Stephen Strasburg

  Pitching phenom could put Strasburg on the map Not to be outdone in the frenzy surrounding minor-league pitcher Stephen Strasburg's ascension to the bigs, a little town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is taking a lesson from the little town in Northeast Pennsylvania formerly known as Mauch Chunk. Some people in Strasburg, a town of about 6,200 on U.S. Route 11, are considering changing the name of their burg to "Stephen Strasburg. " Leading the charge is Town Councilman Justin Ritenour, who plans to introduce the proposal at Tuesday's council meeting.

Cameras flashed like fireflies throughout Citizens Bank Park on Saturday when the lanky righthander with the scruffy goatee looked for the sign from his catcher as he prepared to throw his first-ever pitch against the Phillies. Typically, when the Washington Nationals come to town, there is little sense of anticipation. No need to bring cameras. This was different. Stephen Strasburg, the most talked-about rookie pitcher since perhaps Dwight Gooden, tested his sizzling fastball, paralyzing curve, and 90 m.p.h.

If Stephen Strasburg's right arm were the sole hope for the Washington Nationals, the franchise would have little chance to emerge from its deep malaise. As with government in the nation's capital, Washington baseball needs fundamental reform before true change can arrive. Mike Rizzo understands this, so the Nationals' new general manager views Strasburg as the centerpiece of his organization, but not the only answer. Before the 21-year-old with an already-legendary fastball and $15.1 million contract threw his first bullpen session of the spring yesterday, Rizzo emphasized organizational improvement.

WASHINGTON - One of baseball's newer rivalries resumes when the Washington Nationals begin a three-game series with the Phillies on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. Of course, when these teams last met earlier this month, much that makes a rivalry compelling was in place - including bad blood. This will be their first meeting since the Phillies' 9-3 nationally televised Sunday night win May 6 in Washington. That's when Cole Hamels plunked Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and later admitted that it was his way of welcoming the rookie phenom to the major leagues.

1. Domonic Brown          2. Aroldis Chapman 3. Jason Heyward          4. Stephen Strasburg

WASHINGTON – Truth be told, we all are a little bit bored. The Phillies are marking time until Chase Utley and Ryan Howard come back, at which point they will begin marking time until October. It is too early to be worried in a world with two wild cards and too late to do anything about the age of the team's core players, so we wait. Such are the realities in a town where only the World Series is good enough anymore, and where the crowds arrive a little later and leave a little earlier and grumble a little louder than in the recent past.

At Nationals Park, Washington.   Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Kyle Kendrick (0-2, 6.59 ERA) vs. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.13)   Saturday at 1:05 p.m. RHP Vance Worley (2-1, 1.97) vs. Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.82)   Sunday at 8:05 p.m. LHP Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.78) vs. Washington RHP Jordan Zimmermann (1-2, 1.89)

Flame-throwing righthander Stephen Strasburg lived up to the hype Wednesday, combining with two relievers for a 3-0 shutout as the Harrisburg Senators capped a three-game sweep of the Reading Phillies. Strasburg allowed a single and a walk in five shutout innings and struck out six in his third professional start. Strasburg, who signed a record $15.1 million, four-year contract with Washington last summer after the Nationals drafted him No. 1 overall, improved to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 0.73.

SOME ADVICE for Katherine Connors, who is throwing out the first pitch before tonight's Phillies at Nationals game: Block out the throng that shows up to see Roy Oswalt make his Phillies debut. Don't bounce the ball to the plate. And, oh yeah, wear a bikini and heels. Connors, the reigning Miss Iowa, was invited to throw out the first pitch after Nationals pitcher Miguel Batista unintentionally dissed her Tuesday night. That was after he was booed when it was announced he was starting in place of rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg, who had a stiff right shoulder.

WASHINGTON - One of baseball's newer rivalries resumes when the Washington Nationals begin a three-game series with the Phillies on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. Of course, when these teams last met earlier this month, much that makes a rivalry compelling was in place - including bad blood. This will be their first meeting since the Phillies' 9-3 nationally televised Sunday night win May 6 in Washington. That's when Cole Hamels plunked Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and later admitted that it was his way of welcoming the rookie phenom to the major leagues.

