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Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Call Nathan Karns Up To Start vs Baltimore Orioles Tonight In D.C.

We decided to introduce a new feature today entitled "Wire Taps" which will collect all of the previous day's news about the Washington Nationals who lost to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday then called 25-year-old right-hander Nathan Karns up to make his MLB debut on Tuesday.

By Patrick Reddington

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Patrick McDermott

So... remember a few weeks ago when there were issues with the SB Nation sites? Well for a little while, even after those problems were solved on the front page, there were still some issues with some of the useful tools created to make things we do here easier behind the curtain. Amongst those tools is one which turns the process of collecting links for this post from a task of interminable length to one that takes up about 90 minutes of the day. Thus, the absence of the links posts for the last few weeks.

"But the problems were cleared up over a week ago, and we haven't seen the 'Wire Taps' in two weeks," you say?

That is true, yes. Moving on...

The Nationals made the surprising decision to call Nathan (Nate?) Karns up for tonight's start against the Baltimore Orioles after Monday's loss to the O's, picking the 25-year-old, '09 12th Round selection over any of the available options at Triple-A. "He's one of the good young arms in the organization," Davey Johnson told reporters after announcing the move, "He's been throwing the ball pretty good lately."

Johnson said he wasn't going to offer a detailed scouting report in yesterday's post game press conference, but he did offer a quick one. "He throws hard, [he's] got a good hard breaking ball, more of a slurve," Johnson said, "got a good change."

• Here's our quick capsule from the Spring Training Pitching Preview:

• Nathan Karns - 25 yo; 6'5''; 230 lb; RHP - Nathan Karns was named the Nats' 2012 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after the '09 12th Round pick out of Texas Tech University went (11-4) with a 2.17 ERA, 47 walks (3.65 BB/9) and 148 Ks (11.48 K/9) in 24 games, 18 starts and 116.0 IP between Class-A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac. Karns, who has just two years on his minor league resume after a shoulder injury in 2010, wound up no. 99 on ESPN.com's Keith Law's Top 100 Prospect list this winter and Mr. Law said that if his shoulder holds up, he has, "front-line starter potential," though he did caution that it was a big "if"...

There are plenty of Karns-related links to follow and then we all get to watch him for ourselves. I've only seen him pitch once before (meaning outside of highlights) when I watched his first start at Double-A on MiLB.tv earlier this season. Karns will be in the nation's capital tonight. And this is the part of this introduction where I say, "Links and lots of them, starting..." and then go, "Right Now!!":

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "[Nathan] Karns, 25, arrives in the majors four years after the Nationals enticed him to sign with them out of Texas Tech with a signing bonus that far exceeded the recommended slot for a 12th-round pick." - "Nationals choose Nathan Karns to start Tuesday in place of Ross Detwiler" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• NATS KARNS BEAT:

• "[Nathan] Karns was supposed to travel with Harrisburg to Akron, Ohio on Monday night. Instead the Texas Tech product will head to D.C. to make his major league debut." - "Nationals promote Nate Karns to start Tuesday, make major league debut" - Amanda Comak - Washington Times

• "[Nathan] is a talented pitcher with a power arm. He throws in the mid-90s with a good spike curveball, a slider and a changeup." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats calling up Nathan Karns to start tomorrow, Cedeno sent down" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The Nationals announced after Monday's game that they will call up Karns, the Nats' No. 6 prospect, from Double-A Harrisburg to make the start for Ross Detwiler, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list (oblique strain) on Sunday." - "Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals - May 28, 2013" - Andrew Simon, MLB.com Preview

• "Catcher Kurt Suzuki will do anything he can to help out the young rookie who will likely be pitching in front of more than 40,000 fans." - "Nats call up Karns to start Tuesday" - Chase Hughes, NatsInsider.com

• "[Davey] Johnson said that Karns has a good fastball and hard breaking ball that's 'more of a slurve.' Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki caught Karns in Spring Training and said that he liked what he saw." - "Karns promoted to fill in for Detwiler" - Bill Ladson and Tom Schad, nationals.com: News

• "The Nationals were desperate to get something out of the fifth starter slot this week following the news left-hander Ross Detwiler has been placed on..." - "Zimmerman and Suzuki on arrival of Nathan Karns" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• NATS BEAT:

• "[Davey] Johnson was optimistic, after talking with team medical director Wiemi Douoguih and [Ross] Dewtiler, that Detwiler could make his next start on Sunday." - "The Nationals’ options for Tuesday’s starter; Xavier Cedeno called up" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• "The Nationals Park seats, filled with a sold-out crowd of 41,260, were dotted with red and orange. When things went well for the Orioles, there was more than just a dull roar." - "Nationals can't crack Jason Hammel, fall to Orioles" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "The Nats are also being very cautious with [Wilson] Ramos' hamstring, especially because he reinjured it after returning from a DL stint in April." - "Nationals Pastime: Injury updates on Espinosa, Werth, Ramos (plus notes on tomorrow's starter)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• via Twitter:

• "This morning, Nationals team physician Dr. Wiemi Douoguih provided updates on the Nationals’ walking wounded." - "Updates on Danny Espinosa, Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "The Nats are also being very cautious with [Wilson] Ramos' hamstring, especially because he reinjured it after returning from a DL stint in April." - "Nationals Pastime: Injury updates on Espinosa, Werth, Ramos (plus notes on tomorrow's starter)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Plenty of lowlights to choose from, but let's focus on the bottom of the seventh inning, which began in fine fashion: a Roger Bernadina double." - "Instant analysis: Orioles 6, Nats 2" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "After allowing only five earned runs and posting a 3-1 record in his previous four starts, [Gio] Gonzalez gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings with four walks and three strikeouts." - "Hammel silences Nats, O's triumph 6-2" - Benjamin Standig, WTOP.com

• "'The bone chip that he has is like a bruise. It's not like a fracture, when you normally think of a broken bone,' Dr. Wiemi Douoguih said. 'It's something that tells us that there is something wrong, but structurally, everything else is sound in that area.'" - "Espinosa tests wrist, says it feels better" - Bill Ladson and Tom Schad, nationals.com: News

• via Twitter:

• "There it sits beyond right field, about 460 feet from home plate at Camden Yards: the B&O Warehouse, reputedly the longest building on the East Coast and still uncharted territory for major league hitters." - "Bryce Harper getting a chance to take it to the warehouse" - Thom Loverro, WashingtonExaminer.com

• "[Bryce] Harper could be slotted into the lineup as the designated hitter when the Nationals' series with the Orioles moves to Baltimore on Wednesday and Thursday, [Davey] Johnson said." - "Sore left knee keeps Harper from lineup vs. O's" - Bill Ladson and Tom Schad, nationals.com: News

• "[Gio] Gonzalez said he wished he could have stopped the bleeding right then and there, but failed to and let the game get away from him." - "Nats come up short in loss to Orioles" - Chase Hughes, NatsInsider.com

• "[Tyler] Moore has had one hit in three straight games, has collected three walks and has scored twice in last nine at-bats. After Friday's game, Moore said starting certainly makes a difference." - "Lombardozzi and Moore heating up" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Bryce Harper has bursitis in his left knee — the inflammation of a bursa sac that is causing him pain and discomfort. He had an MRI on the knee and it came back clear..." - "Bryce Harper has bursitis in his left knee, plus injury updates on Espinosa, Werth, Ramos & Detwiler" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "For the Nationals, it’s about recapturing their 2012 groove. Washington’s starters and relievers were so strong last season, they helped the batting order look good, too." - "Washington Nationals’ pitching must be what carries the team" - Jason Reid, The Washington Post

• "Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper said Memorial Day is particularly meaningful in a place like Washington, where veterans play such an integral role in the community..." - "Nats honor veterans on Memorial Day" - Bill Ladson and Tom Schad, nationals.com: News

• "Team trainer Lee Kuntz said the Nats are most concerned at this point with [Bryce] Harper re-injuring the knee." - "Harper out with bursitis; other injury updates" - Chase Hughes, Comcast SportsNet Washington

• "[Gio] Gonzalez had a down outing after delivering four straight solid starts, but he still kept the Nats in the game. The offense just didn't do enough to scratch runs across." - "Nationals Pastime: Hearing from Johnson, Gonzalez, Suzuki and Zimmerman after Nats loss" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The Washington Nationals had shown signs of late that they might snap out of their season-long inconsistency." - "Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals fall to Baltimore Orioles, 6-2" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "It was obvious Nationals manager Davey Johnson didn't like the way Gonzalez was throwing on the mound." - "Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals - May 27, 2013" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "This is a balanced, dangerous lineup, and they don't let up. They work counts, put the ball in play and make pitchers have to fight for outs." - "Nationals Pastime: O's pounding out hits, Nats failing to deliver (Nats lose 6-2)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama):

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "'Shoot, 20 years old? That’s pretty impressive,' Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki said of Machado. 'He’s got a really good swing.'" - "Jason Hammel guides Orioles to 6-2 win over Nationals" - Dan Connolly, baltimoresun.com

• "No. 3 pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has been one of baseball's elite pitchers so far this season. The right-hander is 8-2 with a 1.71 ERA and has repeatedly gone deep into games." - "Washington Nationals - TeamReport" - Reuters/chicagotribune.com

