2016 Washington Nationals season

Last updated

2016  Washington Nationals
National League East Champions
League National League
Division East
Ballpark Nationals Park
City Washington, D.C.
Record95–67 (.586)
Divisional place1st
Owners Lerner Enterprises
General managers Mike Rizzo
Managers Dusty Baker
Television MASN
WUSA (CBS affiliate)
(Bob Carpenter, FP Santangelo, Johnny Holliday, Ray Knight)
Radio WJFK 106.7 FM
Washington Nationals Radio Network
(Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler)
←  2015 Seasons 2017  →

The 2016 Washington Nationals season was the Nationals' 12th season as the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, the ninth season at Nationals Park, and the 48th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They won the National League East title for the third time in five years, posting a 95–67 record, and were upset by the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the NLDS.

Contents

Offseason

Team news

Less than 24 hours after the end of the 2015 season, manager Matt Williams and his entire coaching staff were dismissed. [1] Some coaches were offered other positions in the organization, with bench coach Randy Knorr notably accepting a position as senior assistant to general manager Mike Rizzo for player development. [2]

The Nationals embarked on a wide-ranging search to replace Williams, who was still owed salary for 2016 after being fired midway through a multi-year contract. [3] Among the candidates they interviewed were former Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker, former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black, former Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach, Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green, San Francisco Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, former Nationals player Alex Cora, and Triple-A Reno Aces manager Phil Nevin. From the group, Baker and Black emerged as finalists and received second interviews. [4] On October 28, The Washington Post reported Black would likely be hired as manager. [5] But according to reports that surfaced late on November 2 from, among others, the Post, CBS Sports, and USA Today , while Black was offered the job and accepted, a disagreement over contract terms led to negotiations between the Nationals and Black breaking down. The Nationals' initial offer to Black was reportedly one year guaranteed at $1.6 million, an offer Black considered a "lowball". [6] Unable to come to terms with Black, the Nationals' front office turned to its other leading choice, the more experienced Baker. [7] Early on November 3, the Nationals announced Baker had been hired to a two-year contract as manager. [8] [9]

Baker and management set to work immediately on hiring new coaches. Mike Maddux was announced as the Nationals' new pitching coach on November 4. [10] Davey Lopes was hired back to his former position as first base coach – a position he held in 2006 – the following day. [11] Rick Schu and Bob Henley were also rehired as hitting coach and third base coach respectively, positions they held under Williams as well. [12] [13] The Nationals also hired former major league outfielder Jacque Jones to be Schu's assistant hitting coach and named former Montreal Expos shortstop Chris Speier as bench coach. [14] [15] Mexican League manager and coach Dan Firova was brought on as bullpen coach. [16]

The Nationals also faced several decisions about what to do with players set to reach free agency, as well as players who had 2016 options. On November 2, the team announced it would decline options for right-handed reliever Casey Janssen and outfielder Nate McLouth, after Janssen struggled with injury and poor performance during the 2015 season and McLouth spent the entire year on the 60-day disabled list. [17] Janssen and McLouth joined utility infielder Emmanuel Burriss, shortstop Ian Desmond, starter-turned-reliever Doug Fister, outfielder Reed Johnson, center fielder Denard Span, left-handed reliever Matt Thornton, second baseman Dan Uggla, and starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann in a sizable free agent class. [18] [19] [20] Qualifying offers worth $15.8 million apiece were extended to Desmond and Zimmermann, [21] although both rejected them, as expected. [22] Right-handed reliever David Carpenter also elected free agency after being outrighted from the Nationals' 40-man roster on November 18, 2015. [23] On December 2, 2015, the Nationals announced they had not tendered a contract to right-handed reliever Craig Stammen, who was eligible for arbitration. [24]

The Nationals bid for contracts with multiple top free agents during the off-season, including Yoenis Céspedes, Jason Heyward, Darren O'Day, Justin Upton, and Ben Zobrist, but lost out on them to other teams. [25] [26] [27]

Transactions

Spring training

On November 9, 2015, the Nationals and the Houston Astros held a groundbreaking ceremony for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, a new spring training facility they would share in West Palm Beach, Florida. The new facility, which would provide each team with two major-league-size practice fields, four minor-league-size practice fields, an agility field, a half field, batting cages, and pitching mounds, would center around a new baseball stadium with 6,400 ticketed seats and 1,250 berm seats, and would place the Nationals far closer to other teams during spring training, facilitating travel for spring training games. [52] The new facility would open on February 28, 2017, just in time for the following season's first spring training game, and would be renamed The Fitteam Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in February 2018. [53]

Meanwhile, the Nationals held their 2016 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium. It was their last spring training in Viera before moving to the new facility. [54] The team's last game at Space Coast Stadium was a 7–2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on March 27, 2016. Its last scheduled game at Space Coast Stadium on March 28, 2016, was rained out, resulting in the cancellation of activities planned to commemorate the franchise's history there, which dated back to the 2003 season, when the franchise played as the Montreal Expos.

The Nationals finished spring training in Viera with the best record in baseball, winning 18 games, losing four, and tying in three. They outscored their opponents by 81 runs in total. [55] After leaving Florida, the Nationals completed their spring training schedule with two exhibition games at Nationals Park at the beginning of April, a win and a tie against the Minnesota Twins. Including these two games, the Nationals completed their spring training schedule with a major-league-best record of 19–4–4.

Regular season

Opening Day

The Washington Nationals opened the regular season on April 4 with an away game at Turner Field, facing the division rival Atlanta Braves. Max Scherzer was their Opening Day starter for the second year in a row. [56]

The Nationals took an early lead when right fielder Bryce Harper hit a solo home run off Atlanta starting pitcher Julio Teherán in the top of the first inning, but the Braves quickly answered with a solo home run of their own off the bat of first baseman Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the first. In the fourth inning, Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy led off with another home run off Teheran, but once again, the Braves came back in the bottom of the same inning as third baseman Adonis Garcia homered off Scherzer with no one on base, tying the game at 2–2. [56]

The deadlock held until the bottom of the eighth inning, when Washington relief pitcher Felipe Rivero loaded the bases with two out. He was relieved by Shawn Kelley, who walked in Jeff Francoeur from third base on four straight balls to Garcia, putting the Braves on top. But once again, the game was tied in the next frame as left fielder Jayson Werth scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Michael A. Taylor, who took over in center field after Ben Revere left the game early, off Braves closer Jason Grilli. Nationals reliever Blake Treinen pitched around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to force extra innings. [56]

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman reached and took second base on a throwing error by Braves second baseman Gordon Beckham in the top of the tenth inning, and then Murphy brought him around to score with a double that reached the left field corner, putting the Nationals on top 4–3. [56] Jonathan Papelbon came on to close out the game, retiring all three batters in order to pick up the save and secure an Opening Day win for Washington. [57]

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
NamePosition
Ben Revere Center field
Anthony Rendon Third base
Bryce Harper Right field
Ryan Zimmerman First base
Daniel Murphy Second base
Jayson Werth Left field
Wilson Ramos Catcher
Danny Espinosa Shortstop
Max Scherzer Pitcher

Season standings

National League East

NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Washington Nationals 9567.586—50‍–‍3145‍–‍36
New York Mets 8775.537844‍–‍3743‍–‍38
Miami Marlins 7982.49115½40‍–‍4039‍–‍42
Philadelphia Phillies 7191.4382437‍–‍4434‍–‍47
Atlanta Braves 6893.42226½31‍–‍5037‍–‍43

National League Wild Card

Division Leaders
Team W L Pct.
Chicago Cubs 10358.640
Washington Nationals 9567.586
Los Angeles Dodgers 9171.562
Wild Card teams
(Top 2 teams qualify for postseason)
Team W L Pct. GB
New York Mets 8775.537—
San Francisco Giants 8775.537—
St. Louis Cardinals 8676.5311
Miami Marlins 7982.4917½
Pittsburgh Pirates 7883.4848½
Colorado Rockies 7587.46312
Milwaukee Brewers 7389.45114
Philadelphia Phillies 7191.43816
Arizona Diamondbacks 6993.42618
Atlanta Braves 6893.42218½
San Diego Padres 6894.42019
Cincinnati Reds 6894.42019

Record vs. opponents

2016 National League record

Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2016
TeamAZATLCHCCINCOLLADMIAMILNYMPHIPITSDSFSTLWSHAL
Arizona —5–22–53–310–97–122–43–45–14–31–510–96–134–32–55–15
Atlanta 2–5—3–33–41–61–511–72–510–911–83–44–23–42–44–158–12
Chicago 5–23–3—15–42–44–34–311–82–55–114–44–24–310–95–215–5
Cincinnati 3–34–34–15—5–22–53–411–80–64–29–103–43–39–103–45–15
Colorado 9–106–14–22–5—7–122–51–56–12–52–510–99–102–44–29–11
Los Angeles 12–75–13–45–212–7—1–65–24–34–22–511–88–114–25–110–10
Miami 4–27–113–44–35–26–1—4–27–129–106–13–32–44–39–106–14
Milwaukee 4–35–28–118–115–12–52–4—2–53–49–103–41–56–134–211–9
New York 1–59–105–26–01–63–412–75–2—12–73–34–34–33–37–1212–8
Philadelphia 3–48–111–52–45–22–410–94–37–12—3–45–23–32–55–1411–9
Pittsburgh 5–14–34–1410–95–25–21–610–93–34–3—3–34–39–102–49–11
San Diego 9–102–42–44–39–108–113–34–33–42–53–3—8–111–64–36–14
San Francisco 13–64–33–43–310–911–84–25–13–43–33–411–8—3–43–48–12
St. Louis 3–44–29–1010–94–22–43–413–63–35–210–96–14–3—2–58–12
Washington 5–215–42–54–32–41–510–92–412–714–54–23–44–35–2—12–8

April

The Nationals got off to a fast start, sweeping the division rival Atlanta Braves in two series of six games total while riding out to a 9–1 win–loss mark, surpassing the start to the 1974 Montreal Expos season for the franchise best over the first 10 games of the season. [58] Right fielder and reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper hit his 100th career home run, also his first career grand slam, off Atlanta pitcher Julio Teherán on April 14. [59] He hit another grand slam off Miami Marlins pitcher Chris Narveson on April 19, amid a stretch in which the Nationals homered four times in one inning, another all-time high for the Montreal–Washington franchise; [60] the four home runs included left fielder Jayson Werth's 200th career home run and the 201st home run of first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's career. [61] [62] In total, Harper cracked nine home runs in April, tied for second-most in the National League behind Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and third baseman Nolan Arenado, who hit 10 apiece. [63] [64] He also chalked up his first career pinch-hit home run, a game-tying solo blast in the ninth inning, off Minnesota Twins closer Kevin Jepsen on April 24. [65] Harper was named the NL Player of the Month, the second time he received the honor. [66]

Washington's pitching staff performed well over the course of the month, behind only the Chicago Cubs in team ERA. [67] Closer Jonathan Papelbon, acquired in July 2015, more than doubled his save total with the Nationals (seven in 2015), [68] [69] notching eight saves during the month [70] to one blown save against his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies. [71] Starters Joe Ross and Stephen Strasburg were undefeated in games they started, with Ross credited with three wins—he left one other start on April 20 with a lead that was held by the bullpen, but the scorers awarded the win to long reliever Yusmeiro Petit since Ross exited the game early due to a finger blister [72] —and Strasburg earning four. [73] Reliever Óliver Pérez picked up the win in the Nationals' longest-ever regular season game, a 16-inning matchup with the Minnesota Twins at Nationals Park on April 24, after tying the game in the 15th with a bunt that was mishandled for a two-base throwing error by Twins catcher John Ryan Murphy and then pitching a shutout frame before right fielder Chris Heisey hit a solo home run for a walk-off win. [65] [74]

The Nationals struggled at times on offense, posting the third-worst batting average in the National League ahead of only the Braves and Milwaukee Brewers amid poor performances at the plate from center fielder Michael A. Taylor, left fielder Jayson Werth, and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, despite strong hitting from Harper and second baseman Daniel Murphy, an off-season acquisition who hit in 12 straight games during the month [75] and had 11 multi-hit games. [76] The team also suffered injuries to regular players, with Ben Revere, acquired in the off-season to play center field, straining his oblique during his first at-bat of the season on April 4 and ending up on the disabled list, and reliever Matt Belisle, another off-season pickup, being placed on the disabled list after straining his calf while pitching on April 26. Outfielder Matt den Dekker and reliever Sammy Solis were called up from the Syracuse Chiefs, the Nationals' Class AAA International League affiliate, to replace them on the roster. [77] [78] Amid an offensive lull and the injury to Belisle, Washington was swept at home late in the month by the division rival Phillies for their first series loss of the year. [79]

