The foul lines and batter's boxes had been chalked, the infield dragged. The starting pitchers were beginning to stretch in the outfield. The sky above Nationals Park included a fair amount of blue. Yet the start of tonight's game between the Nationals and Braves has been delayed due to approaching weather, the club announced at 6:40 p.m. There is indeed a line of storms approaching from the southwest, though forecasts show the rain arriving sometime around 8:30 p.m., leaving a window for the...

Despite a furious push from the Nationals, Anthony Rendon won't be attending the All-Star Game. Rendon finished third out of five National League candidates in this year's All-Star Final Vote, losing out to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (who earned a ticket to Miami) and Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds and Marlins first baseman Justin Bour finished fourth and fifth, respectively. The Nationals pulled out all the stops over the last three days in...

MINNESOTA - Johnny Giavotella is on the bench for tonight's series opener against the Twins at Target Field. The Orioles selected Giavotella's contract earlier today from Triple-A Norfolk, and he's among five reserves available to manager Buck Showalter. Hyun Soo Kim is in left field and batting eighth ahead of shortstop Paul Janish. For the Orioles Seth Smith RF Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Mark Trumbo DH Trey Mancini 1B Welington Castillo C Hyun Soo Kim LF Paul Janish...

MINNESOTA - The Orioles selected the contract of Triple-A Norfolk second baseman Johnny Giavotella today and optioned left-hander Jayson Aquino to the Tides, giving them an extra position player. First baseman/outfielder David Washington was designated for assignment to make room for Giavotella on the 40-man roster. Giavotella is batting .306/.368/.441 with 22 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 45 RBIs in 83 games. His defense limitations have kept him from being used in a utility role...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 27 international free agents. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President of International Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. COLOMBIA PLAYER POS B/T HT WT HOMETOWN Leandro Emiliani OF L/L 6-1 180 San Antero DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PLAYER ...

Let's cut right to the chase: No, I have no idea if they're going to be able to play tonight's game. As was the case last night, the forecast doesn't look good, maybe even worse. But that doesn't mean the Nationals and Braves won't try to get their series opener in. In other words: Stay tuned. As soon as we know, you'll know. If they do play, it'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound for the Nationals, who elected to skip Tanner Roark's spot after last night's rainout and keep Gonzalez, Max...

The game within the game for a catcher involves a critical skill: the ability to frame pitches in a way to set the strike zone to benefit your pitcher. Pitch-framing depends on many factors involving the pitcher, the catcher, the umpire and the game situation. This is part one in our series on the art of the game: catchers and pitch-framing. Some of the best in the business at "stealing strikes" for their pitchers are 30-year-old and five-time All-Star Buster Posey and 34-year-old eight-time...

Manager: Brian Snitker (2nd year) Record: 40-43 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (49-for-143, 14 HR), C Tyler Flowers (.319/.412/.459) LF Matt Kemp (21 doubles, 12 HR) CF Ender Inciarte (11 stolen bases) RF Nick Markakis (42 RBIs), RHP Jim Johnson (18 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5 Pitching probables: July 6: RHP Mike Foltynewicz vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 7: RHP R.A. Dickey vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 8: RHP Julio Teheran vs. RHP...

Manager: Paul Molitor (3rd season) Record: 43-41 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 3B Miguel Sanó (20 HR, 60 RBIs), DH Robbie Grossman (.253/.382/.389), CF Byron Buxton (16 stolen bases), RHP José Berríos (3.44 ERA, 1.071 WHIP), RHP Brandon Kintzler (2.41 ERA, 22 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: July 6: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. RHP José Berríos, 8:10 p.m., MASN2 July 7: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Felix Jorge, 8:10 p.m., MASN2 July 8: LHP Wade Miley vs. LHP...

BOWIE, Md. - Orioles minor league outfielder Austin Hays turned 22 yesterday. He will probably remember being 21 rather fondly. In just over a 12-month span, he has been drafted in the third round by the Orioles out of Jacksonville University, hit .336 at short season Single-A Aberdeen, hit .328 at Single-A Frederick and now is batting .339 at Double-A Bowie. Isn't it supposed to get harder as you go up? Hays was recently named the organization's Player of the Month for June, batting .373...