Now that Max Scherzer finally got his first win in over a month, it's time to get Tanner Roark right. The right-hander is just 3-10, and has not enjoyed a marker in that left column since June 6. He has absorbed four straight losses. So perhaps symbolic of a new beginning, Roark has not only shaved off his beard, moustache and sideburns, but also completely shaved his head following a nine-run outing in an 11-4 loss to the Red Sox on July 3. The Marlins counter with right-hander Trevor...

Right-hander Max Scherzer was the first to admit a couple of his pitches did not do what he had hoped they would in Saturday's 18-4 series-clinching win over the Marlins. He allowed three home runs in a start for the first time this season. The Marlins' Starlin Castro and J.T. Realmuto slammed back-to-back solo shots off Scherzer in the fourth inning. In the fifth, JT Riddle laced a triple. Miguel Rojas followed with a slicing blooper into right field to score Riddle. Yadiel Rivera also hit a...

When his club was losing 18 of 24 games, you could understand how it would be easy for Nationals manager Davey Martinez to toss and turn at night. But imagine not being able to sleep because you have too many good players? Mark Reynolds is one of those very good players. The veteran first baseman went 5-for-5 with two singles, a double and two homers, rolling up a career-high and club record-tying 10 RBIs as the Nats crushed the Marlins 18-4 on Saturday night. In his last six at-bats in this...

MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has wanted to go with an eight-man bullpen and join a growing trend in baseball. It isn't always feasible, whether due to injuries or other roster complications, but they will continue to carry an extra reliever today while closing out their road trip. They've gone with three left-handers on occasion, and with Richard Bleier out for the season following lat surgery, Paul Fry has a chance to stick around for a while. He could have a direct impact on...

So we've reached July 8 with the non-waiver trade deadline coming at the end of this month. Shortstop Manny Machado is still an Oriole, but it will be a big surprise if that holds true as the calendar turns to August. My colleague, Roch Kubatko, wrote an entry last night, citing a source that sized up for him the interest in Machado. He wrote: "The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Phillies, Braves and Cubs are, in that order, the most aggressive teams in talks, according to the source. And...

The Orioles have never been swept in a four-game series at Minnesota and need a win today to keep it that way. A loss would make this the 10th time this year where the Orioles were swept in a series of three or more games. They've been swept at Houston, at Boston, at Detroit, at Anaheim, at Oakland, versus Washington, at Toronto (four games), versus Boston and at home against Seattle (four games). A loss today would extend the Orioles' current losing streak to six and would complete a winless...

The Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals welcomed outfielder Victor Robles and reliever Koda Glover today. Glover started in their 5-2 loss to the GCL Astros, logging one inning, allowing no hits and no runs, with one walk and two strikeouts. He faced four batters. Robles played center field and went 0-for-2 with one strikeout. The appearances marked the first game for Glover since last June 10. Robles has not played since early April with Triple-A Syracuse. Both players are on the 60-day...

MINNESOTA - The losses don't need to keep piling up for the Orioles to remain engaged in trade discussions involving their highest-profile free agents. They're motivated to strike a deal involving shortstop Manny Machado, and the Dodgers are viewed as the most serious suitor, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Phillies, Braves and Cubs are, in that order, the most aggressive teams in talks, according to the source. And there isn't...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said right-hander Stephen Strasburg's minor league rehab start will be Tuesday night for high Single-A Potomac. With Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse off, that start will be in Lynchburg, Va., as the P-Nats go on the road at Calvin Falwell Field. "Yeah, as of right now, he says he feels pretty good, so he is scheduled for Tuesday to go out on a rehab assignment and then we'll see what happens after that," Martinez said. "So that's encouraging....

MINNESOTA - The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning today and shut down. Kevin Gausman cruised through the fourth and spun out of control. A season that can't get any worse keeps finding ways. Light-hitting Bobby Wilson's two-out, bases-loaded double in the sixth off Miguel Castro broke a 3-3 tie and the Twins rallied past the Orioles on their way to a 5-4 win at Target Field. Castro replaced Gausman, who was done after throwing 41 pitches in the fifth to run his count to 90. The...