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Meet the ... Team full of question marks and limited fantasy options. Some nights you might find yourself wondering what packs more punch: the first six batters in the Nationals lineup or a six-pack of Natty Lites. Right before Spring Training, the Nationals secured a legitimate power hitter in Adam Dunn, acquired Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham from the Marlins and took a shot on the ever-enigmatic Daniel Cabrera. But even with the arrivals, this is a ragtag group when it comes to fantasy value, but at least it all comes at a very cheap price.
On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups
Detroit Tigers (0-2) vs. Kansas City Royals (2-0) - 1:05PM Est.
This isn't exactly how it's supposed to be going down, is it? The Tigers are supposed to win the AL Central this year, and the Royals are supposed to be improved, but at the bottom of the division. Nobody told this to the Royals, as with a win today they'll have completed a season opening sweep of the Tigers. What is supposed to be one of MLB's most fearsome lineups has managed only 4 runs in 20 innings so far this season. On Wednesday it was Brian Bannister who shut the Tigers big bats down, allowing only two singles and no runs in seven innings of work. This afternoon, Kansas City will give the ball to Zack Greinke. The Tigers will be looking to Jeremy Bonderman to get the team's first win of the season. Bonderman struggled to finish the 2007 season, as he came up with the loss in eight of his final nine decisions of the season. The good news for Detroit is that his lone win in that span came against the Royals. In fact, in three starts against Kansas City last season, Bondo went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA.
Mike Bacsik is very close to being called up to the major leagues to pitch for the Washington Nationals. But if I was Bacsik, I wouldn't leave the house. You see, the whole reason Bacsik is on his way to the show is because practically every other Nationals starter has fallen to injury. First is was John Patterson. Then Shawn Hill. Jerome Williams came off the DL on the 15th to only last two innings before returning.
And now it's Jason Bergmann, who recently came within six outs of throwing a no-hitter, is on now the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. So that's four-fifths of his rotation, in addition to Ryan Wagner and Luis Ayala, on the DL. Your starting rotation is now Matt Chico, Jason Simontacchi, Levale Speigner, and Bacsik. Yet this team, amazingly, has won five out of six.
We wondered what was in the Wheaties of the Nationals pitching ... now we know: elbow inflammation. Don't eat those Wheaties, Mike.
This morning, we told you that if the Nationals do to the first place Braves what they recently did to the Marlins, that it would probably be the first sign of the apocalypse. Well, the earth is two more wins away from all hell breaking loose ... quite literally.
On the heels of their first sweep this season, the Nationals made it four in a row against the first place Atlanta Braves. The hallmark of the sweep against Florida was (gasp), good starting pitching! and Jason Bergmann kept it going by taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Braves to help them along to a 2-1 victory. Remember, this was the same pitching staff that was going to be the downfall of the Nationals, possibly making them the worst team in the history of baseball (instead, it might be the .234 team batting average that does that).
To understand how good Bergmann was tonight for his first win of the season, understand that he's had some success against the Atlanta Braves, holding them to a career .182 batting average in nine starts. Andruw Jones has felt the pain provided by Bergmann:
Jones was hitless in three at-bats against Bergmann, and he's now 1-for-12 against him.
"He just pitched good against us all the time. We know his pitches. We know what he throws. We just can't hit it," Jones said.
Wow. That's a quote that you expect to hear said about some of the best pitchers the National League have to offer, like Jake Peavy ... for example. But Jason Bergmann? Wow, break up the Nationals indeed.
The Fanhouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups Washington Nationals (12-25) vs. Atlanta Braves (24-13)-7:05PM Est.
The Nationals just finished off a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins on Sunday and now they look to take it to the Atlanta Braves. It won't be easy as they'll be facing John Smoltz who's kept a 1.71 ERA over his last three starts to improve to 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA on the season. Not to mention, Smoltz turns 40 on Tuesday, so I'm sure he'd like to have reason to celebrate. The Nationals will counter with Jason Bergmann who looks for his first win of the season. If the Nats can sweep the Braves, I'm pretty sure that's the first sign of the apocalypse.
