Ryan Zimmerman has hit the baseball well in the 2nd half of the season for the Nationals.  Since the All-Star Break, Zimmerman has played in 39 games and he is 49 for 158 (.310 avg, .896 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 5 homers and 25 RBIs.  His recent surge with the bat is making his season numbers look pretty good so far.  In 127 games this season, Zimmerman is 140 for 517 (.271 avg, .786 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 19 homers and 70 RBIs.

The Nationals traded 23 year old pitcher Emiliano Fruto to the D-Backs for 25 year old 1B Chris Carter and then they shipped Carter to the Red Sox to finish the trade for Wily Mo Pena.  This was a got move by the Nationals as Fruto was struggling (3-9, 5.26 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) in AAA this season.  He has talent but he’s never really learned how to pitch yet.  Plus, Wily Mo Pena is off to a fast start for the Nationals.  He has played in 5 games for them already and he is 6 for 20 (.300 avg, 1.041 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs.

The Nationals have designated Ryan Langerhans for assignment to make room on the roster for Wily Mo Pena.  Langerhans has played in 86 games with the Nationals this season and he was 27 for 148 (.182 avg, .620 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 5 homers and 19 RBIs.  It will be interesting to see if anyone claims Langerhans off waivers because he has been a decent ballplayer in the past.  But he has played for three teams this season (Oakland, Atlanta) and he has played in 108 games and hit only .153.

The Nationals have sent lefty starting pitcher Matt Chico to AAA.  Chico has gotten passed up by other young pitchers in the Nationals’ system who are pitching really well for the Nationals.  Still, Chico didn’t pitch that badly considering how little minor league experience he had coming into this season.  He started 25 games for the Nationals this season and he was 5-7 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.  In 132.1 innings he has allowed 147 hits, 23 homers, walked 65 batters and whiffed 75.  He likely will return when rosters expand on September 1st.

The Nationals have acquired outfielder Wily Mo Pena + cash from the Red Sox for a player to be named later.  Nationals’ GM Jim Bowden also traded for Pena when he worked for the Reds so he couldn’t resist getting him again for pennies on a dollar.  Pena was having a rough time in Boston but he never got enough playing time to get into a groove at the plate.  He played in 73 games for the Red Sox this season and he was 34 for 156 (.218 avg, .676 OPS) with 18 runs, 5 homers and 17 RBIs.  The Nationals will start Pena in left field and he will bat in the middle of the lineup.  Ryan Church will shift to center field pushing Nook Logan and Ryan Langerhans to the bench.  This was an outstanding move by Bowden as Pena will definately add punch to the everyday lineup of the Nationals.