Strasburg prepared for debut

The anticipation is nearly over. The 21-year-old with the fastball that approaches 100 mph and the curve that freezes batters is about to take the mound in the nation’s capital.

Stephen Strasburg is set to make his Washington Nationals debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight.

Standing room only tickets went on sale Monday, all part of a rare Nationals Park sellout. The Internet is humming with offers for good seats.

More than 200 requests for media credentials have been submitted, forcing officials to turn a dining area into a work space to accommodate all those reporters with laptops.For the Nationals, Strasburg’s major league debut is best summed up in one word: finally.

Duque’s half-brother shoots seven women

A gunman who shot and killed his wife and three other women at a South Florida restaurant before committing suicide was the half-brother of former baseball star Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. Three other female victims remain hospitalized.

Clearing the bases

For the first time since his brush with fame, Detroit’s Armando Galarraga will pitch tonight on the road against the Chicago White Sox. … The Milwaukee Brewers released pitcher, Jeff Suppan, and will bring up reliever Chris Smith, who is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 16 saves at Triple-A Nashville.