The Nationals left 19 men on base Friday night in the series opening extra-inning loss to the American League Centeral last-place Royals. Saturday afternoon, the Nats got their offense going quickly so those men left on base didn't have a chance to pile up. Kurt Suzuki highlighted a three-run second inning for the Nationals, evening the series with a 6-0 shutout of Kansas City. Trea Turner, Adam Eaton and Juan Soto all had two hits in the 12-hit barrage. Soto and Suzuki had two RBIs apiece as...

It appears the Nationals and Anthony Rendon are attempting to ramp up contract negotiations again as the season's first half comes to a close. Scott Boras, Rendon's agent, was at Nationals Park today and was seen coming out of an elevator at the clubhouse level following the Nats' 6-0 win over the Royals with founding principal owner Ted Lerner and other members of the Lerner family. A source familiar with the meeting confirmed they are discussing a Rendon contract extension. It's not the...

TORONTO - During their recent West Coast road trip, the Orioles went 1-6 and were outscored 59-29. Then they lost two straight at home to the San Diego Padres and gave up nine homers and 18 runs. But since then the club has played much better, a stretch that began with those back-to-back 13-0 wins last weekend over Cleveland. Today the Orioles backed right-hander Andrew Cashner with two homers and one big inning as they beat Toronto 8-1, their fifth win in the last eight games. The Orioles...

He took the mound wearing a double-knit polyester, powder blue Expos uniform and tri-colored cap. His pant legs were short, his royal blue socks pulled up high. Nothing about the image suggested this was Max Scherzer. Until he began pitching, of course. From that point on, anyone in attendance at Nationals Park on Expos Day could easily look past the throwback uniform and recognize the ace right-hander putting together yet another quintessential performance. Picking up right where he left off...

The Orioles have reached the end of their first-half schedule, with today's series finale in Toronto followed by an All-Star break that provides rest for everyone except left-hander John Means. Trey Mancini hasn't been added to the American League team as a reserve. Baseball is sustaining the snub. Let's be clear that Means is a deserving representative. There shouldn't be outrage at his inclusion, though it came as a bit of a surprise given his innings count prior to the selection and the...

Mike Wallace opened up his closet this morning and instead of grabbing one of his standard-issue Nationals polo shirts instead dug deep to locate one in a different shade of blue. Across the left chest it said "Expos." On the right sleeve was a logo for the 2004 MLB Japan All-Star Series. Wallace hadn't worn the shirt since that day in November 2004 when he became the last person to wear Expos gear in an official capacity. He noted that outfielder Brad Wilkerson, who played for the MLB...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez made sure to check that Max Scherzer was good to go after a busy week with his wife Erica giving birth to a baby girl Kacey Hart on Thursday. Usually, a new baby in the family is the only big deal for a week in the life of any proud Dad. It's all in the normal work and life for Scherzer, who makes his 19th start of the season today against Kansas City. He has gone 6-0 in the last month with a 1.00 ERA, being named National League Pitcher of the Month. He...

The Orioles have claimed right-hander Aaron Brooks off waivers from the Athletics in the latest pitching-related move from the club today. Reliever Josh Lucas, optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last night, has been designated for assignment to create room for Brooks on the 40-man roster. Brooks was 2-3 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.252 WHIP in 15 games this year, including six starts, and he could become an option for the rotation. He allowed 28 earned runs (29 total) and 49 hits in 50 1/3 innings with 14...

TORONTO - The Orioles have made an adjustment to their rotation for the final game before the All-Star break. Gabriel Ynoa was originally listed as the starter and while he is staying in the rotation, right-hander Asher Wojciechowski will get the start on Sunday against Toronto. "He's on regular rest and we kind of want to see him again," manager Brandon Hyde said today. "Got a lot of stuff after the break, the doubleheader and some others things. So just taking another look at him. Ynoa is...

Today's matchup with the Blue Jays starting a left-hander is keeping Chris Davis out of the lineup. Trey Mancini is playing first base and Anthony Santander is in right field. Steve Wilkerson is in left instead of Dwight Smith Jr. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing third base. Davis had an RBI single and two-run homer last night for his first multi-RBI game since May 10. He's 8-for-23 with two home runs in his last seven games. Both home runs have been hit to left field. Davis' .182...