Wire Taps: Nationals drop opener to Rockies; Someone brings up Stephen Strasburg shutdown again...

Two games left. Enjoy your Nationals baseball while you can, because it’s going to be a long, cold winter of rumors and chatter that you’re going to be sick of by a couple days after the World Series ends. We warned you. Enjoy these last two games. Now! Here are your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nats’ Sean Doolittle featured in anti-bullying PSA with Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and more - (WaPost)
"At this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in D.C., several of baseball’s biggest stars filmed an anti-bullying PSA. Nationals closer Sean Doolittle participated, too."

Stephen Strasburg gets the start for the Nationals on Saturday - (WaPost)
"[Ryan] Zimmerman left Wednesday’s game with a sore back, and is uncertain if he will play again this season."

Max Scherzer wants to pitch Closing Day 2018 - (MLB.com)
"And it appears that if that game carries postseason implications for Colorado, both the Nationals and Scherzer want him to make his final start."

Scherzer prepared to start Sunday if Rockies need to win - (MASN)
"So Scherzer and the Nationals have made a decision how to proceed. If Sunday’s game matters for Colorado’s postseason chances, Scherzer will start. If it doesn’t, he’ll sit."

Nats lose to playoff-bound Rockies, but clinch second place - (MASN)
"Behind four home runs, three off Joe Ross, Colorado won its 90th game of the year, clinched at least a wild card berth and reduced its magic number to clinch the division to two."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Will Rockies face Nationals ace Max Scherzer on Sunday at Coors Field? - (Denver Post)
"If the Rockies sweep the Nationals this week — and extend their winning streak to 10 games in the process — they will win their first division title without needing any help."

Stephen Strasburg's Shutdown, A Bad Idea In 2012, Looks Worse As The Nationals Fall Short Yet Again - (Forbes)
"By any metric, the Nationals were favorite to win it all on Sept. 7, 2012, when Strasburg made his final start of the season."

Bryce Harper or Manny Machado: Who would fit the Phillies best? - (Philly.com)
"John Middleton is ready to make it rain. That's been the presumption, at least, across baseball for the past few months. We asked five rival scouts and executives which star they would rather have."

Why a Cy Young Award for Jacob deGrom Would Be a Victory for Common Sense - (Yahoo!Sports)
"Yes, deGrom finished 10-9. But even if he had finished with a losing record, deGrom deserves the award."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Nick Markakis compares Ronald Acuna with Manny Machado as a rookie - (AJC.com)
"One would think the Braves are tired of talking about rookie sensation Ronald Acuna, yet players and coaches continue heaping praise on the outfielder on cue."

Miami Marlins at New York Mets game recap, Sept. 28 - (Miami Herald)
"[Jose] Urena notched his sixth straight winning decision Friday in what was his final start of the season, an 8-1 Marlins victory over the Mets..."

WATCH: Mets' David Wright gets emotional over first at-bat since 2016 - (NorthJersey.com)
"David Wright returned to baseball for one final weekend stating with a pinch-hit at-bat against the Marlins on Friday."

Gabe Kapler meets with Phils' front office - (MLB.com)
"Gabe Kapler spent much of Friday at Citizens Bank Park in meetings with Phillies managing partner John Middleton, president Andy MacPhail, general manager Matt Klentak and others from the front office and coaching staff."