It's only June 21, so there's still the promise of far more important baseball games yet to be played. But in order for those future games to carry real importance, the Nationals know they needed to treat this June 21 game as though it was taking place on Aug. 21. And so here was Davey Martinez pulling out all the stops in tonight's series opener against the Braves, trying out a different lineup combination, then turning to whatever available arms he had at his disposal in an attempt to...

SEATTLE - In just the last week or so the Orioles pitching staff has seen Josh Rogers join the team again along with Jimmy Yacabonis and Sean Gilmartin. Today Branden Kline and Tanner Scott returned. Among those headed out to Triple-A Norfolk were Paul Fry and Evan Phillips to join David Hess. Josh Lucas went on the injured list. It's recently been a continuing shuffle for a bullpen that has an ERA of 10.70 during a nine-game losing streak. But in bringing back Kline and Scott today the...

The Braves got on the board early against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Josh Donaldson walked to lead off the second inning. With one out, Austin Riley belted a two-run homer over the left-center field to give Atlanta the lead. Riley connected on a 93.6 mph two-seam fastball for his 12th homer of the season. Braves left-hander Dallas Keuchel, making his 2019 debut, allowed leadoff singles to Trea Turner and Brian Dozier in the first and second innings, respectively, but no...

SEATTLE - The Orioles road trip continues tonight with the second game of a four-game series against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Their losing streak reached nine with a 5-2 loss last night. The Orioles are 21-54 and have lost 13 of 15 and 17 of the last 21 games. They have scored just nine runs while going 0-4 on this trip. Seattle is 33-46 and 15-24 at home. The Birds have been outscored 80-28 during the losing streak, which is one loss shy of the longest in the majors this year. The...

Ryan Zimmerman is in a starting lineup and playing in a baseball game tonight - in Harrisburg, Pa. Which suggests the veteran first baseman could be back playing in a baseball game in Washington soon. Zimmerman is beginning a long-awaited rehab assignment tonight, starting at first base and batting third for Double-A Harrisburg in his first game action in nearly two months. On the injured list since April 28 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Zimmerman is scheduled to play five innings...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez confirmed this afternoon that right-hander Joe Ross was on a flight today, heading to D.C. to presumably be the starting pitcher against the Braves on Sunday. But the story was adjusted a bit an hour later when the club announced that Ross was officially recalled from Triple-A Fresno prior to Friday's series opener. Infielder Adrián Sanchez was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg. Ross will be available out of a taxed bullpen tonight. Sean Doolittle, Tanner...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Joe Ross from Triple-A Fresno and optioned infielder Adrián Sanchez to Double-A Harrisburg on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ross, 26, returns to the Nationals after going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17.0 IP) in four starts for the Fresno Grizzlies. He struck out 10 batters, issued three walks and allowed just one home run across his four Triple-A starts. He tossed...

This week's series against the Phillies was big. This weekend's series against the Braves might be even bigger. The Nationals are feeling good about themselves after sweeping Philadelphia and winning 17 of 24. But now they face the hottest team in the majors, the one now comfortably in first place in the National League East. The good news: The Nats are 2-0 against the Braves this season, having swept a quick series at SunTrust Park three weeks ago. But they're facing a bit of a different...

SEATTLE - It is kind of a cycle the Orioles can't seem to get out of right now. At some point, all the losing was bound to take a toll on everyone in Birdland - and that includes the players. We have reached that point. The losing streak has reached nine and the longest of the year in the majors by any team is 10. Can the O's win tonight to avoid that? It will be tough. When John Means went to the injured list yesterday, that meant the Orioles were going to use a bullpen game tonight. Those...

SEATTLE - So the Orioles are due for a win. Will tonight be the night? They play the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of a four-game set at T-Mobile Park. Going into last night's series opener Seattle (33-46) had gone 33 games without winning two in a row, but that run ended with their 5-2 victory Thursday night. The Orioles have the longest run in the majors this year without back-to-back wins, a current streak of 40 straight games dating to May 4-6. The Orioles (21-54) have now lost nine straight...