Updates on Harper, J-Zimm, Maya

PHILADELPHIA — Mike Rizzo just held court for a few minutes on the field during batting practice and gave some updates on several players of note, so let's run through them all...

JORDAN ZIMMERMANN: The rehabbing right-hander starts tonight for Class AAA Syracuse, his 10th minor-league start of the summer and quite possibly his last. Rizzo didn't fully commit to promoting Zimmermann after this outing, but he seemed to strongly suggest that's the plan. "We've been taking him start-by-start," the GM said. "But I think if he throws well, we would probably consider bringing him back. Put it this way: If there's no need for another minor-league start, developmental-wise or to get him ready to pitch up here, then we would bring him up here." UPDATE AT 8:42 P.M.: Zimmermann tossed five more scoreless innings tonight at Syracuse, allowing one hit, striking out five and walking one. In 10 minor-league starts, he has a 1.59 ERA. Gotta believe he'll be pitching in D.C. next week.

YUNESKY MAYA: The recently signed Cuban right-hander is scheduled to start Sunday for Class A Potomac after two good outings in the Gulf Coast League (one earned run, three hits in seven total innings). What happens after that? "He'll have at least one more minor-league start, an upper-level, minor-league start," Rizzo said. "Then we'll see where we're at after September 1. He'll probably come to the big leagues and get a start up here."

Obviously, once Zimmermann and Maya reach the majors, the Nats will face some rotation decisions. Rizzo said they won't go to a six-man rotation. A more-likely scenario would have two current starters moving to the bullpen, though those guys could be "piggy-backed" with Zimmermann or Maya and pitch long relief after the

Game 122: Nats at Phillies

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Citizens Bank Park hosts the Nationals for three games this weekend.

PHILADELPHIA — Good afternoon from the south Philly neighborhood known simply as "The Sports Complex." There was a time a few years ago when there were actually five major-league stadiums/arenas in these couple of blocks: Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, the Wachovia Center, the Spectrum and old Veterans Stadium. (The Vet, of course, has since been blown to smithereens to the disappointment of no one. The Spectrum, meanwhile, still stands for now, though there hasn't been any event there since a Pearl Jam concert last October, and it's waiting to be razed.)

Anyways, here at Citizens Bank Park, the Nationals arrive for a three-game weekend series that boasts plenty of storylines. Tonight, Jason Marquis tries once again to win his first game of the season ... actually, to produce his first quality start of the season ... actually, to make it through the fifth inning for the first time all season. It's not exactly the prime scenario to snap out of a funk like this, facing the Phillies' vaunted lineup in a home run haven.

It also doesn't help that the Phillies send Roy Halladay to the mound tonight to face a depleted Nats lineup that is trying to survive without Josh Willingham for the rest of the season. Jim Riggleman will attempt to overcome that loss with a lineup tonight that features a 3-4-5 of Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and Roger Bernadina.

There's a much more favorable matchup tomorrow with Stephen Strasburg against Kyle Kendrick, then a toss-up Sunday with Scott Olsen against Roy Oswalt (who has been lit up by the Nats twice this year). But before we get to that, there's obviously a game to be played tonight.

Check back throughout for updates...

NATIONALS at PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Sunny, 86 degrees, Wind 7 mph in from LF.

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (52-69)
CF Nyjer Morgan
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn
3B Ryan Zimmerman

Relieved about Nats relief

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Tyler Clippard has helped pick up the slack since Matt Capps' trade.

When you really boil it down, Mike Rizzo was willing to trade away Matt Capps back on July 30 for two reasons: 1) Wilson Ramos was too good to pass up in exchange for a closer, and 2) the Nationals had a deep bullpen that could probably compensate for the loss of Capps.

Yesterday, we got a glimpse of why Ramos was so highly coveted by GMs talking trades with the Twins. He went 0-for-4 against the Braves, but he had a couple of nice at-bats in which he showed good plate discipline. More importantly, he called a solid game and made a really nice play on a sacrifice bunt attempt. If Ramos does develop into this organization's long-term answer at catcher, the trade will have well been worth it.