In total, the Nationals finished April with a 16–7 record, the second-best winning percentage in baseball behind the Cubs, and a half-game lead over the New York Mets, their closest rivals in the National League East. [80]

May

On May 1, the Nationals completed their first-ever road sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, with Max Scherzer earning the win. [81] However, the Nationals were swept by the Chicago Cubs later on their Midwestern roadtrip in a four-game set. In the final game at Wrigley Field on May 8, Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper walked six times and was hit by a pitch, setting a major league record with seven plate appearances and zero official at-bats in a single game. [82]

On May 9, as Stephen Strasburg pitched at Nationals Park in a game against the Detroit Tigers, news broke that he had agreed to a long-term extension of his contract; [83] prior to the seven-year extension, Strasburg had been under team control for the final season in 2016 before he was due to become a free agent for the first time. Under the extension, signed and officially announced at a press conference at Nationals Park the following day and scheduled to begin in 2017, the Nationals agreed to pay Strasburg $175 million, structured so that Strasburg would receive $15 million a year through the end of the contract in 2023, and another $10 million a year in deferred salary between 2024 and 2030. [84] The contract also included incentive bonuses for Strasburg and opt-outs for him after three years and after four years. [84] The conventional wisdom among baseball analysts and journalists, and even among Strasburg's close associates, had long been that Strasburg would pursue free agency after the conclusion of the 2016 season and end up playing on a team in his native Southern California, and the contract extension therefore came as a major surprise, but Strasburg cited his comfort with living in the Washington, D.C., area, his appreciation for the Nationals having demonstrated concern for his health and professional future with their controversial decision to shut him down during the 2012 season in order to protect his elbow from overuse during his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and his belief that the Nationals had years of success coming in the future as important factors in his decision. [83] [84] The Nationals, Strasburg, and his agent Scott Boras soon revealed that the deal had been firmed up during the final week of April, but had been kept so quiet that even a day trip Strasburg made from St. Louis to Washington on April 30 to undergo a physical required before signing the contract while the Nationals were playing a road series against the St. Louis Cardinals went unnoticed by the baseball world and the press. [83]

In the ninth inning of the May 9 game, which the Nationals won 5–4, Harper was ejected by home plate umpire Brian Knight after Knight took umbrage with the Nationals dugout's reaction to a called strike three on shortstop Danny Espinosa. Harper, clearly incensed by the ejection, ran onto the field with his teammates after pinch-hitter Clint Robinson hit a walk-off home run during the next at-bat, pointing at Knight and yelling, "Hey, fuck you," before joining the celebration at home plate. Asked if he thought he would be fined for the outburst after the game, Harper replied, "If I do, I do. I'll pay it. ... Maybe he'll get fined, too." [85] [86] Harper was given a fine and a one-game suspension by Major League Baseball, [87] which Harper served on May 14 after dropping an appeal of the decision. [88]

In a 3–2 victory over the Tigers at Nationals Park on May 11, Max Scherzer struck out 20 in the course of pitching a six-hit complete game, tying the Major League Baseball record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game and becoming only the third player in Major League Baseball history to do so. [89] [90] [91] Through six innings, he threw 77 pitches, 62 of which were strikes. He set a new Nationals Park record for strikeouts in single game when he struck out Detroit shortstop José Iglesias for his 16th strikeout, set a new personal record in the next at-bat when he struck out pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia for his 17th, [92] [93] and in the at-bat after that he ended the inning by striking out second baseman Ian Kinsler for his 18th, tying the Montreal-Washington franchise's single-game record. [94] Scherzer entered the ninth inning having thrown 106 pitches. He gave up a solo home run to right fielder J. D. Martinez on the first pitch of the inning, but in the next at-bat he struck out third baseman Miguel Cabrera to set a new Montreal-Washington franchise record with 19 strikeouts. After giving up a single to first baseman Víctor Martinez – the only Tiger who made a plate appearance that he did not strike out during the game – he struck out left fielder Justin Upton on three pitches for his 20th and final strikeout. [89] [90] It was only the fourth time in Major League Baseball history that a pitcher had struck out 20 batters in a nine-inning game, and only the sixth time a pitcher had struck out at least 20 batters in any game. [95] Although Scherzer gave up more hits and more runs than any previous pitcher who had struck out 20 batters in nine innings, he did not issue any walks, and of the 119 pitches he threw, 96 were strikes, the first time a pitcher had thrown 96 strikes in a major-league game since 2013; taking into account both the number of strikes thrown and the ratio of strikes to balls, it was the greatest number of strikes thrown in the fewest pitches in Major League Baseball history. [92] [96]

On May 13, in a 5–3 victory over the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, Stephen Drew and Chris Heisey both hit pinch-hit home runs. It was the first time in team history that the Nationals had two pinch-hit home runs in the same game. [97] The two home runs made the Nationals second in Major League Baseball in pinch-hit home runs on the season with six in 35 games, three of them by Heisey. [97] The Nats had had only five pinch-hit home runs during the entire previous season. [98]

Between games of a doubleheader against the Marlins on May 14, the Nationals announced that they had exercised their two-year option on the contract of general manager Mike Rizzo, ensuring that Rizzo would remain with the club through the 2018 season. The option reportedly paid Rizzo $2.5 million annually. [99]

The Nationals split series with the division rival New York Mets during the month, taking two out of three at Citi Field in Queens [100] but dropping two out of three at Nationals Park. [101] In both series, Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey suffered a loss, leading to consternation in New York over the staff ace's decline in performance. [100] [102]

On May 26, Nationals manager Dusty Baker won his 1,700th game as a manager as the Nationals defeated the Cardinals at Nationals Park. [103] Three days later, Strasburg improved to 9–0 for the season with a win over the Cardinals on May 29, setting a record for the Montreal–Washington franchise of 12 consecutive decisions won dating back to the 2015 season. [104] Daniel Murphy, the Nationals' starting second baseman, tied a franchise record for hits in a month with 47, including seven home runs. [105] Murphy was named the National League Player of the Month, the first time since 2009 that two teammates had received the honor in back-to-back months following Harper's award for April. [106]

The Nationals finished with a 16–14 record on the month and a season win–loss mark of 32–21, with a two-game lead over the Mets in the National League East. [107]

June

The Nationals started the month strong, despite losing two out of three in a series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park early in the month. [108] They won series against the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, [109] the Chicago White Sox in interleague play, [110] and the National League-leading Chicago Cubs [111] before embarking on a three-series roadtrip. Both the Phillies and Cubs series were capped by walk-off hits authored by left fielder Jayson Werth, who singled home Bryce Harper and Danny Espinosa to defeat the Phillies on June 12 [109] and drove in Michael A. Taylor in an extra-innings victory over the Cubs on June 15. [111]

Earlier in the Phillies series, in a 9–6 victory on June 10, Stephen Strasburg was credited with a win to go 10–0 on the season. He became the first National League pitcher to open a season at 10–0 since Juan Agosto did it for the Houston Astros in 1988 and the first National League starting pitcher to do it since Andy Hawkins started 11–0 for the San Diego Padres in 1985. [112]

After their 9–4 start to the month, the Nationals visited the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in Southern California and then finished their roadtrip against the Milwaukee Brewers. Although the Nationals took the first two games of a four-game set from the Padres, they suffered a string of seven consecutive losses thereafter, splitting the series with the Padres, being swept by the Dodgers, and losing two of three to the Brewers. [113] The losing streak was the Nationals' longest since their 2009 season, in which they finished with the worst record in Major League Baseball, 59–103. [114]

Compounding the Nationals' late-June problems, Strasburg was placed on the disabled list with a back strain after missing two starts late in the month. Right-handed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, the Nationals' top prospect and the #1-rated pitching prospect in all of baseball, was called up to replace him on the roster. Giolito made his first start June 28 against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, pitching four scoreless innings and allowing just one hit before a rainstorm delayed the game and prompted manager Dusty Baker to go to the bullpen when play resumed. The Nationals shut out the Mets 5–0, with the win awarded to Óliver Pérez in relief. [115]

The June 28 win over the Mets was part of a string of five wins to end the Nationals' month. On June 30, Washington starter Gio González snapped a streak of six losing decisions with a 13–4 win over the Reds at Nationals Park. Espinosa, a switch-hitter, also became the first National to hit a home run while batting both left- and right-handed during the June 30 game. [116]

The Nationals finished the month leading the National League East by six games over the Mets and six and a half games over the Miami Marlins. They posted a 16–11 win–loss record for June. [117]

July

Stephen Strasburg was reactivated from the disabled list minutes before gametime [118] on July 3 and proceeded to pitch 6+2⁄3 innings without allowing a hit to the Cincinnati Reds before manager Dusty Baker took him out of the game with a runner on third base and a pitch count in the triple digits. [119] Strasburg earned the win in the 12–1 Nationals victory, raising his record to 11–0 [120] and becoming only the fourth pitcher in the past 75 years with as good a win–loss mark through his first 15 starts. [121] The Nationals hit six home runs in the game, their highest mark of the season. [122]

The Nationals placed starting pitcher Joe Ross on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation on July 3 [123] and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list on July 8 with a ribcage strain. Infielder/outfielder Trea Turner was called up on July 8 to take Zimmerman's place on the roster. [124]

Pitching in his second start since returning from the disabled list on July 8, Strasburg picked up the win over the New York Mets in a 3–1 game to improve to 12–0 heading into the All-Star Break, becoming the first National League pitcher since Rube Marquard in 1912 to go 12–0 to start the season. [125] [126] The Nationals took three games out of four from the Mets in the series at Citi Field to head into the All-Star Break with a 54–36 record and a six-game lead over both the Mets and the Miami Marlins in the NL East. [127]

Right-handed pitching prospect Reynaldo López was called up from the Class-AA Harrisburg Senators to make his major league debut with a start on July 19 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. During the game, López gave up a lead-off home run to Chase Utley, allowed three runs in the first inning, and gave up hits to seven of the first 11 batters he faced. [128] After that, he improved considerably, retiring eight batters in a row at one point, striking out six of them. [128] After he allowed three batters to reach base and gave up two more runs in the fifth inning, he was relieved. [128] He left the game having pitched 4+2⁄3 innings, throwing 105 pitches (65 for strikes), giving up six runs (all earned) on 10 hits (including one home run), and walking one but striking out nine. [129] [130] The Nationals lost the game 8–4, and he was the game's losing pitcher. [129] [130] His nine strikeouts was the second-highest strikeout total for a Nationals pitcher during a major league debut, [128] exceeded only by Stephen Strasburg's 14 strikeouts on June 8, 2010. [131] Although he ended up taking the loss in the game, López left the field to a standing ovation by fans. [132] Also debuting against the Dodgers was Koda Glover, a relief pitcher drafted in 2015 who had been promoted all the way up to the Class-AAA Syracuse Chiefs. The right-hander threw a perfect inning in relief on July 20, needing just four pitches to get three outs and seal an 8–1 Nationals win. [133]

The Dodgers handed Strasburg a loss, his first of the season, on July 21. The loss snapped a string of 16 winning decisions for the Nationals pitcher, [134] who finished the month at 14–1 after recording a win over the Cleveland Indians, pitching seven scoreless innings in interleague play at Progressive Field, on July 27. [135] Also during the series in Cleveland, Zimmerman was activated from the disabled list on July 26, with outfielder Michael A. Taylor being optioned to Syracuse to make room for him on the roster, [136] while infielder Stephen Drew landed on the disabled list with vertigo-like symptoms and was replaced on the roster by Wilmer Difo, a Senators infielder, the following day. [137] The Nationals also lost catcher José Lobatón to injury, as he was placed on the disabled list on July 29 with tendinitis in his left elbow. Pedro Severino was recalled from Syracuse to take Lobatón's place as the Nationals' backup catcher. [138] Zimmerman was injured again just days after coming off the disabled list when he was hit on the wrist by a fastball thrown by San Francisco Giants closer Santiago Casilla on July 31. [139]

The Nationals announced a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30, swapping left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and minor league pitcher Taylor Hearn to the Pirates in exchange for right-handed reliever Mark Melancon and cash considerations. [140] [141] The Washington Post reported that erstwhile closer Jonathan Papelbon had agreed to cede ninth-inning duties to Melancon and take up a different role out of the Nationals' bullpen. [142]

July ended with consecutive split series for the Nationals on the road while visiting the Indians and the Giants, coming on the back of two straight series losses at the hands of the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at home. The team went 7–8 after the All-Star Break to finish July with a 61–44 record and a four-game lead in the National League East over the Miami Marlins. [143] Strasburg was honored as NL Pitcher of the Month, while infielder Daniel Murphy received his second NL Player of the Month award of the season for hitting .372 with 26 RBIs over 24 games in the month. [144]

August

The Nationals set a year-to-date team record for hits and runs scored in a rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on August 1. All nine Nationals starters had at least one hit, and all but starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg scored at least one run, in a 19-hit effort for the visitors, who defeated the Diamondbacks 14–1. Newly acquired closer Mark Melancon made his debut with the team, although it was not a save situation, and retired all three batters he faced. [145] [146] The Nationals ultimately swept the Diamondbacks on the road for the first time since the franchise moved to Washington, D.C., in 2005. [147] [148]

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman returned to the disabled list on August 6, having missed several games after being hit by a pitch on the wrist. Outfielder Brian Goodwin was called up to the major leagues for the first time to replace him on the Nationals' 25-man roster. [149] He made his debut that evening, going 0-for-1 with a deep flyout to right field in a loss versus the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park. [150]

Melancon secured his first save as a National on August 7 over the Giants, improving his season record to 31-for-33 in save opportunities. [151] Less than a week later, on August 13, the Nationals released reliever Jonathan Papelbon (whom Melancon had replaced as the team's closer) from his contract. [152] Rookie starting pitcher Reynaldo López, who temporarily replaced Papelbon on the roster, earned his first major league win that day over the Atlanta Braves in a tight 7–6 game, giving up one run over seven innings pitched. [153]

The Nationals placed left-handed reliever Sammy Solis and right-handed starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list during the month. Solis was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation on August 17, and Koda Glover was called up to replace him. [154] The rookie reliever notched his first career win on August 19, also against the Braves; Glover gave up the lead in the eighth inning on a two-run double by Freddie Freeman but was credited with the win after the Nationals scored in the top of the ninth and Melancon closed out the game. [155] On August 22, Strasburg was placed on the disabled list with elbow soreness after a string of poor starts, and A. J. Cole was called up from the Class-AAA Syracuse Chiefs to replace him in the rotation. [156]

Left fielder Jayson Werth tied the Montreal–Washington franchise record for consecutive games reaching base safely at 46, [157] before the streak was snapped by the Braves on August 19. The streak had begun nearly two months prior, on June 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the streak, he tallied 43 hits and 32 walks. [158] In another milestone for a Nationals player, second baseman Daniel Murphy hit his first career grand slam off Parker Bridwell in a 10–8 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on August 24. [159]

The Nationals made another trade for a reliever after Oakland Athletics left-hander Marc Rzepczynski was waived by his ballclub. Oakland agreed to swap Rzepczynski and cash considerations to the Nationals in exchange for minor league second baseman Max Schrock. The two teams announced the deal on August 25. [160] Rzepczynski made his Nationals debut on August 26, striking out Gerardo Parra of the Colorado Rockies before hitting Charlie Blackmon with a pitch, after which he was lifted from the game. [161] The Nationals won the August 26 game 8–5, giving starting pitcher Gio González his 100th career win. [162]

The Nationals closed out August by playing 20 games in 20 days without an off-day, a stretch over which they went 11–9, [163] winning two series against the division rival Braves, [164] [165] dropping two series to the Rockies, [166] losing a home-and-home series to the Orioles in interleague play, [167] and finishing with a sweep of the division rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. [168] They finished the month nine games ahead of the second-place New York Mets and 11 games ahead of the third-place Miami Marlins in the National League East, boasting a 78–55 win–loss record: the second-best in the NL, behind only the Chicago Cubs, and the third-best in the major leagues, behind the Cubs and Texas Rangers. [169] After center fielder Trea Turner posted a .357 batting average and .571 slugging percentage for the month of August, he was named the NL Rookie of the Month. [170]

September

After rosters expanded at the start of the month, the Nationals made their initial round of callups on September 2. The team recalled Syracuse Chiefs pitchers Trevor Gott, Matt Grace, and Rafael Martin, catcher Pedro Severino, and outfielder Brian Goodwin. They also purchased the contracts of Chiefs pitchers Sean Burnett and Mat Latos. Outfielder Matt den Dekker was designated for assignment [171] and outrighted to Syracuse after clearing waivers. [172] The Nationals also called up Chiefs pitcher Reynaldo López on September 4, [173] followed by Chiefs pitcher Lucas Giolito and Harrisburg Senators infielder Wilmer Difo on September 6. [174]

Rookie starting pitcher A. J. Cole got his first career win on September 2, outdueling Noah Syndergaard of the division rival New York Mets at Citi Field in a 4–1 contest. [175] The Nationals went on to lose the series in Queens, dropping the next two games, but in the first game of their next homestand on September 5, they eliminated the rival Atlanta Braves, in last place in the National League East, from division contention by defeating them 6–4. [176]

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was activated from the disabled list to make a start on September 7 versus the Braves, but his return was short-lived, as he was lifted from the game in the third inning after experiencing discomfort while pitching. [177] The team announced the next day that he had been diagnosed with a flexor mass strain and would miss an unspecified amount of time. [178] Joe Ross also returned from the disabled list to make a start on September 18, with prospect Chris Bostick being designated for assignment to make room for him on the roster. [179]

On September 6, third baseman Anthony Rendon hit his first career grand slam off Braves pitcher Williams Pérez, putting the Nationals on top in a game they went on to win 9–7. [180] On September 9, rookie center fielder Trea Turner posted his first multi-homer game, hitting a two-run shot followed by a solo home run to walk off the division rival Philadelphia Phillies 5–4. [181] Latos, making his first start for the Nationals in a September 12 game against the Mets, became the first Nationals pitcher since 2014 to hit a home run, [182] contributing in an 8–1 victory over New York with his solo home run off Mets starter Rafael Montero. [183] In the Nationals' final game of the season against their New York rivals on September 14, a 1–0 win, second baseman Daniel Murphy went 1-for-2 with a walk, thereby recording at least one hit in every game he played against the team he was with during the previous season. [184] He became the first National League player in 12 years to hit in every game of a season series of at least 19 games [185] and set a record for the longest single-season hitting streak against a previous-year team dating back to the creation of divisions in the major leagues in 1969. [186]

As the Nationals closed in on the division championship, they were beset by a buttocks strain that took Murphy out of the lineup beginning September 18, [187] [188] as well as a forearm injury that sidelined right-handed reliever Matt Belisle beginning September 8, [189] and lost back-to-back series against the division rival Braves and Miami Marlins on the road. In the latter series, on September 20, the team faced Marlins ace José Fernández in what would ultimately be his last pitching performance before his death in an accident five days later. The Nationals were shut out for the first time since the All-Star Break, with Fernández pitching eight innings while giving up just three hits, walking none, and striking out twelve in a winning performance. [190] The Nationals finally clinched the division title on September 24, as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6–1 behind a short start by Ross and a long relief appearance by López, and the second-place Mets went down to defeat at the hands of the Phillies. [191]

Injuries put holes in the Nationals' starting lineup in the games after they clinched the division. Right fielder Bryce Harper was injured in a September 25 game against the Pirates, jamming his thumb when Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang faked a tag that prompted him to make a late slide into third. Nationals manager Dusty Baker took exception to the play, and when Kang next came up to bat, Cole threw a ball behind his back and was ejected from the game, leading to a benches-clearing altercation on the field. Cole denied the pitch was intentional, saying, "The ball was getting away from me a little bit, and that one got away from me." He was suspended five games over the incident and fined, a verdict which he appealed. [192] In the following game, a rain-soaked September 26 matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks, catcher Wilson Ramos tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the second time after making a leaping catch on a relay from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, forcing him to undergo season-ending surgery. Spencer Kieboom was called up from Harrisburg to replace him on the roster. [193] However, the team also received some bullpen reinforcements as Belisle returned from his injury layoff to pitch against the Pirates in the September 25 game [189] while left-handed reliever Sammy Solis was activated off the disabled list on September 26 [194] and pitched a perfect inning in a 4–2 win over the Diamondbacks the following day. [195]

Starting at second base for the Nationals, Difo recorded his first home run in a 5–3 win over the Diamondbacks on September 29, launching a pitch from left-hander Robbie Ray into the seats in left field at Nationals Park. [196] With the win, the Nationals split the four-game series with Arizona, the last complete series of September and the penultimate series in their 2016 regular season. [197] The team finished September with a 93–67 regular season record and a seven-game lead over the Mets, who clinched a wild card berth after being eliminated from division contention. [198]

October

The Nationals won both games they played to end the regular season in October, earning a win in a three-game series and sealing the season series against the division rival Miami Marlins. Second baseman Daniel Murphy was in a narrow race with the Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu for the batting title until the last day of the season, but with Murphy injured and LeMahieu not playing in order to preserve his small edge, [199] the race came down to a pinch-hit opportunity for Murphy against Miami on October 2, in which the National flied out to right to finish a little more than a point below LeMahieu. [200]

Nationals pitchers grabbed much of the attention as the season came to an end. On October 1, rookie starting pitcher A. J. Cole dropped his appeal of a five-game suspension handed down by the league for intentionally throwing at a batter the previous month, with the suspension expected to carry over into the 2017 season. [201] The same day, starter Tanner Roark posted his career-best 16th win of the regular season, defeating Wei-Yin Chen and the Marlins 2–1. [202] On October 2, the last day of the regular season, staff ace Max Scherzer earned his 20th win, although he gave up five runs in a seesaw 10–7 victory over the Marlins; [200] he also notched four runs batted in during the game, going 2-for-2, for the first time in his career. [203] Closer Mark Melancon finished his year with 47 saves, the second-highest season total of his career. [200] Catching prospect Spencer Kieboom, meanwhile, made his major league debut on October 2, drawing a walk from Marlins reliever Brian Ellington as a pinch-hitter and then coming around to score later in the inning. [204]

Trea Turner, the Nationals' center fielder and occasional second baseman and shortstop, was named Rookie of the Month in the National League for the second consecutive month. He hit .339 with eight home runs and 15 stolen bases over September and the first two days of October. [205]

Notable transactions

Major league debuts

Culture and entertainment

In 2015, the Nationals had entered a three-year marketing partnership with the White House Historical Association in which the President of the United States honored in the Association's annual Christmas ornament each year also would appear that season as a Racing President in the Presidents Race at Nationals Park. In accordance with the agreement, Calvin Coolidge ("Cal") had joined the race in 2015 to become the sixth Racing President. Cal was retired after the 2015 season. In 2016, Herbert Hoover ("Herbie"), the 31st President of the United States, became the new sixth Racing President under the agreement with the Association, joining George Washington ("George"), Thomas Jefferson ("Tom"), Abraham Lincoln ("Abe"), Theodore Roosevelt ("Teddy"), and William Howard Taft ("Bill"). Herbie debuted on April 10, 2016, during a game against the Miami Marlins, and won his first race. Herbie was retired after the season. [216]

Attendance

The Nationals drew 2,481,938 fans at Nationals Park during 2016, their fifth-highest attendance since arriving in Washington in 2005. It placed them seventh in attendance for the season among the 15 National League teams. [217] Their highest attendance at a home game in Nationals Park was listed at 42,000 for the June 15 game against the Chicago Cubs, while the low mark was 17,161 for a game against the Atlanta Braves on September 6. [218] Their average home attendance was 30,641 per game, fifth-highest since their arrival in Washington. [219]

