SAN FRANCISCO - A long road trip for the Nationals has featured a host of roster transactions, and a bunch more are being added to the list today. The Nationals are calling up infielder Adrian Sanchez and outfielder Rafael Bautista from Triple-A, optioning infielder Matt Reynolds to Syracuse and placing reliever Shawn Kelley on the disabled list with an elbow injury, sources familiar with the moves confirmed. It's merely the latest attempt by the club to address a litany of issues that have...

The Orioles' Manny Machado and the Nationals' Bryce Harper are each crushing baseballs during the first month of the season - big stories for each of the local nines. Here are six other American League and National League East stories that could raise havoc for the Orioles and Nationals this season: Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia: The Phillies are playing better than expected - maybe because of a soft schedule that has them a combined 8-1 against the Marlins, Rays and Reds? - and one of the...

The Orioles are preparing to put infielder Tim Beckham on the 10-day disabled list while another injury strikes the roster. Infielder Engelb Vielma is headed to Baltimore and officially could be recalled before tonight's series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards. The Tides were home last night and Vielma went 2-for-3 with a double. Vielma was optioned on Friday to make room for left-hander Tanner Scott. Because he hasn't been down for the minimum 10 days, he can return only if he's...

SAN FRANCISCO - The focus inside the Nationals clubhouse after Monday night's 4-2 loss to the Giants was on the pitching staff, notably Gio Gonzalez's frustration after getting pulled following a leadoff walk in the sixth and then Shawn Kelley immediately giving up a 464-foot home run and departing three pitches later with a recurrence of nerve irritation in his elbow. A clutch hit or two at some point during the game, though, might well have changed the entire storyline of the game and maybe...

SAN FRANCISCO - The details of the Nationals' 4-2 loss to the Giants tonight contained some familiar events. Squandered opportunities with runners in scoring position. An ill-advised play in the field. Decisive runs scored off the middle of the bullpen. Adding to the dismay of the Nats' third straight loss, though, was the departure of Shawn Kelley with the latest in his long string of elbow injuries and the overt frustration voiced by Gio Gonzalez after getting pulled by manager Davey...

It is beginning to look like Groundhog Day. The Orioles show up at Camden Yards, get a decent starting pitching performance many nights, but can't back it up with enough offense to win. Any offense would be appreciated at this point. The Cleveland Indians have an excellent pitching staff and the Orioles offense can vouch for that after scoring just seven runs on 21 hits the last four days. Thanks to Dylan Bundy they were not swept four straight. Right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed two runs over...

SAN FRANCISCO - A.J. Cole's time with the Nationals is officially over, but he's going to get another chance to pitch in the big leagues. With the Yankees. The Nats announced tonight they traded Cole to the Yankees for cash considerations, receiving something in return for the right-hander who had been designated for assignment on Friday. Cole opened the season as the Nationals' No. 5 starter but was moved to the bullpen after two starts, once veteran Jeremy Hellickson (a late spring...

The Orioles tonight ended a season-opening stretch where they played all five American League playoff teams from last season. To say the least, they didn't handle it well. Tonight's 2-1 loss to Cleveland was the latest flat game for the offense. The Orioles have lost nine of 10 of 11 of 13 to begin the year at 6-17. They scored just seven runs on 21 hits in losing three of four to Cleveland. They have scored three runs or fewer 16 times in 23 games. I asked first baseman Chris Davis if it is...

The mere mention of a utility infielder as part of a winter shopping list can make the eyes of the most engaged fans glaze over or roll into the tops of their heads. The national media isn't chasing those rumors. It's never as important or interesting as starting pitching or a bat. The Orioles had three spots to fill in their rotation and they wanted a left-handed hitting outfielder. Those areas were marked as priorities. But they never downplayed the need for a versatile player who could...

Kevin Gausman pitched a very strong game. But so did Carlos Carrasco as the Orioles bats fell mostly silent again tonight. Cleveland beat the Orioles 2-1 at to take the last three games and three of four in this series. The loss was the Orioles ninth in 10 games and 11th in 13 contests as they fall to 6-17. Cleveland is 12-8 and has won nine of its past 12 games. Gausman began tonight with a 13.50 ERA and batting average against of .429 in the first inning of his starts this year, and then he...