Nationals manager Matt Williams has announced how the first three starting pitchers will line up coming out of the All-Star break. The result sets up some of the game's premier pitching matchups of the season as the National League West-leading Dodgers visit Nationals Park this weekend. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will square off with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on Friday night. Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and last year's NL MVP, took the loss in Tuesday's All-Star Game...

A day before the Nationals are set to embark on the second half of the season, one of their injured stars is ready to see his first game action in two months. Left fielder Jayson Werth hasn't played since Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne ran a 92 mph fastball in on Werth that violently struck his left wrist in the second inning of a Nats' 10-0 win in San Diego on May 16. Tonight, Werth begins his minor league rehab stint for Single-A Potomac, where he'll play left field and bat second...

Manager: Don Mattingly (5th season) Record: 51-39 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.283/.355/.520 with 18 HR, 55 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.282/.401/.526 with 14 HR, 36 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (.230 with 20 HR, 40 RBIs), 2B Howie Kendrick (.292 with 37 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP), LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-6 with 160 strikeouts, 2.85 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-4 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 17: RHP Mike Bolsinger vs. RHP Jordan...

The Nationals this morning announced that they have agreed to terms with outfielder Elvis Alvarado, a 16-year-old international free agent from the Dominican Republic. Alvarado is 6-foot-4 and 175 lbs. He profiles as a corner outfielder, said Johnny DiPuglia, the team's director of Latin American operations. Alvarado throws and bats right-handed. "He's got the potential to hit for power and has an above-average arm," DiPuglia said in a team-issued release. This is the Nationals' third...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 16-year-old outfielder Elvis Alvarado. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of Latin American Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Alvarado, a native of Sabaneta, Dominican Republic, is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound outfielder who throws right and bats right. "Elvis profiles as a corner outfielder," DiPuglia said. "He's got the potential to hit for power and has an above-average arm."...

The Nationals clubhouse is loaded with a wide spectrum of personalities - from the quirkiness of guys like Gio Gonzalez and Jose Lobaton to the intensity of Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper. As the Nationals prepare to ramp back up for a run at a second straight National League East crown, we take a look a back at the top 10 quotes from the season's first half. 10. June 27, Gonzalez: "This rain kinda caught us all off-guard. I mean, we didn't know it was coming for, like, three days." This was...

While sorting through my mailbag last week, I omitted one of the more popular questions posed by fans. Why is Chris Davis playing right field? Manager Buck Showalter hasn't said much about it, except that Davis is capable of playing first base and right field, that he's just as good at one position as the other. When I relayed this explanation to Davis, hoping that he'd provide more insight, he feigned anger and replied, "What the heck is that supposed to mean?" But seriously ... Davis has...

Manager: Brad Ausmus (2nd season) Record: 44-44 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: SS Jose Iglesias (.314, 9 SB), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.297 with 13 HR, 51 RBIs), RF J.D. Martinez (.289/.347/.565 with 25 HR, 59 RBIs), LHP David Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA), RHP Joakim Soria (3.38 ERA, 20 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (5-1 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 17: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez, 7:08 p.m., MASN2 July 18: RHP Chris Tillman vs. LHP David Price, 7:08 p.m., MASN2 July...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Before tonight's IronBirds game, I was invited to Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium to facilitate a Q&A with Cal Ripken Jr. in front of fans. After the on-field interview, Ripken took the time to talk with MASNsports.com about the All-Star Game, the 20th anniversary of 2,131 and MLB's Franchise Four. He also weighed in on this season's Orioles team. Ripken thinks they may peak at the right time. "The key to any successful season is to get better as the year goes on, and...

The Nationals will face three-time National League Cy Young Award Clayton Kershaw when the Dodgers come to D.C. on Friday night. Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly plans to send right-hander Mike Bolsinger to the mound for Saturday's matinee and NL All-Star starter Zack Greinke will take the ball on Sunday for the series finale. After winning the 2014 NL MVP, Kershaw got off to a bit of an uncharacteristic start this season. But the left-hander rebounded in dominant fashion. In his last start...