Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ wins in doubleheader, rain delays galore + more like Sean Doolittle in a bullpen cart...

Last night’s game ended at approximately 1:42 AM. AM. After a 1:27 rain delay that started at 12:04 AM. 12:04. At least a dozen people saw the game-ending double play in person... and Sean Doolittle finally got to ride the bullpen cart!!!

NATS BEAT:

Scherzer goes the distance in 10-3 rout over Cubs - (MASN)
“Max was awesome,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I can’t say enough about him, so kudos to him and what he went out there today to do.”

Max Scherzer goes the distance as Nationals beat Cubs in first game of doubleheader - (WaPost)
"Scherzer gave up three runs and struck out 11 in his National League-leading 17th win and his first complete game since April 9."

Tyson and Joe Ross happy to face each other (MLB.com)
Joe Ross won't debut until Friday, while Tyson Ross got to throw a few innings against the Nats — but the two got to be on active rosters at the same time in the same ballpark, something that has eluded the brothers since Joe reached the majors.

Joe Ross excited to be back after Tommy John - (MLB.com)
"For the brief amount of time Ross was on the mound, he looked sharp. His fastball was clocked consistently in the upper 90s, topping out at 97 mph..."

Both sides left frustrated by Friday's rainout - (MASN)
"Maddon and his team clearly weren’t happy with the process that played out Friday night, capped by the postponement of the game more than 4 1/2 hours after it was scheduled to begin."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Paul Goldschmidt, J.D. Martinez My Top Picks For Baseball MVPs - (Forbes)
"In the NL, Goldschmidt not only has Freeman and Markakis breathing down his neck, but Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals, Trevor Story and Nelson Arenado of the Colorado Rockies, Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers, Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs, and even Max Scherzer, the league’s top starting pitcher, toiling for the Washington Nationals."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Atlanta Braves: 3 things we learned about the future in Rome in 2018 - (Minor League Ball)
"It sounds odd, doesn’t it? Judging a Major League Baseball team by how its lowest full-season team performed. But, with the Braves, Low-A is just a quick stop away from SunTrust Park."

Phillies speedster Roman Quinn slowed by fractured toe - (Philly.com)
"Speed is Roman Quinn's calling card for the Phillies. But the rookie outfielder will be a step slower than usual over the final three weeks..."

Noah Syndergaard of New York Mets exits after taking line drive off ribs - (ESPN)
"New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard left his start in the seventh inning after taking a line drive off his lower right ribs."

Miami Marlins at Pittsburgh Pirates game recap, Sept. 8 - (Miami Herald)
"The Marlins matched the weather on Saturday at PNC Park. As in dreary."