DETROIT - Eighty games into the 2019 campaign, the Nationals have turned their season around. The Nats are now 40-40. This did not seem possible in late May. After 50 games, the Nats had 19 wins. The last 30 games, they have won 21. Flash back to May 23: After losing four in a row to the Mets, the Nats were 19-31. From April 19 to May 23, the Nats went 10-23. But in playing .700 baseball for 35 days, the game is fun again. The Nats have been competitive because their starting pitching, offense...

After losing back-to-back games to San Diego earlier this week, the Orioles homestand continues tonight at Camden Yards. They'll host the Cleveland Indians to start a three-game series. The Orioles (22-58) will play game No. 81 and will reach the midpoint of the season after tonight's game. They have lost 13 of 14 and 17 of the last 20 games. The Orioles are 9-30 at home and have lost seven straight at Oriole Park. With a .315 batting average, the Orioles' Hanser Alberto ranks sixth in the...

DETROIT - The Nationals reinstated veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the injured list in time for their series opener here tonight against the Tigers. Zimmerman has been out since April 28, missing 53 games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Zimmerman played in five rehab games from June 21-26 with Double-A Harrisburg, where he hit .188 in 16 at-bats. But more importantly, he ramped up to a full nine innings to see how his right heel would feel after that much standing up...

Orioles rookie pitcher Josh Rogers will receive the second opinion on his left elbow Tuesday morning in Arlington, Texas, while bracing for confirmation that he'll need a second Tommy John surgery. Rogers also underwent the procedure as a high school senior in 2013. He had a bone spur removed from the elbow four years later. He's no stranger to elbow surgeries. Not that it gets any easier for him. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremcheck performed the first two surgeries, but Rogers is...

The Washington Nationals returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 10-Day Injured List and optioned outfielder Michael A. Taylor to Double-A Harrisburg on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Zimmerman, 34, returns to the active roster after missing 53 games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Prior to the injury, he hit .213 with three doubles, three homers, 11 RBI, 10...

Chance Sisco is behind the plate tonight and batting in the cleanup spot as the Orioles begin another home series. Anthony Santander is in right field and future All-Star Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Jonathan Villar moves to shortstop and Stevie Wilkerson is the center fielder. John Means has been activated from the injured list and is starting tonight. The Indians are starting Mike Clevinger, the first of three right-handers the Orioles will face in the series. The southpaw streak...

For the second consecutive season, Washington Nationals infield prospect Carter Kieboom has been selected to represent the organization at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Major League Baseball made the announcement earlier today on MLB Network's "MLB Central." The 21st SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game features the top Minor League prospects competing as part of All-Star Sunday. Kieboom, 21, is hitting .316 with 16 doubles, three triples, 13 homers, 57 RBI, 44 walks and 51 runs scored in...

The top draft picks by the Orioles over the past two years will participate in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game, to be held July 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Single-A Frederick left-hander DL Hall and Single-A Delmarva right-hander Grayson Rodriguez have been chosen on the American League side. The format has changed for the annual event, with top prospects divided by leagues following the U.S. vs. World matchups of the last 20 years. Hall, 20, is 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 13...

Ryan Zimmerman's return to the Nationals' active roster will come at the expense of Michael A. Taylor's longstanding place on it. The Nationals optioned Taylor to Double-A Harrisburg following last night's win in Miami to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for Zimmerman, who will be activated off the injured list before tonight's series opener in Detroit, according to multiple sources familiar with the transaction. Zimmerman returns nearly nine weeks after he was placed on the 10-day IL...

DETROIT - The Nationals are back at .500 for the first time since April 23. In that timeframe, they have played 58 games and fell as many as 12 games under .500 (19-31). They were 10 games out of first place on May 25 and have trimmed the deficit to seven games with nine games remaining until the All-Star break. The Nats have matched the Dodgers as the hottest team in the National League, going 8-2 in their last 10 games. Washington are 2 1/2 games back of the NL wild card. At the end of...