an: To be honest, for me, its St. Andrews then all the others. I hav

WASHINGTON -- Even under normal circumstances this year, it is hard to predict what kind of performance Gio Gonzalez will give the Washington Nationals when he takes the mound.The veteran left-hander is 11-10 with a 4.51 ERA through 31 starts, but he has a 5.35 ERA in his past seven starts and has lasted a combined 9 1/3 innings in his past two outings.Gonzalez will start at home Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks just three days after his friend, Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez, died in a boating accident in Florida.Gonzalez broke down in tears when a moment of silence was given for Fernandez before Washingtons game in Pittsburgh on Sunday.The Nationals are trying to hold onto the second-best record in the National League and home-field advantage for the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Washington (92-65) owns a two-game edge on Los Angeles (90-67).That is what we are playing for, right-hander Max Scherzer said after the Nationals 4-2 win Tuesday over Arizona. I would love for Game 5 to be here at Nationals Park.But first things first.Gonzalez hasnt faced the Diamondbacks this year, and he owns a 2-0 record with a 2.97 ERA in five career starts against them.However, the current Arizona hitters who have faced him have done very well.Paul Goldschmidt is hitting .778 in nine at-bats against the veteran lefty. Welington Castillo is batting .333 in nine trips to the plate against Gonzalez, and Phil Gosselin is 4-for-5.Arizona will counter Gonzalez with right-hander Shelby Miller, who is concluding a rough year. He is 2-12 with a 6.47 ERA, although he had one of his best outings on Friday. Facing the playoff-hopeful Orioles in Baltimore, Miller went six scoreless innings.Miller is 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA in seven career starts against Washington, though he hasnt faced the Nationals this year and he lost to them twice last year.Daniel Murphy is 4-for-10 against Miller, though the Washington second baseman is slowed by a strained glute, and he has not played since Sept. 20.Bryce Harper is hitting .294 in 17 at-bats against Miller, but Harper has not played since hurting this left thumb in a slide on Sunday in Pittsburgh.Washington shortstop Danny Espinosa is 4-for-11 (.364) against Miller. Anthony Rendon is 5-for-14 (.357), while Ben Revere, a reserve outfielder, is hitting just .133 (2-for-15) against the former St. Louis righty.One Nationals regular who wont be in action Wednesday -- or again this year -- is Wilson Ramos. The All-Star catcher was diagnosed with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament.His season ends with a .307 average, a career-high 22 homers and a career-high 80 RBI.This was the most inopportune time for this to happen, Washington manager Dusty Baker said.Arizona lost all three games last weekend in Baltimore and has now split the first two games against Washington.We are doing our best, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said Tuesday. The guys want to finish strong whomever we are playing. We will have to be ready tomorrow. Adidas Basketball Shoes Discount . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Adidas Nmd Mens Clearance . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. http://www.cheapnmdsneakersireland.com/ . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Adidas Nmd Ireland . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Latest Adidas Basketball Shoes . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Dustin Johnson is at the top of his game with consecutive victories, including last months U.S. Open, but will his style translate to Royal Troon during this weeks Open Championship? If Johnson and the other favorites slip in the less-than-ideal Scottish weather, what dark horse challenger could surprise the field?Our experts tackle these topics and more in this weeks edition of Monday Four-Ball.1. How do you expect Dustin Johnsons recent form to translate to links golf?SportsCenter anchor Jonathan Coachman: Johnson has proven in the past that he can score on a links golf course. But now he knows how to win big tournaments as well. He is proving that he can overpower the biggest courses in the world, and I think links golf will play right into his wheelhouse.ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins: I dont think theres a style of golf course right now that Johnsons game doesnt fit. I wouldnt even play against him at mini-golf because hed find a way to make his length off the tee an advantage.ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig: It should serve him extremely well. Hitting long, accurate tee shots is never going to hurt a player in the links game (or any game, for that matter). He can have some really short approach shots on the downwind holes, and his ability to hit good drives into the wind will also benefit him. But like any tournament, so much of it comes down to putting, and that has been an improved aspect of Johnsons game as well.ESPN.com senior golf writer Jason Sobel: Really long and straight off the tee translates to any course, anywhere. Johnson might not be able to win for a third consecutive start, but anyone who thinks his game wont travel clearly hasnt been paying close attention. His lone finish outside the top 12 in his last eight major starts was a T-49 at this tournament last year, when he led entering the weekend.2. Give us an under-the-radar player to keep an eye on at Royal Troon this week.Coachman:?Graeme McDowell. I always like to look at the Scottish Open for my dark horse; I like players who play the week before. Now with that being said, last week was brutal as far as the energy and amount of focus the players had to use because of the weather. But McDowell appears to be back in form.?Collins: Not many people in the U.S. know who Chris Wood is, so if youre looking for a pick not many will have on the radar, hes a good Englishman to have on yours.Harig: Padraig Harrington. The two-time Open champion is an infrequent contender these days, but hes coming off a good week at the Scottish Open and remains an excellent links player. Harrington is also excellent in lousy conditions, and we appear headed for one of those battle-against-the-elements weeks.Sobel: As the worlds 36th-ranked player, Andy Sullivan is hardly an unknown commodity, but he isnt exactly at the top of anyones list, either. Maybe he should be -- Sullivan enters this week in terrific form, finishing in the top 25 in each of his last five starts, including a T-23 at last months U.ddddddddddddS. Open.3. With the weather projected to be cold and rainy (Scottish summer, anyone?), what mentality should a player have to give him the best shot to raise the Claret Jug?Coachman: I loved some of the quotes from Padriag Harrington this week. He didnt like that they were making the course easier. You have to embrace the difficulty and the energy and the long rounds. All of it. If you dont, you can start to think about everything but hitting the shot.Collins: Players and caddies have to find a way to love the conditions. Knowing the weather can be crazy in this part of the world during golf tournaments makes embracing it imperative if you want to win. As soon as you start thinking poor me or the other guys got the good side of the draw, youre done. Go home.Harig: You have to know its going to be bad and realize its virtually the same for everyone. Having a good, experienced caddie really helps in these situations, because you have to keep the clubs and grips dry, manage the umbrella, do all sorts of things. But ultimately, having a good deal of patience and taking what comes with the frustrations of rain and wind is key.Sobel: Players must be mentally tough, but its about more than just that. They dont have to only endure the conditions in order to succeed; they have to embrace them. The guys who can see through the raindrops and actually have fun with the challenge the weather poses will be the ones who find themselves in contention come Sunday afternoon.4. Where does Royal Troon rank on your list of Open rota courses?Coachman: To be honest, for me, its St. Andrews then all the others. I have never been a big historian of European golf or gone over to play true links golf. But that is on my bucket list. Maybe I would feel more connected if I did. But we all know every hole at St. Andrews.Collins: Ask me on Sunday night, since this is my first time seeing it in person.Harig: I have it eighth in a ranking of the 14 Open venues, which is not a knock, but more a concession to some of the other courses. It doesnt have the beauty of Turnberry nor the history of St. Andrews and Muirfield, but it is a stout test that typically goes out downwind and comes back into the wind. When Justin Leonard won in 1997, he played the first nine in 12 under, the second nine even.Sobel: Its not at the top, but its certainly in the top half. This is a classic Open Championship course, with many of the same physical characteristics of the Old Course, last years host venue. The golf course wont be the main story this week -- it will be neither too hard nor too easy -- which is pretty much exactly what you want in a host. ' ' '