The Washington Nationals today reinstated shortstop Ian Desmond from the 15-Day Disabled List and designated infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Desmond, who missed the last 25 contests with a left oblique strain, is batting .286 with 24 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 53 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 51 runs in 89 games this season with the Nationals. At the time of his DL...
For the first time this season, the Nationals will have Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Bryce Harper in the same lineup.
This is more along the lines of what we were expecting back in spring.
Werth will hit leadoff for Davey Johnson today, while Desmond is back in the sixth spot in the order.
Ross Detwiler will get the ball today, as Johnson has elected to flip the lefty and Edwin Jackson in the rotation. Detwiler will pitch on...
Manager Buck Showalter is sticking with his usual lineup tonight against a right-handed starter, including Nate McLouth batting third and playing left field and Omar Quintanilla batting ninth and playing second base.
Joe Mahoney is listed among the reserves.
For the Orioles:
Nick Markakis RF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nate McLouth LF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Chris Davis DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Manny Machado 3B
Omar Quintanilla 2B
Tommy Hunter RHP
Update: Let the speculation cease regarding Saturday's...
The Nationals have activated shortstop Ian Desmond from the disabled list today, a move which shouldn't surprise anyone.
To make room for Desmond on the 25-man roster, the Nats have designated infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment, a move which, well, surprises me.
Izturis only was with the Nationals for nine games after they claimed him off waivers from the Brewers. In that time, he was pretty productive, going 2-for-4 with a double and four runs scored in five games.
With Desmond back...
Don't look now, but the Orioles' pitching has taken a turn for the better. This stat may have snuck up quietly on us, but over the 13 games since Aug. 3, the O's team ERA is 2.58.
They just gave up 10 runs to Boston in a three-game series and six of those came last night. The Sox are third in the AL in runs and average 4.9 per game.
The 13-game run, during which the Orioles are 9-4, has lowered their team ERA on the year from 4.25 to 4.06. That now ranks eighth in the AL. A similar...
As soon as Steve Johnson returned to the mound for the ninth inning last night, I figured he no longer was a candidate to make Saturday night's start in Detroit, unless he recorded three outs on three pitches or learned how to throw a knuckleball.
Johnson was listed as Saturday's starter earlier in the day, but manager Buck Showalter couched it by saying the plans could change if the St. Paul's grad had to work in relief.
Talk about a cruel tease.
Johnson remained in the bullpen through...
Dan Daniels, the voice of the Washington Senators from 1961-68, passed away after complications from a fall at his Bethesda home on Aug. 13. He was 90 years old.
Daniels worked as a television and radio sportscaster in Washington for 22 years, providing play-by-play coverage of the Redskins, Maryland and Navy in addition to calling Senators games.
He is survived by three sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Nationals right-handed prospect Alex Meyer toes the rubber in his sixth start tonight for high Single-A Potomac at Salem.
Meyer has gone 2-1 with a 0.93 ERA in five outings so far for the P-Nats, striking out 26 while allowing just 17 hits and three walks in 29 innings.
Recently, I got the chance to sit down with Meyer and see how his first season has played out, especially his recent promotion to Potomac from low Single-A Hagerstown.
"It has been a transition period," Meyer said. "I...
Will Ian Desmond make his grand return to the Nationals tonight as the team opens a series against the Mets?
We'll have to see. As you know, Desmond took part in a simulated game yesterday, and if he feels good today, the All-Star shortstop could find his name back in the lineup tonight after missing 25 games with a left oblique injury.
Chien-Ming Wang resumed his rehab from a right hip strain yesterday, starting for Double-A Harrisburg in the Senators' game against Akron.
Wang got stuck...
The Nationals are returning home this weekend as conquering heroes. Not only have they completed one of the best road trips in team history at 8-2 and amassed the best road record in the majors, they have been passing key tests that they failed earlier in the season, showing how they have grown and matured as a team.
Remember back in late April when the Nats hit the West Coast for the first time? After taking two in San Diego, they stumbled in the series finale against the Padres before...