Tyler Clippard News

The "first baseman of the future" has arrived and will be given every opportunity to play first base on a daily basis for the Cardinals.

John Lannan could be used as trade bait to acquire a much-needed veteran bullpen presence.

The save opportunities, he said, will be split between Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett "in tandem," depending on matchups and which pitcher is fresh.

When he entered in the ninth, the Nationals were leading by three , the bases were empty and he would face a pinch hitter, Juan Pierre and Placido Polanco .

Starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann #27 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 22, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He stood up and walked out to left field, where Brad Lidge was working out. Rodriguez plopped down to stretch and they chatted a while, a man who made his living closing games offering counsel to a younger one who, for the moment, no longer does.

Brad Lidge can't pick just one. He looks around the home clubhouse at Nationals Park, thinks about all of the ways his teammates have to make hitters look silly, and tries gamely to answer the question.

Interleague Play starts Friday night, with the Nationals facing the Orioles in the Battle of the Beltways at Nationals Park.

Adam LaRoche collected his 1,000th career hit with a three-run double in the seventh and added a solo home run, as the Washington Nationals took down the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-4, in the opener of a two-game set at Nationals Park.

Is it time to just give up when it comes to bullpens? Half the teams in baseball have already made ninth-inning changes, and more are certainly on the way.

Mets closer Frank Francisco must be blackmailing manager Terry Collins because the veteran is somehow managing to keep his late-inning role amid his recent struggles.

Tough outings: Ross Detwiler gives up 4 ER over 5 IP with 3 Ks and a walk. Henry Rodriguez gets only one out in the 9th, walking the bases loaded and earning a meltdown.

After another week, Burnett remains the forgotten man in the Nationals' bullpen.

Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game on May 10, 2012 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

New York Yankees reliever David Robertson is affectionately nicknamed Houdini because of his ability to get out of tough jams brought on both by his teammates and himself.

DIY: Edwin Jackson has 5 Ks and only 1 BB in 7 IP with 2 ER. He's also 2-2 at the plate.

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson moved 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper up from No.

The Washington Nationals have been without closer Drew Storen for the entire month April while he's been recovering from elbow surgery .

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper made his Major League debut on Saturday night, and he was a factor in the game.