08:15 AM ET 05.10 | The disappointing, tortured tenure of Milton Bradley with the Mariners finally came to an end Monday after an embarrassing series of events that occurred over the weekend. Bradley was designated for assignment, along with outfielder Ryan Langerhans, as the team called up outfielders Mike Wilson and Carlos Peguero to replace them in time for a series that starts Tuesday in Baltimore. As for Bradley and Langerhans, they must be released, traded or outrighted to the minors within 10 days.
The Nats' starters have been improving all year, and they are now up to #8 in the Rotation Rankings. Jason Marquis' shutout was nice, but the more impressive stat is that the rotation averaged 7 innings pitched per start. They now have a 3.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP for the season.
Who is baseball's most underrated player? SI.com poll from this week's upcoming issues asks if Nats' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's underrated by baseball fans.
The Washington Nationals made official the move that was announced yesterday when they reported this afternoon that they'd selected infielder Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse while designating LHP Lee Hyde for assignment. The move was made with the intention of having an infielder on hand when Ian Desmond leaves the team for the birth of his first child. Bixler, 28, an '04 2nd Round pick by the Pirates purchased by the Nationals last August, impressed at the plate this Spring, hitting .316 with a .449 OBP, .605 SLG, three doubles, two HR's and 10 ten walks in 38 at bats. Bixler's continued to hit and get on base with the Syracuse Chiefs, posting a .326/.483/.370 slash line.
According to both Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore and MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling, tonight's game has been postponed til Monday night on what had previously been an off day for the Nats. No word on what the Nationals will do with the rotation.
@NationalsPR: Tonight's game postponed, will be played tomorrow as part of day-night split DH (1:15pm / 7:15pm). @NationalsPR: Tomorrow's games will be at 2:15pm and 8:15pm ET (in DC).
The following is from the Nats' official press release on how things will work for today's traditional doubleheader between the Nationals and Brewers: "The [Nationals and Brewers] will play a single-admission doubleheader...beginning at 1:35 p.m., with the second game taking place approximately 30 minutes following the completion of Sunday’s first game. "The pitching matchups for Sunday’s doubleheader will be: RHP Livan Hernandez (1-1, 3.50) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 2.70) in Game One, and RHP Jason Marquis (0-0, 3.65) vs. RHP Marco Estrada (1-0, 5.14) in Game Two. "Season tickets and individual game tickets for today’s game do not allow admission to Sunday’s contest, but may be exchanged at the box office for seats of equal value for Sunday’s doubleheader or any remaining home game during the 2011 regular season, subject to availability. Tickets for Sunday’s game will be valid for both games of the doubleheader. "Individual-game ticket holders can exchange their tickets at any Nationals Park box office. For exchanges of tickets purchased through nationals.com, Tickets.com or the Nationals telephone charge line, please call 888.632.NATS(6287)."
@NationalsPR: Today's #Nationals - #Brewers game postponed. Doubleheader tomorrow: 1st game at 1:35 p.m., 2nd game approx 30 minutes after 1st game. (ed. note - Just posted a Nats' Minor League report if you're bored. Two games tomorrow, what a treat.")