Wire Taps: Nationals try to salvage series finale after dropping two straight to Mets

Will the Nationals avoid a series opening sweep with a win in the finale with the Mets this afternoon, or will they salvage one after dropping the first two games of the season? It’s Patrick Corbin’s turn to make his first start since signing with Washington over the winter.

Read your links while you wait for the start of this afternoon’s game...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals’ revamped bullpen provides little relief in loss to Mets - (WaPost)
"It took just four hitters for the game to unravel, for the New York Mets to use the eighth inning as a springboard to an 11-8 win."

Rosenthal tries to put happy face on ragged return to mound - (MASN)
"No, it didn’t end up the way Rosenthal wanted it to, and it most definitely didn’t end up the way the Nationals wanted it to..."

Bryce Harper to face Max Scherzer in his return to Nats Park - (WaPost)
"The Washington Nationals are going with Max Scherzer against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, so they can keep their ace on regular rest with a surplus of days off early in the season."

Lack of fundamentals curbs Nationals' rallies - (MLB.com)
"Washington has dropped the opening two games of the year after being set back by defensive miscues, struggles on the basepaths and ineffective relief pitching late in games."

Some good and some bad for Robles in Nats 11-8 setback - (MASN)
"Manager Davey Martinez reminded that in Robles’s case we are dealing with a young player who will learn from his mistakes."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Nationals welcome back Bryce Harper by making him face Max Scherzer - (Yahoo!Sports)
"For Harper’s return to Washington, D.C., the Nationals have decided to bring back Max Scherzer a day early."

‘See you later!’ – Tulsa’s Bob Carpenter reflects on a baseball life - (tulsaworld.com)
"In 1976, when he moved to Tulsa from his hometown of St. Louis, Bob Carpenter was involved in Oilers’ baseball broadcasts."

NL East managers have a different level of pressure on them - (New York Post)
"The security blanket does not exist for Mickey Callaway, Philadelphia’s Gabe Kapler and Washington’s Dave Martinez."

3 Teams That Need to Sign Craig Kimbrel - (theduel)
"It's still early, but Washington's bullpen has been dreadful to start the year. The Nationals need to consider all possible options if they want to stay competitive in a very crowded NL East race..."

Complete game completely gone? - (BusinessMirror)
“'The special, elite guys are still able to achieve it and want to achieve it,' Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said. 'I don’t think we’ll ever see it disappear completely, but it’s definitely becoming a rarity.'"