With slugger Michael Morse already on the shelf because of a strained lat and Zimmerman joining him on the disabled list (shoulder), the Nationals were in need of an infusion of offense (they entered Friday’s matchup with Clayton Kershaw carrying a .238 team batting average).

Owners in NL-only fantasy leagues are tripping over themselves for the opportunity to snag Harper.

Harper set to join Nationals

1 Evan Longoria
2 Jose Bautista
3 Adrian Beltre
4 David Wright
5 Ryan Zimmerman
6 Alex Rodriguez
7 Aramis Ramirez
8 Pablo Sandoval
9 Brett Lawrie
10 Michael Young
11 David Freese
12 Ryan Roberts
13 Kevin Youkilis
14 Mark Reynolds
15 Mike Moustakas
16 Chase Headley
17 Emilio Bonifacio
18 Edwin Encarnacion
19 Pedro Alvarez
20 Chipper Jones
21 Martin Prado
22 Brent Morel
23 Danny Valencia
24 Lonnie Chisenhall
25 Ian Stewart
26 Scott Rolen
27 Casey McGehee
28 Chone Figgins
29 Daniel Murphy
30 Jed Lowrie

Spring training has barely begun, but Cleveland is already getting hammered by injuries. Grady Sizemore is sidelined because of a lower back strain. On Sunday, word came down from Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer that closer Chris Perez would be sidelined because of a strained left oblique muscle. The Indians remain optimistic that Perez will be available for opening day, but Manny Acta tabbed Vinnie Pestano as Perez’s replacement should he be unable to start the season.

Pestano certainly has the goods to be a closer, having posted a fantastic strikeout rate of 12.2 per nine innings pitched (84 in 62 innings) with a superb WHIP of 1.05. He knows how to finish an inning and keeps opponents from making solid contact. Pestano allowed just 5.95 hits per nine innings pitched.

There are other former closers (Wheeler, Ray and Accardo) in camp, but the job is Pestano’s while we await word on Perez’s progress.

Read Hoynes’ story here .

It was reported on Tuesday afternoon that super prospect Stephen Strasburg would be recalled to the major league club in one week’s time. Strasburg pitched to a sub-3.00 ERA and struck out batters in grand fashion before sustaining his season-ending injury. He owns a bloated 5.02 ERA in five appearances during his minor league rehab work while striking out 25 batters in 14 1/3 innings pitched.

Strasburg is coming back to Washington, but he’s not coming alone.

Tom Milone, a 2008 draft pick and control specialist, has won 12 games with a 3.22 ERA and has walked 16 batters in 148 1/3 IP.

He’ll be interesting to watch, but there’s another guy rolling up with them. Brad Peacock, who I featured in my preseason prospect piece on FOXSports.com, has positively dominated minor league batters this season. Peacock earned a record of 15-3 between Double-A and Triple-A with a 2.39 ERA. He fanned 10.87 batters per nine innings.

Add this trio to Jordan Zimmermann and the Nats’ rotation looks mighty intriguing for 2012.

As for the pennant chase, I’m spying a gain of a point or two in the fantasy realm. Keep working it!

He reduced his ERA to a ridiculous 1.87 mark (1.06 WHIP) and earned his 12th win of the season. Jurrjens has achieved these heights despite posting a low strikeout rate of 5.3 batters per nine innings. It’s helped markedly that Jurrjens has averages 2.03 walks per nine innings.

When you look into the splits, nothing stands out in the raw stats. His groundball-to-flyball ratio is sub-1.00, and I’ve already mentioned the low strikeout rate. Still, Jurrjens has made pitches when they’ve counted, and he’s been ultra-efficient. He completes innings at an average of 14.4 pitches per frame to tie for fifth in Major League Baseball. Interestingly, Jurrjens has earned decisions in 15 of 16 starts.

That’s right. I said it. I’ve watched a couple of his minor league starts. I’ve witnessed him obliterate minor league hitters. I’m not saying that he’s devoid of talent. In fact, I found myself inching closer to the edge of my seat with each pitch. I’m just tired of the split screens and just wish that we’d pause for a moment and let the kid pitch. Let him get that first pitch across or in the batter’s ear in front of the national media and a salivating fantasy baseball audience.

