Kuzul

With concern centering around Stephen Strasburg following Monday's 3-2 loss to the Braves, the offense also may not have come out unscathed. Right fielder Jayson Werth, the team's second-leading home run hitter and run producer, fouled a ball off his ankle and aggravated his hamstring. Near the end of the game, Werth felt cramping in the seventh inning while racing to catch a fly ball and make a throw home. During his eighth inning at-bat against reliever Eric O’Flaherty, Werth fouled a ball off his left ankle. He fell to the ground, rolled around and got up gingerly. Nationals' trainer Lee Kuntz and Davey Johnson came out to check on him. He finished the at-bat but was replaced the next inning in right field by Roger Bernadina.Via Dan Kolko of MASN Sports: The ankle was a little swollen after the game, Werth said. The hamstring, while it bugged the veteran outfielder, doesn't seem to be a major ...

As the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves set to go head-to-head this Saturday, one question remains on everyone's mind: Who is the better team in the National League East?The Braves are off to a blistering start with a 9-1 record, and not only are their bats on fire, but their entire pitching staff (with the exception of Julio Teheran and Christian Martinez) is pitching like they already have October in their sights.However, the 7-3 Nationals may just be the better team. Led by phenoms Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, the Nats have one of the most complete teams on paper. Not only is their lineup stacked with talented bats, but they arguably have the most dominant pitching staffs in all of baseball.So who will prevail as the season goes on?This weekend's games should offer a lot of insight as to how these two teams will fare against each other. I think the most ...

The American League East is the most competitive division in baseball. From this division, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles made the playoffs last October. The Tampa Bay Rays came up just short in their playoff push, but have competed for the division crown in each of the past five seasons. With the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox improving their rosters dramatically this offseason, there's an argument that any of these five teams can win the division this season.  The Yankees enter the 2013 MLB season with a bunch of question marks. Amazingly, it's not just their pitching that should make them worried. It's the bottom of the lineup. Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson taking up the first five spots in the lineup is still an elite top of the order. After that, it gets ugly rather quickly.  Their biggest offseason acquisition, ...

Let me begin by saying this is never an article I envisioned I would ever have to write.There are times in the world where we, the fans, lose sight of what is important in the world. We become so obsessed with free-agency signings, poor performances, wins, losses and lockouts that we forget that the games we become so obsessed with our merely that: games.We clamor for the big-name player, victories, championships and heroes. We at times consider selling all of our possessions just for the opportunity to gain access to a ticket to the big game.We put things like key games, playoffs, and sports rumors in front of what really matters: friends, family—our loved ones.Yesterday was one of those days that truly helps put the world into perspective, making us realize that there are scarier things in the world than losing a game. When we realize how trivial one game seems ...

In Game 1 of the NLDS, fans saw a competitive contest. In Game 2, fans witnessed a different outcome as the St. Louis Cardinals put on a slaughtering over the Washington Nationals.With the series tied 1-1 between the Cards and the Nats, the newbies to playoff baseball are looking to take that series lead as they play at home for Game 3 on Wednesday afternoon.However, there are two vital components necessary for Washington to be victorious and remain hopeful with their eyes on the prize for that World Series championship title.Begin Slideshow

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson's leadership, Bryce Harper's rising stock, and Stephen Strasburg's arm appear to have the Nats on a fast moving ride to the 2012 Major League Baseball Playoffs. The team made some strategic and painful decisions, but it's paying off. Barring any unforeseen events, the players are built for a run in the postseason.Lets start with Bryce, Bryce, Baby. Harper is batting a shade under .300 and is a clear All-Star this year. There's no debate there if he's judged on the first half of the season.  He has 50 hits and counting. You have undoubtedly heard that the kid is 19 years old. It looks like he has the complete package.Harper is more mature as a baseball player than most teenagers his age. He proved that when he told the reporter, "That's a clown question bro'." He didn't step into the trap the reporter may or ...

On Friday, Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel dominated the Washington Nationals in a 2-1 Orioles victory at Camden Yards. Saturday, Washington hurler Edwin Jackson returned the favor. Jackson tossed 6 1/3 strong innings, as the Nationals beat the Orioles 3-1. Jackson surrendered just one earned run on four hits, while striking out five on the night. With the victory, Jackson goes to 4-4 on the season and his ERA shrinks to 2.91.Tyler Clippard picked up the save for the Nationals—his 11th. Wei-Yin Chen took the loss for the Orioles. The rookie left-hander pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits. With the loss, Chen is now 7-3 with a 3.38 ERA.   Offensively, the Nationals got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Xavier Nady singled home Michael Morse. A throwing error by third baseman Wilson Betemit allowed Washington's first baseman Adam ...

There is no way I can hide my excitement.Watching the Angels and Nationals play today will be equal to my tearing open a retail pack of baseball cards as a 12-year-old. Last night I wrote a piece on Bryce Harper. In that story, I said I would be glued to my television screen when Harper makes his Major League Debut versus the high flying Los Angeles Dodgers. When I first heard Harper was coming to the show, I could not help but feel for Mike Trout, who still had not gotten the call. I could see Trout sitting at his locker in Salt Lake and screaming to the heavens, “What more must I do to get the call?” To this Trout is right. He is hitting .403 with 31 hits and an OPS of 1.091 through 20 games with the Bees. Apparently, the baseball gods heard Trout’s question and were ...

The Washington Nationals are already the feel-good story of the early 2012 Major League Baseball season. They are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League at 14-6, plus they have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.They have been winning despite the early season injuries to their top hitter from last year Michael Morse and the closer Drew Storen who have yet to see action this season.  This early-season showdown between the Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, the two best teams in the National League, is a marquee matchup. But early yesterday afternoon things became much more interesting and far more dramatic on a national scale.  It all started when Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo announced that star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was going on the 15-day disabled list. He knew he needed a big bat to ...

It's that time of year again in Major League Baseball.Division leaders and Wild Card hopefuls dominate the headlines as fans across the nation begin to anticipate the excitement of October pennant chases. September is where legends cement their place, managers justify their contracts, role players previously shrouded in obscurity make their names known, MVPs and Cy Young winners bring home their hardware, headlines are stolen and franchise-crippling collapses are immortalized. The most exciting month of baseball's regular season is where the pretenders and the contenders are finally separated as W's, X's, Y's and Z's begin to finalize the standings, granting a select few ball clubs the ever-so-elusive invitation to the sport's most exclusive dance.Lost in the hype, however, as disgruntled fans of hopeless teams begin to switch the channel over to football are their first glances at a brighter future. For those of us not lucky enough to construct our hopes around the ...