CINCINNATI - The MRI arthrogram performed on Joe Ross' right elbow confirmed a "full-thickness tear of the ulnar collateral ligament," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Saturday afternoon, and the right-hander will undergo Tommy John ligament replacement surgery Wednesday in Texas. "I think we knew (based on) the MRI it was going to be serious," said Rizzo. "Obviously, you don't know to what degree and the (MRI) arthrogram made it very clear what happened to him." Manager Dusty...

With Kevin Gausman recording only five quality starts among his 20 outings this season, his ERA climbing to 6.39 in 100 innings, the Orioles aren't resistant to the idea of sending him down to the minors. They just haven't reached that point. Whether an assignment at Triple-A Norfolk would benefit Gausman is open to debate. "That's a matter of, you can get a lot of opinions on the answer to that question," said manager Buck Showalter. "I have my own thoughts and we listen to a lot of...

Adam Jones remains the Orioles' leadoff hitter for tonight's game against the Cubs, who are starting right-hander Jake Arrieta. Seth Smith, who normally bats first against right-handers, is moved down to seventh. Caleb Joseph is catching left-hander Wade Miley. Mark Trumbo is batting .313 (10-for-32) with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBIs, five walks and eight runs scored. Manny Machado is batting .419 (13-for-31) during a seven-game hitting streak that includes three doubles, two home...

CINCINNATI - For a pitcher prone to the home run ball - and Nationals ace Max Scherzer certainly qualifies - pitching in a bandbox like Great American Ball Park can be a challenge. Though he's turned in one sterling start after another this season, the right-hander has still yielded 13 homers through 128 1/3 innings. That's an improvement over the pace that saw him serve up 31 gopher balls in 228 1/3 frames last year during his Cy Young season, but more than Scherzer would like. At least...

The Orioles ended the first half with two wins. They had a chance to start the second half with an improbable win last night. But for the 2017 Orioles, each time it looks like something good might happen, it usually doesn't. And last night the club's rally from 8-0 down to win was not completed. They came back from 8-0 down to tie but Addison Russell's homer in the ninth off Brad Brach gave the Cubs a 9-8 victory Friday night at Camden Yards. More frustration for a team and its fans. And...

Jake Arrieta will get the bulk of the attention this weekend because he's returning to Camden Yards for the first time since the Orioles traded him to the Cubs on July 2, 2013. The two no-hitters and the Cy Young Award are the likely reasons. No need to overthink it. However, let's not forget about reliever Pedro Strop, who was included in the deal. He was excited to be back in Baltimore yesterday and got a huge smile on his face after spotting a couple of reporters from the Orioles beat crew...

CINCINNATI - It took Matt Grace one pitch to escape a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night. But the 90 mph sinker he got Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart to ground to second base for the game's final out was more than just a shining example of pitch efficiency of a pitcher whose stock continues to rise. When Stephen Drew dove to his left to smother the grounder, throwing to first base for the 27th out the Nationals needed to secure a 5-0 win, Grace got his first...

The start of the second half was delayed by rain tonight. Once the game did begin, Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman gave up four homers and eight runs over three innings. But what looked like a terrible start to their post All-Star break schedule would get better for the Orioles. It just didn't have a happy ending. After the Orioles scored eight unanswered runs to come from 8-0 down for an 8-8 tie, the Cubs won it 9-8 with a homer in the ninth. No. 9 hitter shortstop Addison Russell blasted...

The Orioles may not be sellers, but they were ready to trade tonight's game. Maybe for an outcome to be named later. Kevin Gausman allowed a career-high four home runs through the third inning and the Cubs built an eight-run lead before the Orioles stormed back to tie it in the bottom of the eighth. A miserable night took a dramatic turn for the better. And then the ninth inning arrived and it was time again to make a deal. Addison Russell lined a home run off Brad Brach with one out to give...

CINCINNATI - So much for the notion that Bryce Harper could benefit from a day off because he was tired from all of the festivities surrounding the All-Star Game in Miami. Harper passed when offered the chance to take a breather in the opener of a four-game series against the Reds and the Nationals are glad he did. Harper supplied the bulk of the offense - homering twice and driving in three runs at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, where he had previously only hit one longball, a...