Harper staying with Harrisburg, Ramos close to returning, Taylor Jordan notes

Harper staying with Harrisburg, Ramos close to returning, Taylor Jordan notes
NEW YORK - Speaking following yesterday's game, Davey Johnson left the door open to the possibility that Bryce Harper would cut short his rehab assignment by a few days and join the Nationals in New York this weekend. That won't be happening. Harper is remaining with Double-A Harrisburg for the time being. Harper will get a day off today, but he'll still hit indoors and do some throwing. He'll be back in the lineup tomorrow against Bowie, and then if all goes well, could be ready to...
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Nats, Mets lineups for series opener

Nats, Mets lineups for series opener
NEW YORK - Greetings from Citi Field on a slightly muggy but otherwise nice day. Looks like we'll avoid the storm clouds that apparently are hovering around those of you back in the mid-Atlantic region. There was a point where I wasn't sure whether I'd make it here at all. The cab driver I had take me to my hotel was quite possibly the worst driver I've ever seen. I'm not 100 percent sure he'd ever driven a car prior to today. Luckily, I'm here safe and sound. Tonight the Nationals...
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Talking Strasburg and the lack of streaks

Talking Strasburg and the lack of streaks
Here's the good news: The Nationals are looking like they've got three top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers right now. Jordan Zimmermann is tied for the major league lead with 11 wins and has a 2.28 ERA. Gio Gonzalez has bounced back from a rocky April and owns a 2.32 ERA over his last 10 starts. And after yesterday's outing, Stephen Strasburg has a 2.41 ERA on the season. Over his last eight starts (one of which was a two-inning, injury-shortened outing), Strasburg's ERA is a ridiculous...
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Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 loss to D-backs and Harper's status

Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 loss to D-backs and Harper's status
As he sat down for his postgame press conference after tonight's 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Diamondbacks, Davey Johnson looked at reporters and slowly shook his head. The offensive production and clutch hitting that had been present in the Nationals' first two games of this series disappeared in today's series finale, and the Nats will hop on a flight up to New York tonight again the owners of a .500 record. You can't exactly blame the Nats for missing the chance to pick up a series sweep...
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Desmond gets the Nats going (Nats lose 3-2 in 11 innings)

Desmond gets the Nats going (Nats lose 3-2 in 11 innings)
Ian Desmond's first half continues to get more impressive. The Nationals shortstop cranked a two-run homer in the fourth inning today, his 13th of the season, that gave the Nats a 2-0 lead over the Diamondbacks. Desmond took a massive swing at an 0-1 slider from Arizona starter Patrick Corbin and came up empty. I think I felt the gust of wind from Desmond's hack up here in the press box, about 3,000 feet in the air. After working the count to 2-2, Desmond then got another slider, and he...
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Perry outrighted, clearing spot for starter (Moore notes; we're under way)

Perry outrighted, clearing spot for starter (Moore notes; we're under way)
The Nationals have outrighted right-hander Ryan Perry to Double-A Harrisburg, a move that drops Perry from the 40-man roster and clears a spot for the Nats to add a starter for Saturday's game against the Mets. Perry had already been pitching for Harrisburg, so this was strictly a procedural move. And while the Nats aren't officially willing to announce who will get the start on Saturday, we know who it will be. As has been speculated for much of this week, Taylor Jordan will get the ball,...
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Harper joins Harrisburg, likely to return to Nats Monday

Harper joins Harrisburg, likely to return to Nats Monday
After kicking off his rehab assignment at high Single-A Potomac and playing two games with the P-Nats, Bryce Harper has moved on to Double-A Harrisburg. Harper has joined the Senators for their four-game series against Bowie, allowing him to jump up a level while also staying local. Harper, who is rehabbing from left knee bursitis, is scheduled to play 8-9 innings tonight, according to Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Assuming all goes well over these next few days and Harper doesn't suffer...
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Solano behind the plate in series finale vs. Diamondbacks

Solano behind the plate in series finale vs. Diamondbacks
Davey Johnson is running out pretty much the same lineup today that he used in yesterday's 3-2 Nationals win over the Diamondbacks. Tyler Moore will get the start again in left field, this time against Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin. The only change to yesterday's lineup is that Jhonatan Solano will be behind the plate, catching right-hander Stephen Strasburg. This should be a heck of a pitching matchup today, pitting two 2009 draft picks against one another. Strasburg (No. 1 overall...
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On Zimmermann, Rendon, Espinosa and Owings

On Zimmermann, Rendon, Espinosa and Owings
After three long days, my jury duty is complete, this following more than 7 1/2 hours of deliberation last night that caused me to miss another Nationals game. I'm all done now, however, and am ready to get back into the flow this afternoon as the Nats wrap up their three-game series with the Diamondbacks and then head up to New York for three against the Mets. While I didn't get to see last night's 3-2 Nats win, I'm studying the box score right now. Here's what it tells me: Jordan...
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Some of this, some of that

Some of this, some of that
It had been 51 days since Gio Gonzalez last picked up a win. Fifty-one days, despite an eight-start stretch in which Gonzalez pitched to a 2.15 ERA and held opponents to a .174 batting average and .532 OPS. That can happen when your offense is ineffective and your team has a number of key position players dealing with injuries. Last night, Gonzalez's lengthy winless streak finally was snapped in a 7-5 Nationals win. Of course, as Davey Johnson pointed out to reporters after the game,...
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A look at Taylor Jordan and the open rotation spot

