The second American League All-Star voting update was released Tuesday afternoon, and shortstop Manny Machado remains at the top of the ballot for his position. In last week's first ballot update, Machado held a strong lead over the Indians' Francisco Lindor by more than 110,000 votes. This week, the Orioles' three-time All-Star has almost doubled his lead with 671,133 votes to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa's 458,367. Machado is enjoying a fantastic first half, slashing .310/.377/.567 and...

The pair of rainouts from mid-May against the Yankees set up an unusual day of baseball and challenged normal routines, especially for the Nats' closer, Sean Doolittle. The Nationals won the suspended game, 5-3. The Yankees took the second game of the night, 4-2. In the first game, the Nats and Yankees resumed play in the bottom of the sixth. The Nats benefitted from a two-run shot from rookie Juan Soto to break the 3-3 tie. The home run hit the last row of the second deck in right field, one...

Monday was an eventful day on South Capitol Street. The Nationals split a pseudo-doubleheader with the Yankees. Juan Soto hit a home run five days before making his major league debut. Kelvin Herrera was acquired from the Royals for three minor leaguers. Today might not quite rival that, but it figures to be a newsworthy day at the ballpark nonetheless, with multiple roster moves on tap before the Nationals and Orioles open the second half of this year's Battle of the Beltways. It begins with...

Minor league players improve at different stages of their careers, and to different degrees. But with his massive improvement from the 2017 season to this year, Single-A Frederick center fielder Ryan McKenna has gotten everyone's attention. With a batting average that has gained more than 100 points and an OPS that has grown by more than 300 points, McKenna has been not just the best player on his team or one of the best in the Carolina League, but one of the best in all of minor league...

Kelvin Herrera has been among the best closers in the American League this season, one of the best relievers, period, in the majors for several seasons. Sean Doolittle has been among the best closers in the National League this season, one of the best relievers, period, in the majors for several seasons. They're now teammates, along with Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler, each a proven quality late-inning reliever with closing experience. How, then, will this all shake out? And is there any...

The Yankees used a two-run shot by Aaron Hicks and a key RBI double from Giancarlo Stanton to down the Nationals 4-2 on Monday night in the makeup of a rained-out game from May 16. The Nats won the suspended game 5-3 on a mammoth two-run shot by Juan Soto that almost went over the upper deck in right field. Right-hander Erick Fedde surrendered three runs over 5 1/3 innings in the loss, walking two and striking out four, dropping to 0-2. Fedde has given up the lead in two matchups against the...

The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Kelvin Herrera from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, Minor League outfielder Blake Perkins and Minor League right-handed pitcher Yohanse Morel on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Herrera, 28, has pitched to a 1.05 ERA (3 ER/25.2 IP) while converting 14 saves in 27 games for the Kansas City Royals in 2018. He has struck out 22 batters...

Seeking to bolster their bullpen with another proven late-inning reliever, the Nationals have finalized a deal for Royals closer Kevin Herrera, the club announced this evening. The Nationals will be sending three minor leaguers to Kansas City for Herrera, the 28-year-old right-hander with 57 career saves and a 1.05 ERA in 27 appearances this season. Included in the package are third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez (rated the organization's 10th-best prospect), outfielder Blake Perkins (rated 11th)...

The Yankees got off to a fast start against Nationals starter Erick Fedde in the makeup of the May 15 game postponed by rain. Aaron Hicks doubled in the first and scored on a Giancarlo Stanton single. Fedde then retired six batters in a row. In the second, the Nats put together back-to-back singles by Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto. A Mark Reynolds grounder to second base scored Rendon. Adam Eaton added a single in the third. After three innings, Fedde has allowed only two hits, both in the first...

Orioles reliever Richard Bleier will undergo surgery later today to repair a Grade 3 tear in his left lat muscle. Dr. Anthony Romeo will handle the procedure in New Jersey. Bleier will miss the remainder of the season and might not be ready for spring training. Any sort of estimate depends on what Romeo finds during the surgery. There are three grades of strains, and Bleier sustained the most severe simply by throwing a pitch last week. "Grade 1 is a minor strain, one to two weeks healing with...