Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Indians
The Nationals are back to work tonight, hosting the Indians in the opener of a two-game interleague series, the second half of their head-to-head matchup that included two games in Cleveland a couple weeks ago. The two clubs split that series at Progressive Field, but only because of Jonathan Papelbon's blown save in the opener. Obviously, things have changed a bit since then. Max Scherzer, who did not pitch in that first series, takes the mound tonight and looks to continue his recent surge...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
For the first time this season, Mark Trumbo is not in the Orioles starting lineup. Trumbo is 0-for-9 with six strikeouts lifetime against White Sox starter James Shields. Pedro Alvarez returns to the lineup after sitting out last night's game and will bat sixth as the designated hitter. Chris Davis is back in the cleanup spot and Matt Wieters will start at catcher and bat seventh. Dylan Bundy will try to win his second straight start in today's series finale. He is 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his...

Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
Bryce Harper is not in today's lineup for the Nationals. That shouldn't come as a huge surprise, given the fact Harper left last night's game after six innings with a stiff neck he said has been bothering him for several days. Combine that with his ongoing struggles at the plate and the presence of Madison Bumgarner on the mound today for the Giants, and this just seems like a good time for a day off for Harper. The Nationals lineup, though, is left depleted. Danny Espinosa, who has slumped...

Game 110 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 110 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
Is tonight's game more important than the typical game? Well, it could be. You see, with a win tonight the Nationals would win the season series from the Giants, and that could come into play this fall should the two teams end up tied in the standings. If you think it's pointless to consider such miniscule possibilities, just know the manager cares about these kinds of things. "This is big," Dusty Baker said. "For those of us that have been in the playoffs many times, you realize how...

Game 109 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 109 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
How long has been since the Nationals last played at home? Well, in their most recent game at Nationals Park, Lucas Giolito started and lasted only 3 1/3 innings, Michael A. Taylor started in center field, Jonathan Papelbon took the loss, Trea Turner in center field was in its early experimental phase and the Nats held a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League East. As the late, great Troy McClure said on the The Simpsons' 138th Episode Spectacular: "Ha ha ha, they haven't changed a...

Orioles and Rangers lineups

Orioles and Rangers lineups
Steve Pearce makes his 2016 Orioles debut tonight, starting in right field and batting sixth against Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels. Pearce is 1-for-6 with a double and three strikeouts lifetime against Hamels. Nolan Reimold is in right field and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter. Trumbo, batting cleanup tonight, is 3-for-34 in his last nine games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dylan Bundy is only the second Orioles rookie to go at least seven innings and allow no more than one hit...

Game 108 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks

Game 108 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks
PHOENIX - The Nationals have already secured a winning road trip. Now they'll try to sweep the Diamondbacks and head home with a 6-3 record after their long and eventful swing through Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona. Max Scherzer takes the mound against the club that drafted him way back in 2006. He's been on quite a run lately: 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA in his last six starts. He may need to be in top form again today, because the Nationals are fielding a lineup that is lacking Ryan...

Game 107 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks (Harper scratched)

Game 107 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks (Harper scratched)
PHOENIX - The Nationals lineup exploded for 14 runs on 19 hits (none of them homers) last night in their rout over the Diamondbacks. They certainly didn't wind up needing that much offense to win the series opener, but Dusty Baker wasn't concerned about that. "I know a lot of people say, 'Why don't you save some runs for tomorrow?' " the manager said. "But I hope that they memorize how to do that." We'll see if there's any carryover effect tonight against left-hander Robbie Ray, who...

Game 106 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks

Game 106 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks
PHOENIX - Hello from the Valley of the Sun, where it's actually a balmy 97 degrees this afternoon. There's even a chance of rain this evening, which isn't all that uncommon this time of year, which is monsoon season in these parts. (No, seriously. You can look it up. Plus, I grew up here, so I know all about it.) The roof at Chase Field will be closed for tonight's series opener between the Nationals and Diamondbacks, in which Stephen Strasburg takes the mound and looks to become the...

Game 105 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 105 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals have an opportunity to take three of four from the Giants, which would be no small accomplishment given the difficulty of doing that on the west coast against another first-place club, not to mention given the current state of their bullpen. The good news: Mark Melancon is here and will be in uniform for today's series finale, available to pitch the ninth inning should the Nationals need him. The big questions facing Dusty Baker now are who gets the seventh and...