Game log

Legend
 Nationals win
 Nationals loss
 Postponement
BoldNationals team member
2016 game log (95–67)
April: 16–7 (Home: 8–4; Away: 8–3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1April 4@ Braves 4–3 (10) Treinen (1–0) O'Flaherty (0–1) Papelbon (1)48,2821–0
2April 6@ Braves 3–1 Strasburg (1–0) Norris (0–1) Papelbon (2)18,5312–0
3April 7 Marlins 4–6 Phelps (1–0) Roark (0–1) Ramos (1)41,6502–1
–April 9 Marlins Postponed (inclement weather)Rescheduled for May 14 as part of a doubleheader
4April 10 Marlins 4–2 Ross (1–0) Koehler (0–1) Papelbon (3)24,5933–1
5April 11 Braves 6–4 Scherzer (1–0) Norris (0–2) Papelbon (4)18,1194–1
6April 12 Braves 2–1 Treinen (2–0) Johnson (0–2) Rivero (1)18,3785–1
7April 13 Braves 3–0 Roark (1–1) Wisler (0–1) Papelbon (5)19,4006–1
8April 14 Braves 6–2 Strasburg (2–0) Teherán (0–2)—21,1447–1
9April 15@ Phillies 9–1 Ross (2–0) Hellickson (1–1)—22,6248–1
10April 16@ Phillies 8–1 Scherzer (2–0) Nola (0–2)—30,3209–1
11April 17@ Phillies 2–3 (10) Gómez (1–0) Papelbon (0–1)—37,3789–2
12April 18@ Marlins 1–6 Fernández (1–1) Roark (1–2)—16,1129–3
13April 19@ Marlins 7–0 Strasburg (3–0) Conley (0–1)—16,52910–3
14April 20@ Marlins 3–1 Petit (1–0) Chen (0–1) Papelbon (6)16,96111–3
15April 21@ Marlins 1–5 Koehler (1–2) Scherzer (2–1)—17,39511–4
16April 22 Twins 8–4 González (1–0) Gibson (0–3)—27,68412–4
17April 23 Twins 2–0 Roark (2–2) Hughes (1–3) Papelbon (7)35,97413–4
18April 24 Twins 6–5 (16) Pérez (1–0) Tonkin (1–1)—35,39714–4
19April 26 Phillies 3–4 Velasquez (3–1) Pérez (1–1) Gómez (5)25,09714–5
20April 27 Phillies 0–3 Hellickson (2–1) González (1–1) Gómez (6)24,18614–6
21April 28 Phillies 0–3 Araújo (1–0) Rivero (0–1) Gómez (7)22,11214–7
22April 29@ Cardinals 5–4 Strasburg (4–0) Leake (0–3) Papelbon (8)45,24615–7
23April 30@ Cardinals 6–1 Ross (3–0) García (1–2)—42,72316–7
May: 16–14 (Home: 7–7; Away: 9–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
24May 1@ Cardinals 6–1 Scherzer (3–1) Martínez (4–1)—42,93317–7
25May 2@ Royals 2–0 González (2–1) Vólquez (3–2) Papelbon (9)32,39418–7
26May 3@ Royals 6–7 Wang (1–0) Papelbon (0–2)—33,72918–8
27May 4@ Royals 13–2 Strasburg (5–0) Medlen (1–3)—38,61019–8
28May 5@ Cubs 2–5 Hendricks (2–2) Ross (3–1)—37,56419–9
29May 6@ Cubs 6–8 Lackey (4–1) Scherzer (3–2) Rondón (5)39,20619–10
30May 7@ Cubs 5–8 Warren (3–0) Solis (0–1) Rondón (6)40,47119–11
31May 8@ Cubs 3–4 (13) Wood (1–0) Treinen (2–1)—41,23319–12
32May 9 Tigers 5–4 Kelley (1–0) Lowe (1–2)—27,15320–12
33May 10 Tigers 4–5 Fulmer (2–1) Ross (3–2) Rodríguez (8)24,47620–13
34May 11 Tigers 3–2 Scherzer (4–2) Zimmermann (5–2)—35,69521–13
35May 13 Marlins 5–3 Treinen (3–1) Barraclough (2–1) Papelbon (10)28,23222–13
36May 14 (1) Marlins 6–4 Strasburg (6–0) Nicolino (2–1) Papelbon (11)28,63423–13
37May 14 (2) Marlins 1–7 Ureña (1–0) Roark (2–3)—30,01923–14
38May 15 Marlins 1–5 Fernández (5–2) Ross (3–3) Ramos (11)36,78623–15
39May 17@ Mets 0–2 Syndergaard (4–2) Scherzer (4–3) Familia (13)36,70123–16
40May 18@ Mets 7–1 González (3–1) Colón (3–3)—30,10024–16
41May 19@ Mets 9–1 Strasburg (7–0) Harvey (3–6)—39,49425–16
42May 20@ Marlins 4–1 Roark (3–3) Nicolino (2–2) Papelbon (12)20,01726–16
43May 21@ Marlins 2–3 Fernández (6–2) Ross (3–4) Ramos (13)25,83926–17
44May 22@ Marlins 8–2 Scherzer (5–3) Conley (3–3)—24,30827–17
45May 23 Mets 1–7 Colón (4–3) González (3–2)—31,26427–18
46May 24 Mets 7–4 Strasburg (8–0) Harvey (3–7)—33,09628–18
47May 25 Mets 0–2 Matz (7–1) Roark (3–4) Familia (16)38,70028–19
48May 26 Cardinals 2–1 Ross (4–4) Leake (3–4) Papelbon (13)26,17629–19
49May 27 Cardinals 2–6 García (4–4) Scherzer (5–4)—30,78129–20
50May 28 Cardinals 4–9 Wainwright (5–3) González (3–3)—38,27429–21
51May 29 Cardinals 10–2 Strasburg (9–0) Wacha (2–6)—38,89830–21
52May 30@ Phillies 4–3 Roark (4–4) Neris (1–2) Papelbon (14)21,99331–21
53May 31@ Phillies 5–1 Ross (5–4) Nola (4–4)—18,57232–21
June: 16–11 (Home: 9–1; Away: 7–10)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
54June 1@ Phillies 7–2 Scherzer (6–4) Morgan (1–4)—19,05233–21
55June 3@ Reds 2–7 Finnegan (2–4) González (3–4)—27,25833–22
56June 4@ Reds 3–6 Ohlendorf (4–4) Rivero (0–2) Cingrani (5)25,36533–23
57June 5@ Reds 10–9 Solis (1–1) Wright (0–2) Papelbon (15)21,42234–23
58June 7@ White Sox 10–5 Treinen (4–1) Latos (6–2)—18,81235–23
59June 8@ White Sox 11–4 Scherzer (7–4) Shields (2–8)—15,27336–23
60June 9@ White Sox 1–3 González (1–1) González (3–5) Robertson (14)20,01436–24
61June 10 Phillies 9–6 Strasburg (10–0) Hellickson (4–4) Papelbon (16)37,94137–24
62June 11 Phillies 8–0 Roark (5–4) Nola (5–5)—38,04438–24
63June 12 Phillies 5–4 Papelbon (1–2) Gómez (2–2)—34,29439–24
64June 13 Cubs 4–1 Scherzer (8–4) Hendricks (4–6) Kelley (1)37,18740–24
65June 14 Cubs 3–4 Rondón (1–1) Solis (1–2)—41,95540–25
66June 15 Cubs 5–4 (12) Petit (2–0) Cahill (0–2)—42,00041–25
67June 16@ Padres 8–5 Roark (6–4) Johnson (0–4) Kelley (2)22,64842–25
68June 17@ Padres 7–5 Ross (6–4) Friedrich (3–2) Petit (1)31,13743–25
69June 18@ Padres 3–7 Quackenbush (4–3) Rivero (0–3)—34,11343–26
70June 19@ Padres 3–6 Pomeranz (6–7) González (3–6) Rodney (14)32,28543–27
71June 20@ Dodgers 1–4 Kershaw (11–1) Petit (2–1) Jansen (20)44,71243–28
72June 21@ Dodgers 2–3 Coleman (1–1) Roark (6–5) Jansen (21)42,30743–29
73June 22@ Dodgers 3–4 Hatcher (5–3) Kelley (1–1)—43,77643–30
74June 24@ Brewers 3–5 Torres (1–1) Scherzer (8–5) Jeffress (20)32,66843–31
75June 25@ Brewers 5–6 Garza (1–0) González (3–7) Jeffress (21)30,08543–32
76June 26@ Brewers 3–2 Roark (7–5) Barnes (0–1) Kelley (3)30,21544–32
77June 27 Mets 11–4 Ross (7–4) Syndergaard (8–3)—33,10945–32
78June 28 Mets 5–0 Pérez (2–1) Harvey (4–10)—29,91846–32
79June 29 Mets 4–2 Scherzer (9–5) Verrett (3–5) Kelley (4)33,38647–32
80June 30 Reds 13–4 González (4–7) Finnegan (3–7)—29,38648–32
July: 13–12 (Home: 7–8; Away: 6–4)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
81July 1 Reds 3–2 (14) Petit (3–1) Ohlendorf (5–6)—27,63149–32
82July 2 Reds 4–9 (10) Smith (1–1) Solis (1–3)—35,19549–33
83July 3 Reds 12–1 Strasburg (11–0) Lamb (1–5)—37,32850–33
84July 4 Brewers 0–1 Guerra (6–1) Scherzer (9–6) Jeffress (22)29,17450–34
85July 5 Brewers 2–5 Davies (6–4) González (4–8) Jeffress (23)25,13850–35
85July 6 Brewers 7–4 Roark (8–5) Garza (1–2) Papelbon (17)26,33051–35
87July 7@ Mets 7–9 Robles (3–3) Pérez (2–2) Familia (31)37,56951–36
88July 8@ Mets 3–1 Strasburg (12–0) Syndergaard (9–4) Papelbon (18)35,03052–36
89July 9@ Mets 6–1 Scherzer (10–6) Verrett (3–6)—36,95353–36
90July 10@ Mets 3–2 González (5–8) Matz (7–5) Papelbon (19)35,77854–36
All–Star Break (July 11–14)
91July 15 Pirates 5–1 Strasburg (13–0) Liriano (5–9)—36,98255–36
92July 16 Pirates 6–0 Roark (9–5) Cole (5–5)—38,86156–36
93July 17 Pirates 1–2 (18) Niese (8–6) Pérez (2–3)—32,75556–37
94July 19 Dodgers 4–8 Kazmir (8–3) López (0–1)—38,74756–38
95July 20 Dodgers 8–1 González (6–8) Norris (5–8)—34,05057–38
96July 21 Dodgers 3–6 Liberatore (2–0) Strasburg (13–1) Jansen (28)38,58657–39
97July 22 Padres 3–5 Perdomo (4–4) Roark (9–6) Maurer (4)31,61857–40
98July 23 Padres 3–2 Papelbon (2–2) Quackenbush (6–4)—30,74758–40
99July 24 Padres 6–10 Buchter (2–0) Papelbon (2–3)—30,66358–41
100July 26@ Indians 6–7 Shaw (2–4) Papelbon (2–4)—23,77158–42
101July 27@ Indians 4–1 Strasburg (14–1) Carrasco (7–4) Treinen (1)26,60759–42
102July 28@ Giants 4–2 Roark (10–6) Cueto (13–3) Kelley (5)42,00160–42
103July 29@ Giants 4–1 Scherzer (11–6) Samardzija (9–7) Kelley (6)41,95961–42
104July 30@ Giants 3–5 Law (4–1) Petit (3–2) Casilla (23)41,74361–43
105July 31@ Giants 1–3 Cain (3–6) González (6–9) Casilla (24)41,79561–44
August: 17–11 (Home: 7–6; Away: 10–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
106August 1@ Diamondbacks 14–1 Strasburg (15–1) Bradley (4–7)—17,51862–44
107August 2@ Diamondbacks 10–4 Roark (11–6) Ray (5–11)—19,91963–44
108August 3@ Diamondbacks 8–3 Scherzer (12–6) Godley (3–2)—17,08664–44
109August 5 Giants 5–1 González (7–9) Samardzija (9–8)—34,03665–44
110August 6 Giants 1–7 Cain (4–6) Strasburg (15–2)—36,40465–45
111August 7 Giants 1–0 Roark (12–6) Bumgarner (10–7) Melancon (31)32,79066–45
112August 9 Indians 1–3 Bauer (8–5) Scherzer (12–7) Allen (21)30,97866–46
113August 10 Indians 7–4 González (8–9) Tomlin (11–5) Melancon (32)30,18567–46
114August 12 Braves 5–8 Foltynewicz (6–5) Strasburg (15–3) Johnson (10)29,08967–47
115August 13 Braves 7–6 López (1–1) Whalen (1–1) Melancon (33)38,49068–47
116August 14 Braves 9–1 Roark (13–6) Jenkins (2–3)—29,10769–47
117August 15@ Rockies 5–4 Solis (2–3) Lyles (3–4) Melancon (34)27,81870–47
118August 16@ Rockies 2–6 Rusin (3–4) Petit (3–3)—29,20970–48
119August 17@ Rockies 10–12 Logan (2–2) Strasburg (15–4) Oberg (1)25,30870–49
120August 18@ Braves 8–2 López (2–1) Whalen (1–2)—24,09971–49
121August 19@ Braves 7–6 Glover (1–0) Johnson (2–6) Melancon (35)30,29272–49
122August 20@ Braves 11–9 Scherzer (13–7) Jenkins (2–4) Melancon (36)42,42173–49
123August 21@ Braves 6–7 (10) Ramírez (1–0) Kelley (1–2)—25,34173–50
124August 22@ Orioles 3–4 Bundy (7–4) Cole (0–1) Britton (38)31,66073–51
125August 23@ Orioles 1–8 Gausman (5–10) López (2–2) Worley (1)26,69773–52
126August 24 Orioles 8–10 Miley (8–10) Roark (13–7)—39,10073–53
127August 25 Orioles 4–0 Scherzer (14–7) Jiménez (5–11)—39,72274–53
128August 26 Rockies 8–5 González (9–9) Hoffman (0–2)—33,43375–53
129August 27 Rockies 4–9 (11) McGee (1–3) Petit (3–4)—27,90175–54
130August 28 Rockies 3–5 Bettis (11–7) Giolito (0–1) Ottavino (2)28,12475–55
131August 29@ Phillies 4–0 Roark (14–7) Thompson (1–4)—16,05676–55
132August 30@ Phillies 3–2 Scherzer (15–7) Eickhoff (9–13) Melancon (37)16,37877–55
133August 31@ Phillies 2–1 González (10–9) Morgan (1–9) Kelley (7)16,50378–55
September: 15–12 (Home: 10–5; Away: 5–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
134September 2@ Mets 4–1 Cole (1–1) Syndergaard (12–8) Melancon (38)32,04079–55
135September 3@ Mets 1–3 Gsellman (2–1) Roark (14–8) Familia (45)36,11879–56
136September 4@ Mets 1–5 Lugo (3–2) López (2–3)—30,25779–57
137September 5 Braves 6–4 Scherzer (16–7) Weber (1–1)—26,00580–57
138September 6 Braves 9–7 Glover (2–0) Ramírez (2–2) Melancon (39)17,16181–57
139September 7 Braves 5–4 (11) Latos (7–2) Bradley (1–1)—19,89482–57
140September 8 Phillies 1–4 Asher (1–0) Cole (1–2) Gomez (36)25,41282–58
141September 9 Phillies 5–4 Melancon (2–1) Herrmann (0–2)—28,46983–58
142September 10 Phillies 3–0 Kelley (2–2) García (1–1) Melancon (40)36,15284–58
143September 11 Phillies 3–2 González (11–9) Morgan (2–10) Melancon (41)31,80585–58
144September 12 Mets 8–1 López (3–3) Montero (0–1)—22,83286–58
145September 13 Mets 3–4 (10) Familia (3–3) Melancon (2–2) Blevins (1)25,79686–59
146September 14 Mets 1–0 Roark (15–8) Salas (0–1) Melancon (42)29,66987–59
147September 16@ Braves 7–2 Scherzer (17–7) Gant (1–4)—33,61888–59
148September 17@ Braves 3–7 Collmenter (2–0) González (11–10)—36,01688–60
149September 18@ Braves 2–6 (7) Wisler (7–12) Ross (7–5)—37,29688–61
150September 19@ Marlins 3–4 Ellington (3–2) Latos (7–3) Ramos (38)17,21488–62
151September 20@ Marlins 0–1 Fernández (16–8) Roark (15–9) Phelps (4)17,96188–63
152September 21@ Marlins 8–3 Scherzer (18–7) Koehler (9–12)—17,83689–63
153September 23@ Pirates 5–6 (11) LeBlanc (1–0) Petit (3–5)—29,51389–64
154September 24@ Pirates 6–1 López (4–3) Nova (5–2)—30,13790–64
155September 25@ Pirates 10–7 Kelley (3–2) Rivero (1–5) Melancon (43)28,92491–64
156September 26 Diamondbacks 4–14 Godley (5–4) Roark (15–10)—18,70791–65
157September 27 Diamondbacks 4–2 Scherzer (19–7) Delgado (4–2) Melancon (44)24,29792–65
158September 28 Diamondbacks 0–3 (6) Miller (3–12) González (11–11)—20,57792–66
159September 29 Diamondbacks 5–3 López (5–3) Ray (8–15) Melancon (45)21,61893–66
160September 30 Marlins 4–7 Dunn (6–1) Solis (2–4) Ramos (40)30,85793–67
October: 2–0 (Home: 2–0; Away: 0–0)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
161October 1 Marlins 2–1 Roark (16–10) Chen (5–5) Melancon (46)31,63594–67
162October 2 Marlins 10–7 Scherzer (20–7) Brice (0–1) Melancon (47)28,73095–67

Postseason

Postseason game log

2016 postseason game log (2–3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceSeries
1October 7 Dodgers 3–4 Kershaw (1–0) Scherzer (0–1) Jansen (1)43,9150–1
–October 8 Dodgers Postponed (rain)Rescheduled for October 9
2October 9 Dodgers 5–2 Treinen (1–0) Hill (0–1) Melancon (1)43,8261–1
3October 10@ Dodgers 8–3 Solis (1–0) Maeda (0–1)–53,9012–1
4October 11@ Dodgers 5–6 Blanton (1–0) Treinen (1–1) Jansen (2)49,6172–2
5October 13 Dodgers 3–4 Urías (1–0) Rzepczynski (0–1) Kershaw (1)43,9362–3

Division Series

Game 1, October 7

5:38 p.m. (EDT) at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Plans called for retired pitcher and former National Liván Hernández to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, but after Hurricane Matthew's effects on Florida made it impossible for Hernández to fly to Washington, the Nationals surprised the fans at Nationals Park by having Nationals starting catcher Wilson Ramos – whose season had ended with a knee injury on September 26 – throw it instead, to a huge roar from the crowd. [220] The game provided an historic first: When Dusty Baker and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts exchanged lineup cards before the game, it became the first postseason game in Major League Baseball history in which two African-American managers faced one another. [221]

The game was billed as a marquee match-up between two of the best starting pitchers in Major League Baseball, Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers and Max Scherzer for the Nationals, but neither starter was particularly sharp. with Nationals rookie Pedro Severino catching, Scherzer gave up a solo home run – the 32nd homer he had given up in 2016 – to the second batter he faced, Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager, on his sixth pitch of the game. In the third inning, after Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley drove in left fielder Andrew Toles with an RBI single, Scherzer gave up his 33rd home run of the year, a two-run shot to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, giving Los Angeles a 4–0 lead. The Dodgers did not score again; Scherzer did not allow another run before he left the game after six innings, and the Nationals bullpen also held them scoreless. [222]

Kershaw pitched five innings and held on to the lead, but the Nationals repeatedly pushed him to the brink, and his frequent discussions on the mound with Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal incited a chorus of boos from the crowd. [223] In the second inning, with two Nationals on base after Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman singled and Anthony Rendon reached first on a fielder's choice, Danny Espinosa – batting seventh instead of a probable eighth due to Ramos's unavailability – struck out for the second out. A Dodgers error then allowed Severino to reach first base and load the bases, but Scherzer popped out to end the inning without the Nationals scoring a run. In the third inning, Rendon singled to drive in two runs as part of what promised to be a big inning, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 4–2, but Espinosa struck out to end the inning with two men on base. Severino doubled in the fourth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trea Turner to reduce the Dodgers' lead to 4–3, but in the fifth, with Jayson Werth and Rendon on base, Espinosa again struck out to end the inning. Although he provided his typically reliable defense in the field during the game, Espinosa's strikeouts had left six men on base and brought three rallies to an end. [222]

Kershaw left the game after five innings and 101 pitches, [223] having given up three runs, all earned, on eight hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. The Los Angeles bullpen followed with four innings of shut-out ball, but the Nationals had ample opportunities to tie the game. Trea Turner, a prolific base-stealer, walked in the sixth inning but was stranded at first. In the seventh inning, Murphy walked with one out, but then got a poor jump in an attempt to steal second and was thrown out. In the eighth, Clint Robinson doubled in the first postseason plate appearance of his career and speedy Michael A. Taylor entered the game to pinch-run for him, but Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struck out pinch-hitter Chris Heisey on a called third strike to end the inning. It was the Nationals' last scoring threat; they had the tying run on base in four of the game's last five innings without being able to score a single run, and left a total of nine men on base during the game. The Dodgers won 4–3 to take a 1–0 lead in the series. [222]

Team123456789 R H E
Los Angeles103000000481
Washington002100000390
WP: Clayton Kershaw (1–0)   LP: Max Scherzer (0–1)   Sv: Kenley Jansen (1)
Home runs:
LAD: Corey Seager (1), Justin Turner (1)
WSH: None
Attendance: 43,915

Game 2, October 9

1:08 p.m. (EDT) at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Originally scheduled to begin at 4:08 p.m. EDT on October 8, Game 2 was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for 1:08 p.m. EDT on October 9. [224] Retired first baseman and former National Adam LaRoche threw out the ceremonial first pitch, tossing it to his son Drake, who spent a great deal of time with the Nationals during his father's years on the team. [225] [226]

Game 2 began much as Game 1 had: Washington's starting pitcher – Tanner Roark, starting Game 2 because Stephen Strasburg remained sidelined with an injury – struggled; for the second game in a row, Los Angeles shortstop Corey Seager hit a first-inning solo home run in the Dodgers' second at-bat of the game; and the Dodgers' starter, Rich Hill, struck out the side in the bottom of the first, as Clayton Kershaw had in Game 1. [227] The Nationals, meanwhile, again missed a chance at a big inning when reserve catcher José Lobatón, starting in the postseason due to the unavailability of the injured Wilson Ramos, hit into a double play with the bases loaded to end the second inning. [228]

The Dodgers added another run in the third inning on an RBI single by right fielder Josh Reddick; Bryce Harper made a good throw to the plate from right field, but Lobatón was unable to tag Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner out at home. [227] Dodgers starter Rich Hill used his curveball very effectively for 3+2⁄3 innings, and Los Angeles held a 2–0 lead in the bottom of the third when Lobatón came to bat again with two outs and Daniel Murphy and Danny Espinosa on base. Lobatón hit only the second postseason home run of his career, [228] [note 1] and only the second postseason homer by a catcher in the history of the Montreal-Washington franchise, [226] [note 2] driving in Murphy and Espinosa to give the Nationals a 3–2 lead, the first time they had taken the lead in the series. [228]

Although Roark had an uncharacteristically unsteady outing, the Dodgers were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position during the first five innings even though they had the bases loaded with one out three times, [226] at least in part thanks to good Nationals defensive plays, notably by left fielder Jayson Werth. [228] A tiring Roark left the game in the fifth inning – after 4+1⁄3 innings pitched and 85 pitches – with two Dodgers on base and Washington still holding a 3–2 lead. After that, Washington's bullpen – a postseason weakness for the 2012 and 2014 teams – held the Dodgers scoreless; Marc Rzepczynski, Sammy Solis, Blake Treinen, Óliver Pérez, and Mark Melancon combined to give up only three walks (all by Rzepczynski) and one hit (a single yielded by Melancon) in the game's remaining 4+2⁄3 innings, striking out five Dodgers. [226] [228] The Dodgers were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position during the game, [226] and by the end of the game, the Nationals' bullpen had pitched 7+2⁄3 innings in the series without giving up a run. [229] Meanwhile, Murphy – who went 3-for-3 and scored a run, pushing his offensive output for the series' first two games to 4-for-6 with two walks [230] – drove in runs with singles in the fifth and seventh innings as Nationals fans in the crowd chanted ""MVP! MVP!" [230] The Nationals went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position, a turnaround from their previous postseason performance: From Game 5 of the 2012 National League Division Series until Lobatón's homer in the third inning, they had gone only 3-for-35 in the postseason with runners in scoring position. [228]

Washington won 5–2 to even the series at 1–1. [228] It was the first come-from-behind postseason win for a Washington, D.C., Major League Baseball team since the Washington Senators came from behind to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–3 in Game 3 of the 1925 World Series 91 years earlier on October 10, 1925. [226] It also was the Nationals' first postseason victory at home since a 2–1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series on October 11, 2012.

Team123456789 R H E
Los Angeles110000000280
Washington00031010X590
WP: Blake Treinen (1–0)   LP: Rich Hill (0–1)   Sv: Mark Melancon (1)
Home runs:
LAD: Corey Seager (2)
WSH: José Lobatón (1)
Attendance: 43,826

Game 3, October 10

4:08 p.m. (EDT) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

The Nationals put pressure on Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda from the outset, loading the bases in the first inning on a single and two walks; although they did not score, they forced him to throw 28 pitches. In the Dodgers' half of the first, Nationals starter Gio González – who had a set a goal for himself of pitching late into the game - walked Los Angeles third baseman Justin Turner; Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager then staked the Dodgers to a 1–0 lead in the first inning, as he had in both previous games of the series, this time with an RBI double that drove in Turner. [231]

The Nationals' offense erupted in the third inning. Center fielder Trea Turner singled, then scored to tie the game at 1–1 when left fielder Jayson Werth doubled. Right fielder Bryce Harper then singled, scoring Werth to give the Nats a 2–1 lead, and third baseman Anthony Rendon followed that with a 432-foot (132-meter), two-run home run into the left field seats, putting Washington ahead 4–1. Maeda left the game after the inning, having thrown 68 pitches. [231]

After the Dodgers scored their first-inning run, Gio González retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced. However, throwing his 83rd pitch of the game with one out in the fifth inning, he gave up a two-run homer to Dodgers pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz that narrowed the Nationals' lead to 4–3. Nationals manager Dusty Baker immediately took González out of the game, and, for the second consecutive game, Nationals relievers had to pitch the final 4+2⁄3 innings. Sammy Solis relieved González and pitched 1+2⁄3 innings, followed by Óliver Pérez for a third of an inning and Shawn Kelley for 1+2⁄3 innings, all scoreless; Kelley retired all five Dodgers he faced, striking out three of them. The Dodgers' bullpen also shut the Nationals out through the eighth inning, and Washington still clung to a 4–3 lead going into the ninth. [231]

Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen came in to pitch the ninth inning, hoping to hold the score at 4–3 and give the Dodgers a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the inning. But Jayson Werth led off with a 450-foot (137-meter) home run into the left-field stands that quieted the crowd and gave the Nationals an important insurance run. Jansen then walked second baseman Daniel Murphy and hit Harper with a pitch and, after Rendon popped out, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman doubled off the right field wall, scoring both Murphy and Harper and knocking Jansen out of the game. By the time Washington pinch hitter Chris Heisey came to bat with a 7–3 lead, many Dodger fans were leaving the stadium; Heisey capped the inning by scoring Zimmerman with a sacrifice fly to make the score 8–3. Nationals closer Mark Melancon then pitched a perfect ninth to seal the victory, completing 4+2⁄3 scoreless innings by the Nationals' bullpen; in the series thus far, Nationals relievers had pitched 12+1⁄3 innings without yielding a single run, striking out 14 Dodgers. [231] [232]

By the end of the game, Zimmerman was hitting .455 in the series, while Werth was hitting .417 and Murphy .400. [232] The win gave the Nationals a 2–1 lead in the series, their first lead in a postseason series since the first game of the 2012 National League Division Series. [231]

Team123456789 R H E
Washington004000004890
Los Angeles100020000361
WP: Sammy Solis (1–0)   LP: Kenta Maeda (0–1)
Home runs:
WSH: Anthony Rendon (1), Jayson Werth (1)
LAD: Carlos Ruiz (1)
Attendance: 53,901

Game 4, October 11

5:08 p.m. (EDT) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

Facing elimination, the Dodgers opted to have their ace starter Clayton Kershaw pitch again on only three days' rest. In the top of the first inning, the Nationals pressed him, with center fielder Trea Turner leading off with a walk and right fielder Bryce Harper following with a single, after which second baseman Daniel Murphy drove in Turner with an RBI single to give the Nationals a run in the first inning for the first time in the series. Nationals starter Joe Ross, however, had a rough first inning himself, hitting Los Angeles third baseman Justin Turner with a pitch and giving up a two-run homer to first baseman Adrián González. [233]

With a 2–1 lead, Kershaw then settled down, allowing Washington to tie the game at 2–2 in the top of the third with singles by Trea Turner and left fielder Jayson Werth and a sacrifice fly by Murphy that drove in Turner, but otherwise keeping the Nationals scoreless until the seventh inning. Ross, meanwhile, struggled. In the bottom of the third inning, he gave up a lead-off double to Kershaw; after keeping Kershaw at second and recording two outs, he allowed a single by Justin Turner that scored Kershaw, walked Adrián González and right fielder Josh Reddick to load the bases, and then hit center fielder Joc Pederson with a pitch, forcing Justin Turner home from third. Ross left the game with the Dodgers leading 4–2, having thrown 55 pitches in 2+2⁄3 innings, giving up four runs, all earned, on three hits and two walks, and striking out three. [233]

The Nationals bullpen faced another long outing. They stretched their streak of scoreless innings in the series to 14+1⁄3, but with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Reynaldo López became the first Washington reliever to give up a run in the series when Reddick singled and Pederson drove him in with an RBI double, giving Los Angeles a 5–2 lead. [233] The Nationals' offense, meanwhile, finally got to Kershaw, staging a comeback in the top of the seventh inning. Shortstop Danny Espinosa, who had gone 0-for-10 with nine strikeouts in the series, singled for his first hit of the 2016 postseason. He was still on first with two outs when Trea Turner singled and Harper walked to load the bases, driving Kershaw out of the game after throwing 110 pitches. Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez then hit Werth with a pitch to force Espinosa home, and Los Angeles reliever Luis Avilán gave up a single to Murphy that scored Turner and Harper, tying the game at 5–5, with all five Nationals runs charged to Kershaw. [233] Kershaw's day ended with a 6.17 ERA in his two outings against the Nats. [234]

Pitching the bottom of the eighth for Washington, Blake Treinen got the first two outs, but then hit Dodgers left fielder Andrew Toles with a pitch and gave up a single to pinch-hitter Andre Ethier, followed by a single by second baseman Chase Utley that drove in Toles to give the Dodgers a 6–5 lead. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen secured the Dodgers' victory with a perfect ninth in which he struck out two Nats, and Los Angeles tied the series at 2–2 to force a decisive Game 5 two nights later. [233]

Daniel Murphy's 2-for-3 performance in the game pushed his postseason average for 2016 to .462, and his four RBIs set a new Montreal-Washington franchise record for RBIs by a single player in a postseason game. [233] [235] At the end of the game, the Nationals' bullpen ERA for the series stood at 1.02, with only two runs given up in 17+2⁄3 innings of work. [233] Washington's starters, in contrast, had pitched only 16+1⁄3 innings and given up 13 runs, with a 7.16 ERA for the series. [233]

When Blake Treinen hit Andrew Toles with a pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning, it set two new Major League Baseball records: It was the first time in history that one team's pitchers hit four batters with pitches in a single postseason game, [236] and it was also the first time that two teams had combined to hit 11 batters with pitches in the course of a single postseason series. [236]

Team123456789 R H E
Washington101000300580
Los Angeles20201001X670
WP: Joe Blanton (1–0)   LP: Blake Treinen (1–1)   Sv: Kenley Jansen (2)
Home runs:
WSH: None
LAD: Adrián González (1)
Attendance: 49,617

Game 5, October 13

8:08 p.m. (EDT) at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Retired pitcher and former National Liván Hernández had missed the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Game 1 when Hurricane Matthew made it impossible for him to fly from Florida to Washington for that game, but he threw out the first pitch for Game 5 instead. [237] For some the game carried an historic weight that would either confirm or change the narrative of the Nationals, their achievements, and their prospects for the future after their collapse in the 2012 NLDS and the impotence of their offense in the 2014 NLDS. [238] A Washington, D.C., MLB team had not won a postseason series since the Washington Senators won the 1924 World Series, the Montreal-Washington franchise had won only one playoff series in its history (in 1981, as the Montreal Expos), and the Nationals had never advanced beyond the NLDS in two previous tries. Two personal negative streaks also were on the line: Teams Dusty Baker managed had lost eight straight postseason elimination games in a row in which they had a chance to advance to the next round of the playoffs, and starting pitcher Max Scherzer had started three postseason elimination games in a row for his previous teams, all of them losses.

Scherzer held the Dodgers hitless until the fifth inning, when Los Angeles right fielder Josh Reddick finally singled. The Dodgers loaded the bases with two more singles, but Scherzer struck out pinch hitter Andre Ethier and got second baseman Chase Utley to ground out to end the inning without the Dodgers scoring. The Nats, meanwhile, staked Scherzer to a 1–0 lead off Dodgers starter Rich Hill in the bottom of the second inning when second baseman Daniel Murphy singled, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman walked, and shortstop Danny Espinosa singled to drive in Murphy. But they missed scoring opportunities that followed. In the third inning, center fielder Trea Turner singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a fly out and Murphy was intentionally walked and stole second, but Dodgers reliever Joe Blanton entered the game and got third baseman Anthony Rendon to line out to end the inning without driving either of them in. In the fifth inning, Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías walked right fielder Bryce Harper but then picked him off first. And in the sixth inning, after left fielder Jayson Werth walked, Zimmerman doubled with two outs and third base coach Bob Hendley ill-advisedly sent Werth home as he rounded third; the Dodgers cut Werth down at the plate easily to end the inning. [239]

The Nationals still clung to a 1–0 lead when disaster struck them in the top of the seventh inning, in which the Nationals used a single-inning record six pitchers. Los Angeles center fielder Joc Pederson hit Scherzer's first pitch into the left field stands to tie the game at 1–1, prompting Baker to take Scherzer out of the game after 99 pitches. Reliever Marc Rzepczynski then walked Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal; Blake Treinen gave up a single to pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick; Sammy Solis gave up a one-out single to pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz which scored pinch-runner Austin Barnes to give the Dodgers a 2–1 lead; Shawn Kelley gave up a two-out triple to third baseman Justin Turner that scored Kendrck and Ruiz to give Los Angeles a 4–1 lead; and finally Óliver Pérez induced a groundout by first baseman Adrián González to end the inning. [239]

Washington mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, when Espinosa led off with a walk and pinch-hitter Chris Heisey followed with a two-run homer off reliever Grant Dayton to cut the Dodgers' lead to 4–3. When first baseman Clint Robinson followed immediately with a single, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the unconventional move of bringing in closer Kenley Jansen to pitch in the seventh inning, something Jansen had not done since 2013. Although the Nats put pressure on Jansen, with Harper singling and Murphy intentionally walked to load the bases, Jansen struck out Rendon for the third out to preserve the Dodgers' lead. Jansen pitched into the ninth inning without giving up another hit, throwing 51 pitches – nine more than he ever had before. When Jansen tired in the bottom of the ninth, walking Harper and Werth with one out, Roberts made another unconventional move, bringing Clayton Kershaw - who had started Game 1 and, on short rest, Game 4 – in for the first save of his career. Kershaw got Murphy to pop out for the second out, and, with no one else left on the bench to face Kershaw, Baker sent rookie Wilmer Difo to the plate. Kershaw struck out the overmatched Difo to preserve a 4–3 win and give Los Angeles a 3–2 series victory. The Nationals were eliminated from the playoffs in the NLDS for the third time in five years, and the Dodgers advanced to face the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 National League Championship Series. [239]

Team123456789 R H E
Los Angeles000000400480
Washington010000200370
WP: Julio Urías (1–0)   LP: Marc Rzepczynski (0–1)   Sv: Clayton Kershaw (1)
Home runs:
LAD: Joc Pederson (1)
WSH: Chris Heisey (1)
Attendance: 43,936

Postseason rosters

Playoff rosters
National League Division Series

Roster

2016 Washington Nationals
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Statistics

Regular season

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On-base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage; SB = Stolen bases

Table is sortable.

Complete regular-season offensive statistics are available here.

PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBIAVGOBPSLGSB
Matt Belisle 404000000.000.000.0000
Sean Burnett 100000000–––0
A. J. Cole 87000000.000.000.0000
Matt den Dekker 1934361014.176.282.2941
Wilmer Difo 315814133017.276.364.3793
Stephen Drew 701432438111821.266.339.5240
Danny Espinosa 157516661081502472.209.306.37812
Lucas Giolito 64110000.250.250.2500
Koda Glover 190000000–––0
Gio González 3252172002.135.148.1730
Brian Goodwin 22421124105.286.318.4290
Trevor Gott 90000000–––0
Matt Grace 60000000–––0
Bryce Harper 147506841232422486.243.373.44121
Chris Heisey 83139183031917.216.290.4460
Shawn Kelley 671000000.000.000.0000
Spencer Kieboom 10100000–1.000–0
Mat Latos 63110011.333.3331.3330
José Lobatón 399910233138.232.319.3740
Reynaldo Lopez 1112010000.083.083.0830
Rafael Martin 80000000–––0
Mark Melancon 300000000–––0
Daniel Murphy 1425318818447525104.347.390.5955
Jonathan Papelbon 370000000–––0
Óliver Pérez 643121000.667.6671.0000
Yusmeiro Petit 366010000.167.167.1670
Wilson Ramos 131482581482502280.307.354.4960
Anthony Rendon 156567911533822085.270.348.45012
Ben Revere 103350447697224.217.260.30014
Felipe Rivero 471000000.000.000.0000
Tanner Roark 3454181003.125.188.1410
Clint Robinson 104196164640526.235.305.3320
Joe Ross 23412102001.244.295.2930
Marc Rzepczynski 140000000–––0
Max Scherzer 347041310012.186.208.2000
Pedro Severino 1628692024.321.441.6070
Sammy Solis 373000000.000.000.0000
Stephen Strasburg 24483101002.208.240.2290
Michael A. Taylor 762212851110716.231.278.37614
Blake Treinen 730000000–––0
Trea Turner 73307531051481340.342.370.56733
Jayson Werth 143525841282602169.244.335.4175
Ryan Zimmerman 11542760931811546.218.272.3704
Team Totals1625490763140326829203735.256.326.426121

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Table is sortable.

Complete regular-season pitching statistics are available here.

PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBK
Matt Belisle 001.76400046.0431392732
Sean Burnett 003.1810005.2522113
A. J. Cole 125.1788038.137242271439
Lucas Giolito 016.7564021.126181671211
Koda Glover 205.03190019.21512113716
Gio González 11114.5732320177.117998901959171
Trevor Gott 001.509006.0611036
Matt Grace 000.005003.0100004
Shawn Kelley 322.64670758.041191791180
Mat Latos 116.526109.211771510
Reynaldo López 524.91116044.047272442242
Rafael Martin 002.458003.2011015
Mark Melancon 111.823001729.221661327
Jonathan Papelbon 244.373701935.037181731431
Óliver Pérez 234.95640040.038222242046
Yusmeiro Petit 354.50361162.0673331121549
Felipe Rivero 034.53470149.243262541553
Tanner Roark 16102.8334440210.017372661773172
Joe Ross 753.4319190105.0108434092993
Mark Rzepczynski 001.54140011.2832059
Max Scherzer 2072.9634340228.116577753156284
Sammy Solis 242.41370041.031121112147
Stephen Strasburg 1543.6024240147.211959591544183
Blake Treinen 412.28730167.051191753163
Team Totals95673.51162162461459.212726125701554681476

Team leaders

Qualifying players only.

Batting
StatPlayerTotal
Avg. Daniel Murphy .347
HR Daniel Murphy 25
RBI Daniel Murphy 104
R Anthony Rendon 91
H Daniel Murphy 184
SB Trea Turner 33
Pitching
StatPlayerTotal
W Max Scherzer 20
L Gio González 11
ERA Tanner Roark 2.83
SO Max Scherzer 284
SV Jonathan Papelbon 19
IP Max Scherzer 228.1

Postseason

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On-base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage; SB = Stolen bases

Complete postseason offensive statistics are available here.

PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBIAVGOBPSLGSB
Wilmer Difo 22000000.000.000.0000
Stephen Drew 44000000.000.000.0000
Danny Espinosa 514320001.143.333.1430
Gio González 12000000.000.000.0000
Bryce Harper 517441001.235.458.2943
Chris Heisey 54110013.250.2001.0000
Shawn Kelley 20000000–––0
José Lobatón 49120013.222.222.5560
Reynaldo López 10000000–––0
Mark Melancon 40000000–––0
Daniel Murphy 516370006.438.545.4382
Óliver Pérez 40000000–––0
Anthony Rendon 520130014.150.190.3000
Tanner Roark 12000000.000.000.0000
Clint Robinson 33021000.667.6671.0000
Joe Ross 21000000.000.000.0000
Marc Rzepczynski 30000000–––0
Max Scherzer 24000000.000.000.0000
Pedro Severino 410111000.100.100.2000
Sammy Solis 50000000–––0
Michael Taylor 32000000.000.000.0000
Blake Treinen 30000000–––0
Trea Turner 522570001.318.333.3182
Jayson Werth 518472013.389.522.6671
Ryan Zimmerman 517162002.353.450.4710

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Complete postseason pitching statistics are available

PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBK
Gio González 006.231104.1433114
Shawn Kelley 000.002001.2100003
Reynaldo López 004.501002.0211013
Mark Melancon 000.004014.1300025
Óliver Pérez 000.004003.1100013
Tanner Roark 004.151104.1722131
Joe Ross 0013.501102.2344123
Mark Rzepczynski 014.503002.0011043
Max Scherzer 013.7522012.010552212
Sammy Solis 101.931004.2311022
Blake Treinen 116.753002.2322005

Awards and honors

All-Stars

The 2016 Nationals sent five players to the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game; in the National League, only the Chicago Cubs had more players selected for the game, with seven. The Nationals set a new team record for the number of players selected for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game since the franchise relocated to Washington in 2005; previously, the record for Nationals in an all-star game was four, in 2012. [240] [241]

The selection of four Nationals players was announced on July 5:

At the same time it announced Strasburg's unavailability, Major League Baseball announced that Max Scherzer had replaced him on the National League roster. It was Scherzer's fourth overall and fourth consecutive all-star selection; he previously had been selected for the American League roster representing the Detroit Tigers in 2013 and 2014 and for the National League team representing the Nationals in 2015. [241]

Annual awards

Players' Choice Award

On November 9, 2016, Daniel Murphy received the Players' Choice Award for Outstanding Player in the National League. In 2016, Murphy led the National League with a .595 slugging percentage, .985 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, and 47 doubles, and his .347 batting average was second only to that of DJ LeMahieu, who hit .348 for the Colorado Rockies. Murphy hit 25 home runs and had 104 runs batted in and a .390 on-base percentage. During the seven-game 2016 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he had a .438 batting average and drove in six runs. [243]

Silver Slugger

On November 10, 2016, it was announced that Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos had won the National League Silver Slugger Award for their respective positions. It was the first time either of them had won a Silver Slugger. [244] It was the fifth season in a row, and the seventh time in eight seasons, that at least one National won a Silver Slugger

During the 2016 season, Murphy finished in the top two among National League second basemen in every major offensive category: He was first in home runs (25), runs batted in (104), slugging percentage (.595), and wins above replacement (5.5) and second in batting average (.347) and on-base percentage (.390). His lowest monthly on-base-plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 2016 was .830, and his OPS exceeded 1.000 in three different months. He was the National League Player of the Month for both May and July 2016. [244]

Ramos played in a career-high 131 games in 2016. Among National League catchers, he finished first in slugging percentage (.496), tied for first in runs batted in (80), second in home runs (22), and third in on-base percentage (.354). [244]

Cy Young Award

On November 16, 2016, the Baseball Writers' Association of America named Max Scherzer the winner of the 2016 National League Cy Young Award. Scherzer won the award in a landslide, receiving 25 of the 30 first-place votes and 192 points. It was Scherzer's second Cy Young; his first had come in 2013 when he pitched in the American League for the Detroit Tigers. He became only the sixth pitcher in history to win the award in each league, and the first to so since Roger Clemens in 2004. [245] [246] [note 3]

During the 2016 regular season, Scherzer posted a record of 20–7 – the only National League pitcher to win 20 games – and had an ERA of 2.96, a FIP (fielding-independent pitching) of 3.24, and an ERA+ of 141 in 228+1⁄3 innings, as well as a rating of 6.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). He led all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts with 284, a Washington Nationals single-season record, [note 4] as well as in walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) with 0.97 and swinging strikes (15.3 percent). He led the National League in wins, innings pitched, WAR, and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.07). He struck out 20 batters in a game against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park on May 11, 2016, becoming only the fifth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to strike out at least 20 batters in a nine-inning game. He finished second in batting average against (.196) and seventh in ERA. For the 2010 through 2016 seasons, Scherzer was first among Major League Baseball pitchers in both wins and strikeouts. [245] [246] [247]

Scherzer's award was the second Cy Young won by a Montreal-Washington franchise player and the first since Pedro Martínez won it in 1997 for the Montreal Expos. [245] It was the first Cy Young ever won by a player for any Washington, D.C., Major League Baseball team. [245]

Esurance MLB Awards

On November 18, 2016, Max Scherzer was revealed as the winner of two Esurance MLB Awards for 2016, for Best Pitcher and for Best Performance. [248] For the Best Pitcher award, MLB described Scherzer as "one of baseball's top strikeout artists" and said that he "continued to overpower big-league hitters with regularity during 2016," highlighting his 20–7 record, 284 strikeouts, 2.96 ERA, and 0.97 walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) in 228+1⁄3 innings. [249] For the Best Performance award, MLB cited his "historic level of dominance" in becoming "just the fourth pitcher ever to notch 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game" in his complete-game outing against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park on May 11, 2016, [249] noting that during the game he gave up two runs on six hits and walked no one. [249]

Comeback Player of the Year

On November 29, 2016, Major League Baseball announced that Anthony Rendon had won the 2016 National League Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year. In 2014, Rendon had finished fifth in National League Mst Valuable Player voting and had a batting average of .287, on-base percentage of .351, and slugging percentage of .473 with 39 doubles, 21 home runs, and 83 runs batted in. A severe knee bruise, oblique strain, and quadriceps injury had forced him to miss much of the 2015 season, and his poor performance when he did play that season – he hit only .264 with an on-base percentage of .344 and a slugging percentage of .363 with just 16 doubles, 5 home runs, and 25 RBIs in just 355 plate appearances – raised doubts about his ability to recover and return to the form he had shown in 2014. In 2016, however, he put those doubts to rest, hitting 20 home runs, driving in 85 runs, hitting .270 with a .348 on-base percentage and a.450 slugging percentage, leading all National League third baseman in doubles with 38 and in fielding percentage (.976), and being named a Gold Glove Award finalist. In the second half of the season, he had a batting average of .291 and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .866. [250] [251]

Although Dmitri Young had won the Players Choice Award for Comeback Player of the Year as a National in 2007, Rendon became the first player in Montreal-Washington franchise history to win the Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Syracuse Chiefs International League Billy Gardner Jr.
AA Harrisburg Senators Eastern League Matthew LeCroy
A-Advanced Potomac Nationals Carolina League Tripp Keister
A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Patrick Anderson
A-Short Season Auburn Doubledays New York–Penn League Jerad Head
Rookie GCL Nationals Gulf Coast League Josh Johnson
Rookie DSL Nationals Dominican Summer League Sandy Martinez

Notes

  1. ↑ José Lobatón's only previous postseason home run had been a walk-off homer for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. (See DiNitto, Marcus, "MLB playoffs 2016: Three takeaways from Nationals' NLDS Game 2 win over Dodgers," sportingnews.com, October 9, 2016.)
  2. ↑ The only previous postseason home run by a catcher for the Montreal-Washington franchise was by Gary Carter for the Montreal Expos in 1981. (See DiNitto, Marcus, "MLB playoffs 2016: Three takeaways from Nationals' NLDS Game 2 win over Dodgers," sportingnews.com, October 9, 2016.)
  3. ↑ The previous pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both the National League and the American League were Gaylord Perry with the Cleveland Indians in 1972 and the San Diego Padres in 1978; Pedro Martínez with the Montreal Expos in 1997 and the Boston Red Sox in 1999 and 2000; Randy Johnson with the Seattle Mariners in 1995 and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002; Roy Halladay with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010; and Roger Clemens with the Boston Red Sox in 1986, 1987, and 1991, the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998, the New York Yankees in 2001, and the Houston Astros in 2004. (See Axisa, Mike, "MLB Awards: Nationals' Max Scherzer named 2016 NL Cy Young winner," cbssports.com, November 16, 2016 and Anonymous, "Double the Dominance," The Washington Post, November 17, 2016, Page D1.)
  4. ↑ The Montreal-Washington franchise record for strikeouts in a season was 305 by Pedro Martínez with the Montreal Expos in 1997. The single-season strikeout record for any Washington, D.C., Major League Baseball pitcher was 313 by Walter Johnson for the original Washington Senators in 1910; Johnson also had 303 strikeouts for the Senators in 1912. (See Anonymous, "Max Scherzer's case for the Cy Young award," The Washington Post, November 17, 2016, Page D5.)