Let's not forget the second point, though. The Nats' bullpen, while certainly weaker without Capps, has done a pretty good job holding its own without its closer of four months. During yesterday's 6-2 win at Turner Field, that unit tossed 3 2/3 hitless innings to preserve John Lannan's win. Joel Peralta got two outs on one pitch in the sixth. Tyler Clippard struck out the side in the seventh. Sean Burnett got out of a jam in the eighth (albeit on a smoked line drive right at Michael Morse). And Drew Storen finished things off with a 1-2-3 ninth.

This is pretty much what the Nationals' relief corps has been doing for three weeks now. Check out these pitchers' numbers since July 31 (the day after the Capps trade)...

Game 121: Nats at Braves

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Nyjer Morgan and Wilson Ramos are in the Nats' lineup today at Turner Field.

Nyjer Morgan is back with the Nationals, activated off the 15-day disabled list this morning and hoping to pick up where he left off when he was sidelined. The center fielder was hitting .311 with a .366 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases (two caught stealings) over his last 20 games.

This hasn't been announced yet, but I'm pretty sure Morgan will be taking Josh Willingham's roster spot, with Willingham going on the DL (presumably for the remainder of the season) with that nagging left knee injury that will likely require surgery in the coming days. It's an unfortunate and abrupt conclusion to what was shaping up as the best season of Willingham's career. (UPDATE AT 11:06 A.M. -- Willingham has officially been placed on the 15-day DL with a medial meniscus tear in his left knee.)

Several other noteworthy items in advance of this game...

-- Wilson Ramos makes his Nats debut, batting seventh and starting behind the plate.

-- Adam Dunn gets a rare day off, perhaps because he's got bad career numbers against Derek Lowe (6-for-31, two walks, eight strikeouts). Michael Morse gets a rare start at first base in his place.

-- With Dunn and Willingham out, Ryan Zimmerman (who last night was ejected for the first time in his career) bats cleanup. Needing a 3-hitter, Jim Riggleman is going with Roger Bernadina (first time Roger has hit there in his brief career). Bernadina also takes over in left field, which is where I suspect he'll play most of the time the rest of the way.

-- Congrats to Wil and Yormarie Nieves, the proud parents of a baby girl. Maria Isabel Nieves was born yesterday at 5:28 p.m., and everyone is doing well. Wil should be rejoining the team in the next couple days.

I'm not in Atlanta for this series, but I may post some thoughts along the way as this game plays out. I will be in Philadelphia, however, so full coverage returns all weekend...

NATIONALS at BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 84 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to RF.

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (51-69)
CF Nyjer Morgan
SS Ian Desmond
LF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman

Game 120: Nats at Braves

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats take yet another crack at Tim Hudson tonight at Turner Field.

Well, the Nationals are making a roster move today, just not the potential one we were discussing earlier. Josh Willingham will apparently go on the DL tomorrow, at which point Nyjer Morgan will be activated (tomorrow's the first day he's eligible).

Today's move is one that will probably get fans excited: Wilson Ramos has been recalled from Class AAA Syracuse because Wil Nieves is heading back to D.C. to be with his wife, Yormarie, who is due to give birth to a baby girl in the next few days. Ramos, acquired from the Twins in the Matt Capps trade, hit .317 with two homers, six RBI and an .833 OPS in 15 games at Syracuse. This, however, will just be a quick cameo appearance with the Nats. Ramos is expected to be around only until Nieves returns within a couple of days. He will, however, return when rosters expand on September 1.

Ramos isn't in tonight's lineup -- Ivan Rodriguez starts and bats fifth, answering our other question from earlier -- but I suspect he'll be in there for tomorrow's getaway day game.

Another tough challenge tonight for the Nationals, who face their arch-nemesis, Tim Hudson (owner of a 10-1 record and 1.49 ERA in 16 career starts against this franchise). Hudson's lone loss against the Nats came on June 5, 2006, when he gave up five runs in the sixth thanks to base hits by Brian Schneider, Marlon Anderson, Jose Vidro and Damian Jackson. Wow. The winning pitcher that night, though, was Livan Hernandez, who will again oppose Hudson tonight.

I'm not in Atlanta for this series, but please continue the conversation with each other...

NATIONALS at BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 86 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF.

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (51-68)
CF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn