Wieters behind the plate again today

Wieters behind the plate again today
NEW YORK - So much for my theory that Taylor Teagarden would catch an early game today. Matt Wieters is behind the plate. His rest will come tomorrow with an open date on the schedule. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Endy Chavez LF Omar Quintanilla 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Yankees: Derek Jeter SS Curtis Granderson CF Nick Swisher DH Robinson Cano 2B Andruw Jones RF Russell Martin...
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Thome out of lineup for third straight day with neck spasms

Thome out of lineup for third straight day with neck spasms
The Orioles have posted their lineup for tonight's 7:05 p.m. game against the Yankees, and it doesn't include designated hitter Jim Thome, who is still sidelined with neck spasms. Thome will miss his third straight start. Here's the lineup: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford LF Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP
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Harper back in Nats lineup (Nats release Nady)

Harper back in Nats lineup (Nats release Nady)
A day after being scratched from the Nationals lineup due to a stomach virus, Bryce Harper is back in there as the Nats try and take three of four from the Brewers. Harper has been battling the virus for the last few days and yesterday marked the first game that he has not appeared in since his promotion to the big leagues. Harper and the Nats will face 26-year-old righty Mark Rogers, who will be making his first major league start since 2010. Rogers got called up from Triple-A to start...
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Zimmermann goes home (Espinosa back hitting leadoff)

Zimmermann goes home (Espinosa back hitting leadoff)
Jordan Zimmermann will take the ball tonight for his 21st start of the season. He'll also take the ball in his home state of Wisconsin for the first time in his major league career. The Auburndale, Wisc., native and former star at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point will face the Brewers tonight as he looks for his eighth win of the season. Zimmermann has been on fire lately, allowing a total of four earned runs over his last six starts. Earlier this week, a reporter asked...
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Nationals release Rick Ankiel (with lineups)

Nationals release Rick Ankiel (with lineups)
The Nationals have announced the unconditional release of outfielder Rick Ankiel. The 33-year-old was designated for assignment last week. He cleared waivers, but was unclaimed, and now becomes a free agent. The center fielder was batting .228/.282/.411 on the season for the Nats, with five home runs and 15 RBIs. Meanwhile, the Nats are set to face the Brewers after taking the first game of the four-game set last night 8-2. Sandy Leon will be behind the plate, as Ross Detwiler looks to lead...
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Lineups as Nats prepare to face Gallardo, Brewers

Lineups as Nats prepare to face Gallardo, Brewers
The Nationals open a four-game series in Milwaukee tonight by sending Edwin Jackson to the mound for the 19th time this season. Jackson will look to get his record back to the .500 mark. At 5-6, he's the only Nationals starter currently with a losing mark. The Brewers will give the ball to right-hander Yovani Gallardo tonight. The 26-year-old is 8-7 with a 3.73 ERA this season. In six career appearances against the Nats, Gallardo is 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA. Here are the lineups for tonight's...
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O's lineup vs. Rays' Shields (Eveland added, Tolleson optioned)

O's lineup vs. Rays' Shields (Eveland added, Tolleson optioned)
Still waiting to see which player - likely a reliever - walks into the Orioles clubhouse and is placed on the roster. In the meantime, here's today's starting lineup against James Shields and the Rays: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis LF Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Chris Tillman RHP Update: Dana Eveland has arrived and will be activated before today's game. Update: The Orioles have selected Eveland's...
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Today's Nats-Mets lineups

Today's Nats-Mets lineups
FLUSHING, N.Y. - It'll be the 10-win Stephen Strasburg against the one-win Jeremy Hefner at Citi Field today as the Nationals and Mets wrap up a three-game set. Twice this season, the Nats have taken the first two games of a series against the Mets only to drop the finale, failing to record the sweep. Today they'll rely on Strasburg as they try to notch their fifth straight victory. In his only career start at Citi Field coming into today, Strasburg fired six scoreless innings, allowing...
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Flores out of lineup for third straight game

Flores out of lineup for third straight game
FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals have posted their lineup for tonight's 7:10 p.m. game against the Mets at Citi Field, and Jesus Flores isn't in it - or behind the plate - for a third straight game. Sandy Leon will catch Jordan Zimmermann tonight. Here are tonight's lineups: For the Nationals: 2B - Steve Lombardozzi RF - Bryce Harper 3B - Ryan Zimmerman LF - Michael Morse 1B - Adam LaRoche SS - Danny Espinosa CF - Roger Bernadina C - Sandy Leon P - Jordan Zimmermann For the Mets: SS -...
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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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Desmond again not in Nats lineup, expects oblique injury to linger

