2.19, 2.50, 2.78 - that isn't just a random collection of numbers, those are the ERAa of the Nationals' top three starting pitchers, Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg. Those three rank second, third and fourth in ERA and first and 11th in FIP (Strasburg and Scherzer are tied). Scherzer is the current front-runner for NL Cy Young with a healthy lead in all the categories the voters are going to look at. He has the second-best ERA in the league, the best FIP and WAR, leads in...

Since Aug. 1, the Orioles are 20-15 and have outscored their opponents by 38 runs. This turnaround was not forecasted by many, as the Birds were a season-high seven games under .500 on July 16 and had slipped to 4 1/2 games back of a wild card at the end of the month. Their August turnaround came at the perfect time and would not have been possible without an incredible breakout performance by Manny Machado. Up to that point, it had been a hard-luck season for Machado. Entering July, Machado...

Some baseball games have many twists and turns. For reporters trying to produce a story on the game, key elements of the game and the story keep changing. That was true of last night's Carolina League playoff series opener in Frederick between the Keys and Lynchburg. First the story was Lynchburg's starting pitcher dominating the Keys. But then Frederick changed the script, scored four runs in the seventh and finally got to Lynchburg's Aaron Civale. The Keys led 5-4. But not long after that,...

The Nationals are now 25-17 in one-run games after Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Phillies. The victory was the Nats' 34th comeback win of the season. Three of the Nats' last five wins have come by a single run. They have gone 30-16 in series openers this season, as well. These are statistics that could be beneficial come playoff time. There will be opportunities against good teams, most likely in the postseason, where the Nats will be down by one run, or up by one run, in the late...

Nationals starter Tanner Roark kept his club in the game long enough for a comeback, and then the bullpen shut the door again for three innings in a 4-3 win over the Phillies on Thursday night. The Nats' magic number to clinch the National League East has dropped to four, thanks to the Braves' comeback 6-5 win over the Marlins in Atlanta. Roark went six innings, allowing three runs, and Trea Turner came through with a two-run single in a three-run sixth-inning rally for the Nats' 86th win of...

The Orioles are dragging their 27-39 road record to Progressive Field tonight to begin a three-game series against the Indians, their wild card hopes still alive but the rotation fighting them again. Wade Miley gave the team six innings in his last start against the Blue Jays, offering four scoreless before allowing a run in the fifth and sixth. Quality has eluded the Orioles since that game. Orioles starters have registered a 5.62 ERA this season in 140 games. Only the Reds at 5.68 are worse....

FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Frederick Keys scored four runs in the last of the ninth to stun the Lynchburg Hillcats 10-9 tonight and take the opener of a best-of-three Carolina League playoff series. Frederick can win the series on Friday night at Lynchburg. The Keys kept coming back tonight. They were down 4-1 after six innings and 9-5 after the top of the eighth. But they pulled off this improbable win, overcame four errors and beat the team with the best record in the league. The Keys came...

The Nationals got on the board first against the Phillies and Aaron Nola in the first of four games Thursday night at Nats Park. With one out in the second, Michael A. Taylor reached on a throwing error by first baseman Tommy Joseph and promptly stole second base. With two outs, Alejandro De Aza lined a single to left field to score Taylor for a 1-0 Nationals lead. Tanner Roark allowed a solo homer off the bat of Jorge Alfaro in the third. It was Alfaro's second homer of the season and came on...

The Orioles are making more adjustments to their rotation for the upcoming series in Cleveland. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Gabriel Ynoa will start Saturday afternoon's game against the Indians, with Jeremy Hellickson closing out the series on Sunday night. Left-hander Wade Miley already was the listed starter for Friday night. Ubaldo Jiménez will start Monday night in Toronto, with Dylan Bundy expected to pitch Wednesday night in the series finale. The rest of the rotation is...

Manager Dusty Baker remembers top prospect Victor Robles from the outfielder's play in spring training in February and March, and has seen the 20-year-old progress to the point where he joined the Nationals today. "He didn't play a whole bunch, but he wasn't intimidated at all," Baker said. "He was happy to be there. He's actually one of the leaders of the young Latin corps that we have here. You can tell how they kind of gravitate towards him. I heard he is a heck of a player. I also...