Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Villar leads off again tonight as the Orioles try to even the series with the Rays. Danny Valencia makes another start in right field Andrew Cashner is making his third start against the Rays this season. He allowed five runs and 11 hits in five innings at Tropicana Field, and two runs and five hits in six innings at Camden Yards. Cashner followed the second outing by lasting only 1 2/3 innings in Texas and surrendering 10 runs and seven hits, with three...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Villar is leading off tonight for the Orioles, who open a three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, and Chris Davis returns to the lineup after sitting out the last two games in Texas. Jace Peterson is in right field. Mark Trumbo is batting fourth as the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph is catching. The Orioles are leading the American League in hitting with a .300 average (160-for-533) and slugging percentage (.499) since the All-Star break. They've...

Game 113 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 113 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
And we're back for the nightcap of today's doubleheader. The Nationals did what they needed to in the opener, riding five strong innings from Jefry Rodriguez and a pair of four-run rallies to an 8-3 victory that moved them to within five games of the Phillies and 3 1/2 games of the Braves. There's still an opportunity to either gain or lose ground the rest of the evening, with Philadelphia playing late at Arizona. The Nats have to like the fact they've got Max Scherzer on the mound tonight,...

Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Holland signed)

Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Holland signed)
Who's ready for a long - and important - day and night of baseball? The Nationals better hope they are. They enter the day 5 1/2 games behind the Phillies, four games behind the Braves. By night's end, they could be anywhere from four to seven games behind Philadelphia, two to six games behind Atlanta. So, yeah, it's a big day. It all gets started with the opener of this day-night doubleheader, with Jefry Rodriguez taking the mound for the Nats. It'll be the right-hander's sixth career...

Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
After a long day and night at the ballpark on Saturday, the Nationals return to the ballpark today for what amounts to a pretty big series finale with the Reds. Obviously, every game is big at this point, but consider that the Nats need to win today to win the series. And carry some positive momentum into their critical upcoming four-games-in-three-days series with the Braves. Which leads into a seven-game road trip to Chicago and St. Louis. So, yeah, a win today would help a lot of things....

Orioles and Rangers lineups

Orioles and Rangers lineups
Adam Jones and Chris Davis are both out of the starting lineup today as the Orioles try to avoid a four-game sweep in Texas. Joey Rickard takes Jones' customary position in center field. Trey Mancini is playing first base again today. Jace Peterson is leading off and starts in left field. Jonathan Villar, who has been batting in the leadoff slot since he came over from the Brewers in the Jonathan Schoop trade, bats third today. Mark Trumbo is in right field, while Danny Valencia takes a turn...

Game 109 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

Game 109 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
The Nationals haven't enjoyed a four-game winning streak since the final week of May, when they managed to sweep the Marlins and Orioles in successive road series. More than two months later, they finally have a chance tonight to put "W4" in the "Streak" column of the standings. It'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound. He's coming off a strong start in Miami but still is seeking his first win since May 28 over Baltimore (during the aforementioned winning streak). The lefty did beat the Reds...

Orioles and Rangers lineups

Orioles and Rangers lineups
Jonathan Villar is batting leadoff again tonight after collecting two hits in his Orioles debut. Tim Beckham is again slotted second in the order. Renato Núñez is at third base, Jace Peterson is in right field and Caleb Joseph is catching. David Hess is back in the rotation as Kevin Gausman's replacement and makes his first start since June 29. He pitched twice in relief last month, allowing two runs in two innings on July 4 in Philadelphia and tossing a scoreless inning July 28 against...

Game 108 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

Game 108 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
It is pouring at this moment on South Capitol Street, and there is rain in the forecast at various points throughout the remainder of the afternoon and evening. What that means for tonight's series opener against the Reds ... we just don't know yet. Stay tuned. As always, when we know, you'll know. The Nationals would very much like to play, trying to sustain some positive (on-field) momentum from their two-game sweep of the Mets and sending Max Scherzer to the mound. That's a nice...

Game 106 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Game 106 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
With all the attention placed on the trade deadline, the Nationals want to make sure they do not divert from their most important mission this week: accumulate wins and find a way to earn series victories against the Mets and the Reds at home. The two-game series against New York features a night game tonight and a 12:05 p.m. game Wednesday. The Nats also need to end a two-game losing streak. Right-hander Tanner Roark (4-12, 4.55 ERA), is looking to build off his best start of the season, eight...

