Nats chasing eighth straight series win (with lineups)

Nats chasing eighth straight series win (with lineups)
The Nationals go for an eighth consecutive series win today against the Phillies. It figures to be a tall test though as Philadelphia starts 6-foot-7 righty Aaron Harang. Harang owns the majors' fifth-best ERA at 1.82, allowing just 12 runs in 59 1/3 innings this season. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has left stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard off his lineup card with left-hander Gio Gonzalez throwing for the Nats today. Gonzalez has been inconsistent throughout his first nine starts. In his...

Orioles and Marlins lineups

Orioles and Marlins lineups
MIAMI - Jimmy Paredes remains in the Orioles lineup tonight at second base. Paredes currently leads the American League with a .353 average. Mariners outfielder and former teammate Nelson Cruz went 1-for-4 today to lower his average to .352 Cruz has played 42 games, Paredes 28. Paredes has collected at least one hit in 25 of his 28 games, and 15 of his 41 hits have gone for extra bases. He's currently riding a 19-game on-base streak since April 24. The Orioles (19-20) are trying to reach .500...

Orioles and Angels lineups

Orioles and Angels lineups
Steve Pearce is starting at second base and batting fifth tonight for the Orioles, who are trying to even their series against the Angels following last night's loss at Camden Yards. Pearce is 3-for-23 this month. He's making only his fifth start since May 3. David Lough is in left field and Alejandro De Aza is in right. Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start while Bud Norris is out with bronchitis. According to STATS Inc., the Orioles have won seven straight home starts by Jimenez and the Angels have...

Werth hitting cleanup in return to Nationals

Werth hitting cleanup in return to Nationals
BOSTON - Left fielder Jayson Werth will hit cleanup in his return to the Nationals. Manager Matt Williams slotted Werth, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list this morning, into the fourth spot in the lineup for today's afternoon game at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has hit cleanup in each of the Nationals' previous six games this season, drops to fifth in the lineup. He is struggling, starting the season 3-for-26 (.130). Clint Robinson's...

Zimmermann begins contract year in superb pitching matchup (with lineups)

Zimmermann begins contract year in superb pitching matchup (with lineups)
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann returns to the mound at Nationals Park for the first time since last year's spectacular performance - but disappointing result - in the second game of the National League Division Series. Tonight's start against the Mets could be his last season debut in a Nationals uniform, as he's in the final year in his contract. It doesn't get any easier for the Nats offense tonight when the Mets send reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom to the hill in the second...

Scherzer, Taylor playing prominent roles on opening day (with lineups)

Scherzer, Taylor playing prominent roles on opening day (with lineups)
Nationals manager Matt Williams sends new ace Max Scherzer to the mound today to set the tone against the New York Mets. It will be the former American League Cy Young Award winner's first opening day start. "I mean, this is fun," said Scherzer. "I can't wait for the season to start. Spring training's so long for us. It's very monotonous for us. So for us to actually get out there and play real baseball and have it count, we're all looking forward to it. We haven't done anything to...

Yankees-Nationals lineups for final exhibition game

Yankees-Nationals lineups for final exhibition game
The Grapefruit League of the Nationals' schedule is done, and Space Coast Stadium is in their rear view mirror. Today at 1 p.m. on MASN, the Nationals host the Yankees in the final exhibition game of the spring. The grounds crew is putting the finishing touches on the beautiful, new turf at Nats Park as I type, and a group of red-clad pitchers are stretching in the outfield. Sure signs that baseball's back. If you're coming to the game today - and particularly if you're sitting in the upper...

Ryan Zimmerman returns to the lineup, crunch time for Dan Uggla and others

Ryan Zimmerman returns to the lineup, crunch time for Dan Uggla and others
JUPITER, Fla. - First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is back in the Nationals lineup after banging his left shoulder during a diving stop in the first inning of Friday's loss to the Cardinals. It's a good sign for the Nationals, who have suffered a rash of injuries this spring. With just five spring games left before opening day, today's lineup features a quartet of non-roster invitees still fighting to earn a trip back to Washington: second baseman Dan Uggla, right fielder Clint Robinson, third...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is leading off today and Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate for the Orioles in their game against the Yankees. Travis Snider is in left field and Delmon Young is in right. Matt Wieters remains the designated hitter. The bullpen behind starter Wei-Yin Chen includes Kevin Gausman, Jason Garcia, Tommy Hunter, Steve Johnson, Logan Verrett and Chaz Roe. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Delmon Young RF Travis...

Today's Braves-Nationals lineups

Today's Braves-Nationals lineups
VIERA, Fla. - While we wait for Nationals manager Matt Williams to address Denard Span's surgery today to repair a right core injury, here are today's lineups for the Braves and Nationals. You can watch today's game at 1 p.m. on MASN HD. Tony Gwynn Jr. gets the start in center field, Dan Uggla is the designated hitter against his former team and Bryce Harper is hitting cleanup. For the Braves CF Eric Young Jr.2B Jose Peraza3B Alberto CallaspoLF Jonny GomesC Christian Bethancourt1B Kelly...

