The Nationals and Diamondbacks wrap up their four-game series today. Rookie right-hander Joe Ross (2-3, 3.00 ERA) faces Arizona right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 4.95 ERA). The season series is split 3-3. The Nationals have won eight of their last 11 games in the series. Ryan Zimmerman gets the day off for the Nationals, and Ian Desmond is back in the lineup. The Nationals wrap up the homestand with three games versus the Rockies starting Friday night. Manager Matt Williams conducted a team...

Manager: Walt Weiss (3rd season) Record: 45-61 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 3B Nolan Arenado (.273/.314/.553 with 26 HR, 80 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.322/.383/.413 with 42 RBIs), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.279/.338/.525 with 22 HR, 56 RBIs), CF Charlie Blackmon (.293/.360/.469 with 13 HR, 46 RBIs), LHP Jorge De La Rosa (7-4, 4.87 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-5 in 2014) Pitching probables: Aug. 7: LHP Jorge De La Rosa vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 8: LHP Yohan...

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Wednesday night after his team's 11-4 loss to Arizona that he would have a pregame team meeting on Thursday prior to the series finale to discuss some important topics. Williams gave the media gathering hints as to what the subject of that pregame team meeting would be and what he wants his team to get back to doing well. "I think it's important for us to understand we're best when we're aggressive," Williams said. "When we're an aggressive team,...

Nationals manager Matt Williams all but confirmed that right-hander Stephen Strasburg will return to the team and start Saturday night's matchup against the Rockies. Strasburg has been on the disabled list with an oblique issue since July 5. He has had two promising rehab starts and came out of each feeling back to full strength. "We've got some options, certainly his day falls Saturday, but he'll go out and do his towel drills today and make sure," Williams said. "So we'll have a better...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and optioned right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett there. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Treinen, 27, returns to the Nationals after five scoreless appearances with the Chiefs. The hard-throwing right-hander joined Triple-A Syracuse on July 21 and did not allow a run in 12.0 innings pitched. He was touched for just six hits and racked up 14...

Six Orioles to sign calendars at BARCS on August 22 The Orioles today announced that the seventh annual Orioles Pet Calendar, sponsored by Pet+E.R., will go on sale Saturday, August 22, with proceeds benefiting the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), a non-profit shelter that accepts and cares for all animals in need. The 16-month calendar features photos of Orioles players with their pets and various BARCS animals at locations around Oriole Park at Camden Yards including the...

The Nationals look for a series split with the Arizona Diamondbacks in Thursday's late afternoon tilt. The club announced prior to the game that right-hander Blake Treinen has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Right-hander Aaron Barrett, who took the loss Wednesday night, was optioned to Syracuse to make room for Treinen, who has had five scoreless appearances with the Chiefs. Treinen recorded 14 strikeouts in 12 innings, allowing six hits since July 21 with Syracuse. Barrett is 3-3 with a...

It is no secret that the Washington Nationals aren't playing well right now. They are 7-12 since the All-Star break, having allowed an average of 4.2 runs a game and scoring 3.4 runs a game. Both these numbers are well bellow league average and even further bellow what the Nationals are capable of. The Nationals have come out of the break pretty much the same way as they started the season. They were able to rally from that first sluggish start and will have to do so again if they wish to...

On the heels of last night's 11-4 drubbing by the Diamondbacks, the Nationals find themselves two games behind the Mets for the lead in the Naional League East. Oh, how the tables have turned in one week. Last Thursday at this time, the Nats led the division by two games, fresh off a two-homer, four RBI performance from slugger Bryce Harper in Miami the night before. Behind Max Scherzer, the Nats went on to shut out the Marlins that afternoon to increase their lead to three games heading to...

In the first inning of the first game of this important road trip, Chris Davis hit a three-run homer to get the Orioles started on a win. In the last inning yesterday, he hit a grand slam to provide another win. Davis leads the major leagues in strikeouts. Think anyone is still harping on that at this point? His bat is red-hot and the run production, which some of us said was there early in the year when he was striking out often, is even more apparent now. Over his last 15 games, Davis is...