Werth feeling "good" stiffness in wrist, roster move on Nady coming

Werth feeling "good" stiffness in wrist, roster move on Nady coming
The Nationals are optimistic they'll be able to play tonight's game despite the rainy forecast for the D.C. region tonight. Should tonight's game get rained out before it starts, though, the Nats will just push their starters back and give Stephen Strasburg the ball for the first game of tomorrow's doubleheader. That would mean John Lannan wouldn't be needed tomorrow, which would be a tough break for the lefty, who's already in D.C. Piggybacking on MASNsports.com's Pete Kerzel's...
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Desmond returns, Werth heads out

Desmond returns, Werth heads out
After five days out of the Nationals' starting lineup because of a sore oblique, Ian Desmond is back in there today. Desmond will start at short and hit in his normal No. 6 spot in the lineup for tonight's series opener against the Braves. That is, of course, if we play at all. The tarp is on the field and a light rain is currently falling at Nats Park. They're calling for showers pretty much all night, but with these two teams already scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow, they'll do...
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Set to square off against a red-hot division foe

Set to square off against a red-hot division foe
You know what's tough? Waking up and reading reports about the horrific movie theater shooting in Colorado and then trying to refocus on sports. Truly awful stuff, and awful that it happened in a town which is apparently about 20 miles from Columbine. After opening the second half by playing four against the Marlins and then three against the Mets, the Nationals now move on to face the next division rival in their path - the Braves. The Nats are just working their way up the NL East...
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Storen's long-awaited 2012 debut an impressive one

Storen's long-awaited 2012 debut an impressive one
When Drew Storen sprinted in from the Nationals Park bullpen for the first time this season, he heard "Bad Company" blaring over the stadium speakers, saw the fans give him a standing ovation and thought back on the last four months, which have been pretty rough on him professionally. "It was pretty emotional for me, to be honest with you," Storen said. "It's hard to explain, but it is honestly one of the best feelings in the world to have the fans appreciate me being back out there. ......
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Plenty of positives from 9-5 loss (plus Lannan, Desmond notes)

Plenty of positives from 9-5 loss (plus Lannan, Desmond notes)
It's easy to look at a 9-5 loss to a division rival and say not much went right. Gio Gonzalez got hit hard and lasted just 3 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the year. Craig Stammen didn't fare much better in relief. Bryce Harper went 0-for-5, the Nationals were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and they left 12 on-base. But Davey Johnson isn't looking at today's loss that way. He doesn't view this as a missed opportunity to earn a sweep and won't leave Nats Park frustrated...
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This one's gotten ugly (Nats lose 9-5)

This one's gotten ugly (Nats lose 9-5)
You could tell Davey Johnson was throwing in the towel on today's ballgame when he let reliever Craig Stammen hit for himself in the fifth inning. Johnson really waved the white flag when he had Mark DeRosa take over for Ryan Zimmerman at third base in the top of the sixth. This one hasn't been pretty from the Nationals' perspective, as they trail 9-2 through six innings. And Johnson's decided to rest a couple of his starters, including Jesus Flores, with the game seemingly out of...
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Rizzo feels comfortable with current catching corps (Gio leaves early)

Rizzo feels comfortable with current catching corps (Gio leaves early)
The Nationals have used five different catchers at the major league level this season. Currently, with Jhonatan Solano landing on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, their duo consists of Jesus Flores, who came into today hitting .230 on the season, and backup Sandy Leon, who has just four innings of major league experience. That's led some to wonder if the Nats would consider adding an experienced, offensive-minded catcher before the trade deadline. But general manager Mike Rizzo...
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Rizzo on decision to designate Ankiel for assignment

Rizzo on decision to designate Ankiel for assignment
Talk about rough timing for Rick Ankiel to find out that he'd been designated for assignment by the Nationals. Today is his birthday. Ankiel turns 33 today, but he now finds himself in a state of flux after being let go in order for the Nationals to activate reliever Drew Storen from the disabled list. General manager Mike Rizzo said the decision to let Ankiel go wasn't an easy one, but that the veteran outfielder took the news like a pro. "It was very difficult, just because of the guy...
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Storen to be activated, Ankiel likely designated for assignment

Storen to be activated, Ankiel likely designated for assignment
The lineup card has been posted in the Nationals clubhouse for today's 12:35 p.m. game against the Mets, and right-hander Drew Storen is listed among the available pitchers. That's a signal Storen has been activated from the disabled list following recovery from surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow. Outfielder Rick Ankiel is not listed among the bench players. His locker has been cleaned out and his nameplate has been removed. It appears the veteran outfielder has been...
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Shooting for the sweep, looking forward to Leon

Shooting for the sweep, looking forward to Leon
In case you didn't happen to see it, reliever Miguel Batista called his squad "the best team in baseball" after last night's game. Yes, the same Miguel Batista who allowed two huge runs over two-thirds of an inning in yesterday's 4-3 Nationals win. Yes, the same Miguel Batista who suits up for the New York Mets, who are currently a game above .500 and eight games back of the Nationals in the National League East. "Right now they're playing good baseball, but I don't believe they're a...
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Another gem from Zimmermann (plus roster move)

