Yes, it's a small sample size, but yes, it sure has been impressive. The topic is Asher Wojciechowski's swing-and-miss stuff, seen yesterday and also right before the All-Star break in Toronto. At Rogers Centre on July 7, Wojciechowski had a nasty slider going in the early innings, and Blue Jays batters could not make consistent contact against it. In the second and third innings that day he threw nine sliders and got six swings and misses. He threw 80 pitches in that game and got 19 swings...

ATLANTA - Ryan Zimmerman's return from plantar fasciitis appears to have lasted only three weeks. Zimmerman winced as he ran down the first base line for an infield single in the top of the second inning tonight at SunTrust Park and had to depart the Nationals' series finale against the Braves. The Nationals didn't immediately announce a reason for Zimmerman's departure, but it appeared he aggravated the same right heel injury that sidelined him from late April through late June. The...

ATLANTA - The Nationals are preparing for Max Scherzer to return to the rotation Thursday afternoon and start their series finale against the Rockies. Scherzer, who hasn't pitched since July 6 due to an inflamed bursa sac underneath his right shoulder blade, continues to feel better from a cortisone shot he received earlier in the week. Manager Davey Martinez said the right-hander is scheduled to throw a full bullpen session Monday afternoon at Nationals Park. "We'll see how that goes,"...

PHOENIX - The Orioles have two openings on their 40-man roster after yesterday's decision to designate outfielder Keon Broxton for assignment. The decision actually came on Saturday at the latest, and it was announced yesterday. But I digress ... In past years it was an indication that they intended to fill those spots via non-waiver deadline trades. Create room and strike some deals. Former executive Dan Duquette would take someone off the 40-man and you'd wait for the corresponding...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Joe Ross from Triple-A Fresno and placed right-handed pitcher Austin Voth on the 10-Day Injured List (retroactive to July 18) with right bicep tendinitis on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ross, 26, was recalled to make his first Major League start of the season on Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves. He returns to the Nationals after going 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA (19...

The day after the Boston Red Sox scored 17 runs, Orioles right-hander Asher Wojciechowski showed us that even baseball's highest-scoring team can be pitched to. Wojciechowski had a no-hitter through six innings on a steamy afternoon and spun 7 1/3 scoreless innings as the Orioles blanked the Red Sox 5-0 at Camden Yards. The Orioles ended a 10-series winless stretch against Boston that dated to September 2017. Boston had gone 8-0-2 in its last 10 series and 19-3 in its last 22 games in...

The pleasantries were held during batting practice two days ago. Andrew Cashner with football in sweaty hand standing behind the cage as former Orioles teammates gathered around him. Today was about beating a friend. Not man-hugging him. Today was about Asher Wojciechowski stating his case a lot louder to stay in a rotation that Cashner has vacated. Announcing it from the top of the warehouse, the heat be damned. Trey Mancini homered twice off Cashner within the first three innings and...

ATLANTA - The Nationals have a chance to take three of four from the Braves with a win in tonight's series finale. They would've loved to have Max Scherzer on the mound for this one, as originally hoped, but that won't happen. They planned to have Austin Voth on the mound, but that won't happen either. The right-hander has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right biceps tendinitis. So it's Plan C, and that's Joe Ross. It's been a weird season for Ross, to say the least. He's...

As Orioles manager Brandon Hyde sifts through his bullpen options, steady roster activity changing names, he can remain confident that Stevie Wilkerson will take the ball anytime. Wilkerson doesn't need much warning. Just a teammate's glove. Wilkerson has joked that he owns 10 of them based on his super-utility status, but he's used a loaner in his two relief outings this month that represent the first of his career. Burned for a season-high 17 runs last night, the Orioles would like to keep...

The removal of Keon Broxton from the roster this morning has left center field available to Anthony Santander and Stevie Wilkerson. A corner outfielder and an infielder are going to share the position. Santander is making his fifth start today and Wilkerson has made 32. They're newbies learning on the fly ball. "Both guys have done a nice job out there when they've had the opportunity and continue to play out there," said manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles cut ties with Broxton after he...