Worse than expected for Werth, who reportedly has two fractures in left wrist

Worse than expected for Werth, who reportedly has two fractures in left wrist
It appears Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth will be out for a couple of months after a CT scan showed two fractures in his left wrist, according to reports. Werth's wrist was struck by a fastball back on May 15 during a second inning at-bat in San Diego. X-rays taken that night proved negative and an MRI a few days later revealed no ligament damage leaving Werth feeling positive. "I'm relieved," Werth said on May 19. "I wish it felt better. I'm optimistic, but I don't feel like I'm...

Nationals All-Time Team

Nationals All-Time Team
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Orioles recall RHP Tyler Wilson as 26th player for today's doubleheader

Orioles recall RHP Tyler Wilson as 26th player for today's doubleheader
The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Tyler Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk as the 26th player for today's doubleheader. Wilson, 25, made his major league debut on May 20 by tossing a scoreless inning of relief vs. Seattle. He compiled a 4.50 ERA in two outings while earning his first Major League win on May 22 at Miami. This season with Triple-A Norfolk, Wilson has compiled a 2-4 record with a 3.29 ERA in eight starts while fanning 32 and walking seven over 41.0...

Scherzer and Harper provide relentless assault for Nats

Scherzer and Harper provide relentless assault for Nats
What more can you say about what Max Scherzer has brought to this Nationals team? Last night, Scherzer struck out a season-high 13 in holding the Cubs scoreless through seven innings. Scherzer was stalking around the mound all night as his intensity was on full display, as well as his full repertoire of pitches. "You never really know what you're gonna get," Ian Desmond said on "Nats Xtra" after the game. "It keeps you off balance even more. I mean, he's got essentially eight pitches. He...

Nationals ride Scherzer and Harper to ninth straight series win

Nationals ride Scherzer and Harper to ninth straight series win
Max Scherzer locked up the Cubs through seven innings and Bryce Harper added another homer as the Nationals beat the Cubs 3-0 to claim their ninth consecutive series win. Scherzer was rarely challenged on a night where he fanned a season-high 13 while only yielding five hits and one walk. In fact, Scherzer struck out all but one member of the Cubs' starting nine. "He's awesome out there," Ian Desmond on "Nats Xtra" after the game. "He flips a switch and doesn't really turn it off until...

Zach Wilt: The Orioles' balance of power

Zach Wilt: The Orioles' balance of power
If the Orioles could go back and time and play the 2012 version of themselves, I'm certain that the series would like identical to what we just watched against the Astros. A.J. Hinch's club reminds me exactly of what I watched here in Baltimore two seasons ago. The 'Stros are a scrappy group of power hitters who deliver clutch hits, are never out of games and win by a close margin. It was fun to watch on this end, but now I can totally understand why the 2012 O's frustrated their...

Scherzer dominant in Nats' 3-0 win (Harper homers)

Scherzer dominant in Nats' 3-0 win (Harper homers)
Max Scherzer is on fire tonight. The Nationals' ace has elevated his fastball to 98 mph several times when needed. Scherzer has held the Cubs scoreless through six innings, allowing five hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. It is the 29th 10-plus strikeout game of Scherzer's career and fourth this season. Bryce Harper helped Scherzer's cause in the sixth with his 18th homer of the season, which tied him with Seattle's Nelson Cruz for the major league lead. The opposite field blast is...

David Huzzard: Appreciating the Wright stuff

David Huzzard: Appreciating the Wright stuff
There was a time when Nationals fans were far fewer and had to forget about being Nationals fans. Hoping for a win from some of the lowly clubs this franchise put on the field from 2007-2011 was like hoping for the Marlins to do something competent. With all apologizes to Ryan Zimmerman and his numerous walk-offs between the summer of Soriano and Stephen Strasburg's debut. The Nationals weren't much of a drawing card. Those of us that did venture out to RFK Stadium or Nationals Park in the...

Hot-hitting Paredes had long journey to O's (with other MLB notes)

Hot-hitting Paredes had long journey to O's (with other MLB notes)
Jimmy Paredes' eight-year journey to the Orioles, as well as a spot among the American League's batting leaders, has a Houston Astros connection to it. The New York Yankees signed Paredes in 2004, and when the Yankees needed an experienced bat for their 2010 stretch run to the American League East title, they traded Paredes to the Astros in a deal that brought then designated hitter/first baseman Lance Berkman. The Astros figured Paredes would be their second baseman, but when Jose Altuve...

Bryce Harper leads National League All-Star vote (with lineups)

Bryce Harper leads National League All-Star vote (with lineups)
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper leads all National League players in All-Star voting. Harper, a two-time All-Star, is tied for the major league lead with 17 home runs, 42 RBIs and 40 runs scored. In addition, Harper leads the majors with a .467 on-base percentage, a .734 slugging percentage and 40 walks. Harper, twice named NL Player of the Week, is batting .331. The first voting update for the 86th All-start Game, to be played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on July 14, revealed...

