Strasburg passes latest throwing test

PHOENIX -- Stephen Strasburg took another key step in his return from the disabled list this evening when he threw from up to 120 feet and reported no problems with his right shoulder.

The Nationals rookie, who threw yesterday for the first time since getting shut down with shoulder inflammation, played catch before tonight's game against the Diamondbacks with fellow starter John Lannan. He started at 60 feet, then gradually moved up to 120 feet, putting a good amount of effort into each long toss.

"Everything was fine," pitching coach Steve McCatty said.

For the full story on Strasburg, plus an update on Jordan Zimmermann's timetable to return to the majors, go to CSNwashington.com.

Game 106: Nats at Diamondbacks

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Chase Field, the sometimes-indoor, sometimes-outdoor home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

PHOENIX -- Good afternoon from Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, where it's a dry and balmy 95 degrees right now, gorgeous weather for this time of year in the Valley of the Sun. Don't worry, the mercury is expected to climb well past the century mark the rest of the week.

As you can tell from the above photo, the roof is currently closed. Sometimes, they open the thing right before gametime, but according to the Chase Field Roof Hotline -- yes, they actually have a hotline -- it's going to stay closed tonight.

Livan Hernandez takes the mound for the Nationals, facing a Diamondbacks lineup that produces a ton of home runs but strikes out even more. Five players have already struck out more than 90 times this season, led by Mark Reynolds, who is on pace to shatter his own MLB record of 223 whiffs in a season.

Rodrigo Lopez starts for Arizona, which can only hope to get a quality start out of the journeyman right-hander and avoid having to ask too much of a bullpen that owns an atrocious 6.51 ERA. Yes, the Nats have to like their chances at the plate tonight and throughout the series.

Check back throughout the evening for updates...

NATIONALS at DIAMONDBACKS
Where: Chase Field
Gametime: 9:40 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 95 degrees, Wind 4 mph in from LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (46-59)
CF Nyjer Morgan
2B Adam Kennedy
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn

Feeling better or feeling worse?

Six days ago, the Nationals were reeling from a 3-7 road trip that included an ugly sweep in Milwaukee. The status of Stephen Strasburg's shoulder wasn't worth pausing one second to contemplate. Matt Capps and Cristian Guzman were members of the roster. Adam Dunn was, too, though there was reason to worry he might not be by week's end. Yunesky Maya was in the Dominican Republic, his visa not yet secured. Scott Olsen and John Lannan were pitching in the minor leagues.

And, of course, there was no reason for anyone in Washington to know Miss Iowa's name.

Turned out to be quite an eventful week, huh?

Now that the dust has settled, there's time to catch our breath and evaluate what happened during that homestand. Two trades were made, one really big one wasn't. Strasburg went on the DL but resumed throwing yesterday and reprted no problems. Olsen and Lannan each returned from the minors and each pitched well. The Nationals took four of six from the Braves and Phillies, highlighted by Saturday night's dramatic, Ryan Zimmerman walk-off.

Game 105: Phillies at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

John Lannan returns to the Nats, who will attempt to sweep the Phillies.

At the end of an eventful and often improbable week, perhaps the most improbable development of all could come this afternoon: The Nationals could sweep the Phillies.

How improbable would that be? Well, since baseball returned to the District in 2005, the Nats and Phillies have played 17 head-to-head series. The Nats have never swept them. Today, they have a chance to do just that.

For it to happen, John Lannan would need to beat the Phillies for the first time in his career. Recalled from Class AA Harrisburg, where he put up mixed results over the last month, Lannan has never had any success against Philadelphia. His numbers in nine career starts: 0-7, 6.32 ERA.

Cole Hamels takes the mound for the Phillies, who are right back in the same predicament they were in last year: Uncertain about their closer. Brad Lidge coughed it up last night, and now Charlie Manuel has no answer for how he'll handle the ninth inning moving forward.

I'm not covering today's game, will be attending a family event this afternoon. But I'll be flying out to Arizona tomorrow morning and will have all the details from the Nats' four-game series against the Diamondbacks. Until then, please feel free to chat amongst yourselves and enjoy today's game...

PHILLIES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m.
TV: Ch. 50, MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Mostly sunny, 79 degrees, Wind 9 mph in from RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (46-58)
CF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn
3B Ryan Zimmerman

A case for keeping this group intact

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

A mob of teammates awaits Ryan Zimmerman at the plate.

The ball wasn't even halfway to its final resting place, some 440 feet away on the grassy batter's eye in center field, when Ryan Zimmerman turned to Adam Dunn in the on-deck circle, held his arms out and kind of shrugged.

It was as if Zimmerman -- whose latest walk-off home run gave the Nationals a stirring, 7-5 victory over the Phillies -- was telling his teammate and friend: "Sorry, I just stole your chance to be the hero."

"Letting me know that I'm not hitting again," Dunn said. "Kind of an ongoing deal. It's pretty cool."

"He says he's upset every time that happens in front of him," Zimmerman said. "I don't know how to take that."

However Zimmerman should take it, he could smile wildly tonight knowing he'll have plenty more opportunities to steal Dunn's thunder over the next two months and perhaps longer. Yes, despite a never-ending trail of rumors that left most of the baseball world convinced Dunn would be traded before 4 p.m. today, Mike Rizzo stuck to his