NATIONALS WATCH

Amanda Comak covers the Washington Nationals for The Washington Times.

• Jerry Hairston Jr. disciplined by MLB

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 29, 2011 Comments

  Major League Baseball has fined and suspended Nationals third baseman Jerry Hairstion Jr. for one game following his ejection from Friday night's game and what MLB termed "his aggressive actions, which included making contact with umpire Ed Hickox."

• Espinosa gets a day off, Cora at 2B: today's lineups, plus how they've done vs. today's starter, RHP Dustin Moseley

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 29, 2011 Comments

  It'll be Yunesky Maya and Dustin Moseley on the mound for the Nationals and Padres, respectively, this afternoon with Maya making his first major league start of the season. As for the lineup behind him, it'll be a pretty standard Nationals lineup minus Danny Espinosa who looks to be getting a routine day off. Alex Cora will get the start at second base in his place.

• Nationals recall Maya to start Sunday

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 29, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals officially recalled Yunesky Maya from Triple-A Syracuse this morning to start this afternoon in the series finale against the San Diego Padres.

• Pudge hasn't heard anything about trade rumors

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 28, 2011 Comments

  When San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey broke his leg blocking the plate Wednesday night, one of the first names mentioned as a possible replacement for the young phenom was Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez. The Nationals, who are one of few teams with exceptional depth at the catcher position between Wilson Ramos, Rodriguez and Jesus Flores at Triple-A Syracuse, have reportedly been trying to move Rodriguez for the right package since spring training and were immediately linked as a potential trade partner for the Giants. So far though, all it's been is rumors. On Friday, Giants general manager Brian Sabean told reporters that he had not contacted a single team about a trade for a catcher, and that they planned to allow Eli Whiteside to get an opportunity for the time being. As far as the rumors go, none of them reached Rodriguez.

• Pregame notes: Gorzelanny's elbow inflammation, Balester recalled, checking in with LaRoche and other notes

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 28, 2011 Comments

  Nationals left-hander Tom Gorzelanny had an MRI on his left elbow Friday night and while it did reveal some inflammation, it didn't show any structural damage or anything more than the inflammation that has been causing him some pain since his last start.

• The Nationals vs. today's starter: RHP Tim Stauffer, plus the lineups

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 28, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals are expected to make a roster move later this morning to fill the spot vacated by Tom Gorzelanny and they could choose to fill that spot with a starter for Sunday or take the one day and call up a reliever or a position player before optioning them back down following today's game. As for today's game, it's a good pitching matchup with Tim Stauffer going against Jordan Zimmermann. Here are the lineups, with Rick Ankiel leading off in place of Roger Bernadina, who has played every game since getting called up on May 7.

• Nationals options as Tom Gorzelanny hits the DL

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 28, 2011 Comments

  With the Nationals placing left-hander Tom Gorzelanny on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation late Friday night (we'll find out more about this tomorrow), they now need a starter for Sunday's series finale with the San Diego Padres. Here's a quick look at their possible options:

• Werth speaks and Hairston's ejection

  By Nathan Fenno — Published May 28, 2011 Comments

  After Friday's game, Jayson Werth responded to the furor over comments he made earlier this week. The short version: Werth claims he was misunderstood.

• Riggleman talks to Werth, Zimmerman rehabs and lineups

  By Nathan Fenno — Published May 27, 2011 Comments

  Manager Jim Riggleman spoke to Jayson Werth Friday about the right fielder's comments following the Nationals' loss to the Brewers Wednesday.

• The Nationals vs. today's starter: LHP Clayton Richard

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 27, 2011 Comments

  Here are the Nationals career numbers against left-hander Clayton Richard, including good numbers for both Michael Morse and Ian Desmond, albeit limited sample sizes:

• Three pivotal games

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 27, 2011 Comments

  Things are bad for the Nationals right now, yes. Things are worse for the San Diego Padres, the Nationals opponent as they begin a six-game homestand tonight at Nationals Park.

• Assessing the Nationals' first base situation

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 26, 2011 Comments

  With Adam LaRoche out for the next few weeks -- and perhaps much longer if the rest prescribed for the torn labrum in his left shoulder doesn't solve his problems -- the Nationals, for now, are prepared to go with what they've got before looking elsewhere.

• Wednesday leftovers: notes from the Nationals 6-4 loss to the Brewers

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 25, 2011 Comments

  For five straight days the Nationals' postgame clubhouse has been silent. Five straight games, five straight losses and, understandably, not too many players who want to rehash what's happening on the field. But after Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Brewers that dropped the team to 1-7 on the road trip and seven games below .500 on the season, right fielder Jayson Werth had some things to say, cryptic as they may be. Here's what worth had to say, along with a few other notes as the Nationals head home.

• Expect Rodriguez to play an increased role

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 25, 2011 Comments

  One of the key decisions by Nationals manager Jim Riggleman in his team's 7-6 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday night was to pitch Henry Rodriguez with one out in the eighth inning, his team clinging to a one-run lead. The decision didn't work out for the Nationals then, but it won't stop Riggleman from using his hard-throwing right-hander in the role more often. Riggleman said today he expects to use Rodriguez and Tyler Clippard as his seventh and eighth inning guys interchangeably, saving Drew Storen for the ninth and allowing Sean Burnett to be used when necessary situationally.

• The Nationals vs. today's starter: RHP Zack Greinke, plus the lineups

  By Amanda Comak — Published May 25, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals are looking for just their second victory on the road trip and to avoid being swept for the third time this season. Unfortunately, standing in their way is Zack Greinke, making just his fifth start of the season. The good news for the Nationals is that Greinke is 2-1 with a 6.43 ERA so far. Here are the lineups and how they've done against Greinke in the past.