Another gem from Zimmermann (plus roster move)
The move isn't official just yet, but the Nationals will place catcher Jhonatan Solano on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique and recall Sandy Leon from Double-A Harrisburg to serve as their backup catcher. Leon played one game (well, four innings, really) with the Nats this season before suffering a high-ankle sprain on a play at the plate, landing him on the DL. He's expected to be with the Nationals for Thursday's 12:35 p.m. start. Davey Johnson got a kick out of Tuesday's...
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Clippard shaky again, but Nats beat Mets 4-3

Clippard shaky again, but Nats beat Mets 4-3
As much as the Nationals might not enjoy facing the Marlins, they apparently love squaring off against the Mets. The Nats improved to 6-2 against the Mets this season with tonight's 4-3 win. For the time being, the Nationals move to four games up in the National League East, with the Braves still battling the Giants down in Atlanta. Jordan Zimmermann got the win tonight, pushing his record above .500 for the first time this season. He's now 7-6 on the year and sports a 2.35 ERA, currently...
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Jordan Zimmermann is a machine (updated again)

Jordan Zimmermann is a machine (updated again)
The level of consistency that Jordan Zimmermann has delivered this season has been remarkable, if not a little freaky. Zimmermann has thrown five shutout innings again tonight, lowering his season ERA to a miniscule 2.37 and leaving him one frame short of his 19th straight outing of at least six innings. The Mets have notched just three hits off Zimmermann, two of which were bloops off the bat of David Wright. Zimmermann hasn't walked a batter, has struck out four and has needed just 77...
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Get ready for some roster shuffling (Werth to begin rehab assignment)

Get ready for some roster shuffling (Werth to begin rehab assignment)
The tarp is on the field at Nats Park, the wind is howling and the skies are pretty freakin' dark. They're expecting "severe storms" here in D.C., but we haven't gotten any rain yet and it looks like the heavy stuff might miss us. We shall see. There's a ton of injury news to pass along today, starting with Jayson Werth, who took batting practice today. This marked a major step in the right direction after Werth broke his wrist back in early May. Manager Davey Johnson said today that...
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Werth back taking batting practice (with Nats lineup)

Werth back taking batting practice (with Nats lineup)
Still no Nationals lineup just yet, as the team could yet again be checking on Ian Desmond's status before setting their starting nine for tonight's game against the Mets. While we wait on the Nats lineup, I've got some good news to pass along on Jayson Werth, who is currently taking part in some early batting practice along with Chad Tracy. This is the first time I've seen Werth taking BP since suffering a broken wrist back in early May. Manager Davey Johnson said yesterday he expected...
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Storen takes a step forward, Clippard questions his pitch selection

Storen takes a step forward, Clippard questions his pitch selection
Davey Johnson said yesterday afternoon that the Nationals wanted to see Drew Storen's command improve and his breaking ball get more consistent before the team would consider activating the reliever from his rehab assignment. Storen was apparently listening loud and clear. He worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning for Single-A Potomac yesterday, throwing 11 pitches, 10 of which were strikes. Storen struck out two, both of which were swinging Ks on sliders. He's getting closer to a...
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Reliving last night's thriller

Reliving last night's thriller
This is just one man's take, but I feel like last night's game was about as much fun as a baseball game can be in the middle of July. Some might prefer a 1-0 pitchers' duel. I'll take a back-and-forth, standing ovation-inducing, walk-off-ending 5-4 contest between two division rivals. Actually, if you think about it, last night's game had it all. If you're the pitchers' duel type, that's what you got for seven innings as Ross Detwiler and Jon Niese befuddled hitters and tossed up...
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Johnson recaps a wild 5-4 extra-inning win

Johnson recaps a wild 5-4 extra-inning win
Davey Johnson walked into the interview room next door to the Nationals' clubhouse, sat down at the table in front of reporters and broke into a big smile. "Wow! That's my kind of ballgame," Johnson said. This was certainly another crazy one, one which saw the Nats jump out to a 2-0 lead, lose it in the ninth when Tyler Clippard blew his first save since taking over the closer duties, tie it up in the bottom of the ninth on a dramatic two-out, two-strike RBI single by Danny Espinosa, fall...
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Detwiler, Niese dueling in D.C. (Nats win an insane ballgame)

Detwiler, Niese dueling in D.C. (Nats win an insane ballgame)
We've cruised through 5 1/2 innings at Nats Park, and Ross Detwiler and Jon Niese are locked in quite a pitcher's duel. The Nationals have a 1-0 lead after Tyler Moore went yard in the bottom of the fifth, a blast which got the Nats their first baserunner since Bryce Harper singled with one out in the first. It was Moore's fifth homer of the season and his first since June 27. Prior to the Moore longball, Niese had set down 12 straight Nats. Detwiler has been pretty darn effective...
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Werth on track to return in early August, plus Storen, Wang updates

Werth on track to return in early August, plus Storen, Wang updates
This just in: Lucas Giolito is tall. And personable. The Nationals' first-round pick is here at Nats Park today. He met with the media earlier (Byron Kerr has more on that conversation) and will be introduced to the fans tonight. Giolito turned 18 a day after reaching a contract agreement with the Nats, and he might still have some growing in him. But the kid already looks like an athlete. The Nationals expect that Jayson Werth will be cleared to resume what manager Davey Johnson called...
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