Washington Nationals

Player: Mariano Rivera III

Position: RHP

DOB: 10/4/1993 (Age: 21)

Height/Weight: 5'11", 155 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Iona

Previously Drafted: 2014 (29th round, NYY)

Bryce Harper has been on a torrid pace in May, leading the Washington Nationals into first place in the National League East. Unfortunately, the star outfielder will be out for at least one game with a sore back.

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See if this sounds familiar: A young power pitcher has a career year for a division-winning National League club. The next season, however, his performance drops off precipitously, injuries bite and the hand-wringing begins.

Since 2009, when he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at the ripe age of 16, Bryce Harper has faced a flurry of doubters and unrealistic expectations.

After putting together a solid 2014 season, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Doug Fister has struggled to begin the 2015 campaign. His year took another detour Friday after he headed to the 15-day disabled list.

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Max Scherzer has been one of the most durable pitchers in baseball since 2009, but the Washington Nationals ace is dealing with a sprained right thumb.     

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The Washington Nationals entered 2015 as a threat to finish as Major League Baseball's first 100-win team since 2011, largely because their pitching just looks too darn good.

To this end, here's the latest from the front: It's not going so well, mainly because of what's happening on the other side of the ball. Washington's lineup is not at full strength, and it's showing.

This winter, the Washington Nationals set themselves up to mow down any team that stands in the way of a World Series title, but now it's time for the Nats to put their $156 million where their mouth is. 

That number is Washington's total payroll obligation in 2015, according to Baseball Prospectus.

Anthony Rendon's knee injury isn't serious, they said. He's only being held out of spring training action as a precaution, they said.

Well, now they're singing a different tune. And for a Washington Nationals club that has eyes on being perhaps the elite team in Major League Baseball in 2015, that's a bummer.

The Washington Nationals need Stephen Strasburg as one of the anchors of their deep rotation, but they may not have him for the time being given his latest injury.

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Strasburg Suffers Sprained Ankle In Conditioning

Saturday, March 21

The Washington Nationals reported on Saturday that Strasburg suffered a sprained ankle in conditioning, and would miss his next scheduled start: