Daniel Murphy today confirmed what was pretty obvious to anyone who watched him work out at Nationals Park yesterday afternoon: His surgically repaired right knee is still in pain when he tries to run, which has left his potential return from the disabled list up in the air. "I'm not in a position where I can run right now to play," the veteran second baseman said in his first session with reporters since he returned from extended spring training earlier this week. Murphy, who had...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles have lost seven consecutive road games and will try to break that streak tonight in the second game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles were held to one hit and no runs last night through eight innings. Then they tied the game 2-2, scoring twice in the top of the ninth. But they lost 3-2 in walk-off fashion in the last of the ninth on Justin Upton's bases-loaded single off right-hander Brad Brach. The Orioles have won two in a row...

It looks like third baseman Anthony Rendon is very close to returning to the active roster. Rendon has gone through full batting practice each of the last two pregames for the Nationals. He has been on the 10-day disabled list with a left toe contusion since April 19. Rendon will start a rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac as they take on Wilmington Thursday and Salem Friday in Woodbridge, Va. "He's going out tomorrow," said manager Davey Martinez. "He'll play one or two games. He...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - In the Orioles' latest loss - one where the offense came up short again and the defense made a key miscue - starting pitcher Alex Cobb was a bright spot. Signed by the club to a four-year deal worth $57 million on March 21, Cobb had begun his O's career going 0-3 with an ERA of 13.11 and with batters hitting .484 off him. This was very unlike the pitcher who was so solid over many years for Tampa Bay. His late signing, which led to an expedited spring training, hindered his...

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....