Desmond again not in Nats lineup, expects oblique injury to linger
Yet again, Ian Desmond will watch from the bench as his Nationals teammates take on a division rival. Desmond will remain sidelined tonight because of a sore left oblique, an injury which has now knocked him out of the lineup three straight days. Unfortunately for Desmond, it appears that the time off so far - both the four days of rest over the All-Star break and the last two days in which he's been held out of the Nationals lineup - hasn't allowed the oblique to make major strides in the...
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Desmond sits for second straight day

Desmond sits for second straight day
The Nationals will be without Ian Desmond for tonight's series finale against the Marlins. Desmond also sat out yesterday's game against the Marlins because of a sore left oblique which tightened up on him. He had played every inning for 71 straight games prior to missing yesterday's contest. With Desmond out of the lineup, the Nationals will again go with Danny Espinosa at shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi at second base. They'll face veteran right-hander Carlos Zambrano tonight at...
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Desmond not in Nationals lineup

Desmond not in Nationals lineup
For the first time in 71 games, Ian Desmond will not be at shortstop when the Nationals take the field today. Desmond and his sore oblique will get the day off, with Danny Espinosa sliding over from second base to play shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi filling in at second. Interestingly enough, Desmond needs the day off just two games into the second half of the season, after getting four days of rest over the All-Star break. Desmond started all but one game over the first half, and has...
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Nats lineup on a scalding Saturday (updated with Rockies lineup)

Nats lineup on a scalding Saturday (updated with Rockies lineup)
Yeah, it's a little bit warm in the nation's capital today. I don't envy Gio Gonzalez or Jeff Francis, the two starters who will be trying to fight through this heat at Nationals Park. It's bad enough trying to unstick myself from my chair in the press box, much less get a grip on a curveball. Here's the Nationals lineup today against Francis, who held the Nats in check in Denver last week: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian...
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Nats lineup vs. Rockies, Pomeranz

Nats lineup vs. Rockies, Pomeranz
Stephen Strasburg will oppose Drew Pomeranz tonight at Nationals Park in the opener of a three-game set between the Nats and Rockies. Pomeranz hasn't notched a win in six major league outings this season, but he did deliver a strong start his last time out, allowing just an unearned run on two hits over six innings. That was his first start back in the big leagues after a stint at Triple-A. They're calling for 97-degree temperatures at first pitch tonight, so it will be interesting to see...
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Harper's patient approach has returned (plus lineups)

Harper's patient approach has returned (plus lineups)
When Bryce Harper first got brought up to the big leagues, it was his patience at the plate which impressed me maybe more than anything else. Yes, he was athletic and had a smooth swing and played the game hard. But we knew he'd bring all that to the table. We didn't know that the 19-year-old with massive power and a desire to prove he was a big leaguer would be able to lay off tough pitches out of the zone and wait for something over the fat part of the plate. A couple weeks ago, however,...
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Your Fourth of July lineups

Your Fourth of July lineups
The Nationals will wear their normal red hats for this afternoon's 11:05 a.m. start, with a patriotic twist: The curly W will be camouflage. Trust me when I say that the special July 4 hats look pretty sweet. Happy Fourth of July to everyone out there. Hope your BBQs are fun, the fireworks shine brightly tonight and we get some good baseball this morning, even if it's far too early for me to be at the stadium. I'll be hitting up the press box coffee machine quite a few times over the...
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Nats lineup vs. Lincecum (with Giants lineup added)

Nats lineup vs. Lincecum (with Giants lineup added)
The Nationals will square off against the Giants and starter Tim Lincecum tonight. Lincecum is 3-8 with a 5.60 ERA this season, but has put up quality starts his last two times out. He delivered seven shutout innings his last start, which came against the Dodgers. Here's Davey Johnson's lineup for tonight: LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Jordan Zimmermann For the Giants: RF...
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Lineups with Strasburg on the mound

Lineups with Strasburg on the mound
The Nationals look to improve to 6-1 on the season against the Braves, and 5-0 at Turner Field, as they send Stephen Strasburg to the mound today. Here's manager Davey Johnson's lineup for today: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg For the Braves: CF Michael Bourn LF Martin Prado RF Jason Heyward 1B Freddie Freeman 2B Dan Uggla C Brian McCann SS Andrelton Simmons 3B...
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Nats, Rockies lineups for series finale

Nats, Rockies lineups for series finale
Facing yet another left-handed starting pitcher, Davey Johnson's lineup looks much the same as it has the last three days. Adam LaRoche returns to the lineup today after a day off, as does Jesus Flores. Tyler Moore remains in there in left field, hitting seventh. This will be the fourth straight lefty starter the Rockies will send to the mound this series. Today's Colorado starter is Josh Outman, who has struggled in 13 games (five starts) this season, going 0-3 with an 8.64 ERA. How does...
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