Prior to the rain delay, which hit in the third inning, Stephen Strasburg had struck out four hitters over 2 2/3 innings, much of that in the pouring rain. He sat around for 51 minutes as the tarp sat on the infield, but that time away from the mound didn't slow him down. If anything, Strasburg came back from the delay even stronger than before. Since the delay, Strasburg has been absolutely filthy. He's struck out six of the eight hitters he's faced; three swinging, three looking. All of...

Mother nature is trying to work her way into the National League East pennant race. For the third straight day, we've got a rain delay at Nationals Park. Sunday's delay lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours, last night's game was delayed 56 minutes and now we'll have to wait and see how long we're stuck with the tarp on the field today. The delay started at 7:43 with the Nationals leading the Braves 1-0 with two outs in the top of the third. Ian Desmond got the Nats on the board in a pouring rain...

It's a stat that probably doesn't lend itself to a solid, reasonable explanation, but for an Orioles team that is having a good season, they are not a good team in the first game of a series. They lost the series opener in Detroit, before winning the next two and they lost the opener in Texas last night. The Orioles are just 16-24 in the first game of a series this year (8-12 at home, 8-12 on the road) In the remaining games, the O's are 50-32 (24-17 at home and 26-15 on the road). That...

Another Stephen Strasburg start, more questions about The Shutdown. They've become expected at this point. Death, taxes, lengthy rain delays at Nats Park and questions about the Nationals' decision to go into the playoffs with Strasburg watching from the dugout. I've had numerous conversations, dating all the way back to spring training, with people both within and outside the organization about the reason why the team didn't decide to somehow stretch Strasburg's innings out so that...

Despite using all seven relievers in Monday's 5-4, 13-inning marathon win over the Atlanta Braves, Nationals manager Davey Johnson said they will all be available for Tuesday's Game 2. Even Craig Stammen, who went two full innings, will be available. "He is probably good to go too," Johnson said. "He is the strongest one out there." Johnson said the bullpen, which includes three lefties and four right-handers, will be ready if needed after Stephen Strasburg tonight. "They are all...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is back in the Orioles' lineup tonight, and Omar Quintanilla is back at second base. 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 Omar Quintanilla 2B Manny Machado 3B Chris Tillman RHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis Andrus SS Josh Hamilton CF Adrian Beltre 3B Nelson Cruz RF Michael Young DH David Murphy LF Geovany Soto C Mitch Moreland 1B Scott Feldman RHP The Orioles have lost...

08/31/12 12:30 PM Massachusetts @ Connecticut (DB - HD) MASN HD 09/08/12 12:00 PM NC State @ Connecticut (Live - HD) MASN2 HD 09/08/12 3:30 PM Howard @ Rutgers (Live - HD) MASN2 HD 09/08/12 7:00 PM Norfolk @ Liberty (Live) MASN2 HD 09/09/12 9:30 AM Lafayette @ William & Mary (DB) MASN HD 09/15/12 3:30 PM Liberty @ Montana (Live) MASN HD 09/22/12 4:30 PM South Florida @ Ball State (Live - HD) MASN HD 09/22/12 7:30...

The Nationals won't have to deal with Chipper Jones tonight, as the future Hall of Fame third baseman is out of the Braves lineup. The 40-year-old Jones played all 13 innings last night, but won't be starting against Stephen Strasburg in Game 2 of this big division series. Jones went 1-for-5 with a walk last night. He came into this series with three homers in his past three games. The Nats will face off against left-hander Paul Maholm, who the Braves acquired from the Cubs prior to the...

On the heels of the Nationals' rise to the top of the National League East standings, MASN is experiencing equally impressive increases in viewers watching its game coverage as the team continues its push to the postseason for the first time since relocating to D.C. An average of 69,000 viewers per game are watching the Nationals on MASN this season, a substantial increase over the 45,000 viewers per game recorded during the 2011 campaign. Those numbers mean viewership of Nationals games on...

Left-hander Brian Matusz made his third relief appearance today for Triple-A Norfolk, and the results were much better. Matusz walked one Gwinnett batter in a scoreless eighth inning. He didn't allow a hit, and he threw 10 of 19 pitches for strikes. Pat Egan pitched the ninth and completed an 8-0 victory that moved the Tides, winners of six of their last seven games, to within 2 1/2 games of the wild card lead. In his most recent appearance Sunday, Matusz stranded two inherited runners...