Nationals among top stories for second half of season

Washington, a surprise leader in the National League East, make moves to bolster playoff hopes.

NEW YORK -- From opening day through the All-Star game, they were baseball's feel-good story.

Now it gets serious for the Washington Nationals.

"It was tough in the first half, and it will be even tougher in the second half," manager Frank Robinson said. "Everybody's going to be coming for us."

For the NL East leaders and everyone else in the majors, the races resume Thursday. So do the chases:

* Rafael Palmeiro needs two hits for 3,000.

* Roger Clemens is aiming at his eighth Cy Young Award.

* Derrek Lee might make a run at the Triple Crown.

And, there's more.

Barry Bonds could make his season debut, coming back from knee surgery and just 52 home runs short of Hank Aaron's record of 755.

At Fenway Park, Curt Schilling is off the disabled and ready to return -- as a closer -- tonight when the World Series champion Red Sox take on the New York Yankees.

This is the first time in 10 years that Boston has led at the break. The Red Sox tried to boost their bullpen Wednesday with a trade, getting reliever Chad Bradford from Oakland for outfielder Jay Payton.

"I think our best baseball is ahead of us," catcher Jason Varitek said. "We've had some good stints, we've been OK. To be where we are and not have everything completely click yet is fortunate."

Still on deck: Resolution of Kenny Rogers' 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine. Plus, the July 31 trading deadline to make deals without waivers, with lots of big names sure to be in the mix.

The Nationals got an early jump, signing reliever Mike Stanton on Wednesday after he was cut by the Yankees. Washington then acquired outfielder Preston Wilson from the Rockies for right-hander Zach Day, outfielder J.J. Davis and a player to be named later or cash.

The Rockies on Wednesday also sent left-hander Joe Kennedy and right-handed reliever Jay Witasick to the Athletics for outfielder Eric Byrnes and minor league prospect Omar Quintanilla.

While Washington tries to bring the first World Series to RFK, the St. Louis Cardinals hope to bring one last Series to Busch Stadium before their new park opens next season.

"We started this spring with the steroid issue and everything else, and I love the way the second half of the season is set up," commissioner Bud Selig said during the break. "We're going to have some great, great races right down to the end."

Of the 14 teams in the AL, 10 are at .500 or higher.

The best race might be in the NL East. The Nationals, who finished last in 2004 as the Montreal Expos, lead by 2 1/2 games in their first season in Washington.