Nobody in the National League owns a better on-base percentage right now than Bryce Harper, whose .553 mark has put him in position to score a ton of runs through the season's first 11 games. Nobody in the NL owns a worse OPS right now, though, than Ryan Zimmerman, whose .370 mark has contributed mightily to a bunch of wasted scoring opportunities for the Nationals ... not to mention even more reason for opposing teams to pitch around the guy hitting in front of him: Harper. So with that in...

The Orioles extended their streak of transactions to four consecutive days by designating Rule 5 left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. for assignment this afternoon and recalling pitcher Yefry Ramirez from Triple-A Norfolk. Cortes was called into manager Buck Showalter's office shortly before batting practice. Pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis was recalled on Saturday while the Orioles placed outfielder Colby Rasmus on the 10-day disabled list. They optioned Yacabonis the following day and recalled left-hander...

The Nationals announced about 75 minutes before first pitch that left fielder Adam Eaton has been scratched due to a left ankle bone bruise. Brian Goodwin has been placed in the lineup as the leadoff man and will play left field. Catcher Jhonatan Solano was placed on the 10-day disabled list with bone chips in his right elbow. The move was retroactive to April 7. Catcher Miguel Montero was reinstated from paternity leave. Manager Davey Martinez had limited details as to how Solano got hurt. "I...

He has only pitched in five major league games so far, but 24-year-old Dominican-born Pedro Araujo is impressing Orioles fans and is also gaining fans inside the clubhouse as well. Araujo was charged with four runs in 2/3 of an inning in a game at Houston. Then the right-hander bounced back to pitch 4 1/3 scoreless when he pitched in both extra innings games over the weekend in New York. Friday night he got his first major league win. Sunday he fanned five batters over 2 1/3 innings, his most...

The Orioles are down to one Rule 5 pick and one left-hander in their bullpen. Nestor Cortes Jr. was designated for assignment this afternoon following another rough outing last night, and the Orioles recalled right-hander Yefry Ramirez from Triple-A Norfolk. Ramirez will be in the bullpen tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Cortes, chosen from the Yankees organization on the final day of the Winter Meetings, surrendered his second grand slam last...

It's a beautiful spring afternoon here in the nation's capital, the kind of day you'd much rather be sitting inside a ballpark watching a game than, oh I don't know, sitting in the Senate Judiciary hearing room, to name just one alternative. ... The real news in town is taking place 1 1/2 miles down South Capitol Street, where the Nationals are looking to make it two in a row against the Braves. And they'll do so with a new lineup wrinkle. Seeking to create some more protection for Bryce...

Pedro Álvarez is batting fifth tonight as the designated hitter and Chris Davis moves down to sixth against Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez. Trey Mancini stays in the leadoff spot and Anthony Santander continues to start in right field. Chance Sisco is behind the plate. For the Orioles Trey Mancini LF Manny Machado SS Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Pedro Álvarez DH Chris Davis 1B Tim Beckham 3B Anthony Santander RF Chance Sisco C Andrew Cashner RHP

Nationals starter Max Scherzer came up big for his team in so many ways Monday night in the 2-0 shutout of the Braves. The complete game ended their five-game losing streak, helped Scherzer regain his confidence and, maybe most importantly, rested a heavily used bullpen. No fewer than six relievers toiled Sunday night in the extra-inning loss to the Mets, and without another off day before April 19, having a full day of rest is a big thing this early in the season. It was one of those things...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter sometimes says "There was a game to be won there" after an Oriole loss, and that statement was certainly true last night. Yes the game got away in the top of the ninth, but if the Orioles offense had gotten something going before that, we would not have seen Nestor Cortes Jr. try to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Some could second-guess the skipper for even bringing him into a situation down 2-1 in the ninth, but I get back to the offense. The...

Howie Kendrick delivered the only run-scoring hit of Monday night's game at Nationals Park. But he may not be available to his club tonight after his right leg tightened up on him late, forcing manager Davey Martinez to pull him after seven innings. "His right leg tightened up on him," Martinez said following the Nats' 2-0 win over the Braves. "That's all he told me. He didn't give specifics. Precautionary." Kendrick dealt with some leg issues late last season but seemingly had been...