Oakland Athletics (19-17) vs. Kansas City Royals (12-26)-10:05PM Est.
There's a pretty good pitching matchup in this game tonight. Dan Haren (3-2 1.89 ERA) is scheduled to go against Gil Meche (3-1 2.15 ERA) in Oakland tonight. I don't think it's interesting enough to cause Jessica Alba to make an appearance, but it could be worth your time anyway. There's also the possibility that Jack Cust will homer for the Athletics for the fifth straight game. Also, Kansas City needs a win tonight because thanks to those amazing Nats, they are now the proud owners of the worst record in baseball. New York Mets (23-13) vs. Chicago Cubs (17-18)-ESPN 7:05PM Est.
This game also features a solid pitching matchup between Tom Glavine and Jason Marquis. Marquis is 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA and fresh off the second shutout of his career on Wednesday against the Pirates. He's also looking for the first six game win streak of his career. The Mets just took two out of three from the Brewers this weekend, and Tom Glavine is looking to get one win closer to 300 for his career. Right now he sits at 294.
But, for what it's worth, today marked the first time that Alfonso Soriano played against the Washington Nationals after departing as a free agent. Soriano was emotional and misty eyed at the prospect of facing his former teammates and the organization he spent so much time with burned the team that he spent just one season with by going two for five and driving in the tying run in a 6-4 Nationals loss.
But yes, there was some reflection and reminiscing between Soriano and some of his former National teammates.
"I had a good time with those guys when I played for Washington," said Soriano, who got together with some of his ex-teammates. "We talked last night. I went to the hotel and we went to dinner. We had a good time."
Austin Kearns got the Nats off to a flying start by blasting a three run HR in the first off of the all of a sudden very hittable Carlos Zambrano to give the Nats a 4-0 lead. But for the team that used to struggle scoring early, that would be it for the game. It could have been enough as Jason Bergmann was hoping his fourth straight good start in a row (and his first that actually resulted in a notch in his "W" column). But Soriano burned them by beating out an infield single which gave Derrek Lee an extra at-bat. That resulted in a two run home run. Soriano then doubled in Cesar Izturis to tie the game, then came home on a Cliff Floyd single to give the Cubs the lead for good.
The Nationals were due to win a game somewhere down the line. But to win a game against John Smoltz in Atlanta was one that nobody saw coming. Thursday night saw the first time all season that the Nationals had an at-bat with a lead.
"The first thing I heard right next to my ear was Ryan Church saying, 'We got a lead!' " Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "There was still a lot of game left, but that was refreshing to hear."
Thank goodness for small and manageable goals. But get this, the Nats actually held on to that lead and beat John Smoltz by a score of 2-0. Closer Chad Cordero understood the importance of not blowing this particular save.
"If I had blown this, it would have been devastating to me and to the whole team," Cordero said. "Out in the bullpen, we were all real excited. I was pumped up because I thought I'd have a chance to close a game for once."
If Chad Cordero had blown this, Jason Bergmann (who pitched six scoreless with eight strikeouts and only one hit), probably would have burned down Cordero's house.
This is an important win for the Nationals. Moreover, it might wind up being an important win for the rest of the division. The Braves were threatening to run away and hide with a sweep of the Nationals a mere certainty. But this surprising loss brings the Braves back to the pack a little bit and keeps them from being the 2006 Mets ... at least for now.
Mike Bacsik is very close to being called up to the major leagues to pitch for the Washington Nationals. But if I was Bacsik, I wouldn't leave the house. You see, the whole reason Bacsik is on his way to the show is because practically every other Nationals starter has fallen to injury. First is was John Patterson. Then Shawn Hill. Jerome Williams came off the DL on the 15th to only last two innings before returning. 
This morning, we told you that if the Nationals do to the first place Braves what they recently did to the Marlins, that it would probably be the 
But, for what it's worth, today marked the first time that Alfonso Soriano played against the Washington Nationals after departing as a free agent. Soriano 
The Nationals were due to win a game somewhere down the line. But to win a game against John Smoltz in Atlanta was one that nobody saw coming. Thursday night saw the 
