--OF Elijah Dukes has picked up his offensive game considerably in the last two weeks. Dukes went 2-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch on Sunday and is now batting .484 with four doubles, a homer, six RBIs and 11 walks over his last 12 games. --3B Ryan Zimmerman hadn't hit a walk-off homer all season prior to Sunday, but he couldn't be held down forever. Zimmerman, who had four walk-off homers the last three seasons, clubbed a two-run shot off Marlins RHP Leo Nunez on Sunday to give the Nationals a 5-4 victory. Zimmerman now is hitting .300 with 28 homers, 93 RBIs and 96 runs scored while at the same time playing Gold-Glove caliber defense. "He's just a complete player," interim manager Jim Riggleman said. --RHP J.D. Martin has quietly shown improvement over the last month and has become a reliable starter for the Nationals. Martin, who allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings Sunday against the Marlins, has now given up three earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. "I've been feeling a lot more comfortable start-to-start," the rookie said. "It makes me feel good. It gives me more confidence. I feel like I'm getting stronger."
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Craig Stammen (bone spur in right elbow) was scratched from his Sept. 4 start. He had arthroscopic surgery on Sept. 6 and will miss the rest of the season.
CF Nyjer Morgan (broken left hand) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 28.
OF Austin Kearns (bruised right thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 4. He has not progressed as quickly as the team had hoped, and he might not make it back this season.
OF Roger Bernadina (broken right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 19, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29. He had surgery April 18. He got his walking boot off in late June.
RHP Terrell Young (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 13.
RHP Jordan Zimmermann (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 19, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 28. He made a rehab start Aug. 4 for Class A Potomac but was unable to complete a bullpen session Aug. 7 and was shut down after an MRI. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery Aug. 19.
LHP Scott Olsen (torn left labrum in left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 11. He had season-ending surgery July 23.
1B Dmitri Young (strained back and hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 25. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 27, but he tore his left quadriceps July 18, ending his season.
ROTATION:
LHP John Lannan
RHP Garrett Mock
RHP Craig Stammen
RHP J.D. Martin
RHP Livan Hernandez
BULLPEN:
RHP Mike MacDougal (closer)
RHP Jorge Sosa
LHP Ron Villone
LHP Sean Burnett
RHP Jason Bergmann
RHP Tyler Clippard
RHP Saul Rivera
LHP Victor Garate
CATCHERS:
Wil Nieves
Jesus Flores
Josh Bard
INFIELDERS:
1B Josh Willingham
2B Pete Orr
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
INF Alberto Gonzalez
INF Mike Morse
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Adam Dunn
CF Willie Harris
RF Elijah Dukes
OF Jorge Padilla
OF Justin Maxwell
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