PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have officially reinstated right fielder Bryce Harper from the disabled list. He is expected to start tonight as the Nats and Phillies meet again in Philadelphia. Harper had missed 42 games after injuring his knee and calf running to first base on Aug. 12. He has worked extensively since to get back healthy. Recently, he has participated in simulated games and batting practice several times a week. The Nats begin the postseason Oct. 6 in the National League Division...

It's fun to be a Nationals fan right now. The team is winning on its final road trip of a record-setting offensive season. It has locked up home-field advantage in the National League Division Series and Bryce Harper is most likely headed back into action for the final week of the regular season. That's all great news for fans that feel like their luck runs out in late September and early October, even in the best of years. In the final weeks of the 2016 season, pitcher Stephen Strasburg and...

In my consumption of Orioles news and commentary over the last week, I heard something that caught me off-guard. The Orioles Hall of Fame conversation came up and it surrounded shortstop J.J. Hardy. My immediate reaction was puzzled. Why would Hardy be a shoe-in for the team's Hall of Fame? He's never even been the best player on his own team, let alone a standout during his tenure in Baltimore. After a moment of thinking about it, I realized that none of that mattered. That's not what the...

It is not often when a player gets a standing ovation that players in the dugouts join in. But that happened for Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy yesterday when he came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. It was a pretty special moment at Camden Yards. "I did notice that," Hardy said. "It was special. Those are guys that I played against for the last seven years. I have all the respect for all of them, and it was pretty cool to see them also clapping." The Orioles fans were very aware...

NEW YORK - When he slipped on first base, felt his left knee buckle and tumbled awkwardly to the ground in the bottom of the first inning Aug. 12 at Nationals Park, Bryce Harper didn't know if he'd play again this season. By the next morning, once an MRI confirmed he had not suffered any ligament damage, only a significant bone bruise and calf strain, Harper's outlook was a whole lot rosier. Even so, Harper and the Nationals knew they had a tight window to get healed, get back in baseball...

A season that's never allowed the Orioles to straighten out their problems offers another weird twist this week. They get two off-days before heading home for the winter. The Orioles are idle today, play two games in Pittsburgh and are idle again before a weekend series at Tropicana Field. Tim Beckham will receive treatment today on his injured hamstring and the Orioles will determine whether he's day-to-day or needs to be shut down. As the offseason moves along, they will decide whether...

Manager: Pete Mackanin (3rd season) Record: 62-94 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Rhys Hoskins (.278 with 18 HR, 46 RBIs); 1B Tommy Joseph (.238 with 22 HR, 68 RBIs); 3B Maikel Franco (.231 with 21 HR, 70 RBIs); RHP Aaron Nola (12-10, 3.56 ERA); RHP Héctor Neris (3.18 ERA, 23 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 6-10 Pitching probables: Sep. 25: RHP A.J. Cole vs. RHP Aaron Nola; 7:05 p.m., MASNSep. 26: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Jake Thompson; 7:05 p.m., MASNSep. 27: RHP Tanner Roark vs....

On a day that seems likely to be his final one playing as an Oriole at Camden Yards, shortstop J.J. Hardy hit a go-ahead homer as the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-4 to complete their home season. Hardy got a standing ovation, including applause from players on both teams, and waved to the crowd before he batted in the bottom of the first. Then he got a curtain call after his two-run homer in the fourth broke a 4-4 tie. Hardy hit a 3-2 slider from Chris Archer 400 feet for his first homer...

J.J. Hardy placed his hand on the bill of his batting helmet today as the ovation grew louder and stronger, his feet still outside the batter's box. Rays pitcher Chris Archer, aware and respectful of the moment, stood between the mound and second base. The occupants of both dugouts lined the railings and applauded. Always a player who shunned the spotlight, Hardy finally relented and waved to the crowd. No sense fighting it. May as well give in to it, soak it up like rays of sunshine and...

NEW YORK - The Nationals lineup is on the verge of being whole again, with Bryce Harper having done everything required to recover from the scary leg injury he suffered six weeks ago and now poised to come off the disabled list. The club isn't making it official yet - "We're still trying to make up our minds," manager Dusty Baker said. "We'll let you know tomorrow." - but sources familiar with the plan confirmed that (barring something unforeseen) Harper will be active for Monday...