Game 105 lineups: Nats at Marlins (updated)

Game 105 lineups: Nats at Marlins (updated)
MIAMI - Is it actually possible that the fate of the Nationals' season comes down to one game on July 29 at Marlins Park? If they win today's series finale, they'll reach the trade deadline with a winning record and be either five or six games back in the division. If they lose, they'll reach the trade deadline with a losing record and be either six or seven games back in the division. In reality, that's not a significant difference. In the perception of the people who must decide whether...

Game 104 lineups: Nats at Marlins

Game 104 lineups: Nats at Marlins
MIAMI - Three wins in a row is nice. Four in a row would be nicer for a Nationals club that flat-out owns the Marlins right now. The Nats are 8-1 against them this season, 16-1 over the last calendar year. And they've still got 10 more games to play vs. Miami in 2018. Gio Gonzalez has been a part of that ownage. The Miami native went 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA against the Marlins last season and allowed two runs in five innings in his lone appearance against them so far this year. It's been said...

Game 103 lineups: Nats at Marlins

Game 103 lineups: Nats at Marlins
MIAMI - The last time the Nationals won three in a row, the opponent was the Marlins. This was three weeks ago in D.C., a streak that began with a record-breaking comeback from nine runs down. Miami's starting pitcher that evening: Pablo López, who is starting tonight's game as well. The Nats actually didn't get off to a good start that evening against López, who faced the minimum through his first three innings. Then they finally got to the young right-hander in the fourth and fifth,...

Game 102 lineups: Nats at Marlins

Game 102 lineups: Nats at Marlins
MIAMI - So the tone of this weekend's series at Marlins Park has changed just a bit, even in the last 24 hours, huh? The immediate issue: Stephen Strasburg isn't pitching tonight as planned. He's back on the disabled list with a neck injury, only one start after he returned from his shoulder injury. So in his place is Tommy Milone, promoted from Triple-A Syracuse to make an emergency start tonight. Milone, you'll remember made his major league debut for the Nationals way back in 2011 (and...

Game 101 lineups: Nats at Brewers

Game 101 lineups: Nats at Brewers
MILWAUKEE - Right fielder Adam Eaton had one of his best offensive games this season Tuesday. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, a homer and tied a season high with three RBIs. His three-run shot in the second off of Brewers starter Junior Guerra opened up a 4-0 Nationals lead. It was his first home run since the two homers he hit back in the opening series of the season at Cincinnati. Eaton is now hitting .324 and has a .364 average in his last 15 games, with 20 hits, six walks and...

Game 100 lineups: Nats at Brewers (updated)

Game 100 lineups: Nats at Brewers (updated)
MILWAUKEE - Surprising a bit to realize that tonight the Nationals will play in their 100th game of the season, and with a win they would get back to .500 at 50-50. One of their more pleasant surprises this season has been the pitching by starter Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.29 ERA). His consistency has been a key component for the Nats as they attempt to get all of their starters back in sync. Hellickson has allowed only one earned run in his last two starts, a span of 11 innings. Opposing...

Game 99 lineups: Nats at Brewers

Game 99 lineups: Nats at Brewers
MILWAUKEE - The Nationals have to feel good about gaining a split against the Braves over the weekend, and they arrive at Miller Park trailing second-place Atlanta by five games and first-place Philadelphia by six games in the National League East. The Nats are back at .500 again (49-49) as they embark on a seven-game road trip against the Brewers and Marlins. The Brewers lead the NL wild card standings, a full five games ahead of the Nationals. Milwaukee is a formidable opponent at 56-45, just...

Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
The sun is out on South Capitol Street. At least, it is at the moment I'm typing this. It's probably not going to stay that way through the afternoon, with more rain forecast to sweep through the region on the heels of Saturday's deluge. The Nationals aren't calling the series finale against the Braves off just yet, and my hunch is they'll be more willing to wait around a bit today to try to get this one in, given the fact they already have to squeeze one makeup game into Atlanta's next...

Game 97 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Strasburg, Zimmerman active)

Game 97 lineups: Nats vs. Braves (Strasburg, Zimmerman active)
And away we go again. The second half of the season commences tonight, with the Nationals hosting the Braves for a big three-game series. Then again, every series is going to be big the rest of the way, with the Nats needing to make up a 5 1/2-game deficit and catch both the Braves and Phillies in the National League East. As expected, the Nationals will open the second half with two key figures returning from the disabled list: Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman. Strasburg makes the start...

Game 96 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 96 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The first half of the season wraps up today, though as has been pointed out already, the season is well beyond the actual halfway point. Today is Game 96 for the Nationals, and if they want to reach a Game 163 they're going to have to play a whole lot better the rest of the way, beginning this afternoon. Jeremy Hellickson will need to give his team a quality start. And Davey Martinez will need to be willing to have a quick hook on his starter, as he has all season to date. No need...