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• Ross Detwiler impressed everyone who watched the Washington Nationals' '07 1st Round pick pitch last night in the Nats' 6-2 win over the Mets. Now the Nats turn to '09 no. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg in the rubber match of the three-game series against their NL East rivals from New York. The Mets counter with finally-healthy-lefty Johan Santana in what's without a doubt one of the marquee pitching matchups in the majors today. (Josh Johnson vs Roy Halladay in Philly is a pretty good pitching matchup too.) Strasburg's second start of the season (after his 7.0 inning, 5-hit, one run outing against Chicago) sees the 23-year-old right-hander pitching in Citi Field for the first time in his career in just his second career start against New York. Any way you're going to miss this one? Here's the lineup that will be backing Strasburg up as the Nats try to win their first two series of 2012 before heading home to D.C. for tomorrow's home opener with the Reds:
• Nats' lineup via @NationalsPR: "Davey's G6 lineup at NYM: Desmond ss, Espinosa 2b, Zimmerman 3b, Werth cf, DeRosa lf, LaRoche 1b, Nady rf, Flores c, Strasburg rhp."
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "By the seventh inning Tuesday night, Werth had three hits and two RBI. The amount of times he did that in one game in all of the 2011 season? Two." - "Jayson Werth breaks out of early-season slump with four-hit day" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• NATS BEAT:
• "[Jayson] Werth has repeated all spring his belief that increased comfort in Washington will help make his disappointing first season a memory." - "Jayson Werth turns around his tough start with a four-hit game" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'Any opportunity to put a big league uniform on (is great), and especially when they're giving you a starting role, and it's up to me to go from there,' Detwiler said. 'I'm just happy I did.'" - "Nationals Pastime: Deconstructing Detwiler's stellar debut" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Prior to Tuesday's game against the Mets, Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein said he wasn't worried about Jayson Werth's swing, even though the latter was 1-for-14 with seven strikeouts." - "Aggressive mindset translates for Werth at plate" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "In a week filled with discouraging injury news (see: Rendon, Anthony; and Storen, Drew) the latest update on Michael Morse is the harshest punch to the gut yet." - "Minus Morse, where will runs come from?" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "The Joe Cool thing is totally a cover, like Adam Dunn acting like he was a carefree guy when he was one of the biggest worriers you'll ever meet. Werth is third-generation MLB and is absolutely the opposite of 'cool' about his performance." - "The Masters, Washington Nationals and more: Ask Boswell" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post
• "Said Mets manager Terry Collins, "As you saw, [Ross] Detwiler can be very, very tough on lefties, as he showed in the first inning on Murphy and Duda. Against a guy like that, your right-handed hitters have got to produce for you." - "Washington Nationals at New York Mets - April 10, 2012" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "[Ross] Detwiler tossed five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out six, retiring the final 10 hitters he faced and letting just three balls escape the infield." - "Nationals vs. Mets: Ross Detwiler helps hand New York its first loss" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "An injury that began as minor and was expected to cost [Michael] Morse no more than a few days during the spring now has an indefinite timetable for recovery." - "Nationals' Michael Morse suffers setback in rehab" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "[Jayson] Werth, who entered yesterday's game 1-for-14 on the season with seven strikeouts, felt like he was happy with his swing, but was starting to get frustrated with the results, or lack thereof." - "Nationals Pastime: After a slow start, Werth sees postitive results" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Ian Desmond homered off Dillon Gee (0-1) leading off the game, and Jayson Werth had four of the Nationals' 13 hits and drove in a run." - "Detwiler shines, helps Nats give Mets 1st loss" - Rick Freeman, AP/WTOP.com
• "[Ryan] Zimmerman became the seventh player -- Tim Wallach, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Vladimir Guerrero, Tim Raines and Jose Vidro are the others -- in franchise history to collect 500 or more RBIs." - "Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman collects RBI No. 500" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Second baseman Danny Espinosa underwent tests after Monday night’s 4-3 loss to the Mets to determine if he had a concussion." - "Danny Espinosa sits as a precaution, does not have a concussion" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Of the Nationals’ three homegrown starters, Detwiler was the first drafted. Two years before Stephen Strasburg and 61 spots before they selected Jordan Zimmermann in the 2007 draft, the Nationals took Detwiler No. 6 overall." - "Ross Detwiler pitches 5 scoreless as Nats give Mets first loss" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "The Mets should have no problem drawing a crowd to Citi Field on Wednesday, when Nationals fireballer Stephen Strasburg and ace Johan Santana face off in the series finale." - "Washington Nationals at New York Mets - April 11, 2012" - Quinn Roberts, MLB.com Preview
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Unbiased love is undoubtedly difficult to generate, but if you practice with determination, day by day your attitude will be transformed."