A look at Taylor Jordan and the open rotation spot
Before I dive into things this morning, some brief housekeeping notes. I spent nearly 10 hours at jury selection yesterday (what a fun process that was!) and was eventually chosen to serve for a trial starting today. The trial is scheduled to last two days, so I might be out of action through Wednesday, although I'm hoping things move swiftly and I'm able to make my way to Nats Park for tomorrow's game. Regardless, Byron Kerr will have you covered on all Nationals updates today, as I'll...
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Harper to begin rehab assignment tonight (updated)

Harper to begin rehab assignment tonight (updated)
The original plan was for Bryce Harper to start his rehab assignment Tuesday at high Single-A Potomac. Harper then said he'd prefer to wait another day or two, and the plan was altered to have Harper likely starting his rehab assignment Wednesday. Now we're back to Tuesday again. A source with knowledge of the situation has confirmed that Harper will head to Woodbridge, Va., on Tuesday, to make his first rehab appearance as he works back from left knee bursitis, which has bothered him for...
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Still treading water nearly three months in

Still treading water nearly three months in
If you look at the standings as of this morning, you'll get a clear picture of how the Washington Nationals' 2013 season is going. The team considered by many around the game to be the World Series favorites coming into the season has a 37-38 record after yesterday's loss to the Rockies. The Nats are six games back of the Braves in the National League East, and they're seven games out of a Wild Card spot. Eight of the other 14 teams in the National League have superior winning...
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Werth discusses his groin injury, Haren discusses landing on the DL

Werth discusses his groin injury, Haren discusses landing on the DL
The last time Jayson Werth had to leave a game due to an injury, he said that he didn't think it was too serious and hoped he wouldn't need to land on the disabled list. The tightness that had popped up in Werth's right hamstring hung around for a while, and he eventually needed to miss 28 games while rehabbing the hamstring on the DL. The hope is that this time, the pulled left groin that Werth suffered in today's 7-6 loss to the Rockies doesn't pose nearly as much of a problem. Werth...
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Johnson on Detwiler, Haren, Werth and Harper after 7-6 Nats loss

Johnson on Detwiler, Haren, Werth and Harper after 7-6 Nats loss
The Nationals put up six straight runs this afternoon to make this game respectable and give themselves a shot late, but they couldn't overcome the seven-run deficit they were handed by Ross Detwiler. A 7-6 loss to the Rockies was the result, a loss that dropped the Nats back to a game under .500. Detwiler allowed seven runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander relies almost exclusively on his two- and four-seam fastballs, and the Rockies weren't fooled by what Detwiler brought...
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The fourth-inning blues (Werth leaves game, Nats lose 7-6)

The fourth-inning blues (Werth leaves game, Nats lose 7-6)
For the second straight day, a Nationals starter didn't made it out of the fourth inning. Yesterday, it was Dan Haren getting pulled after 3 1/3 innings, having allowed six runs on seven hits. Today, it's Ross Detwiler handing the ball to Davey Johnson after 3 2/3 innings. Detwiler allowed seven runs on nine hits (including two homers) with one walk and three strikeouts. Haren left to a heavy chorus of boos yesterday. Detwiler left to mild applause today. Ross Ohlendorf was able to pick...
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Haren heading to DL (Harper puts on a show in batting practice)

Haren heading to DL (Harper puts on a show in batting practice)
Turns out the Nationals won't wait until after Dan Haren's side session before deciding what to do with the veteran right-hander. Haren will be heading to the disabled list, a team source confirmed this afternoon. The ailment has not yet been specified. Haren has gone 4-9 this season and has a major league-worst 6.15 ERA. He went just 3 1/3 innings yesterday against the Rockies, allowing six runs on seven hits, and left the field to a chorus of boos from Nats fans. The Nats have gone 0-8...
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Werth in Nats lineup, LaRoche and Span aren't (Rockies lineup)

Werth in Nats lineup, LaRoche and Span aren't (Rockies lineup)
Jayson Werth is back in the Nationals lineup today after being scratched from yesterday's lineup due to what manager Davey Johnson called flu-like symptoms. Two other Nats regulars will not start today's series finale against the Rockies. Adam LaRoche and Denard Span - two left-handed hitters - are both sitting today against Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rossa. Johnson also had LaRoche and Span out of the lineup against Phillies left-hander John Lannan earlier this week. Johnson has...
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What comes next for Haren?

What comes next for Haren?
The Nationals aren't sure what they'll do with Dan Haren at this point. Haren might make his next start. He might get his next start skipped while getting a chance to work on things during bullpen sessions. He might land on the disabled list. One thing the Nationals do know is they can't keep getting this type of result from Haren every fifth day. The Nats have lost the last eight games that Haren has started. Had they gone 4-4 in those games, they'd be 41-33 and one game back of the...
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Dan Haren: "I'd probably boo myself, too"

Dan Haren: "I'd probably boo myself, too"
After this afternoon's 7-1 Nationals loss, in which he went just 3 1/3 innings, allowed six runs and was booed off the mound, Dan Haren was seated at his locker waiting for reporters. When about a dozen media members approached, Haren stood up, spun his chair around to create some room for the cameras, and calmly answered questions about yet another disappointing outing for 3 1/2 minutes. Haren was honest, forthcoming and thoughtful in his responses, even when some tough questions were...
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