Picture of the Day: Doug Fister shows off his flexibility

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Nationals right-hander Doug Fister allowed two runs on four hits and no walks over seven innings against the Phillies this afternoon as part of a 4-2 victory. While he was excellent on the mound yet again, perhaps the most remarkable thing he did was this stretch at first base while trying to complete a double-play.

Ryan Howard actually beat out the throw, so Fister’s effort went for naught, but that’s some pretty impressive flexibility. It gives new meaning to “pitching from the stretch.”  Fortunately for the Nationals, Fister didn’t hurt himself there. It’s worth noting that he played a little bit of first base in junior college.

That wasn’t the only display of Fister’s athleticism this afternoon. Check out this sprawling stop of a comebacker off the bat of Ben Revere.

Anthony Rendon fan interaction video looked into by MLB

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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OAKLAND, Calif. – Major League Baseball is looking into a video circulating on social media that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon grab a fan by the shirt through the bleacher guardrails after Thursday night’s game in Oakland, a league spokesperson said Friday.

Rendon looks to have grabbed the fan’s shirt near his chest through the bars of the railing and exchanged words with him before appearing to take a swipe at the bill of the man’s ballcap and walking into the tunnel.

Angels spokesman Adam Chodzko says the team has no comment. The Angels do not play Friday, but the club expects Rendon to address the video Saturday in the clubhouse before the game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland.

The video shows the fan, dressed in A’s colors, approach the railing as Rendon turns toward him from the tunnel walkway below. Rendon then appears to grab the man’s shirt and ask him what he just said, accusing the fan of calling him a derogatory term before swiping at his ballcap.

The A’s won the game 2-1.