The pennant race tonight returned to South Capitol Street, where a crowd of 37,491 turned the ballpark as electric as it had been in at least a month, the last time the Nationals faced a fellow National League contender. The Nationals and Dodgers put on a show worthy of these kind of high stakes and gave a taste of what a potential five-game series might look and feel like should they meet again come October. Then again, during a 4-2 loss the Nats also offered up a painful look at the fatal...

The day has arrived. And so has Adley Rutschman. The first overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft has ditched the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and is moving up one level to short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Florida couldn't hold the kid. Time to get him in Maryland. Rutschman would have reported a day earlier, but only for batting practice, if not for Thursday's rainout. The Orioles wanted him to catch in one more game, which he did yesterday. Because he was behind the plate,...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles made a series of roster moves in the final 80 minutes before gametime tonight, which included All-Star lefty John Means going to the 10-day injured list. But the Orioles fully expect Means back after his 10-day IL stay is up and their concern level right now is low. But manager Brandon Hyde said he did not yet know what he will do to replace Means in the rotation with the news fresh today. The rundown of the moves: * Placed Means on the 10-day injured list...

The men in blue made a few new friends on Tuesday, before donning their usual garb and taking the field at Nationals Park for a game between the Rockies and Nationals. The four-man crew assigned to the four-game series - Jerry Meals, Ron Kulpa, Gabe Morales and John Libka - took time out of their schedules to visit patients at Children's Nationals Medical Center and their families as part of the UMPS CARE Charities BLUE for Kids program. Instead of balls and strikes, safe or out, fair or foul,...

The Orioles announced today that catcher Adley Rutschman is joining short-season Single-A Aberdeen on Saturday, as reported earlier this week. There's your confirmation. Rutschman caught today and went 0-for-3 with an RBI, walk and throwing error. He's 3-for-14 with a home run, three RBIs and a stolen base in five Rookie-level Gulf Coast League games. The IronBirds are hosting Hudson Valley at Ripken Stadium, with first pitch Saturday at 6:05 p.m. The Orioles haven't announced their roster...

The Atlantic League, an independent baseball league that has a three-year contract with Major League Baseball to experiment with new ideas, says that the computer-generated strike zone has been so successful, the system will be used the rest of the season. The computerized system, called the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), will be used in the eight-team league, which includes the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in Waldorf. The technology will debut there Aug. 2. The league used it for its...

Though he felt fine in the immediate aftermath of Thursday's start against the Rockies, Max Scherzer cautioned all along he wouldn't know he was in the clear from his lingering back injury until he saw how he felt after he woke up today. So when Scherzer arose this morning and felt tightness in his upper back, he was frustrated but not surprised. And now the Nationals ace again faces uncertain status for his next start. Scherzer had an MRI taken earlier today, and that test revealed what he...

The Nationals have recalled right-hander Kyle Barraclough from the injured list and have sent outfielder Andrew Stevenson back to Triple-A Fresno. Barraclough had been rehabbing at Double-A Harrisburg. "He's had some good outings and at this point, with three games in two days, we feel like we need another bullpen arm so we chose Barraclough," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. The 29-year-old Barraclough pitched in five games for the Senators, accumulating four scoreless appearances. He...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - After needing 6 hours, 19 minutes for a16-inning win Thursday and into Friday, the Orioles and Angels are back tonight for Game 2 of this four-game series. With their wild 10-8 win, the Orioles improved to 33-69. They are 5-3 over the last eight games, 6-7 since the All-Star Game and 11-11 their past 22 games. They are 2-2 on this trip and 18-33 for the season on the road. Baltimore snapped the Angels' four-game win streak. Los Angeles is 54-50 overall, 27-24 at home, 12-7 in...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Kyle Barraclough from Double-A Harrisburg and optioned outfielder Andrew Stevenson to Triple-A Fresno on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Barraclough, 29, returns to the Nationals after posting a 2.70 ERA (2 ER/6.2 IP) with eight strikeouts in five games for the Harrisburg Senators. Barraclough tossed scoreless relief in four of the five outings. Opposing batters went...