Here's some good news to begin your Saturday: The clouds are beginning to clear out of the region and there is no forecast of rain today. The Nationals and Giants should have no trouble playing both ends of today's 14-inning doubleheader. That's about the only good news, unfortunately. The Nats just announced a swath of roster moves, a couple of them quite unexpected. Here's the full list: * Right-hander Daniel Hudson was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. *...

The Washington Nationals announced the following roster moves Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements: * Returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde from the Injured List * Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez * Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Andres Machado, optioned him and selected him as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader * Optioned...

It was kind of a tough night for one young Orioles pitcher last night, and a better one for another as they lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays to start a weekend series. Lefty Keegan Akin pitched with traffic on the bases most of his night, allowing five hits and three runs over four innings. The Rays forced him to throw 95 pitches, and two walks to start the game didn't help his cause. But Akin pitched out of that and minimized a jam in the third inning, allowing just one run. But second baseman...

Pressed unexpectedly into service when Max Scherzer sustained a groin injury while pitching to his second batter in Friday night's game, Paolo Espino barely had time to process what had happened as he began his warmups on the mound at Nationals Park. Espino took over for Scherzer and - save for a slider that didn't really break that Buster Posey hammered over the fence for the only run in a 1-0 win - throttled the Giants over the course of a 3 1/3-inning stint that lowered his ERA to 2.78 and...

Yesterday's announcement that reliever Shawn Armstrong cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk had me checking the terminology to make sure I didn't read too much into it. As it turns out, Armstrong being "assigned" is the same as "outrighted." He's reporting to the Tides. I was checking whether he could decline and become a free agent. Armstrong was outrighted by the Mariners in 2018 and could have refused yesterday's assignment, though he'd forfeit his salary. The...

The game within the game begins early, shortly after the final note is struck in the anthem. Wondering how much length the starter can provide. How many calls must be made to the bullpen. The piecing together of nine innings doesn't come with an easy set of instructions. Keegan Akin moved past the fifth inning once as a rookie in 2020, recording an out in the sixth. He completed the fifth in his previous start this month. Like other young pitchers on the staff, the Orioles are trying to safely...

Max Scherzer knew what the Nationals needed him to do Friday night, and the right-hander was game. In true ace fashion, he took the ball, expected to give a team desperately in need of some length a deep start and get the delayed opener to a four-game series against the Giants off to a good start. Everything was fine - until it wasn't. And that didn't take very long. Scherzer lasted only 12 pitches, getting just one out and throwing six strikes, before an undisclosed injury forced him from...

Any hopes the Nationals had of using a deep start by Max Scherzer to rest their weary bullpen went quickly by the wayside in the first inning of Friday night's game against the Giants. Like 12 pitches. Scherzer departed after throwing a high-and-outside ball on a 2-2 pitch to Brandon Belt. The right-hander hopped awkwardly on the mound, squatted as if trying to flex a hamstring and then called for the trainers. Manager Davey Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard joined...

The outfield surplus that the Orioles carried into spring training finally has regained its proper weight. Austin Hays has been reinstated from the injured list and gets the start in left tonight against the Rays. Cedric Mullins is in center and Anthony Santander is in right. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter and rookie Ryan Mountcastle is playing first base. They occupy the first five spots in the order, with manager Brandon Hyde finding a way, as he kept promising months ago. But tonight...

After two stints already on the injured list, totaling 28 games missed, Orioles outfielder Austin Hays returned to the active roster today. He's in the lineup tonight in left field, batting fifth in the series opener versus Tampa Bay. This time he hopes to remain active and healthy for the rest of the 2021 season. He has been on the IL with both left- and right-hamstring strains this year. "I think the strength and performance staff has done a good job of giving me an outline of what the rest...