Strasburg may eventually punch out enough hitters and win enough games to warrant those Cooperstown comparisons. I just want to follow along the path without those grandiose expectations that few can reach.

For the Pirates, it’s like a World Series moment and that coveted role of “spoiler.”

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On the undercard in this “Prospect Tuesday” is the debut of Mike Stanton of the Nationals. I know. You’re envisioning a 30-something middle reliever when you hear that name. You’ll think differently when you hear the crack of the bat.

Stanton ripped 21 minor league home runs, demonstrated a strong batting eye and is mature beyond his 20 years. However, he’s never taken an at-bat above Double-A. It’s possible that he comes up and starts parking balls into the outfield like Jason Heyward (currently slumping) has in Atlanta. Stanton will hit his share of extra-base hits and could be considered for a fifth outfield slot in roto leagues. Just be ready for the hard times when hits don’t come as easily.

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This is a unique day in recent baseball history. We have two of the most heralded prospects in the game arriving to the majors on the night. Everyone except those preoccupied with Game 3 of the NBA Finals will be watching.

Break out the thesauruses for some new adjectives. The new world order begins tonight.

Fantasy owners are clamoring to the waiver wire in the hope that the next big thing will be wearing a Nationals cap.

I remember the episode of The Simpsons where billboards, banners and commercials announced that “Gabbo Is Coming.” Who? What? Where?

Well, it ended up being a smart-alleck ventriloquist’s dummy that temporarily displaced Krusty in the hearts of Springfield’s children.

The notes on Stephen Strasburg and the dazzling video catalog of his minor league starts seem to indicate that Strasburg will be in the minds and hearts of fans and fantasy owners for a long, long time. Sorry, Gabbo.

By all accounts, Strasburg will make his much-anticipated major league debut on June 4 against the Reds. This would allow Strasburg to pitch in line with the normal rotation and schedule without an extended period of down time.

My marketing and promotion-loving self thinks that it needs to be pushed back a couple days to put Strasburg on the hill that following Tuesday against the Pirates. But, the baseball timeline has to be held intact. Strasburg has been brought along slowly this season, paced for the summer call-up. There’s no need to shuffle up the routine and make him change things now.

I get it. But the PT Barnum in me is thinking about Tuesday’s gate with Pittsburgh in town. On a Friday night, you’ll still get a decent crowd and some walk-ups if the weather is sound. On Tuesday nights against Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones … not so much.

With that said, I know what will be on my Roku player next Friday night. The Nationals have surprised thus far. Roy Oswalt is being mentioned as a possible trade deadline acquisition. Strasburg is the main event.

I often yell “DBTH!” — Don’t Believe The Hype – when a player in any sport is so highly touted. In this case, I’d be shocked to see him falter.

Climb aboard the Strasburg Express.

Enter the chat

Jump on over to FOXSports.com to chat fantasy baseball, football and whatever else is on your mind at 2pm ET/11am PT.

It’s a quick-paced hour of rambling, Q&A and pontificating about the world at large.

Join him, won’t you?

I’m shuffling off for the weekend to attend to family business. On my return, I will be diving head-first into the offseason activity in the NFL. I’ll examine the free agency moves – good, bad and confusing and circling back to the trade that sent Donovan McNabb to Washington and thrust Kevin Kolb into the spotlight.

We’ll leave rankings for another time, but the barrage of statistical nuggets and player reviews will start flying on Monday.

The Vlog will kick into hyperdrive, as you know I love screaming, and we’ll welcome back some of our favorite friends of the Dome and our world at FOXSports.com. Of course, baseball will stay under the microscope as well. We’ll continue to monitor trends, breakthroughs and our unique perspectives on the sporting landscape (and the NBA and NHL Playoffs as well).

I appreciate you joining us for the ride. Sigh up to be notified of new additions and the polls, contests and goodies to come as we roll toward training camp.

Dominate!