As things stand right now, Brewers ace Zack Greinke is scheduled to pitch against the Nationals on Sunday in the finale of this four-game series. But with the Brewers being fairly open about their desire to move Greinke before the trade deadline it does not appear likely that Greinke will make that start. Published July 26 2012
With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline coming up, the Nationals’ front office staff is out in full force on the team’s current trip. At least five top front office officials are in Milwaukee, including Rizzo, assistant GM Bryan Minniti and director of player development Doug Harris. Published July 26 2012
Danny Espinosa is hitting .351 this month and .373 since the All-Star break. Published July 25 2012
Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Wednesday morning Werth could be close to rejoining the Nationals' active roster when the team returns home from their current road trip on Monday. Published July 25 2012
Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores returned to the starting lineup after a three-game absence with a stiff back. Published July 24 2012
Yesterday was a busy day for MLB trades, the busiest one we've had this year with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching. The Marlins sent Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez to the Tigers for highly-touted prospects. The Yankees acquired Ichiro Suzuki and the Braves attempted to trade for right-hander Ryan Dempster. That one is still up in the air. As things pertains to the Nationals, though, the action's not all that fast at this point. Published July 24 2012
It's not the way Nationals fans are used to seeing Drew Storen used out of the bullpen. They're not used to seeing Storen face one or two batters and have to turn the ball over. But it's not some hair-brained scheme that Nationals manager Davey Johnson is making up as he goes along from the dugout. Published July 24 2012
The Washington Nationals and the New York Mets have played 38 innings in the last seven days. The scouting reports needed on the opposition, at this point, have become minimal. The Nationals know that 6-foot-10 right-hander Chris Young throws slow enough to make a pitch tantalizingly attractive -- but with enough late rise to make it infuriatingly difficult to square up. A “riseball,” as Bryce Harper put it. They also know that the Mets’ bullpen, which has allowed 145 runs this season and has an MLB-worst 5.16 ERA, is eminently beatable. All they had to do on Monday night, was wait. Published July 24 2012
After a torrid week, in which he was 15-for-32 (.469) with five home runs and a 1.067 slugging percentage, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was named National League Player of the Week. Published July 23 2012
Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game on Monday with rookie Sandy Leon getting the start again. Flores, who has been nursing a sore back, said he felt well enough to play -- even better than he did on Sunday. Published July 23 2012
A few of the Nationals will continue their respective rehab assignments Monday night while the major league team is in New York to face the Mets. Jayson Werth and Chad Tracy arrived in Triple-A Syracuse Monday morning and they are batting 2-3 in the Syracuse lineup. Published July 23 2012
Thoughts, observations and leftovers on Ian Desmond's injury and the Nationals' offense, Ross Detwiler, Jesus Flores, Sandy Leon and more. Published July 23 2012
Ian Desmond will be placed on the disabled list with an oblique injury on Monday. The Nationals will recall outfielder Corey Brown from Triple-A Syracuse to take his spot on the 25-man roster. Published July 22 2012
Nationals manager Davey Johnson knew before he even arrived at Nationals Park on Sunday morning that Ian Desmond would not be in his lineup for the finale with the Atlanta Braves. Desmond, the Nationals' All-Star shortstop, told Johnson late in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader that the oblique strain he's been trying to play through was acting up. Published July 22 2012
Bryce Harper's status for the second game of tonight's doubleheader remains questionable after the rookie fouled a ball off his left ankle in the first game. An MRI taken on Harper's ankle came back clean, though, so Harper could potentially play if necessary. Published July 21 2012
Bryce Harper’s status for the second game of a doubleheader Saturday night against the Braves is in question after the Washington Nationals’ outfielder fouled a ball off his left ankle in the first inning Saturday afternoon and was forced to leave the game. An MRI on Harper’s ankle showed that there was no break and he’s been diagnosed with a contusion. Published July 21 2012
One of the last things the Washington Nationals wanted to see happened in the first inning of Game One of a doubleheader on Saturday. Bryce Harper, batting against Ben Sheets, squared to bunt the 0-1 pitch and bunted an 89-mph fastball into the inside of his left ankle/foot. Published July 21 2012
It's overcast and misty but relatively dry here at Nationals Park this Saturday morning. And with a long day of baseball on tap the Nationals can only be hoping it stays that way. After arguably their most crushing loss of the season was sealed just 13 1/2 hours ago, the Nationals have two games on tap with the Atlanta Braves. Their lead in the NL East could be back up to 4 1/2 games by the end of it or it could be down to just a half-game. Published July 21 2012
The Nationals are going with eight relievers, at least through the weekend, so Johnson has a plethora of options but a jumbled mess of roles -- and it's led to him managing more with a day-to-day mentality than the kind of long-term outlook he prefers. Published July 21 2012
The Washington Nationals made official this morning what had been assumed and discussed for days: John Lannan, once expected to be an integral member of the Nationals' starting rotation, was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to start Game Two of the Nationals' doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. Published July 21 2012
By James A. Lyons
By arming the rebels, we're aiding al Qaeda