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis is starting in right field today for the Orioles in their game against the Phillies. Steve Pearce is starting at first base. Catcher Caleb Joseph is listed among the reserves. Steve Clevenger gets the start behind the plate. Update: Joseph has just arrived in the clubhouse. Alejandro De Aza is batting first and Everth Cabrera is ninth. The bullpen includes Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Steve Johnson and Tyler Wilson. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza...

The right test for Espinosa begins today (with lineups)

The right test for Espinosa begins today (with lineups)
VIERA, Fla. - Danny Espinosa makes his first start of the exhibition today against the Cardinals at Space Coast Stadium. Today's game will be televised on MASN HD beginning at 1 p.m. He's been a focus of the early part of spring training as he continues to work on hitting exclusively from the right side of the plate. Espinosa has been a switch-hitter since his youth and has very little experience facing right-handed pitching from the right side of the plate. Espinosa has been spending...

Escobar to see doctor for sore back, today's lineups vs. Braves

Escobar to see doctor for sore back, today's lineups vs. Braves
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Mike Carp was originally scheduled to start at first base in today's game between the Nationals and Braves, but has been scratched. Carp was hit in the foot last night, and manager Matt Williams said he's fine but just sore with a little swelling today. Carp was 1-for-1 with a single and two runs scored last night in his first game as he attempts to make the team as a backup first baseman and left fielder. Yunel Escobar will see a doctor today for soreness in his...

Giants-Nationals lineups for Game 2 of NLDS

Giants-Nationals lineups for Game 2 of NLDS
The only thing that's changed in the Nationals starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Series against the Giants is the starting pitcher. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, coming off the team's first no-hiter since arriving in D.C. from Montreal for the 2005 season, takes the hill to try to square the NLDS at one game apiece. The Giants are going with the same batting order they trotted out in their Game 1 victory, save for starting pitcher Tim Hudson. For the GiantsCF Gregor Blanco2B...

Here's your Game 1 Nationals lineup (with Giants lineup)

Here's your Game 1 Nationals lineup (with Giants lineup)
The Nationals lineup for Game 1 of the National League Division Series looks a lot like the Nationals lineup for the last handful of weeks of the regular season. As expected, Ryan Zimmerman will come off the bench, with Anthony Rendon staying at third base and the Nats' regular outfield remaining in place. For the GiantsCF Gregor Blanco2B Joe PanikC Buster Posey3B Pablo SandovalRF Hunter Pence1B Brandon BeltSS Brandon CrawfordLF Travis IshikawaRHP Jake Peavy For the NationalsCF Denard Span 3B...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
NEW YORK - Nick Markakis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight after missing four games with a bruised right shoulder. He's been out since being hit by a pitch from Toronto's Aaron Loup on Tuesday. He'll lead off and play right field. Wei-Yin Chen comes into tonight's start with 16 wins, the most by an Orioles left-hander in a single season since Jeff Ballard went 18-8 in 1989. Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally share the single-season club record for wins by a southpaw with 24 in 1970. For the...

Williams rests handful of regulars for finale against Marlins

Williams rests handful of regulars for finale against Marlins
MIAMI - What do Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos have in common? They're all on the bench for this afternoon's finale of a four-game series against the Marlins. Manager Matt Williams is taking advantage of his team's early clinching of the National League East to rest a significant portion of his starting nine. The Nationals are going for their second four-game sweep of the season (they took four straight from Arizona from Aug. 18-21) and the eighth in...

Nats open series in Atlanta with Strasburg on hill (plus an honor for LaRoche)

Nats open series in Atlanta with Strasburg on hill (plus an honor for LaRoche)
ATLANTA - The Nationals open their final three-game series at Turner Field - barring an unlikely late-season run by the Braves to secure one of the National League wild cards - with right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the mound. Strasburg hasn't traditionally fared well here - he's 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in seven career starts. But he'll try for his 12th victory while making his team-high and career-best 32nd start of the season. He'll face righty Ervin Santana. The Nats' magic number stands at...

Zimmermann gets ball in finale against Mets

Zimmermann gets ball in finale against Mets
Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nationals in this afternoon's finale of a four-game series against the Mets. A win gets the Nats the series victory, and the right-hander hasn't lost since July 11, going 5-0 in the 10 starts since. Against the Mets this season, Zimmermann is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA and the Nats have won all three of his starts. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is 10-for-15 in this series with five runs, a double, two homers and five RBIs. He had three hits in each of the first...

Saturday's Nationals-Mets lineups

Saturday's Nationals-Mets lineups
It's rainy and cool at Citi Field, where the Nationals are scheduled to play the third of four games this evening against the Mets. Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on MASN HD. According to Weather Bug, there's a 40 percent change of precipitation at 7 p.m. in Flushing, N.Y., which rises to 60 percent at 8 p.m. and drops to 50 percent by 9 p.m. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid-60s, but the rain should be gone by 10 p.m. So there's a window. A late one, but a window...