Interleague Play...

The Washington Nationals dropped two of three to their Beltway/geographical rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, when the two teams met in Interleague play back on May 16-18th in Camden Yards. The Nationals threw Shawn Hill, Odalis Perez and John Lannan in that series, this time out it's the lefty, "Opening Night" Odalis Perez, Lannan and Jason Bergmann slated to start, while the Orioles counter with their 6'9'' right-hander, Daniel Cabrera tonight, '07 1st Round pick Garrett Olson tomorrow, and veteran righty Jeremy Guthrie on Sunday opposite Bergmann.

On the Hill...

Daniel Cabrera faced the Nationals this past May, throwing 7.0 innings of 5-hit, 1-run baseball with 1 HR and 3 walks allowed, and a 1.29 ERA on the day, which is oddly consistent for 27-year old right-hander who, in three separate starts against the Nationals has lasted exactly 7.0 innings, and given up just one run, per start for an identical 1.29 career ERA in 21.0 IP against DC in which he's surrendered 13 hits, 3 ER, 1 HR, and 5 walks, while collecting 15 K's, with a surprising, considering his personal perfomance, (0-1) record in those three appearances.

"Opening Night" Odalis Perez has faced Baltimore four times as a starter, with a (2-1) record against the Orioles, included in which is the loss Odalis suffered back on May 17th, when he gave up 11 hits in 5.0 innings pitched, and 6 ER's on 2 HR's and 2 walks with 2 K's...ending the day with a 10.80 ERA which raised his career mark to 4.32 in 25.0 innings, over which the 30-year old lefty's allowed 29 hits, 12 ER, 3 HR's and 6 walks, with 22 K's of O's hitters. 

Daniel Cabrera (5-3, 4.46 ERA) hasn't won a start since May 20th, with two losses and 4 no-decisions in his last six starts since that victory. Odalis Perez (2-5, 4.09 ERA), is (2-2) in his last 5 starts, but he hasn't pitched since June 3rd, when he was removed after just 3.0 innings on the mound against St. Louis, after which he was diagnosed with "shoulder tendinitis", and placed on the DL. Maybe one of the two will claim their first win in June... 

Nationals' #'s Against Daniel Cabrera...

Felipe Lopez - 2 for 4, .500 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI's.

DY - 4 for 8, .500 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's. 

Elijah Dukes - 1 for 3, .333 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

The "If They Were Playing" List...

Ryan Zimmerman - 1 for 4, .250 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's. 

Austin Kearns - 1 for 3, .333 AVG.

Nick Johnson 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 2B.

Clippers' Clippard To Go National Again...

Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling reports, in his article entitled, "Clippard likely to start", that when the injured Shawn Hill's spot in the rotation comes around, (next Wednesday's start against the Florida Marlins), the Washington Nationals are likely to once again call upon right-handed second-year starter Tyler Clippard (1-1, 4.35), who's currently back down with the Nationals' Triple-AAA affiliate in Columbus after making two starts for DC during June. 

After visiting some more doctors Wednesday, Shawn Hill found out that, "...An MRI and bone scan showed no structural damage," in his injured right forearm, according to Mr. Goessling, who then quotes Mr. Acta, who states:

"'We're going to shut him down for a while, and then we'll start a throwing program and pitch again,' Acta said. '[The results are] good news.'”

Clippard's fit two starts in since he last pitched for the Nationals back on June 14th, going (0-1) in 10.0 innings, over which he allowed 10 hits, 6 runs, and 8 walks, with 6 K's against the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees. 

Federalbaseball.com's Favorite "Catcher"...(And An Overuse Of Air-Quotes)

Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's article, "A 1,030-word speech from Paul Lo Duca", makes for some, uh, interesting reading...among the quotes all of Lo Duca's fans in DC might find, uh, "interesting":

“The kid, Flores, has played well. I'm in a situation where, if I go to another team, I go to another team. But I'm still a National [for now]...”

...the rest of the Nationals' $5 Million dollar "catcher's" interview is just as, uh, interesting...I'll give him this much, he's honest.

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...

7:35 pm Friday. Orioles at Nationals. Interleague Play. Odalis Perez vs Daniel Cabrera. The Nationals currently (since '05) lead the Interleague series with the Orioles 8-7. How will Dukes win it for DC tonight? WWJD? Can Lasto go long again? Is Guzman the Nationals' All-Star Rep? Who's watching the Nationals?