There are any number of reasons, many of them having already been outlined over the last month, for the Nationals' hugely disappointing 2018 season. But if anyone was having trouble remembering, two of them were on full display today for all to see during a calamitous top of the fifth that proved the decisive frame of a 9-4 loss to the Brewers. The Nationals' pitching staff - most notably the back end of the rotation and the left-handed portion of the bullpen - have been flaws all along. So,...

Manager: Mike Shildt (1st season) Record: 76-61 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: IF Matt Carpenter (.273 with 35 HR, 73 RBIs); 1B José Martínez (.310 with 77 RBIs, 139 hits); C Yadier Molina (.271 with 108 hits); LF Marcell Ozuna (.273 with 133 hits); RHP Miles Mikolas (13-4, 2.96 ERA); RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.87 ERA); RHP Bud Norris (2.85 ERA, 28 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-1 Pitching probables: Sept. 3: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (16-6), 1:05 p.m.,...

Manager: Scott Servais (3rd season) Record: 76-60 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: DH Nelson Cruz (33 HR, 83 RBIs), 2B Dee Gordon (30 SB), RF Mitch Haniger (23 HR, 84 RBIs), SS Jean Segura (.321) 1B Ryon Healy (24 HR, 66 RBIs) LHP Wade LeBlanc (8-3, 3.71 ERA), RHP Edwin Díaz (51 saves, 1.93 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 4-0 Pitching probables: Sept. 3: LHP Josh Rogers (1-0) vs. RHP Erasmo Ramírez (1-3), 9:10 p.m., MASNSept. 4: RHP Alex Cobb (4-15) vs. LHP Wade LeBlanc (8-3), 10:10...

September has arrived, but the drama hasn't - at least not with either of the local nines. The Orioles could wind up with the worst record in the majors and the No. 1 pick in next June's draft. The Nationals would need an unprecedented turn of events to make the postseason. The Nationals need an explosive September and a double collapse by Atlanta and Philadelphia to make the postseason and duplicate what the Phillies did to the Mets in 2007. That year, the Mets lost the National League East...

The Nationals have several options to fill Gio Gonzalez's open rotation slot over the season's final month, and they may take a look at all of them over the course of September. First up, though, will be Erick Fedde. Fedde, who has been out since July 4 with shoulder inflammation, will start Tuesday against the Cardinals, the first time the Nationals need a replacement for Gonzalez after the veteran lefty was traded to Milwaukee this weekend.fed The right-hander, who is eligible to come off...

KANSAS CITY - While Mychal Givens has been getting the Orioles save chances this month, manager Buck Showalter said again today we could still see others get save opportunities before the year is out. Showalter never actually proclaimed Givens as his closer and after he gave up a walk-off homer in the ninth last night, he is not ready to say he is now going in another direction either. Givens went 4-for-5 in save chances since Aug. 5 heading into last night. He had thrown seven scoreless his...

It may come too late to help the Nationals make a last-ditch postseason push, but it does appear Sean Doolittle will be closing games for them for the bulk of the September schedule. Doolittle faced live hitters again this morning in a simulated game at Nationals Park, and barring any complications he's likely to be activated off the disabled list within the next few days. "He looks good," manager Davey Martinez said. "He'll get a day (off) tomorrow, we'll reevaluate him and hopefully...

Joey Rickard is starting in right field and Jonathan Villar is the shortstop as the Orioles try avoid a three-game sweep in Kansas City. Adam Jones and Tim Beckham are on the bench. Breyvic Valera is starting at second base with Villar changing positions. Trey Mancini is the first baseman and Chris Davis is the designated hitter. Jace Peterson is starting at third base. The Royals have won three straight series for the first time this season. On this date in 1999, Cal Ripken, Jr. became the...

The Nationals and Brewers didn't get much sleep last night, so these will be some weary teams that take the field this afternoon for the series finale. The good news: Though it's going to be hot and humid, the chance of rain appears to be minimal, some welcome relief after what happened Friday and Saturday nights. The Nats are going for a series victory, one that would not even be possible if not for their eighth-inning rally last night, with Juan Soto's bases-loaded single proving the...

For weeks, as their season corkscrewed out of control, manager Davey Martinez has maintained that the Nationals have not quit. Most nights, it seemed like he was damning them with faint praise. Some wondered if he had gotten stuck on that cliché because he repeated it so frequently. On Saturday night - well, early Sunday morning, if you want to be precise - the Nats were finally rewarded for their sticktuitiveness. Juan Soto's two-run bases-loaded single in the eighth inning highlighted a...