NATIONALS WATCH

Amanda Comak covers the Washington Nationals for The Washington Times.

• Today's lineups for Nats-Rockies

  By Nathan Fenno — Published July 10, 2011 Comments

  Much of today's attention will be on Phoenix, where Nationals prospects Bryce Harper and Brad Peacock play in the All-Star Futures Game. But this afternoon at Nationals Park, Washington can finish the season's first half at .500 with a victory against the Colorado Rockies.

• Nationals post-break rotation shaping up

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 9, 2011 Comments

  There are still a few moving parts but the Nationals post-All-Star break rotation is beginning to take shape.

• Lannan: "I should have thrown a changeup"

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 9, 2011 Comments

  One day after stopping Ty Wigginton's liner with his face, Nationals left-hander was in good spirits in the clubhouse looking not too much worse for the wear. His nose was a little visibly swollen but there wasn't much bruising, his septum was fine and a CT scan taken last night came back clean.

• Nix back, Werth hits sixth, Flores catches: today's lineups

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 9, 2011 Comments

  After missing the last two games, Laynce Nix was back in left field and hitting cleanup for the Nationals Saturday. With Nix back in the lineup, Jayson Werth was dropped back into the sixth spot in the lineup and catcher Jesus Flores gets his first major league start behind the plate since May 9, 2009.

• Giants reach out to Riggleman

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 9, 2011 Comments

  Jim Riggleman was supposed to be packing his bags this weekend and heading to Phoenix, Ariz., to serve as a coach on Bruce Bochy's staff at the All-Star game. That opportunity ceased when Riggleman resigned his post as manager of the Nationals on June 23. But Bochy, who is very good friends with Riggleman, and Giants general manager Brian Sabean have reached out to Riggleman with another opportunity, this one to possibly join the Giants' organization. The partnership is in the exploratory stages right now but Riggleman will fly to California after the All-Star break to meet with the Giants' brass and discuss their options.

• John Lannan gets hit with a comebacker, exits immediately

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 8, 2011 Comments

  There was a scary scene on the field at Nationals Park in the fourth inning Friday night when Nationals left-hander John Lannan was hit in the face with a comebacker off the bat of Ty Wigginton.

• Kimball to undergo season-ending rotator cuff surgery

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 8, 2011 Comments

  For Cole Kimball, the news he got from an arthrogram done on his injured right shoulder revealed exactly what he'd feared worst: a tear in the rotator cuff. Kimball will undergo season-ending rotator cuff surgery sometime during the All-Star break thus bringing his brief first year in the major leagues to a disheartening end. The 25-year-old will be operated on by Dr. David Altchek in New York city.

• Pudge to the DL, Flores recalled

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 8, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals placed catcher Ivan Rodriguez on the disabled list with a right oblique strain this afternoon and recalled catcher Jesus Flores from Triple-A to take his spot on the active roster.

• Nix sits, no move for Pudge yet: today's lineups

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 8, 2011 Comments

  Laynce Nix is out of the Nationals lineup for the second straight day, presumably so that manager Davey Johnson can give him another whole day to rest the various aches and pains the left fielder's been working through.

• Strained right oblique could land Rodriguez on disabled list

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 8, 2011 Comments

  The strained right oblique muscle that forced Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the lineup Thursday afternoon may soon land him on the disabled list.

• Wang hits 92 mph in third rehab start

  By Nathan Fenno — Published July 7, 2011 Comments

  HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Washington Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang needed only 43 pitches to take a significant step in his rehabilitation Thursday night.

• Pudge scratched, Ramos starting and other pregame notes

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 7, 2011 Comments

  Ivan Rodriguez has been scratched from the Nationals lineup tonight with a right oblique issue and Wilson Ramos will start in his place; Michael Morse finishes fourth in the Final Vote and other pregame notes.

• Nix sits, Werth hits fifth: today's lineups

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 7, 2011 Comments

  Laynce Nix is out of the Nationals lineup today which means that the Jayson Werth hits sixth idea has lasted all of one day, so far. Most likely it's just a routine day off for Nix but we'll find out for sure when we head down to the clubhouse shortly.

• Drew Storen needs to rest, so how does that affect the bullpen around him?

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 7, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals have played 88 games this season and Drew Storen has pitched in 43 of them. He's on pace to appear in 79 games this season, just his second in the majors and first as a closer, and that's not a situation that his manager wants him to be in. It was with that in mind that Davey Johnson thought he'd send Henry Rodriguez out for a second inning -- one that would also be the ninth in a save situation -- on Wednesday night.

• Kimball heads to New York for second opinion on shoulder

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 6, 2011 Comments

  As he nears the one-month mark of his stay on the disabled list, Nationals right-hander Cole Kimball will travel to New York Friday for a second opinion on his injured shoulder.