Game 104 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 104 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - After another wild victory last night, the Nationals are back at it this afternoon, trying to make it three in row over the Giants at AT&T Park. They'll be fielding a lineup that's a bit shorthanded, with Daniel Murphy sitting out after tweaking his left leg last night and Wilson Ramos getting a well-deserved day off after catching nine in a row. Murphy is dealing with tightness in the same leg he injured during the All-Star Game, though Dusty Baker said it's not...

Game 103 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 103 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - It's a new day in the Bay Area, which means the Nationals will start anew after last night's near-disaster in the bottom of the ninth. We don't know yet who will be closing for them if the situation arises, but we do know they've got a very different lineup tonight against Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Ben Revere is back atop the lineup and in center field. Danny Espinosa gets his first day off in a long time, but his replacement at shortstop isn't who you might have...

Game 102 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 102 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - Hello from AT&T Park, simply one of the finest venues in baseball, where the Nationals and Giants tonight open a four-game weekend series between a pair of first-place clubs sporting identical 59-42 records. Between the strong matchup on the field and the specter of Monday's trade deadline looming, this is obviously a big weekend. The Nationals come here with some significant question marks, but Dusty Baker has chosen to answer one of those (who is leading off and playing...

Orioles lineup vs. Rockies

Orioles lineup vs. Rockies
Chris Davis, mired in an 0-for-24 slump, continues to bat from the cleanup spot tonight as the Orioles conclude their three-game interleague series against the Rockies. Hyun Soo Kim is batting second and playing left field. Nolan Reimold is batting ninth and playing right field, with Mark Trumbo serving as the designated hitter. The Orioles will try to avoid only their second home series loss in 2016. They're 12-1-3. Ryan Flaherty is celebrating his 30th birthday today. New University of...

Game 101 lineups: Nats at Indians

Game 101 lineups: Nats at Indians
CLEVELAND - And we're back. Only 11 hours have passed since the Nationals walked off the field in disgust following a 7-6 loss to the Indians, but everyone is back at Progressive Field, preparing for today's early matinee (12:10 p.m.) to wrap up this unusual two-game interleague series. This could be a good thing (no time to stew over the loss) or it could be a bad thing (the hangover effect). We'll just have to wait and see. One good thing from the Nats' perspective: Stephen Strasburg is...

Game 100 lineups: Nats at Indians

Game 100 lineups: Nats at Indians
CLEVELAND - Hello from Progressive Field in the heart of downtown Cleveland, home of champio...sorry, that still just doesn't sound right. This town is still awash in the glow of the Cavaliers' NBA title, the first major pro sports championship by anyone here since 1964. And now the Indians are trying to make their own run, some 68 years removed from their last World Series crown. They may not be garnering as much attention as they deserve, but they currently sit in first place in the...

Game 99 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

Game 99 lineups: Nats vs. Padres
It's another scorcher in the nation's capital, and today the Nationals and Padres will be playing smack dab in the middle of the afternoon with the sun beating down on them. That's going to be quite the test for Lucas Giolito, who makes his return to the big leagues after a very brief (two starts) demotion to the minors. The Nationals are hoping Giolito displays some better command of his off-speed pitches today against the Padres, which would help make his fastball more effective. That'll...

Orioles and Indians lineup

Orioles and Indians lineup
Ryan Flaherty is starting at shortstop today as the Orioles go for the sweep against the Indians. Flaherty is 5-for-11 versus Indians right-hander Corey Kluber. Julio Borbon is in left field and Caleb Joseph is catching a day game following a night game for the second time in less than a week. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Jonathan Schoop 2B Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH Ryan Flaherty SS Caleb Joseph C Julio Borbon LF Vance Worley RHP For the Indians Carlos...

Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Padres

Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Padres
It is an extraordinarily hot day here in the nation's capital, where according to my trusty weather app, it is currently 95 degrees with a heat index of 105. It will cool down moderately before Max Scherzer takes the mound at 7:05 p.m., but not a whole lot. If you're coming to the game, please make sure you prepare accordingly and do what you need to do to stay relatively cool. As for the game itself, the Nationals are attempting to snap a two-game losing streak, trying to beat a Padres club...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
NEW YORK - Adam Jones is out of the Orioles lineup today after leaving last night's game with a back spasm. However, Chris Davis and Manny Machado have returned. Julio Borbon has replaced Jones in center field. Nolan Reimold is leading off. Ryan Flaherty is in right field. Matt Wieters said his right foot is better, but he's still day to day. Orioles manager Buck Showalter arrived at Yankee Stadium this morning, but it's not known whether he'll be in the dugout for the game. For the...