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...

The National League East is playing out as expected, except for a minor detail. The pitching-rich Nationals are the first-place team, but the general consensus at the start was that their lead would be bigger than the two-game margin they have over the New York Mets. The Nationals and Mets are similar. Both have strong rotations, reliable closers and questions about the relievers that connect the two. Also, each team is dealing with injuries to key players. The Mets' overall ERA is 3.23,...

This isn't the American League East we are used to seeing. The division has gone from baseball's best to mediocre. But at least it is competitive. This year, every team in the division has flaws. Every team is trying to stay above .500. In an earlier time, a team two wins above .500 was buried. Not this year. No AL East champion has won fewer than 95 games in a season going back to 2001. Last year, the Orioles won 96 games to win the title. This year, the AL East champ could have the fewest...

Right-hander Casey Janssen sat on the couch in the Nationals clubhouse for several minutes late last Friday night with an untouched plate of food in front of him and a blank stare on his face. Fairly or unfairly, Janssen had been charged with the game-tying run as the Nationals blew a late-inning lead with just six outs remaining. Janssen had only faced two batters in his abbreviated outing. Orioles pinch-hitter Chris Parmelee nicked a 2-2 cutter to lead off the eighth, and the dribbler to...

WHAT: To celebrate the DC Public Library's 2015 Summer Reading program sponsored by the Washington Nationals, Drew Storen, Stephen Strasburg and Aaron Barrett will visit three DC public library locations on Saturday, July 18 to read to and interact with local youth enrolled in the three-month initiative. The 2015 Summer Reading Program, which runs through August, is the largest program in the District that addresses the "summer slide," or the loss of learning that children experience during...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated left-handed pitcher Wesley Wright from the 60-day disabled list and designated him for assignment. Wright, 30, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 11 with a left trapezius strain and was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 24. In two games with the Orioles this season, Wright went 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA (1.2IP, ER).