Washington Nationals

Replacing Espinosa

While poor performance wasn't enough to take Danny Espinosa out of the Washington Nationals' lineup, injury certainly will. Turns out, the two may be related. The veteran second baseman has been playing with a small fracture in his right wrist, the team announced Friday.

Philadelphia Phillies (23-25) at Washington Nationals (25-23), 7:15 p.m. (ET)

Manny Machado no Mike Trout ... just yet

Not even 21 years of age, Manny Machado has been the Orioles’ most valuable player through the first 47 games of the season. He leads the American League with 21 doubles, is hitting .

Zimmermann's As Perpetual As Pedro

From Elias: Jordan Zimmermann allowed two runs over seven innings tonight in a 5-2 victory for the Nationals over the Phillies. Dating back to last season, Zimmermann has allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his last 15 starts. That's the second-longest such streak for any active starting pitcher; Clayton Kershaw has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last 22 starts. The last Nationals/Expos pitcher with a streak of 15 such starts was Pedro Martinez, who had 17 consecutive starts with three earned runs or fewer spanning the 1996-1997 seasons.

Big Fourth Inning Leads Nationals To Win

Jordan Zimmermann becomes first NL pitcher to win eight games.

Nats' Zimmermann first in NL to win 8 games

Jordan Zimmermann became the National League's first eight-game winner, and the Washington Nationals followed a calamitous road trip with a winning start to a homestand, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 Friday night.

Nats' Espinosa has broken bone in right wrist

Danny Espinosa's .163 batting average makes a lot more sense. He's been playing with a broken wrist.

Zimmermann wins 8th; Nationals top Phillies 5-2

Five things to watch this weekend

The first-place Cleveland Indians strode into Fenway Park on Thursday night to face the Boston Red Sox, which normally wouldn't be significant but the return of Tribe skipper Francona to the place he managed to two World Series titles in his eight-year stint made it so.