• "[Bryce] Harper said Sunday he didn't expect to miss any time and said the knee 'probably won't get better until the offseason' and 'I've just got to deal with the pain.'" - "Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals not in lineup due to sore knee" - ESPN

• "Gio Gonzalez, who won 21 games for the Nationals last season, did not have a quality start for Washington (26-25). Gonzalez (3-3) gave up four runs on eight hits in 5 2-3 innings." - "Hammel guides Orioles past Nationals" - Jake Rill, Carroll County Times: Baltimore Orioles

• NATIONAL(S) KARN(S) BEAT:

• "Tuesday, the Nationals will pitch 25-year-old Nathan Karns, one of their top pitching prospects who will be making his major-league debut after just nine starts at Class AA." - "Orioles, free from AL East, beat Nationals" - Matt Slovin, USA TODAY Sports

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Hagerstown: Tony Renda - 2 for 5; Robert Benicasa - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 Ks - Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard

• Class-A Hagerstown: "Left-hander Matt Purke will make his season debut for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns at Asheville on Wednesday night, according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris." - "Purke to make season debut Wednesday for Hagerstown" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• Class-A Potomac: "Potomac LHP Sammy Solis, who received a no decision in his second start of the season following a 2012 campaign that featured Tommy John surgery, tossed four no-hit innings and surrendered three walks while striking out four." - "Nationals Surmount Red Sox with Balanced Attack in Opener" - Potomac Nationals News

• Double-A Harrisburg: "The Senators jumped on the board first in the third inning, as Steven Souza Jr. drove in Brian Goodwin with an RBI double off the left-center field fence." - "Howell's Blast Gives Sens 3-1 Victory" - Marshall Kelner, Harrisburg Senators News

• "For Nathan Karns, he was slotted to pitch at the right time, and he owns one of the better pitching arms in the Washington Nationals' minor leagues." - "Nathan Karns' shot at the big leagues a product of situation and potential" - Geoff Morrow, PennLive.com

• "Nathan Karns Gets The Surprise Callup" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, had their six-game win streak snapped in an 9-5 loss to the Gwinnett Braves on Monday night." - "Chiefs fall to Braves after ninth-inning rally" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• Triple-A Syracuse: "Cole Kimball, fresh off the disabled list, came on and gave up a solo homer to Pagnozzi. Kimball threw 14 pitches and left with an injury to his side." - "Why can't the Syracuse Chiefs win at home?" - Ben Meyers, The Auburn Citizen

• NATSTOWN:

• "Most notable of their offensive accomplishments, the Orioles also lead the majors with 69 home runs, coupled with a shockingly low number of strikeouts for a team of power hitters (319 – third lowest)." - "Nationals Face Orioles’ Sluggers In Battle Of The Beltways" - Erin Flynn, The Nats Blog

• "At this rate, Davey Johnson might never shave again..." - Nats Enquirer

• "Video: Teddy Roosevelt wins as racing presidents salute military on Memorial Day" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "Nats Box Scores on this Date" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History

• "The Baltimore Orioles (28-23) tallied 15 hits on Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. as the Washington Nationals (26-25) fell 6-2 in front of a sellout crowd." - "Washington Nationals Game 51 Review: Hammel, Orioles hand Nats first loss vs. AL this season" - Alyssa Wolice, District Sports Page

• "Nationals Promote Nate Karns, Detwiler to DL" - The Zimmerman(n) Telegram

• "How Are These Nats Above .500?" - Jamie Mottram, Mr. Irrelevant, a D.C. Sports Blog by the Brothers Mottram

• "The upcoming stretch of games will be a big test for the Nationals. The Baltimore Orioles have a potent lineup, hitting .266, with 206 runs to the Nats' 173 and 54 homers to Washington's 43." - "Nationals Buzz: Looks like Strasburg has learned his lesson" - Marty Niland, MASNSports.com

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "Normally, there’s a certain energy surrounding the Subways Series to see which team can prevail and make their fan base proud." - "New York Mets look to be in over heads for Subway Series against New York Yankees" - George Willis, NYPOST.com

• Phillies: "The Phillies are betting on Howard being a productive player through at least age 36. The second season of his five-year, $125 million contract is characterized by a left knee injury that could linger for months." - "Ryan Howard's knee injury will linger" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Marlins: "Homecoming was a disaster for Jose Fernandez." - "Rough outing marks Tampa return for Miami Marlins’ Jose Fernandez" - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com

• Braves: "Evan Gattis had three hits for the Braves including his 11th homer, a two-run shot in the eighth inning after the Blue Jays built an eight-run lead." - "Braves lose in Rasmus brothers reunion" - David O'Brien, www.ajc.com

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