We might be becoming numb to it at this point, but it's good to be reminded every once in a while: Max Scherzer is great. And he's showing no signs of letting up. The 2016 and 2017 National League Cy Young Award winner is already starting to make his case for consideration this season, with a dominant April that today earned him NL Pitcher of the Month honors. Scherzer, who carried a shutout into the seventh inning last night before surrendering a two-run homer during what ended up being a...

After watching the team explode for 12 runs with Bryce Harper in the leadoff spot last night, Davey Martinez said he would probably "let it ride" for at least another day. Well, the Nationals manager is a man of his word, because tonight's lineup looks very similar. Harper indeed is back in the leadoff spot, with Trea Turner and Matt Adams behind him. Ryan Zimmerman is getting the night off, so Howie Kendrick bumps up to the cleanup position, with Andrew Stevenson in left field while Adams...

Following a month in which he went 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA (7 ER/39.0 IP) and 57 strikeouts against just nine walks, Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named the National League Pitcher of the Month on Wednesday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Scherzer, 33, led the National League in strikeouts (57) and wins (5). He also ranked in the top five in the National League in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (2nd, 13.15), ERA (4th, 1.62), WHIP (4th, .082), opp. AVG (T4th,...

The Orioles announced after last night's game that rookie catcher Chance Sisco was day-to-day following a collision with Pedro Álvarez's forearm, the equivalent of running face-first into an oak tree. Sisco sustained a "facial contusion," according to the club, but wasn't showing symptoms of a concussion. He just looked that way while lying flat on his back after a failed pursuit of a pop up in foul territory. It doesn't appear that the Orioles are going to summon another catcher to...

You know the Nationals are trending towards their 2017 version when a quality start by their top starting pitcher doesn't make headlines thanks to their powerful offense awakening for the first time in six days. The Nats pummeled the Pirates 12-4 behind four homers, two from Matt Adams, one from Wilmer Difo and powerful three-run shot from Bryce Harper. By the way, Max Scherzer pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He registered eight strikeouts and two walks in 106...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - On a chilly night in southern California, the Orioles saw both their losses and frustrations continue to mount. It was another night with not much offense. It was another night where reliever Brad Brach struggled. Those two points headlined their walk-off 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels that was the opener of a six-game road trip. But let's at least start on a positive note. Right-hander Alex Cobb began the night with an ERA of 13.11 and a .484 batting average against....

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb pitched much better. He seemed headed for a tough-luck loss until the Orioles offense finally came to life in the ninth. But the runs in the ninth only gave the Angels a chance for a walk-off win, which they produced in the last of the ninth. With one out, Brad Brach came on and allowed two straight singles and a walk to Mike Trout. That brought up Justin Upton, who lined an 0-2 single to left to end it as the Los Angeles Angels won 3-2. The...

Sammy Solís and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay? Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon...

Davey Martinez had Wilmer Difo bat ninth Tuesday night with a specific goal in mind, especially with Bryce Harper batting leadoff for the first time in five years. "Hey, you got one job to do," the Nationals manager told his young infielder. "And that's get on base." Well, technically speaking, Difo did get on base in his first at-bat. He just never stopped rounding them after launching a solo homer into the right-center field stands. "He hit the home run, he said: 'I got this guy!'"...

Bryce Harper was out on the field at 3 p.m. today, joining injured teammates Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy for a round of early batting practice. It's the kind of a thing a player does when he's struggling, when he needs to work on some specific techniques or change his mechanics. For Harper, the early BP session had a simpler purpose. "Just hit some homers," he said. "Get some balls over the plate and do some damage." When opposing pitchers are giving you nothing to swing at all...