WASHINGTON – Truth be told, we all are a little bit bored. The Phillies are marking time until Chase Utley and Ryan Howard come back, at which point they will begin marking time until October. It is too early to be worried in a world with two wild cards and too late to do anything about the age of the team's core players, so we wait. Such are the realities in a town where only the World Series is good enough anymore, and where the crowds arrive a little later and leave a little earlier and grumble a little louder than in the recent past.

WASHINGTON - One of baseball's newer rivalries resumes when the Washington Nationals begin a three-game series with the Phillies on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. Of course, when these teams last met earlier this month, much that makes a rivalry compelling was in place - including bad blood. This will be their first meeting since the Phillies' 9-3 nationally televised Sunday night win May 6 in Washington. That's when Cole Hamels plunked Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and later admitted that it was his way of welcoming the rookie phenom to the major leagues.

WASHINGTON - This was desperately billed as a rivalry in the nation's capital. Signage around Nationals Park was changed to read "Natitude Park" as part of a marketing campaign designed to attract more home than visiting fans to see baseball. It was a success; Nationals fans filled the place to watch their first-place team. They stood and cheered in the 11th inning as Wilson Ramos spread his arms, carrying a 4.5-game lead over the Phillies into the night. It ended as a 4-3 Nationals victory while the message "OUR PARK" was flashed on the scoreboard.

At Nationals Park, Washington.   Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Kyle Kendrick (0-2, 6.59 ERA) vs. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.13)   Saturday at 1:05 p.m. RHP Vance Worley (2-1, 1.97) vs. Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.82)   Sunday at 8:05 p.m. LHP Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.78) vs. Washington RHP Jordan Zimmermann (1-2, 1.89)

THE METS are trying to send an early message in the NL East: This isn't the same team that finished last a year ago. The Braves are certainly taking note. Ike Davis hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and Dillon Gee pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, leading New York to another victory over host Atlanta, 6-1, Monday night. The Mets snapped the Braves' five-game winning streak and kept up their early dominance in the NL East rivalry, winning again after a three-game sweep of Atlanta in the Big Apple to start the season.

CHRIS DENORFIA pumped both fists as he rounded third base on his home run trot, almost as if flexing his muscles. San Diego badly needed a clutch hit and Denorfia provided it with a two-run shot with one out in the eighth that carried the Padres to a 2-1 win Wednesday over the visiting Diamondbacks, who had been the last unbeaten team in the major leagues. "I think there was a collective sigh of relief from the team there," Denorfia said. "We're kind of off to slow start offensively, and to be able to pick up our pitchers today, who did such an outstanding job, was really important.

STEPHEN STRASBURG could hardly wait for this one. His first opener, at Wrigley Field for the first time. "Just to think about all the Hall of Famers who have played here. It's an honor," he said. It's even better on days like this. Strasburg dominated the Cubs for seven innings, and Ian Desmond singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth on a windy Thursday to give the Washington Nationals a 2-1 win over Chicago. Strasburg allowed one run and five hits, including an RBI single to Marlon Byrd in the fourth.

Bobby Jenks apologized to his Red Sox teammates on Sunday for "distractions" caused by his arrest on charges of driving under the influence. The reliever was arrested Friday after a sheriff's deputy saw his SUV driving erratically in Fort Myers, Fla. Jenks was released on bail. The arrest report said Jenks told the deputy he took "too many muscle relaxers. " The deputy said Jenks was shaking uncontrollably and had a difficult time speaking.   Ouch Jason Bay was hit in the right forearm by a Stephen Strasburg fastball and had to leave the Mets' 12-0 loss to the Nationals in Viera, Fla., in the third inning.

The future is now in Washington. Flame-throwing righthander Stephen Strasburg - once the top prospect in all baseball - was named the Nationals' opening day starter. The 23-year-old, the top pick overall in the 2009 draft, had his best outing of spring training on Tuesday. He allowed a run on two hits in five innings against the New York Mets, striking out three and walking one. Washington opens at Chicago on April 5.   Carpenter hits snag Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter won't start opening day after a setback in his recovery from a bulging disk in his neck.