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  82. ↑ Snyder, Matt (May 8, 2016). "Cubs give Bryce Harper the Barry Bonds treatment, sweep Nationals". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  83. 1 2 3 Wagner, James, and Adam Kilgore, "No one expected a Stephen Strasburg extension. Then Scott Boras made a call," washingtonpost.com, May 12, 2016.
  84. 1 2 3 Fendrich, Howard, "Strasburg's 2012 shutdown helped lead to $175M, 7-year deal," Associated Press, May 10, 2016.
  85. ↑ Shamburger, Michael (May 9, 2016). "Bryce Harper Ejected, Yell's F-bomb at Umpire After Nationals Win". The Big Lead. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  86. ↑ Tinsman, Brian (May 9, 2016). "Updated: Harper Ejected by Ump, Gets Last Word (Video)". CBS DC. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  87. ↑ Bradley, Pat (May 11, 2016). "Bryce Harper Suspended For F–Bomb, But Is MLB Missing The Point?". New England Sports Network. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  88. ↑ Collier, Jamal (May 14, 2016). "Harper drops appeal of 1-game suspension". MLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  89. 1 2 Janes, Chelsea, "Max Scherzer matches MLB record with 20 strikeouts in win over Tigers," washingtonpost.com, May 11, 2016.
  90. 1 2 Svrluga, Barry, "A feat rarer than a perfect game: The five times pitchers struck out 20," washingtonpost.com, May 12, 2016.
  91. ↑ The only previous nine-inning, 20-strikeout performances were by Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox against the Seattle Mariners on April 29, 1986, by Clemens of the Red Sox against the Detroit Tigers on September 18, 1996, and by Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs against the Houston Astros on May 6, 1998.
  92. 1 2 Svrluga, Barry, "Special K's: Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout night is an ode to efficiency," washingtonpost.com, May 11, 2016.
  93. ↑ Scherzer previously had struck out 17 batters in pitching a no-hitter for the Washington Nationals against the New York Mets on October 3, 2015.
  94. ↑ The previous Montreal-Washington franchise record of 18 strikeouts was set by rookie Montreal Expos starting pitcher Bill Gullickson in a game against the Chicago Cubs on September 10, 1980.
  95. ↑ The only previous 20-plus-strikeout performances other than the ones in nine-inning games by Clemens and Wood were 20 strikeouts by Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in a game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 8, 2001, in which he recorded 20 strikeouts in the first nine innings but pitched into the 10th inning, and 21 strikeouts by Tom Cheney of the Washington Senators, who struck out 21 while pitching 16 innings against the Baltimore Orioles on September 12, 1962.
  96. ↑ In what could be considered the previous record, Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros threw 98 strikes in 125 pitches in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001, meaning that 78.4% of his pitches were strikes, but Scherzer threw only two fewer strikes in six fewer pitches, meaning that 80.7% of his pitches were strikes. It was the first time that a Major League Baseball pitcher had thrown 96 strikes in a game since Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants threw 96 strikes in 148 pitches (64.9% strikes) in a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in 2013. Earlier in 2013, Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw 96 strikes in 132 pitches (72.7% strikes) in an 8+2⁄3-inning outing against the Washington Nationals, and in 2012 Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers threw 96 strikes in 132 pitches (72.7% strikes) against the New York Yankees (See Svrluga, Barry, "Special K's: Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout night is an ode to efficiency," washingtonpost.com, May 11, 2016 and Svrluga, Barry, "A feat rarer than a perfect game: The five times pitchers struck out 20," washingtonpost.com, May 12, 2016).
  97. 1 2 Janes, Chelsea, "Nationals bench makes a little bit of history with pinch-hit power," washingtonpost.com, May 14, 2016, 8:00 a.m. EDT.
  98. ↑ Wagner, James, "Bryce Harper's two-run HR powers Nationals past Marlins, 5-3," washingtonpost.com, May 13, 2016, 11:07 p.m. EDT.
  99. ↑ Wagner, James, "Nationals pick up GM Mike Rizzo's two-year option," washingtonpost.com, May 14, 2016, 6:37 p.m. EDT.
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  101. ↑ "Matz wins 7th straight, Mets beat Nats 2-0 to take series". ESPN. May 25, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  102. ↑ Carig, Marc (May 24, 2016). "Matt Harvey hammered again in Mets' loss to Nationals". Newsday. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  103. ↑ Brewer, Jerry, "Believe in Dusty Baker because he believes in the Nationals," washingtonpost.com, May 29, 2016, 6:53 p.m. EDT.
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  106. ↑ "Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy named NL Player of the Month". MASN Sports. June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  107. ↑ "Standings - May 31, 2016". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
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  110. ↑ Nichols, Dave (June 9, 2016). "Washington Nationals 1, Chicago White Sox 3: Gio's shaky first costs Nats in low-offense game". Federal Baseball. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
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  112. ↑ Matz, Eddie, "Nationals' Stephen Strasburg goes totally '80s, improves to 10-0," espn.go.com, June 11, 2016, 1:31 a.m. EDT.
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  114. ↑ Shiferaw, Daniel (June 26, 2016). "Gonzalez' continued struggles highlight Nats' loss to Brewers". CSN Mid-Atlantic. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
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  120. ↑ Roseberry, Eric (July 3, 2016). "All hail Danny Espinosa, Nationals beat Reds 12-1". Red Reporter. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
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  126. ↑ Ladson, Bill (July 8, 2016). "Strasburg the first NL starter to open 12-0 since 1912". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
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  132. ↑ Eisenhauer, Mark, "Reynaldo Lopez's major league debut has a rocky start, solid ending," washingtontimes.com, July 19, 2016.
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  134. ↑ Gulizia, Anthony (July 21, 2016). "Stephen Strasburg's 16-game win streak snapped by Dodgers in Nationals' loss". The Washington Times. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  135. ↑ Zuppe, T.J. (July 27, 2016). "On The Ramifications Of Not Turning Two, Strasburg Outduels Carrasco, Some Rare Left-Handed Relief, Lucroy Rumors". CBS Cleveland. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  136. ↑ "Nats activate 1B Ryan Zimmerman". ESPN. July 26, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  137. ↑ "Nationals place Stephen Drew on DL with dizziness". ESPN. July 27, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  138. ↑ Hughes, Chase (July 29, 2016). "NATS PLACE C JOSE LOBATON ON DISABLED LIST, CALL UP SEVERINO". CSN Mid-Atlantic. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  139. ↑ Frantz, Bryan (August 1, 2016). "Ryan Zimmerman Booed After Being Hit by Pitch, Tips Helmet to Fans". CBS DC. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  140. ↑ McCauley, Janie (July 30, 2016). "Nationals acquire Melancon from Pirates". Newsday. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
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  145. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (August 2, 2016). "Washington Nationals 14-1 over Arizona Diamondbacks: Stephen Strasburg now 15-1". Federal Baseball. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  146. ↑ Hughes, Chase (August 2, 2016). "NATS SET SEASON-HIGH FOR RUNS AND HITS IN BLOWOUT VICTORY OVER D-BACKS". CSN Mid-Atlantic. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  147. ↑ Jageler, Dave (August 3, 2016). "The Nats-DBacks at Chase Field has never had one team sweep the other, so the Nats hope to change that today". Twitter. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  148. ↑ "Diamondbacks swept by Washington Nationals". AZCentral. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
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  150. ↑ "Nunez gets 3 extra-base hits off Strasburg, Giants top Nats". Boston Herald. August 6, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
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  152. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (August 13, 2016). "Washington Nationals officially release reliever Jonathan Papelbon..." Federal Baseball. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
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  154. ↑ "Sammy Solis to disabled list, Koda Glover recalled by Washington Nationals". The Washington Times. August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  155. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (August 19, 2016). "Washington Nationals blow lead, but beat Atlanta Braves, 7-6 on Clint Robinson single in 9th". Federal Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  156. ↑ "Nats place Stephen Strasburg on DL with elbow injury: Five things to know". CBS Sports. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  157. ↑ Werth tied the Montreal-Washington franchise record of 46 consecutive games reaching base safely set by Rusty Staub with the 1969 Montreal Expos. (See Casaletto, Lucas, "Werth ties franchise record with 46-game on-base streak," thescore.com, August 18, 2016.)
  158. ↑ Ladson, Bill (August 20, 2016). "On-base streak ends, but Werth gets job done". MLB.com. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  159. ↑ Frantz, Bryan (August 25, 2016). "A List of Crazy Things That Happened in Wednesday's Nats Game". CBS DC. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  160. ↑ Adams, Steve (August 25, 2016). "Nationals Acquire Marc Rzepczynski". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  161. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (August 26, 2016). "Washington Nationals 8-5 over Colorado Rockies: Trea Turner, Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy lead Nats' offense". Federal Baseball. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  162. ↑ Janes Chelsea, "Nationals' Gio González takes it to 100 wins in beating the Rockies," washingtonpost.com, August 26, 2016.
  163. ↑ Collier, Jamal (September 1, 2016). "Nats complete tough 20-game stretch on high note". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  164. ↑ "Harper doubles in return, Roark pitches Nats past Braves". USA Today. August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  165. ↑ Janes, Chelsea (August 21, 2016). "Errors, tired bullpen catch up to Nationals in series finale against Braves". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  166. ↑ Kosmider, Nick (August 28, 2016). "Rockies beat Nationals 5-3, taking another series from a first-place team". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  167. ↑ "Scherzer pitches gem as Washington Nationals salvage finale". Augusta Free Press. August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  168. ↑ Gelb, Matt (August 31, 2016). "Nationals sweep Phillies, spoil Morgan's night". The Inquirer. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  169. ↑ "Standings - August 31, 2016". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  170. ↑ Janes, Chelsea (September 3, 2016). "Trea Turner named National League Rookie of the Month". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  171. ↑ Zuckerman, Mark (September 2, 2016). "Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)". MASN Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  172. ↑ "Nationals' Matt den Dekker: Outrighted to Triple-A". CBS Sports. September 4, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  173. ↑ Tinsman, Brian (September 4, 2016). "Nats' Reynaldo Lopez Throws Three Wild Pitches". CBS DC. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  174. ↑ Dybas, Todd (September 6, 2016). "Nats call up Giolito and Difo from minors". The Washington Times. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  175. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (September 2, 2016). "Washington Nationals 4-1 over New York Mets: A. J. Cole impresses in Citi Field". Federal Baseball. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  176. ↑ Hughes, Chase (September 5, 2016). "TURNER'S BIG DAY LEADS NATS OVER BRAVES, ELIMINATES ATLANTA IN NL EAST". CSN Mid-Atlantic. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  177. ↑ Keeler, Ricky (September 7, 2016). "Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Exits Start Early Against Braves". District on Deck. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  178. ↑ Collier, Jamal (September 8, 2016). "Strasburg out indefinitely with forearm strain". MLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  179. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (September 18, 2016). "Joe Ross returns to the Nationals' rotation: "He looked very good. He looked sharp."". Federal Baseball. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  180. ↑ Kerr, Byron (September 6, 2016). "Nats rally on Rendon's grand slam (Nats win 9-7)". MASN Sports. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  181. ↑ Reddington, Patrick (September 9, 2016). "Trea Turner's walk-off blast lifts Nationals to 5-4 win over Phillies". Federal Baseball. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  182. ↑ Gio González had been the most recent Nationals pitcher to homer during a regular-season game, hitting one on April 2, 2014. Like Latos' home run, González's home run also came against the New York Mets, was also hit off a Dominican-born pitcher (Bartolo Colón), and was also a solo shot. (See Brown, David, "Gio González unnecessarily and hilariously sprints around bases after hitting homer," sports.yahoo.com, April 3, 2014.)
  183. ↑ Janes, Chelsea (September 12, 2016). "Starter Mat Latos homers as Nats thump Mets, 8-1". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  184. ↑ Axisa, Mike (September 14, 2016). "Daniel Murphy had a hit in all 19 games against the Mets this season". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  185. ↑ Among National League players, Derrek Lee had most recently accomplished the feat during the 2004 season for the Chicago Cubs against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals. In the American League, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros did the same against the Oakland Athletics during the 2015 season. (See MLB Statistics, "Hits in every game vs a team in a season since 1960 (min 19 G)," twitter.com, September 14, 2016.)
  186. ↑ Murphy's 19-game hitting streak against the Mets also surpassed the mark set by Lou Brock prior to the divisional era—Brock hit in 17 straight games against the Cubs during the Cardinals' 1965 season—for games against a previous-year team with a hit. (See Reddington, Patrick, "Hits in all 19 GAMES vs Mets sets records - Daniel Murphy - Topps NOW," federalbaseball.com, September 15, 2016.)
  187. ↑ "Nationals' Daniel Murphy: Out of lineup Sunday". CBS Sports. September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  188. ↑ Zuckerman, Mark (September 23, 2016). "Murphy shut down for weekend with buttocks strain". MASN. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
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  203. ↑ Scherzer was both the only pitcher in Major League Baseball to bat in four runs in a single game and the only pitcher in the National League to win at least 20 games during the 2016 season, accomplishing both feats on the last day of the regular season. (See Zuckerman, Mark, "With 20th win in the books, Scherzer now looks to postseason," masnsports.com, October 2, 2016.)
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  221. ↑ Janes, Chelsea, "Dusty Baker, Dave Roberts first African American managers to match up in postseason," washingtonpost.com, October 6, 2016.
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  225. ↑ Payne, Marissa, "Adam LaRoche and his son are throwing out the first pitch at Nats' Game 2," washingtonpost.com, October 5, 2016.
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  228. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Janes, Chelsea, "Unlikely hero Jose Lobaton's three-run homer evens Nats and Dodgers in NLDS," washingtonpost.com, October 9, 2016, 5;20 p.m. EDT.
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  231. 1 2 3 4 5 Castillo, Jorge, "Werth, Rendon homer and bullpen steps up as Nats take 2-1 series lead," washingtonpost.com, October 10, 2016, 8:48 p.m. EDT.
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  233. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Janes, Chelsea, "Nationals get to Clayton Kershaw, but bullpen finally breaks as Dodgers force Game 5," washingtonpost.com, October 11, 2016, 9:13 p.m. EDT.
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  235. ↑ Lee, Forrest, "Los Angeles Dodgers edge Washington Nationals, send NLDS to Game 5," upi.com, October 12, 2016, 2:25 AM.
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  248. ↑ "Footer, Alyson, "Grand finale: MLB Awards put cap on season," mlb.com, November 1−8, 2016". MLB.com . Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  249. 1 2 3 MLB Awards 2016 [ permanent dead link ]
  250. ↑ Janes, Chelsea, "Anthony Rendon named National League Comeback Player of the Year," washingtonpost.com, November 29, 2016.
  251. ↑ "Newman, Mark, "Call it a comeback: Porcello, Rendon honored," mlb.com, November 29, 2016". MLB.com . Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
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