:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3755761/121737826.jpg)
• Programming Notes: While '07 1st Round Ross Detwiler was dealing to the D-Backs, '09 no.1 overall Stephen Strasburg was striking out six Class-A Rangers' prospects in his fourth rehab start following Tommy John surgery last season. Both Strasburg and Detwiler, and Jordan Zimmermann tonight, had NatsTown talking 2011 rotation with John Lannan's name thrown in the mix and the battle for the fifth spot looking like it's going to be a battle royal among a number or potential starters who'll have the last month of the season and Spring Training to force their way into the conversation. It was a good day to be a Nats fan on Monday and today Washington's going to introduce their 2011 Draft picks Anthony Rendon (6th overall), Alex Meyer (23rd) and Brian Goodwin (34). Zimmermann vs D-Backs' ace Ian Kennedy tonight. Who's going to miss Jordan Zimmermann's next-to-last outing? MASN HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 the FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 189. Who's Watching The Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• STRASBURG BEAT:
• "8:09 p.m.: Strasburg’s night is over. Afterward, Rizzo said, 'The stuff is there. The arm is healthy. That’s all we care about.'" - "Stephen Strasburg live blog: Hagerstown do-over" - Michael Lee, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "The circus-like atmosphere surrounding the right-hander’s rehabilitation has dissipated. Only a few red No. 37 jerseys dotted the crowd." - "Strasburg rebounds in fourth rehab start" - Nathan Fenno, Washington Times
• "Strasburg, for the uninitiated, is hardly the prototypical million-dollar arm with a 10-cent head." - "Strasburg returns to form in rehab start" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "Strasburg sat between 95 and 97 mph and topped out at 98 mph during his 60-pitch, 40-strike performance, notching six punchouts of the nine outs, two of those looking." - "Strasburg focusing on breaking stuff as he looks to next level (video)" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Strasburg sat between 95 and 97 mph and topped out at 98 mph during his 60-pitch, 40-strike performance, notching six punchouts of the nine outs, two of those looking." - "Strasburg focusing on breaking stuff as he looks to next level (video)" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Strasburg dealt with a small strike zone and non-strike calls on check swings as much as he had to overcome himself." - "Stephen Strasburg throws 60 pitches, battles command in fourth rehab start" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News
• "Strasburg’s nerves were palpable as he made his fourth rehabilitation start on Monday, for the Class A Hagerstown Suns." - "Stephen Strasburg strikes out six in three innings in fourth rehab start" - Michael Lee, The Washington Post
• NATS BEAT:
• "Washington Nationals pitcher Tom Gorzelanny wants to be a starter, not a reliever. He makes no secret of that." - "Gorzelanny yearns for return to starting rotation" - Stephen Whyno, Washington Times
• "'I got myself into that jam by walking the guy,' Detwiler said. 'I can’t be walking people when it’s 4-0… '" - "Detwiler, Werth help Nationals top Diamondbacks" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "At this point, three starters are assured of jobs next year: Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and John Lannan." - "September rotation battle looms" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was named the National League's Player of the Week on Monday, a designation he shared with Padres catcher Nick Hundley." - "Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman blasts way to NL Player of the Week Award" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "'Left-handers sometimes take a little longer,' Manager Davey Johnson said. 'Detwiler'] command up here has been a lot better than it was in Syracuse.'" - "Ross Detwiler watching, developing and improving" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Seventy-four of Detwiler's 92 pitches were fastballs, and when he threw his curveball and changeup, he did so effectively, getting a strikeout each with his off-speed pitches." - "Four years after Nationals drafted him, Ross Detwiler is growing up" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "In truth, it can't be all that surprising that Werth hasn't hit left-handed pitching well. He hasn't hit well for much of the season." - "Finally comfortable at the plate, Werth goes oppo to propel Nationals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Young righty Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for Washington, in what will likely be his second-to-last start this season, because of a 160-inning limit. He has thrown 150 2/3 so far." - "Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals: D-Backs look for Kennedy to live up to ace status" - AJ Cassavell, MLB.com Preview
• "Slumping players both homer in Sunday’s game. Manager Davey Johnson has been trying to accomodate Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa." - "Davey Johnson moving Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa to help ease them out of funks" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Ryan Zimmerman had, by anyone's standards, a phenomenal week last week." - "Zimmerman wins NL co-player of the week and Ankiel gets some rest" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Detwiler said he credits his recent success to watching teammate Chien-Ming Wang, who, like Detwiler, relies heavily on a sinker." - "Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals: Detwiler, Werth take center stage in victory" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "Under the weight of his new contract and the enormous pressure that ensues, Werth hasn’t been himself much of his first year with the Nationals." - "Nats vs. Diamondbacks: Jayson Werth sparks Washington past Arizona" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "The practice of love can be expressed in one sentence: ‘Do not harm others’."
• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES:
• Class-A Auburn: "Looking for a perfect home stand, the Doubledays took the field on Monday night against the State College Spikes for the final game of a three-game series." - "Winning Streak Halted by Spikes" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Tim Pahuta clobbered a three-run home run in the eighth inning with two outs giving the Senators a much needed 4-1 win on Monday night over the Portland Sea Dogs." - "Pahuta Powers the Senators to 4-1 Win" - Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, fell one run short in a 3-2 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox on Monday night." - "Red Sox edge Chiefs, 3-2" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Tuesday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "That's more like it: 60 pitches, 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, reportedly 96-98 on the gun." - "Stras bounces back" - Nats Enquirer
• "This time around it was Dr. Jekyll’s turn (aka, the 'good' side) for Livan Hernandez, who stifled the best team in baseball for a 4-2 victory in Philadelphia on 8/12." - "Nats Rotation Cycle #25: good/bad/soso" - Nationals Arm Race
• "He hasn’t been hitting particularly well and has drawn the boos of Nats fans (justified or not) for not living up to the number of zeros at the end of his salary." - "What Can Werth Do to End on a High Note?" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy
• "Even the team sometimes seems to treat these guys as a team within a team, the MI cornerstones to a playoff run." - "Danny isn't Ian. Ian isn't Danny" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• "The 26-year-old Zimmerman, who is in his sixth full season with the Nats, has hit at least one walk-off home run in each season." - "Ryan Zimmerman is Nats' Mr. Clutch" - MASNSports.com, Nationals Buzz: Mark Hornbaker
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Phillies: "'We're in a rut and playing pretty bad baseball right now,' David Wright said after a 10-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park." - "Cliff cuffs Mets as slide worsens" - Mike PumaNYPOST.com
• Marlins: "Considering how few runs the Marlins are scoring and how many they're giving up early, it seems like their prospects of winning are dashed before they record three outs." - "Florida Marlins: First-inning woes sinking Marlins on an almost nightly basis" - Juan C. Rodriguez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
• Mets: "'You try to explore all options,' Pelfrey said. 'If he wanted me to do it, I would do it ... I prefer to start. I feel that I can take the ball every fifth day and give you innings.'" - "Sandy Alderson rejected Mike Pelfrey to bullpen" Andy Martino, New York Daily News
• Braves: "'My confidence was down, and going deep into the seventh inning was a mental boost for me,' Jurrjens said. 'It's going to keep growing from this outing.'" - "Atlanta vs. Chicago - Recap: Jurrjens pitches Braves past Cubs 3-0" - AP/SI.com