There's no way it could all possibly be attributed to his return, but it's also impossible to ignore that the Nationals are 3-0 and are averaging just over eight runs per game since Ryan Zimmerman returned to their lineup. Published June 17 2011
The Nationals franchise-best errorless streak came to an end after 130 2/3 innings but the one error didn't tarnish what has become on of their unquestioned strengths: defense. And it all starts with Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa up the middle. Published June 17 2011
Adam LaRoche underwent successful surgery to repair a SLAP tear in the labrum of his left shoulder Thursday morning. Published June 16 2011
The Nationals have an opportunity tonight to win their sixth game in a row tonight for the first time since September 2009. They'll need to beat Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse, who tossed a complete game last time he faced the Nationals, thwarting a possible Nats series victory in St. Louis. Published June 16 2011
How Zimmerman has helped revive the Nats' bats, Livan Hernandez, Michael Morse and a quick note about Roger Bernadina. Published June 16 2011
Yunesky Maya has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after allowing six runs on nine hits in his start Tuesday. RHP Collin Balester has been called up to take his place on the Nationals roster. Published June 15 2011
Despite last night's offensive outburst, Jim Riggleman is still searching for a winning combination at the top of the Nationals' order. He's sticking with Jayson Werth in the leadoff spot for the fifth consecutive game and moving Roger Bernadina to the number two spot. Bernadina went 2-for-3 last night after Rick Ankiel left the game in the first inning with a strained intercostal muscle. Published June 15 2011
The Nationals' six-run seventh put the Nationals in a position to turn to Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen for the eighth and ninth innings once again. And that's where the other "biggest" inning for the Nationals comes in. The bottom of the ninth with Storen on for the save and the knowledge that -- if anyone gets on -- Albert Pujols would be striding to the plate. Which is exactly what happened after Ryan Theriot walked. Two outs, one on, two-run game: Pujols vs. Storen. Published June 15 2011
Three weeks after the Nationals officially placed him on the disabled list, avoiding surgery was no longer a possibility for first baseman Adam LaRoche. Thursday, LaRoche will undergo the first operation of his life when Nationals medical director Wiemi Douoguih performs surgery on the torn labrum in the first baseman's left shoulder and effectively ends his 2011 season. Published June 15 2011
Updates on Cole Kimball, Tom Gorzelanny, Roger Bernadina and Doug Slaten, as well as the reasoning behind optioning Craig Stammen and going with a six-man bullpen. Published June 14 2011
The Nationals will welcome back 3B Ryan Zimmerman tonight against St. Louis and bat him third. He had been on the disabled list since April 9 after surgery to his abdomen, but will hopefully add a much needed punch to the Washington lineup. Published June 14 2011
Ryan Zimmerman made his long-awaited return to the Nationals active roster Tuesday afternoon, six weeks to the day after he underwent surgery to repair a torn rectus muscle in his abdomen and exactly on schedule. Published June 14 2011
A few notes as the Nationals attempt to adjust back to eastern time time after 11 days on the left coast... Published June 13 2011
Matt Stairs will be the first person to tell you he's not happy with the way his 2011 season has gone. He entered the Nationals' series finale with the Padres Sunday afternoon -- June 12 -- with just four hits on the season. For one of the best pinch-hitters in the game, pinch-hitting wasn't treating him so well. Published June 12 2011
an Desmond has been managing the soreness in his left quad since he first felt it act up on May 13. He's gotten a day here and there and, with an off day coming up on Monday, he got another one Sunday so he can rest things for a full two days. Published June 12 2011
The Nationals will employ their unorthodox lineup for the second straight game with Jayson Werth leading off and the pitcher, this time Jordan Zimermmann, hitting eighth. Alex Cora will bat ninth and play shortstop as Ian Desmond gets a day off to rest some aches and pains. Published June 12 2011
There's really no other way to present the magnitude of a potential winning multi-city road trip than to state the facts: It hasn't happened for the Nationals in over three years. Published June 12 2011
Nationals pitcher Jason Marquis dropped the appeal of his five-game suspension for what was deemed to be intentionally throwing at Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton last weekend in Arizona. He'll begin serving the suspension immediately but will not miss a start because of an offday for the team on Monday. Published June 11 2011
With the worst leadoff on-base percentage in the major leagues, the Nationals offense -- and their lineup -- was prime for a shakeup if they're ever going to click the way they've promised they could. That shakeup came Saturday afternoon when Nationals manager Jim Riggleman unveiled a lineup that featured right fielder Jayson Werth hitting leadoff and the pitcher, John Lannan, batting eighth with Roger Bernadina behind him in the ninth spot. Published June 11 2011
The Nationals are two games away from the end of a long west coast road trip and with a chance at a .500 record or better on the 11-game swing, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman -- to put it bluntly -- is getting crazy with his lineup. Jayson Werth is leading off and John Lannan, the pitcher, is hitting eighth. Published June 11 2011
By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
