If the Nationals intend to scrap their way back from a ragged start to their season, they're going to have to do so playing smart, fundamentally sound baseball. They certainly didn't do that today during a 6-5 loss to the Rockies that easily could have tilted in their direction had they simply not made a handful of drastic mistakes at critical moments. And because of all that, they now head to New York for the start of a three-city road trip trailing the Mets (who beat the Brewers in walk-off...

BOSTON - The weather couldn't keep the Orioles from playing today. It couldn't disturb Dylan Bundy, who operated as if conditions were normal. Fastball, slider and maybe a few shivers, but nothing he couldn't handle. Out of his control were a couple of plays behind him in the sixth inning that allowed batters to reach. Mistakes that the Red Sox parlayed into another lead and a win. Two unearned runs off Bundy and a muted offense were the difference in the Orioles' 3-1 loss to the Red Sox at...

The Nationals have not yet named a starter for Monday night's series opener against the Mets. That in itself offers a hint that the club is preparing to add veteran Jeremy Hellickson to its big league roster and send him to the mound at Citi Field. A.J. Cole is on turn to make the start, but the right-hander (who was roughed up in his season debut before improving in his second outing) has been spotted in the Nationals bullpen several times this weekend. Hellickson, meanwhile, was initially...

BOSTON - Jonathan Schoop expressed some hope today about his ability to come off the disabled list after the minimum 10 days. Oblique strains traditionally require a longer recovery period, but no one is stamping out his optimism given the disappointment he felt upon suffering the injury. "I hope 10 days," he said. "I hope in the next couple of days I'll feel better so I can start swinging and start to work on it to get better and get stronger." Manager Buck Showalter knows the odds...

The Orioles have been outscored 17-6 in the first two games of their series at Fenway Park in Boston. Today in frigid conditions, they'll send right-hander Dylan Bundy (0-1, 1.35 ERA) to the mound in search of victory. At 5-10, the Orioles are off to their worst 15-game start since the 2010 team began the season 2-13. The Orioles have lost five in a row to Boston, dating to last season. The Red Sox are 12-2, the best record they've ever had at this point in the year in their 118-year history....

As the Nationals head out on a long road trip, Daniel Murphy is heading down to Florida to start playing in extended spring training games. Murphy, now in the final stages of rehab from October microfracture knee surgery, is scheduled to fly to West Palm Beach on Monday and begin getting at-bats with others from the organization who remain at the club's complex for extended spring training. The veteran second baseman has been with the big league club throughout the season's first 2 1/2 weeks,...

BOSTON - The Orioles have recalled pitcher David Hess from Triple-A Norfolk today and optioned left-hander Donnie Hart to the Tides in the latest adjustment to the bullpen. Hart was used in the last two games, allowing an unearned run in 2 2/3 innings, and wouldn't be available for the rest of the series. And the need for a second southpaw isn't as pronounced for the three-game set against the Tigers that begins on Tuesday at Comerica Park. Hess, 24, was scratched from yesterday's start in...

BOSTON - Craig Gentry is in center field today, Adam Jones is the designated hitter and the temperature for today's game is plummeting. A clubhouse guard said it's snowing six miles outside the city and headed this way. Tim Beckham remains at second base with Jonathan Schoop on the disabled list. Schoop said this morning that he's optimistic about returning after 10 days. For the Orioles Trey Mancini LF Craig Gentry CF Manny Machado SS Adam Jones DH Danny Valencia 3B Chris Davis 1B Tim...

The weather was absolutely delightful yesterday when the Nationals beat the Rockies 6-2. The weather is most definitely not delightful today as the two clubs wrap up their four-game series. It's overcast, the temperature has been dropping all morning and will continue to drop through the afternoon, and there's rain in the forecast. It's just a question of when the rain arrives. For now, it doesn't appear to be a threat to the start of the game, only later in the game (if at all). But even...

One element of the minor league system that has been an advantage for the Nationals is the close proximity of each affiliate to each other and to Washington, D.C., and most importantly, Nationals Park. Countless times, the Nats have utilized their high Single-A location in Woodbridge, Va., the Potomac Nationals, to rehab their major league players. Even low single-A Hagerstown is just over an hour away from D.C., and if the Suns are home instead of the P-Nats, players can get access to live...