Harper's hitting getting hotThe Bryce Harper watch keeps getting more exciting for Nationals fans. Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, entered Saturday with a 17-game hitting streak for Class A Hagerstown and was batting .390 with eight homers and 30 RBI. The streak started when Harper, 18, started wearing contact lenses and began a vision-training program designed to strengthen his eye muscles.

Santana could be back soonerSome thought Johan Santana might miss this whole season when he had shoulder surgery last September, but now it looks like he will be ready closer to the All-Star break. He returned to the mound last week in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Santana, 32, is 40-25 with a 2.85 ERA in 88 starts for the Mets since getting traded from the Twins in February 2008.

Old-school Garza gets involvedWGN cameras have been focusing on Cubs pitcher Matt Garza between starts, as he climbs over railings and water coolers to root on his teammates. "He's an old-school, excitable guy who just loves being involved for three hours even when he's not playing," manager Mike Quade said of the former Twins righthander. "He doesn't let up. It's great. He makes me laugh, and sometimes I need to laugh."