Orioles reinstate infielder Ryan Flaherty from the disabled list, designate outfielder Alejandro De Aza for assignment

Orioles reinstate infielder Ryan Flaherty from the disabled list, designate outfielder Alejandro De Aza for assignment
The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated infielder Ryan Flaherty from the 15-day disabled list and designated outfielder Alejandro De Aza for assignment. Flaherty, 28, appeared in two rehab games with Triple-A Norfolk, going 0-for-5 with three walks, two RBI, and a run scored. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 12 with a right groin strain. In 13 games with the Orioles this season, Flaherty has hit .250/.372/.500 (9-36) with three doubles, two home runs, and four...

Orioles to host official legacy book signing with author Jim Henneman on May 30

Orioles to host official legacy book signing with author Jim Henneman on May 30
Copies of "Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic" Available for Purchase The Orioles today announced that they will host another official legacy book signing featuring longtime Baltimore sportswriter and author of "Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic," Jim Henneman, on Saturday, May 30. Henneman will sign from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Official Orioles Team Store at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Beginning with the return of Major League Baseball to Charm City and...

2015 live chats kick off with Adam Jones and Chris Davis

2015 live chats kick off with Adam Jones and Chris Davis
An old veteran of the MASNsports.com live chat sessions, Adam Jones joined host Courtney Connor for the first edition of the 2015 season. He wielded fans' questions submitted to MASN's Twitter, Facebook and website. While some of the questions were hard-hitting baseball questions, others were hilarious, off-the-field questions for the center fielder. @masnOrioles if you were given one of the Buck garden gnomes where would you keep it? #AskAJ #AskCrush -- Michael Jabs (@VTmjabs) May 26,...

Rachel Levitin: Retracing Wrigleyville roots amid Nationals conversation

Rachel Levitin: Retracing Wrigleyville roots amid Nationals conversation
When I was in Chicago earlier this month, I found myself wandering around the neighborhood I grew up in - Wrigleyville. Back then, I wasn't old enough to appreciate an Old Style at Murphy's Bleachers on the corner of Waveland and Sheffield. But a few weeks ago, I was. One of my favorite parts of growing up in a baseball town like Chicago is that people there, at least in my mind, seemed to really enjoy sports. They enjoyed watching sports, talking about sports and knew intricacies about each...

Span's power surge continues, Cubs' young talent on full display

Span's power surge continues, Cubs' young talent on full display
Denard Span continued throwing the lumber around on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field with his second home run in as many games. For a moment, his eighth-inning bullet over the right field wall seemed to be the game-winner before the Cubs answered with some artillery of their own, sending the Nationals walking off disappointed with a 3-2 loss. Span, who's only 31, joked to reporters that he has "old man power". Whatever it is, the Nats' center fielder is creating more souvenirs for fans than...

Late-inning mistakes ruin Nats' comeback in 3-2 walk-off loss

Late-inning mistakes ruin Nats' comeback in 3-2 walk-off loss
A well-pitched and well-played game was marred by two late gaffes as the Nationals wasted a nice comeback in a 3-2 walk-off loss to the Cubs. Storms blowing through Chicago left behind gusty winds at Wrigley Field that figured to provide fireworks tonight. But the Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann and the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks pitched gems, allowing just a solo home run apiece as both starters pitched seven complete innings. Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler tagged Zimmermann for a leadoff homer in...

Domenic Vadala: Is it time for O's to get creative at first base?

Domenic Vadala: Is it time for O's to get creative at first base?
I was a bit shocked when I saw the lineup hours prior to Monday's game against Houston. Aside from the time when he was suspended, when's the last time the Orioles' starting lineup didn't include Chris Davis? Sitting Davis on the bench is something that was lauded by many fans, and understandably so. Hovering around the Mendoza line isn't exactly what one would have expected going into this year. But my question is whether or not it's time to get creative with first base. And by creative,...

Bullpen falters late as Cubs walk off Nats in 3-2 win

Bullpen falters late as Cubs walk off Nats in 3-2 win
The first two games of this series between the Nationals and Cubs started with leadoff homers. Yesterday, it was Denard Span delivering a bomb to right. And tonight, Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler deposited a 94 mph fastball from Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann over the ivy in right. Two batters later, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo ripped a double down the right field line. Rizzo moved to third on a groundout by shortstop Starlin Castro, and then Zimmermann served up a two-out walk to...

Jordan Zimmermann aims for first win at Wrigley Field (game started)

Jordan Zimmermann aims for first win at Wrigley Field (game started)
After a bit of an unusual start to the season, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has returned to his normal self to help lead the Nationals to victories in each of his last five starts. Zimmermann has pitched at least six innings and not allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last five outings. Zimmermann hasn't fared so well at Wrigley Field where he is winless in three career starts with a 6.27 ERA, though the last start came back in 2013. The Nats will get their first look at Cubs...

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Night the Bed Fell"

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Night the Bed Fell"
For decades, The New Yorker magazine was the elite repository of literary expression. The best of writers longed to have their talents recognized there. James Thurber was not only recognized there, he was a defining literary giant. "The Night the Bed Fell" by Thurber is a short story that can be found in a number of publications, my favorite being "The Thurber Carnival," a collection of his works and wonderful, make-you-smile drawings. His stories are often slapstick comedy in slow motion....