PHILADELPHIA - Tanner Roark has a new look adorning his face, but his performance on the mound so far tonight unfortunately has looked too familiar to the Nationals. Roark, who shaved off his large beard but retained a thick mustache and sharp-angled sideburns for tonight's start against the Phillies, has been laboring on the mound from the get-go and appears headed for another quick exit. On the heels of back-to-back troublesome outings in Toronto and Washington, Roark has needed 71 pitches...

PHILADELPHIA - Stephen Strasburg continues progress in his return from a shoulder injury and appears to be a few days away from throwing off a mound for the first time since landing on the disabled list. Strasburg, three weeks removed from his last outing for the Nationals, threw pitches off flat ground in the outfield at Citizens Bank Park this afternoon, ramping up from the simple game of catch he played last weekend. Next up for Strasburg would be a bullpen session, which Davey Martinez...

The Orioles got solid pitching and held the Seattle Mariners in check through nine innings today. But two errors opened the door in the 10th and the Mariners won this afternoon to stay unbeaten in extra innings games. Seattle beat the Orioles 4-2 to complete their third four-game sweep of the Orioles and first in Baltimore. The Mariners had lost six of seven before this series began, but leave with a record of 51-31 overall and 8-0 in extra-inning games. The Orioles (23-57) have lost five in a...

A former reliever making the switch to starter and trying it at the major league level is going to arrive wrapped in uncertainty. Multiple layers of it. The Orioles figured that Jimmy Yacabonis' ceiling today against the Mariners would be the fifth inning. They were prepared to begin passing the baton in the sixth with the few fresh arms at their disposal. Yacabonis faced two batters in the fifth without recording an out, back-to-back singles ending his day at 67 pitches. Three innings were...

PHILADELPHIA - A big series? During the final weekend of June? For the Nationals, well, yeah I think it's safe to say this qualifies. Having lost nine of their last 12 games, including back-to-back shutouts at Tampa Bay earlier this week, the Nats come to Citizens Bank Park desperate to get back on track. To do that, they'll have to play well in a four-game series against a Phillies club that took two of three from them last weekend in D.C. (the lone win coming via a dramatic, eighth-inning...

As the Orioles try to avoid being swept in four straight today, they send right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis to the mound. He'll be making his first big league start as the Orioles conclude their series with the Seattle Mariners. The Orioles (23-56) have lost to Seattle by scores of 5-3, 3-2 and 8-7 in 11 innings last night. They've lost four in a row, 15 of 19 and 24 of their last 32 games. They are 0-12 versus American League West teams and 1-14 in their last 15 home games. Seattle (50-31) had...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to give third baseman Tim Beckham a rest day after playing him on three consecutive nights. Just being careful with a player who underwent core muscle surgery. "He feels good, there's no problem," Showalter said. "Just want to keep him that way and not push this too quickly. He'll be back in there tomorrow. "I was talking to him today about how he felt. He's been tested a lot. He said he feels great. Wasn't happy about not playing today." Showalter...

Adam Jones is getting a rest day as the Orioles close their four-game series against the Mariners and try to avoid a sweep. Colby Rasmus is in center field and batting second. Chance Sisco is behind the plate and Steve Wilkerson is starting at third base. Danny Valencia is in right field. He's batting .351 (27-for-77) in 23 home games. David Hess isn't listed as Friday night's starter against the Angels - the spot is TBD - but he'll take the mound if not needed today in relief. Andrew...

The Orioles are recalling catcher Chance Sisco from Triple-A Norfolk after a brief demotion. He's replacing another rookie, Austin Wynns, who was optioned after last night's game. Yefry Ramirez also is in the clubhouse and will be added to the bullpen. The moves haven't been announced. Sisco, 23, is batting .218/.340/.328 in 47 games. He threw out nine of the first 18 runners trying to steal against him, but has been successful on only one of his last 18 attempts. Sent down to Norfolk on...

Right-hander Justin Miller knew it wouldn't be smooth sailing all season. And the last two weeks have certainly been a rougher road for the reliever after his strong beginning for the Nats. Miller did not allow a run in his first eight appearances from May 26 to June 13. In that run, he struck out 17 batters and allowed only two hits. Since then, he has allowed at least one run in five straight appearances, allowing 11 hits and striking out eight batters. He has walked five batters in his last...