And on the day after, Dusty Baker played his regulars. Though their latest division title has already been secured, the Nationals don't appear to taking their foot off the gas pedal anytime soon. Baker's lineup for tonight's series opener against the Braves - all the currently active regulars are starting except for Jayson Werth, who is dealing with a sore left shoulder - is evidence of that, as are the manager's answers when asked how he plans to handle the final three weeks of the regular...

Nationals manager Dusty Baker updated the recovery of right fielder Bryce Harper, who has been out with a hyperextended left knee and a strained calf since Aug. 13. He has missed 29 games. Harper has played catch once in Miami and once here last weekend prior to a game against the Phillies. He appeared to be throwing well and with no limitations from 90 feet. He even had to catch a high throw and come down on both legs without any issues. "What's next is hopefully have him start hitting and...

TORONTO - The Orioles and catcher Welington Castillo got good news today. After taking a foul ball in the groin and leaving last night's game at Rogers Centre, Castillo does not have any damage and he feels he could pinch-hit tonight. He is not ready to return to catch, but that could happen soon as well. Castillo took a foul ball off the bat of Miguel Montero in the first inning last night. He finished that inning but was replaced by Caleb Joseph in the bottom of the second. Beyond the...

Joey Rickard gets the start in right field tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays and attempt to halt their losing streak at five games. Manager Buck Showalter apparently sought a defensive upgrade and turned to Rickard. Caleb Joseph is catching tonight. Welington Castillo was taken to the hospital last night after being hit in the groin area by a foul ball. The club described the injury as a "contusion." No roster move has been announced, though Showalter hinted...

TORONTO - The Orioles will turn to right-hander Dylan Bundy (13-9, 4.12 ERA) to try and snap a five-game losing streak tonight. They play the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a three-game series. After going 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA in five August starts, Bundy took the loss last Monday versus New York. Over four innings he gave up two homers, four walks and five runs on 98 pitches. It tied for his shortest start of the year. During that five-start run in August, Bundy pitched 36 innings and...

And now ... it's time to play out the string. Or possibly not. The Nationals take the field tonight for the first time as 2017 National League East champs, so technically nothing is at stake. Except for those wacky Dodgers, who have lost 11 in a row and now only lead the Nats by 3 1/2 games for the best record in the league. Which means there may be more at stake over these final 19 games than anyone expected. Up first, it's tonight's opener of a three-game series against the Braves, who did...

The Nationals will open the 2018 season earlier than usual, on a different day of the week than usual and in a venue they've never opened at before. Major League Baseball announced next year's schedule this afternoon, and it features the Nationals opening March 29 in Cincinnati. That opener, on a Thursday, comes as MLB moves opening day up four days across the league, a wrinkle in the new collective bargaining agreement with players to provide for more off-days over the course of the season,...

The Orioles today announced that they will open the 2018 season at Oriole Park against the Minnesota Twins as part of a three-game homestand beginning with Opening Day on Thursday, March 29. The 2018 season opener marks the first Opening Day in March since the Orioles hosted the Boston Red Sox on March 31, 2014. The Orioles will again host each American League East divisional opponent for three series throughout the season. The Toronto Blue Jays will play a total of nine games in Baltimore,...

The Washington Nationals announced their 2018 schedule on Tuesday, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, revealing an 81-game home slate that will begin on April 5 at Nationals Park. After celebrating Opening Day in Cincinnati on March 29 and kicking off the 2018 season with a six-game road trip to the Queen City and Atlanta, the Nationals will mark the 85th home opener in D.C. since 1901 with a tilt against their divisional foe, the New York Mets. Nationals Park will open its gates for...

TORONTO - The Orioles lost further touch with the American League's second wild card spot last night. While Minnesota did not play, the Orioles lost their fifth straight and they are now 3 1/2 games behind the Twins. The Orioles lost 4-3 to start a three-game series at Rogers Centre. They are 0-4 on a 10-game road trip. The last three losses have been by a total of four runs. The Orioles are also two games under .500 at 71-73. Now they are again chasing a winning record, not to mention several...