Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer gets the nod for game two tonight against the Atlanta Braves as he puts his 15-5 and 2.33 ERA on the line in a crucial divisional matchup. He also puts his .292 batting average and .333 on-base percentage on the line as well. His .283 average as a pitcher is second only to Colorado's German Marquez (.350) in the National League. His 14 overall base hits are second most in his career. He had 15 base hits in 2015 and that was 69 at-bats. Nationals manager...

Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season) Record: 60-48 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.316 average with 18 HR, 69 RBIs), RF Nick Markakis (.319 average with 68 RBIs, 135 hits), CF Ender Inciarte (.253 average with 105 hits, 23 stolen bases), 2B Ozzie Albies (.276 average with 20 HR, 123 hits), LHP Sean Newcomb (10-5, 3.23 ERA), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (8-7, 3.04 ERA), CL A.J. Minter (2.98 ERA, 8 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 7-5 Pitching probables: Aug. 7: LHP Max Fried...

They're all big games and big series for the Nationals at this point, with fewer than one-third of the season remaining on the schedule. But four games in three days against the Braves? Yeah, this is an especially big series. The Nationals get 16 more cracks in total against the two teams that have resided above them in the National League East for much of the summer: seven with Atlanta, nine with Philadelphia. If they're going to make up this deficit and return to the postseason for the...

Orioles outfield prospect Austin Hays will rejoin the Double-A Bowie Baysox tonight. He'll be on the field when the Baysox begin a series with New Hampshire at 7:05 p.m. at Prince George's Stadium. The Baysox could feature an outfield with Hays, Yusniel Díaz and Ryan McKenna. Hays has been out of the Bowie lineup since May 24 due to an ankle bone bruise and tendinitis, and was in a walking boot for weeks. He played nine injury rehab games for short season Single-A Aberdeen, batting .189...

No one can judge a trade after only four games and no one is ready to anoint Jonathan Villar as an ideal successor to second baseman Jonathan Schoop. The Orioles don't know whether he's starting at the position for the remainder of the season and into 2019 and whether he's the top choice to bat leadoff based on his ability to swipe bags. But the early returns on Villar are favorable and the sample size is irrelevant. These are early returns. They don't need to stretch over two months to fit...

The Orioles have gutted their bullpen over the past few weeks with trades of three prominent relievers. Closer Zach Britton went to the New York Yankees while setup men Darren O'Day and Brad Brach were traded to the Atlanta Braves in separate deals. Those three players led the Orioles in appearances in 2015, and were an integral part of the relief staff during this most recent stretch of positive baseball from the club. It's a bullpen that was able to withstand the departures of players...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez believes he has a pitching staff that can also hit, can put the bat on the ball, move runners and have a positive effect on game for the offense. Martinez said the pitcher's spot can change a game and allow him to flip his lineup over instead of it being the end of an inning. "Well, it's been huge. Tanner (Roark two starts ago) driving in some big runs for us. It gives you options when you know the pitcher can swing the bat. He can't hit, so we got to bunt....

ARLINGTON, Texas - On a day when their pitching staff gave up six runs, pitchers still came up very big on Sunday for the Orioles. The bullpen was critical in the 9-6 win that avoided a four-game sweep at Texas. We are still waiting to find out which pitchers will work in which specific roles in a 'pen that is now without traded veterans Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Darren O'Day and minus injured Richard Bleier. One young pitcher that is likely going to get some significant chances to show...

Even though Sean Doolittle has been sidelined for four weeks now with a toe injury, the Nationals on Sunday called upon Kelvin Herrera in a save situation for only the third time. The vast majority of their wins over the last month have come with sizeable leads, leaving their fill-in closer rarely taking the ball in the ninth inning with a slim lead. Sunday, though, presented a new opportunity for Herrera. And the result was especially encouraging for the right-hander and the...

A few random questions as the Orioles reach another off-day on their schedule: What will the Orioles do in free agency this winter while committing to a rebuild? They could stay away from it and focus on trading a few more veterans in exchange for younger players or more international signing bonus slots. Perhaps check whether there's a market for Mark Trumbo as he enters the final year of his deal and is owed $13.5 million in 2019, according to Cot's Contracts. Trumbo receives $1.5 million...