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Nationals Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

There's a good chance the arrangement won't last through the month, or possibly even the week, but right now, the Nationals' roster looks oddly misshapen.

A season full of injuries produced perhaps its oddest concoction on Friday, when catcher Johnny Estrada was activated from the disabled list, giving Washington more catchers (four) than it has outfielders (three).

Because the Nationals have enough players versatile enough to play multiple positions, the lineup works for now. But odds are Washington won't carry four catchers for long.

Jesus Flores has established himself as the starter a year earlier than expected, which could mean one of the two veterans the Nationals signed in the offseason—Paul Lo Duca or Estrada—might be on his way out of town.

McCann's 3-run double lifts Braves past Nationals (AP)

The Braves believe they're still in the NL East race. They also believe it's time to back up that belief. Brian McCann's three-run double gave Atlanta the lead in the third inning, and the Braves survived the Washington Nationals' ninth-inning rally to win 7-6 on Friday night. The Nationals left the tying run on third base in the ninth.

Nationals put OF Pena on DL, reinstate C Estrada (AP)

Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Pena went on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of an injured left shoulder that will require surgery. Washington also activated catcher Johnny Estrada from the 15-day DL, giving the team four catchers. Estrada was in the starting lineup Friday night against the Atlanta Braves while another catcher, Paul Lo Duca, was listed as the starter at first base.

Nationals place LF Pena on DL (PA SportsTicker)

Washington Nationals left fielder Wily Mo Pena, who has a small tear in his left rotator cuff, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Nationals in need of capital improvements (AP)

If the Washington Nationals decided not to return from the All-Star break, would anyone really notice? Surely the baseball world would survive, perhaps even thrive, without its worst team, one that is 36-60, is batting a majors-low .239 and has been shut out a majors-high 12 times heading into Friday's game at Atlanta.

Nats draft pick agrees, passes up Alabama football (AP)

Second-round draft pick Destin Hood agreed to terms on a contract with the Washington Nationals on Thursday, bypassing playing college football at Alabama. Hood had signed a letter of intent to play for the Crimson Tide. Instead, he will begin his professional baseball career with Washington's Gulf Coast League affiliate in Viera, Fla.

Pertinent post-All-Star break issues (Yahoo! Sports)

Questions for each team come to mind two at a time as the season enters its second half.

AL steals All-Star game (AP)

All Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona needed was a green traffic light in the American League dugout. The AL ran wild on the base paths in Tuesday night's 4-3 victory in 15 innings, stealing a record six bases in the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. The previous mark belonged to the AL, which swiped five in a 13-8 victory in 1998, at Coors Field.

MLB likely to defer worldwide draft to 2012 (AP)

Baseball owners likely will postpone any effort to institute a worldwide draft until their next labor contract with players begins in 2012. Commissioner Bud Selig said interest in a worldwide draft has increased among management, but Rob Manfred, his executive vice president for labor relations, indicated owners probably wouldn't push for the players' association to reopen the collective...

Nationals OF Pena to have shoulder surgery (AP)

Washington Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Pena will have surgery on his left shoulder. Pena has a small tear in his left rotator cuff and fraying of the labrum in his left shoulder. He was examined Monday by Nationals team doctor Ben Shaffer and is expected to have the operation within seven to 10 days.

Backe pitches, hits Astros to 5-0 win over Nats (AP)

Brandon Backe loves to bat, slide and play the field. All things being equal, he'd rather be an everyday player than a pitcher. On Sunday, he was about as close to Mr. Everything as he's ever going to get. He pitched seven-plus innings, went 2-for-3 with a double and scored twice in the Houston Astros' 5-0 victory over the notoriously shutout-prone Washington Nationals.

Nats honor fans who died in stadium shuttle bus (AP)

The Washington Nationals held a moment of silence Sunday for two fans who died on a team-promoted shuttle bus on the way to a game. Police say the fans were standing on the upper deck of an open-top double-decker bus on the way to Friday night's game against the Houston Astros when their heads struck the bottom of an underpass.

Zimmerman to begin rehab assignment (PA SportsTicker)

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will begin a rehabilitation assignment this week, the team announced Sunday.

Pence, Berkman spark Astros' 6-4 victory (AP)

A night after getting shut out, the Houston Astros got their offense going. Hunter Pence homered and drove in three runs to help the Astros beat the Washington Nationals 6-4 on Saturday night. "Nothing was running for us yesterday, and today, it seemed to happen," said Pence. "It's baseball. The ball seemed to bounce in different ways.

Report: Nationals execs target of probe (PA SportsTicker)

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo are being probed by federal authorities and Major League Baseball for possible roles in a scandal that revolves around the signing of players from the Dominican Republic, according to a report by ESPN.com on Friday.

Belliard, Redding power Nationals past Astros (AP)

Tim Redding was the beneficiary of the Nationals' biggest shutout win since the franchise moved to Washington before the 2005 season. He definitely deserved all the support. Redding finally got a victory after nine consecutive no-decisions, Ronnie Belliard homered twice and drove in five runs and the Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros 10-0 Friday night.

Nationals' Bowden refutes ESPN.com story (AP)

Nationals general manager Jim Bowden denied an ESPN.com report Friday that he and special assistant Jose Rijo are being investigated in connection with a scandal involving bonus money for prospects from the Dominican Republic. "There's no wrongdoing," Bowden said during the Nationals' game against the Houston Astros.

Back tightness shelves Nationals 1B Young (AP)

First baseman Dmitri Young left the Washington Nationals' game against the Houston Astros on Friday night in the third inning with tightness in his lower back. With an 0-1 count against Astros reliever Chad Paranto, Young walked to the Nationals dugout and conferred with manager Manny Acta. Pete Orr replaced Young and fouled out to the catcher.

Back forces Nationals 1B Young from game (PA SportsTicker)

Washington Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young left Friday's game against the Houston Astros in the third inning due to lower back tightness.

Nationals option Bernadina, recall Langerhans (AP)

Outfielder Roger Bernadina was optioned to Triple-A Columbus by the Washington Nationals on Friday, ending a two-week experiment that saw the speedy rookie jump from Double-A to the majors. The 24-year-old Bernadina was recalled from Harrisburg and inserted into the lineup as the starting center fielder after Lastings Milledge was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain June...

Nationals recall OF Langerhans (PA SportsTicker)

The Washington Nationals on Friday recalled outfielder Ryan Langerhans from Class AAA Columbus.

Diamondbacks blow 2 leads before winning 7-5 in 11 (AP)

Third baseman Mark Reynolds made two errors in the bottom of the ninth, when the Arizona Diamondbacks blew a two-run lead. The craziness was only just beginning. Reynolds doubled in the 10th to help his team build a three-run lead, and even that wasn't enough. It wasn't until the 11th inning that Arizona went ahead and stayed there, scoring twice for a wild 7-5 victory over the Washington Nationals...

Nationals place 3B Boone on DL (PA SportsTicker)

The Washington Nationals placed third baseman Aaron Boone on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a left calf strain.

Nats beat Diamondbacks 5-0, end 6-game skid (AP)

The Washington Nationals hadn't won in more than a week. John Lannan hadn't won in nearly eight weeks. Jesus Flores' last extra-base hit? That was four weeks ago. It was about time. Flores hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer, Lannan threw six scoreless innings and the Nationals broke a six-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 5-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nationals' Dukes has knee surgery, out 4-6 weeks (AP)

Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Dukes, who is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks, had two small meniscus tears repaired by Dr. Koko Eaton in Tampa, Fla. Dukes was injured while making a catch against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.