MILWAUKEE - The Nationals are in a real bind right now. That's not some kind of major revelation, but it's the truth. When you lose the Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 hitters from your opening day lineup, plus the guy who took over as cleanup hitter because of one of those injuries, plus the No. 4 outfielder who had been thrust into the daily lineup, you're going to struggle to score runs. Few teams could overcome that many injuries to that many important hitters. (And before anyone asks about the...

PHILADELPHIA - They might not have ever admitted it publicly, but the Nationals knew the deck was stacked against them when they took the field for today's series finale against the Phillies. On a gray, windy, rainy Sunday afternoon, the Nats fielded a lineup with only three regulars who started on opening day. Their usual leadoff hitter was batting third. Their backup catcher was batting cleanup. Their fourth-string first baseman had just flown in on a red eye from Las Vegas. And yet for five...

Today's game between the Orioles and Rays has been postponed due to inclement weather. The teams will play a split-admission doubleheader on July 13, with the first game starting at 1:05 p.m. The nightcap will begin at 7:05 p.m. This is the third postponement for the Orioles this season. They also were rained out April 19 against the Twins at Camden Yards, swept in a doubleheader the next day, and Tuesday in Chicago, where they split a twinbill the following day. The July 13 game is part of a...

Today's scheduled game between the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a split-admission doubleheader on Saturday, July 13. The first game of the doubleheader on July 13 will begin at 1:05 p.m. ET, and the second game will begin as scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on MASN and on the Orioles Radio Network, including the flagship station 105.7 The Fan. Separate admission is required for each game. Tickets...

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals added yet another significant position player to the injured list today, with Matt Adams now off the active roster due to what for now is being called a left shoulder strain. Michael A. Taylor, meanwhile, remains on the active roster even though he underwent an MRI this morning on his left wrist after jamming it into the turf trying to make a diving catch in center field Saturday night. Not that the Nationals have any more players who could be summoned from the...

he Washington Nationals recalled infielder Jake Noll from Triple-A Fresno and placed first baseman Matt Adams on the 10-day Injured List with a left shoulder strain on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Noll, 25, joins the Nationals after hitting .387 (12-for-31) with three doubles, four RBI, three walks and three runs scored in his last seven games with Triple-A Fresno. He hit safely in all seven games, including four...

Orioles pitcher Alex Cobb is in Baltimore and has been inside the clubhouse the past two days. He played chess after last night's game. As updates go, that's about it. Except that the discomfort may not be restricted to Cobb's back. Cobb remains on the injured list with a lumbar strain, the move retroactive to April 27, and his only baseball activity consists of some light flat-ground throwing to keep his arm in shape. Manager Brandon Hyde said Cobb is having his back and hip...

PHILADELPHIA - It's an absolute mess in South Philly today. In every possible way. The weather is terrible. The traffic is terrible because of the nearby Broad Street Run. There's a Sixers playoff game across the street at 3:30 p.m. And then there's the Nationals roster. For now, the Phillies say they're going to try to get this game in, though it won't start on time at 2:05 p.m. The Nats, meanwhile, haven't put out a lineup yet because they're waiting for MRI results on Matt Adams'...

Today's scheduled Orioles-Tampa Bay Rays game has been rained out. The contest will be made up on July 13 at Oriole Park as part of a split-admission doubleheader with games at 1:05 and 7:05 p.m. Read on for the earlier game blog notes had we had a game today, and feel free to leave any O's questions/comments here through the afternoon. We're back here Monday night when the Orioles host Boston. The Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays wrap up a three-game series that has featured two shutouts the past...

Joey Rickard and Richie Martin return to the Orioles lineup for today's series finale against the Rays. Jonathan Villar is playing second base and Hanser Alberto has moved to third. Rio Ruiz is on the bench. Stevie Wilkerson is 6-for-14 with four RBIs and three runs scored in his last four games, but he isn't in today's lineup. Dwight Smith Jr. is 12-for-29 (.413) in 10 career games against the Rays, who are sending opener Ryne Stanek to the mound if the weather permits. For the Orioles...