Some news and notes to tide you over before the Nationals return to the field this afternoon against the Phillies, seeking to extend their winning streak to seven games ... * Though nothing was formally announced Friday night, Anthony Rendon is all but certain to be activated off the disabled list today. The Nationals third baseman completed his second rehab game with Single-A Potomac, going 3-for-4 with a double and playing in the field for the first time since fouling a ball off his left big...

For six years, the Phillies - once the titans of the National League East - have been forced to watch the Nationals seize control of this division and undergo their own long and painful rebuild. That dynamic could change at some point, though, and the folks from Southeast Pennsylvania are hoping this is the year it happens, with a young and talented roster beginning to take shape and getting off to a strong start. There are still nearly five months for this all to play out, but in their first...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to withhold his plans for the rotation and where Chris Tillman fits into it. The off-day on Monday allows the Orioles to skip Tillman, who retired only three batters last night in Anaheim while raising his ERA to 9.24 in 25 1/3 innings. However, there's also the desire to provide rest for other starters by pushing everyone back and staying in turn. Dylan Bundy won't start again until Tuesday night's series opener against the Royals...

Bryce Harper is never going to want to give up the leadoff spot in the Nationals' lineup. And Matt Adams is never going to want to give up the No. 3 spot. The two left-handed sluggers are doing it again tonight, combining for three home runs through the first two innings of what is already shaping up to be another Nats rout. Harper led off the bottom of the first with an opposite-field homer, part of a three-run splurge by the Nationals against Phillies starter Nick Pivetta. Then he took...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Adam Jones moves up to second in the Orioles' lineup tonight, vacating the cleanup spot that Chris Davis will occupy for the series opener against the Athletics. Mark Trumbo is in right field, Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter and Danny Valencia is playing third base. Zach Britton threw another bullpen session today. Valencia stood at the plate holding a bat, but no swings. Jonathan Schoop is batting second tonight at Double-A Bowie as he starts his rehab assignment....

Anthony Rendon is playing third base for the Potomac Nationals tonight. If all goes well, he'll be playing third base for the Washington Nationals tomorrow. After taking five plate appearances as the designated hitter Thursday night in Woodbridge, Rendon is again in the P-Nats' lineup tonight, batting third and this time playing third base. Manager Davey Martinez said he will get three or four at-bats, and assuming there are no problems with his bruised left big toe, Rendon will "probably"...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Adam Jones has reached another milestone with the Orioles. Assuming that he's in tonight's lineup for the start of a three-game series, Jones will play in his 1,500th game since coming to the Orioles in a February 2008 trade with the Mariners. Jones will be the eighth player in club history to reach the mark, joining Cal Ripken, Jr. (3,001 games), Brooks Robinson (2,896), Mark Belanger (1,962), Eddie Murray (1,884), Boog Powell (1,763), Brady Anderson (1,759) and Paul Blair...

The Nationals already have had a chance to take on two of their potential challengers in the National League East division this season in the Mets and Braves. Tonight they'll get their first look at the Phillies, who after a long and at times painful rebuild appear to have turned the corner and look ready to contend. Gabe Kapler's first week on the job was a disaster, but since a 1-4 debut his team has gone 16-9 (though they do come to D.C. having lost 6-of-9). This team has some intriguing...

The Orioles today announced a new partnership with CityWide Youth Development that will bring 7th Inning Sorbet to Oriole Park at Camden Yards beginning on May 8. As part of the partnership, CityWide Youth Development will provide 15 employment opportunities at the ballpark for local youth, while 50 percent of proceeds from each sale will help renovate the organization's Economic Development Center. 7th Inning Sorbet, a product of Baltimore's own Frozen Desert Sorbet, will be available at...

On Thursday evening, I drove to Woodbridge, Va., to see the Single-A Potomac Nationals, primarily to watch Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon's first game on his minor league rehab assignment for the purposes of this guest blog. Rendon injured his big toe by fouling a ball off his foot and has not played since April 13, leaving a mammoth hole in Washington's lineup in recent weeks. Rendon batted third and served as the designated hitter for the P-Nats, unfortunately keeping me from seeing...