Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper held court this afternoon before the Home Run Derby and talked about how much he loves to play baseball. But after 96 games in the 2018 campaign, as his Nationals reach the All-Star break, it sometimes appears like Harper hasn't been loving every day this season. He's hitting only .214, the lowest of any of the National League All-Stars who are preparing for Tuesday's Midsummer Classic. A .243 mark in 2016 was the lowest batting average he ever had to...

WASHINGTON - When he was an Oriole, Nick Markakis was always very cordial and available to reporters. But he certainly wasn't going to fill up any notebooks with quotes. Amid a horde of reporters today on the eve of his first All-Star Game, he referenced his reputation for being a man of few words. "There is a lot of media time, which I'm really excited about," he said, drawing a lot of laughs. "No, I get it. You guys are here for your job and we're here to take care of that for you...

WASHINGTON - We don't know where Manny Machado will be playing this weekend. But we do know he'll be in an Orioles uniform on Tuesday night when the American League battles the National League in the All-Star Game at Nationals Park. Machado will hit seventh and play shortstop, having been elected by the fans. Machado is hitting .315/.387/.575 with 24 home runs, 64 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 96 games. He's the Orioles' lone representative in the Midsummer Classic Chris Sale of the Red...

For the first All-Star Game in Washington in nearly a half-century, who better to start the game for the National League than a guy who is establishing himself as one of the best pitchers of the last half-century - oh, and who, by the way, also happens to be doing all this for the hometown club? Max Scherzer indeed will start Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Nationals Park, a fairly no-brainer decision for NL manager Dave Roberts, who may have had other worthy candidates for the assignment but...

Some random observations about the All-Star Game festivities at Nationals Park from a writer covering his first Midsummer Classic ... * Though I really hate it when I see a team's jersey that's not one of the teams playing in a game - say, an interloper in Yankees pinstripes at a Reds-Nationals game - it's been fun to see jerseys from all 30 major league teams already at Nationals Park. I've even seen a few retro throwbacks - think Senators, Browns, Expos, Pilots - for teams who have long...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg completed 5 2/3 innings in his second rehab start for high Single-A Potomac on Sunday. He scattered five hits, allowing three runs, none of which were earned. He struck out seven and walked none. Strasburg (0-1) threw 82 pitches, 55 for strikes. The P-Nats lost the game, 5-4, to Frederick. He had thrown 57 pitches over 3 1/3 innings July 10. So if he recovers well this week he is on target to return to the Nationals rotation to begin the second half, which is July...

While the trade rumors and speculation swirls around him and his days in an Orioles uniform are likely numbered, we should take a second to appreciate how good a first-half shortstop Manny Machado has had. He's among the American League leaders in several categories and his 2018 first-half far surpasses his 2017 first-half which featured struggles and numbers unlike Machado. But he had a big first-half with the bat and that is going to provide the Orioles a chance to get a bigger haul for him...

The All-Star break officially begins today. Players can relax at home or, for a few, in Toronto before opening the second half at Rogers Centre. Eliminates the travel day. It's a veteran move. Manny Machado is on a different schedule, of course. He's the one with the obligations, including today's media session at Nationals Park, where at least he's assured of finding a parking spot. It's going to be a circus-like atmosphere at Machado's table. My sole responsibility is counting how many...

WASHINGTON - The two Orioles players in the All-Star Futures Game didn't have much of an impact on the final score today at Nationals Park. But after the U.S. Team beat the World Team 10-6, both Double-A Bowie third baseman Ryan Mountcastle and Single-A Frederick lefty pitcher Alex Wells were raving about their experience playing on such a big stage. Mountcastle entered the game in the fifth as a pinch-hitter for the designated hitter and went 0-for-2. Wells faced two batters from the U.S....

The mock crying from one of Manny Machado's teammates on the other side of the clubhouse following today's game was meant to lighten the mood, though the shortstop already was smiling and ready to represent the Orioles in Tuesday's All-Star Game. That part was real. Did Machado play his final game as an Oriole at Camden Yards? Let everyone else speculate and stress over it. At no point in the day did Machado, who homered in the first inning and later walked, step back and allow himself to...