The Nationals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series, Trea Turner racing home from third base when shortstop Addison Russell booted Ryan Zimmerman's two-out grounder. Turner doubled to left field with one out in the second, his first hit in 13 at-bats in the NLDS. He went to third on a wild pitch from Cubs righty Jake Arrieta while Jayson Werth was batting. Werth struck out and Bryce Harper walked, later stealing second. Zimmerman hit a bouncer...

By Paul Mancano CHICAGO - The National League Divisional Series matchup between the Nationals and the Cubs has been nothing if not interesting. From the disappearing act of the Nationals offense to Ryan Zimmerman's home run in Game 2 that defied gravity to the Chicago weather changing at the drop of a hat, the series resembles an amateur magic act. Then, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the magician pulling the strings picked up a few new tricks. Less than 24 hours after it was determined...

CHICAGO - When he walked out of Wrigley Field on Tuesday evening, Dusty Baker fully expected Tanner Roark to start a must-win Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Despite the Nationals' hopes, Stephen Strasburg simply was too ill at that moment for his manager to believe he could take the mound the following afternoon. Baker, though, has been in this sport long enough to have seen it all. He's seen guys play through injuries and illness, and he's seen guys' conditions dramatically...

CHICAGO - As if this National League Division Series wasn't already dramatic enough, how about this: Stephen Strasburg will start Game 4 for the Nationals after all. Some 18 hours after announcing Strasburg wouldn't be able to pitch this elimination game against the Cubs because he was ill, the Nationals reversed course and named the right-hander as their starter. Strasburg, according to a source familiar with the decision, informed the club this morning he was feeling better and wanted to...

CHICAGO - As attention and controversy swirled around Stephen Strasburg and the circumstances that led to the right-hander not taking the mound for today's must-win game against the Cubs, another member of the Nationals rotation was left ignored: Tanner Roark. Which was appropriate, given Roark's career and personality. Here's a guy who consistently has been overlooked and countless times has stepped up and made people notice him with his performance. And now the Nationals are hoping Roark...

It was about this time last year, when Orioles manager Buck Showalter was the subject of heavy criticism for not using closer Zach Britton in the club's AL wild card game loss at Toronto. But almost no one suggested Showalter's job was on the line and it wasn't. He is signed through 2018. But two other AL East managers are the subject of rumors now and their job security seems less firm than it was even a week ago. Not long after the New York Yankees lost Game 2 of the American League...

CHICAGO - The postponement of Game 4 of the National League Division Series appeared to favor the Nationals, who suddenly had the option of sending Stephen Strasburg back to the mound for a must-win game on normal rest. But when manager Dusty Baker entered the makeshift press conference room at Wrigley Field this evening to provide what seemed like an obvious answer to a simple question, he wound up creating confusion and dissatisfaction among many with his eight-word reply: "We're going to...

We can spend countless hours in the offseason studying the list of free agent pitchers who are realistic targets for the Orioles and potential upgrades available in trades, but never wander too far from home. You know how this club loves to stay in-house. The Orioles can't rely on the organization's arms to solve all of their pitching problems. Rolling the same dice over and over is too big of a gamble for a team that set a franchise record for worst rotation ERA at 5.70. However, the...

CHICAGO - With rain approaching the area and expected to arrive sometime late this afternoon or early this evening, the start of Game 4 of the National League Division Series has been delayed. There's been no decision made yet on a full postponement of the game, but the general managers and managers from both the Nationals and Cubs met with Major League Baseball officials including chief baseball officer Joe Torre a short while ago to discuss the possibilities. They are scheduled to meet again...

CHICAGO - And so the Nationals' season has come down to this: They need to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field and force a winner-take-all Game 5 at Nationals Park on Thursday night. All of this, of course, is assuming they're able to play today. Your early-afternoon weather update: It's not raining yet, but the rain is on the way, and it's going to hit sometime later this afternoon. It's just a question of whether the rain is significant enough to prevent...