and Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec tested positive for the virus. Manager Ron Roenicke said it is just unfortunate the positive test could jeopardize Rodriguezs chances to start on opening day. Also, the Kansas City Royals announced right-hander Brad Keller and first baseman Ryan OHearn had positive tests and gave the team permission to announce the results. Some Washington players did not take part in workouts, including Starlin Castro, Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Victor Robles.