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Hagerstown: "Low Single-A Hagerstown outfielder Brian Goodwin has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a leg injury, the team announced. The move became effective Tuesday." - "Hagerstown places Brian Goodwin on disabled list" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Class-A Hagerstown: "When outfielder Brian Goodwin hit the disabled list Tuesday, Hagerstown manager Brian Daubach had one simple request for new leadoff batter Jason Martinson -- get on base and set the table." - "Nats' Martinson homers twice, plates six" - Ashley Marshall, MiLB.com News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "Jason Martinson blasted a pair of home runs, including one of two Suns' grand slams in the game, as the Hagerstown Suns (5-1) toppled the Lexington Legends (1-5), 16-8, at Municipal Stadium on Tuesday night." - "Suns Smack Two Grand Slams in 16-8 Drubbing of Lexington" - Hagerstown Suns News
• Class-A Potomac: "The Potomac Nationals picked up their first win of the year with a 6-4 win at Myrtle Beach. Making his Carolina League debut, LHP Matt Grace was excellent for the Nationals..." - "Potomac Picks Up First Win at Myrtle Beach" - Potomac Nationals News
• Double-A Harrisburg: Senators 7, Rock Cats 2 - Sandy Leon - 3 for 4; Robert Gilliam - 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 K's -Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Senators pitching coach Paul Menhart said he thought [Robert] Gilliam was 'really good,' going seven innings, scattering seven hits, allowing two runs, no walks, striking out five and surrendering one homer." - "Tremendous bounceback win for Gilliam in Harrisburg" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Thanks to the cold and rain, the Syracuse Chiefs trail the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees in a suspended game, 2-0 that will be finished at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Alliance Bank Stadium." - "Chiefs-Yankees suspended, first road trip tomorrow" - Ben Myers, The Auburn Citizen
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Scranton/Wilkes-Barre led the game 2-0 when the game was suspended. The Yankees scored both of their runs in the top of the fourth against Chiefs starter Mitch Atkins." - "Chiefs, Yankees suspended on Tuesday night" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Wednesday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• "The Potomac Nationals, Single-A affiliate for the Washington Nationals, host their home opener on Friday, April 13 against the Braves Single-A affiliate." - "NATS/P-NATS: Opening Weekend at Potomac Nationals" - Cheryl Nichols, District Sports Page
• NATSTOWN:
• "Nats making inroads into national consciousness" - Nationals Buzz: Rachel Levitin, MASNSports.com
• "What a bargain! A Bryce Harper 2011 Bowman Chrome Superfractor Rookie Card selling for nearly $25K on eBay." - "A Bryce Harper baseball card selling for $24,999.99?" - Nats Enquirer
• "Despite impressive outings by Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann earlier in the season, a Nats starter hadn’t yet earned a win through four games. Ross Detwiler did his best to change that on Tuesday night." - "Detwiler Dazzles in Season Debut" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog
• "During the upcoming home-stand, Nats’ fans may witness the Nats win their 500th victory. Going into this afternoon’s game with New York Mets the Nats have won 495 games since the team left Montreal." - "Witness a little D.C. Baseball History during Nats next home-stand" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History
• "Nats Rotation Cycle 2012 #1: good/bad/soso" - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race
• "The Washington Nationals took advantage of some sloppy defense by their opponent and rode the terrific starting pitching of No. 5 starter Ross Detwiler to defeat the New York Mets 6-2, before a chilled crowd of 26,927 at Citifield." - "Washington Nationals Game 5 Review: Detwiler sizzles in chilly season debut" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "The Nationals ranked last in social media, the Sports Bog Method tells a different story." - "Nats ranked as ‘least liked’ in MLB" - Sarah Kogod, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "The first bump in the road for the fast-out-of-the-gate Mets occurred prior to Tuesday night’s game when David Wright was scratched from the starting lineup because of an injured right pinkie finger." - "Bad Break For David Wright, New York Mets As Star Suffers Broken Right Pinkie" - Ed Coleman, CBS New York
• Braves: "Two weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Chipper Jones is no longer an MVP-caliber player capable of carrying his team on a daily basis over the long haul." - "Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros - April 10, 2012" - Mark Bowman, MLB.com ATL Recap
• Marlins: "As news of Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen’s controversial words regarding Cuban dictator Fidel Castro continued circulating, Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez, the son of Cuban immigrants, did something Guillen couldn’t do." - "As Ozzie Guillen faces firestorm, MLB players with Cuban connections stay quiet" - Jorge Castillo, NJ.com
• Phillies: "Brad Lidge laughed when told by a reporter that the fans in Philadelphia are already worried about the Phillies after their 1-3 start." - "Lidge: Phillies will be fine" Marc Narducci, Philly.com