Waching daily Sep 3 2018

Sunday's loss to the Brewers has Manager Dave Martinez and the Nationals at 68-69, 8 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East and (John McDonnell/The Washington Post) By Chelsea Janes September 3 at 7:00 AM The Washington Nationals are what they are now, a sub-

500 team hoping to make a late push with what is left of a roster that was never supposed to need one

Their schedule is unforgiving early this month, and after bringing the charging Brewers to town for three games this weekend, now yields three with the Wild Card-leading Cardinals before four against the N

L.-best Cubs. In order to gain any ground in their division or the Wild Card races, the Nationals must charge through those teams ahead of them

Their late September schedule includes plenty of games against those teams, including the Phillies and the Braves

But for those games to be meaningful, they have to make hay in early September. [Boswell: Nationals' season has been a flop, but September still brings intrigue] GROWING OPTIONS Rosters officially expanded Saturday, but the Nationals made just two additions to their active roster, calling up Pedro Severino to provide depth behind ailing Matt Wieters and Austen Williams to provide bullpen depth

The organization wanted to let the rest of its potential call-ups — still being decided as of Saturday — to play out their minor league seasons

Class AAA Syracuse's season ends Monday, which means the Nationals will likely bolster their big league roster further Tuesday

Among the candidates for a call-up: relievers Austin L. Adams and Trevor Gott, starters Austin Voth, and Kyle McGowin, infielders Adrian Sanchez and Matt Reynolds, and outfielder Victor Robles

McGowin would need a 40-man spot, though the Nationals should have no trouble finding them

Tommy Milone, who threw two innings in a rehab outing Saturday and expects to slide back into a long-man role when he is healthy, could also return soon

The Nationals continue to hope that Joe Ross could be active this September, too, though they have given no indication of how soon that could happen

Regardless of who exactly joins them, the Nationals and their coaching staff will have more options than ever at their disposal this week, which should help them spell veterans and provide more chances to evaluate less experienced players moving forward

[Jefry Rodriguez struggles as Nationals fall, 9-4, to Brewers] MATT ADAMS RETURNS Though his tenure was brief, Matt Adams endeared himself to teammates and fans during his months as a National

He was traded back to the Cardinals, where he grew up as a player, two weeks ago in an earlier wave of Nationals sell-offs that also included Daniel Murphy

In eight games with the Cardinals, he is hitting .150. Adams will be a free agent again after this season, and could be a possibility for the Nationals as they consider their next left-handed option to back up Ryan Zimmerman

For now, they will have to face him, something multiple pitchers in their clubhouse have said they would rather not do, given that he compiles impressive numbers against right-handed pitching

The Nationals, who traded away their lone lefty in Gio Gonzalez, have nothing but right-handed starters to throw at the Cardinals this week

THE CARDINAL WAY The Cardinals, resuscitated by a midseason managerial change, have charged back into the race for the National League Central

They currently trail the Cubs by five games, and hold a National League Wild Card spot, eight games up on the Nationals

Sweeping them would help the Nationals chase down one of those spots, though doing so remains mathematically improbable

Matt Carpenter has led their charge, and is emerging as a legitimate MVP candidate in the National League

The Nationals subdued him well in their otherwise discouraging series in St. Louis two weeks ago, and will need to do so again to come out of this week's series with results that inch them closer to the postseason

PROBABLE PITCHERS: Mon.: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Jack Flaherty Tues.: RHP Erick Fedde vs

RHP Miles Mikolas Weds.: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP John Gant Read more on the Nationals: Erick Fedde to start Tuesday; Sean Doolittle is nearing a return With Gio Gonzalez gone, what's next for the Nationals' starting rotation? Nats add C Pedro Severino, RHP Austen Williams to big-league roster

For more infomation >> Nationals vs. Cardinals series preview: Can they find a spark, or is this the beginning of the end? - Duration: 5:56.

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For more infomation >> Today is 'Friends of the Smokies' Day - Duration: 0:30.

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Meghan Markle news: NAME of Meghan's new dog REVEALED - What is it? - Duration: 4:14.

What is the name of Meghan's new dog? The name of the adorable dog is said to be Oz

 The black labrador is the Duke and Duchess of Sussex second dog, as the couple already has a beagle named Guy

 The new dog is said to be adapting well into his new home at Kensington Palace.  Kensington Palace has declined to comment on the news, but a source told the Daily Mail: "The dog is already happily ensconced at their cottage

 "Like the Sussex's, the dog will divide its time between the palace and their country home in the Cotswolds

" Ms Markle has always been a dog-lover and before she moved to the UK to marry Prince Harry she had to leave her Labrador-German Shepherd mix Bogart behind in Canada

 Guy, the newlywed's other dog was flown to England last autumn, but Bogart was said to be too old to make the long journey from Toronto to London

 Both Guy and Bogart were adopted from a rescue centre in Los Angeles. The 37-year-old Duchess has on many occasion referred to the dogs as "my loves"

 Guy and Oz are thought to be getting along well as newbie Oz adapts to his new life as a part of the British Royal family

What is the meaning behind the name of Meghan Markle's new dog? The meaning behind the name 'Oz' is unclear, but Ms Markle and Prince Harry have planned a visit to Australia in October

 The newlywed's will visit the country 'down under' to coincide with the opening of the Invictus Games in Sydney

 Neither Guy nor Oz will join the couple on their Australia visit but the royals will be joined by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark along with previous footballer David Beckham

 Ms Markle is not the only member of the Royal family known for her obsession with dogs

 The Queen has also had multiple dogs over the years and is especially fan of corgis

 However, in April Queen Elizabeth's last corgi, Willow died and the monarch was said to be 'heartbroken'

 According to a palace source, the monarch had been hit particularly hard by this death, as for the first time since the 1940s, there are no corgis in the royal household

 Willow's death came 18 months after the loss of another corgi, Holly, who died at Balmoral aged 13

 Since 1945 more than 30 corgis have been in the royal households and Willow's death in April marks the end of an era

 The Queen still has two dorgis, a cross between a corgi and a dachshund.