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The Washington Nationals have had at least two of their best players claimed on waivers by other teams.Per Chelsea Janes and Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post Chris Tillman Jersey , Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams were claimed on waivers.Jon Heyman of FanCred reported the 48-hour deadline to work out a deal for Harper has passed, so he will finish out the season with the Nationals.MLB Network Radio's Grant Paulsen reported the Los Angeles Dodgers put in a waiver claim on Harper.Per SiriusXM radio host Craig Mish, the Chicago Cubs were awarded the claim on Murphy. The Athletic's Robert Murray reported the Cubs reached a deal to acquire the three-time All-Star.Jon Heymanof FanCred reported the Nationals will receive minor league second basemanAndruw Monasterio and cash or a player to be named later from the Cubs for Murphy.Per Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, Adams is being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Heyman added the Nationals will receive cash considerations.Harper is the biggest name on the Nationals and was the subject of trade rumors prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline before general manager Mike Rizzo said the 2015 National League MVP wouldn't be moved."Bryce is not going anywhere," Rizzo told Janes. "I believe in this team."The Nationals have gone 9-10 since the start of August and are 6.5 games out of a playoff spot in the NL.Harper, Murphy and Adams are among the Washington players eligible for free agency after this season Eddie Murray Jersey , so a potential trade would allow the team to add future assets instead of possibly losing all three for draft-pick compensation in 2019.Named an All-Star for the sixth time in his career this season, Harper is hitting .246/.380/.511 with 30 home runs. Murphy has reached his stride with a .300/.341/.442 slash line in just 56 games after offseason knee surgery kept him out until June 12. The Cubs don't necessarily have an opening at second base with Javier Baez having his best season, but he has the ability to slide over to third base.Kris Bryant has been out since July 23 with a shoulder injury, but is expected to face live pitching this week as part of his effort to come back.Adams is slugging .510 with 18 homers in 94 games. He has spent time in left field and right field this season. The Cardinals are currently playing without Dexter Fowler, who is on the disabled list was is hitting just .180/.278/.298 in 90 games. Adams can serve as a platoon hitter since his OPS against right-handed pitching (.882) is significantly higher than it is against lefties (.608).MLB's waiver wire works in reverse order with first priority going to teams in the same league. Since the Nationals are in the NL, those teams would have first chance to put in a claim before anyone in the American League. The St. Louis Cardinals will be sorry to see the calendar page change.The Cardinals completed a major league-best 22-6 August with a 12-5 victory over the visiting Reds on Friday night. The only time the Cardinals have had a better August was in 1944 (23-4) and that team won the World Series.St. Louis has posted the most wins in the majors since the All-Star break (28) and remains atop the National League wild-card standings. The Cardinals trail the Chicago Cubs by 3 1/2 games in the National League Central Division.Article continues below ...Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong homered for St. Louis Friday night and rookie Austin Gomber improved to 5-0 after giving up two runs on 10 hits in seven innings.Gomber allowed two runs on four straight singles in the first inning before settling in.“To kind of lay an egg in the first inning – I feel like I let them hit me in in the face,” Gomber told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I’ve always been taught you come out swinging and don’t be the first one to get hit in the face.”He got the runs back with a two-run double as part of a four-run St. Louis second.Reds starter Homer Bailey’s struggles continued. He allowed seven runs — three earned — in five innings while falling to 1-13 with a 6.13 ERA on the season while surrendering his 22nd and 23rd home runs. The Reds have lost 18 of his 19 starts.“He’s come back from injury Kevin Gausman Jersey ,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s getting closer and closer to what he can be. As he goes through it, he’s not getting away with anything. Hitters are all over his stuff.“He’s had a combination of back luck and hitters hitting his mistakes.”Right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon (0-0, 2.08, one save) will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start Saturday’s game for the Cardinals. In his last start, on Aug. 21 against the Dodgers, he allowed a run on five hits over four innings in a St. Louis win.He burst into the majors on July 23 with seven no-hit innings against the Reds before being lifted after throwing 116 pitches.Right-hander Luis Castillo (7-11, 5.07) starts for Cincinnati. He’s struggled in August http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-jonathan-schoop-jersey , going 1-3 with a 5.57 ERA. In his last start, he allowed five runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cubs. It was his shortest outing since April 27.“They were on him pretty good,” Riggleman told the Enquirer after the game. “I just didn’t feel like it was any use to waste ammo having him just throw pitches for the sake of throwing pitches. It just wasn’t working today.”Castillo has not faced the Cardinals this season and is 0-3 with a 4.55 ERA in five starts versus them in his career.Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said injured outfielder Marcell Ozuna (shoulder) likely will come off the disabled list on Saturday.“As to what his role would be, I’m not sure exactly,” Shildt told the Post-Dispatch, “but he will be activated in all likelihood (Saturday).