Standings via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

The Nats have clinched a playoff berth and the club is sitting atop the NL East with a magic number of 6, and a near-unbelievable-yet-so-believable record of 92-60.

Lefty sensation Gio Gonzalez recorded his 20th win of the season on Saturday against the Brewers when his offense was certainly not feeling shy. The Nats trumped the Brew Crew with a final score of 10-4, and Gio held ‘em scoreless through five. Gio is the first National to reach a 20-game season, and is needless to say a contender for the Cy Young Award.

Meanwhile, rookie phenom Bryce Harper continues to astound and could be in a race for a title of his own: the NL Rookie of the Year Award, that is.

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: Rounding Third…”

NL East standings as of 8/25. Graphic via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

The Nats are high above all other teams in the majors with a picturesque win percentage at .611, and even a small losing streak really ain’t no thang but a blip on the radar.

Catcher Kurt Suzuki had a broken-hand scare Wednesday, but returned to the lineup Friday after negative X-ray results came through. Shortstop Ian Desmond should be out through Monday to play it safe with his hamstring strain. Likewise, Michael Morse took Sunday off to rest his hand, which remained painful after being hit by a pitch on Friday’s game against the Phillies.

… Just ask Jayson Werth, (or check his email in/outbox), those two teams just can’t seem to get along. Somehow injury is always added to insult in such rivalries.

Stephen Strasburg is set to miss his final two or three starts of the season by order of his Tommy John recovery schedule. In his absence, the Nationals could switch to a four-man rotation come October.

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: Dark Horse Play On Horizon?”

NL East Standings as of 8/12. via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

Jayson Werth rejoined the Nationals on Thursday (over a week ago) and the Nats have been winning with him since. Werth was moved up to the leadoff spot, and is hitting an insane .400 with a .500 on-base percentage.

Meanwhile, shortstop Ian Desmond took his first live swings during his rehab assignment, and manager Davey Johnson is antsy to have Desmond back in action.

Unfortunately, Chien-Ming Wang exited his Minor League rehab start with hip soreness on Tuesday night. His return to the Nats, which could have been as early as this past Saturday, is of course pushed back until he can make another rehab start.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy 

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab…”

National League East standings via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

It’s not much of a surprise that D.C.’s aces Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez were voted to the 2012 All Star Game, along with Ian Desmond. And what’s more, wonder-kid Bryce Harper is eligible for a final vote All Star nomination. The Nats have never had more than two representatives elected as All Stars, which continues to prove that this season’s club is a whole different breed than the Nats you used to know.

In heat: Many cities in America endured a heat wave this week, and when the Nats played in Atlanta the temperature climbed to over 100 degrees, which limited Strasburg’s performance to only three innings, probably due to dehydration. But the club didn’t melt completely. Washington managed to stay cool and best the Braves for the series, and finished off a month of star-worthy success.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: All Star Edition”

National League East standings via MLB.com

Washington Nationals
For interleague play this week, the Nats faced off with the New York Yankees, who swept Washington under the rug without a second thought. The Nats had a different kind of luck when they faced, and similarly swept, the AL East ranked-fourth Toronto Blue Jays in a prior interleague match-up. Of course, never forget our new favourite hashtag that sprang from the series, when young’n Bryce Harper was asked in an interview if he would drink beer in Toronto because he is of legal age in Canada… to which he responded: “That’s a #ClownQuestionBro” Brilliant.

Floundering Nats reliever Brad Lidge who went down with the ship in both Friday and Saturday’s losses to the Yanks, was designated for assignment on Sunday, and Ryan Mattheus was activated to take his place.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: Clowning Around With Interleague Play”

NL East standings via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

With the Marlins suddenly encroaching on their territory, the Nats must continue to shine if they wish to stay atop the throne in the NL East.

Lefty Gio Gonzalez was awarded the National League Pitcher of the Month for May. (In April, Stephen Strasburg won the award.) Gonzalez went 5-0 through five starts in May, and recorded a league-leading 45 strikeouts. And, as one might expect, outfielder Bryce Harper, who on average contributed more than one hit per game this month, took home the honors for NL Rookie of the Month for May.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: No-No’s And Oh-No’s”

NL East standings via MLB.com

Atlanta Braves

The first place Braves opened an away series Friday against the American League Tampa Bay Rays. Friday, the Braves triumph was bittersweet, when Chipper Jones left due to injury, and the Braves bats shook the Trop. Randall Delgado did not find the same luck in his start against the Rays on Saturday, that dropped a grand slam and five walks in four innings. Pitcher Tim Hudson shut out the Tampa Bay Rays in the final game of the interleague series in St. Petersburg Sunday.

Chipper Jones has a new addition to his on-field wardrobe. He will be wearing a shinguard for the rest of the season after he got a nasty bruise. Jones might not make it back into the lineup for Monday’s game against the Reds in Cincinatti.

Brandon Beachy deserves applause for his league leading low ERA of 1.33 after his start on Tuesday.

Keep an eye on Atlanta at She Is Out Of Your League

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: Topsy Turvy Interleague Play”

Standings via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

You probably know by now: teenaged Bryce Harper has a pretty swell mohawk (keep the dream alive!) And he was just called up for the Nats on Saturday, albeit early, to fill in for the ailing Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the 15 day DL. Um, of course this one  will go down in history as Bryce Harper’s first major league hit… along with the full moon (or were there three?) that was out behind home plate. You stay classy, Los Angeles. Unfortunately Matt Kemp blasted a walk off home run to take home the win for the Boys in Blue. But don’t let those guys rain on your parade, Harpy.

In other news, Tyler Moore is joining the squad because Mark DeRosa is disabled with an oblique strain.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy

Atlanta Braves

Did you catch Dan Uggla’s terribly wonderful outfield grab from Friday? He and Pastornicky had a bit of a romp on the grass. Check out the video. At first I was facepalming like: “GUYS! COMMUNICATE!” And then it was wincing like… “Yikes… this might end in a lot of pain…” But then there were backflips and acrobatics and no stunt doubles involved… and he actually caught the ball. Boom. Baseball.

Unff. Chipper Jones is experiencing pain in his left knee, which has caused him strife in the past, and has already been… surgerized… for a torn meniscus.

Brian McCann might be back Monday after he strained his intercostal against the Pirates on Friday evening, leaving the game early.

Keep an eye on Atlanta at She Is Out Of Your League

» Continue reading “NL East Recap: Newbies, Wannabes, And Injuries”

National League East Standings as of 4/15 via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

What the… what? The Nats won five in a row for their best franchise start since 1981, and that was before they moved down south and lost their Francophone flair.

Edwin Jackson contributed to the Nats big 5-in-a-row win. The game was Jackson’s fifth-ever complete game that totaled only 92 pitches, with 9 strikeouts and a slight 2 hits. Definitely worthy of that glowing bright blue Gatorade bath.

Gio Gonzalez was all smiles after his first time, that is, his first career hit! The childlike enthusiasm spread like warm butterflies and sunshine and candy-coated sprinkles throughout the dugout and culminated in a W for Washington in the bottom of the 10th inning. Kinda reminds us of how giddy we felt when we first fell in love with the game, as baseball should, and these days, might not often enough do.

The Nats streak was stopped short on Sunday, but as long as Jayson Werth (Walk-Off Werth!) and Adam LaRoche don’t go MIA, something makes us think this team has what it takes to keep fighting the good fight.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy

» Continue reading “National League East Recap: What The… Washington?”