MILWAUKEE - The Orioles knew that Chris Tillman wouldn't make last night's start due to the pending arrival of his first child. He didn't accompany the team to Milwaukee. A replacement had to be found. This is where we're confronted with one of the organization's biggest issues, a prime reason why the Orioles are below .500 approaching the break and fans are ordering them to shift into sell mode and accumulate prospects. After checking reports on the starters at Triple-A Norfolk, the...

Francisco Rodriguez officially became a member of the Nationals organization Wednesday night, pitching an inning of relief for Double-A Harrisburg. Rodriguez, the veteran closer signed to a minor league contract last week after he was released by the Tigers, officially joined the roster at Harrisburg. That was a bit of a surprise, considering he was expected to pitch for Triple-A Syracuse. The Nationals, though, aren't so much worried about the level of competition Rodriguez faces as much as...

MILWAUKEE - The Orioles ate and dressed inside another quiet clubhouse tonight, the televisions and music turned off as usual following a loss. It's becoming a common scene, especially with a 15-28 record on the road. The sounds of silence. Center fielder Adam Jones wasn't looking for or offering excuses for the latest failure, a 4-0 defeat that allowed the Brewers to complete a three-game sweep at Miller Park. Line drives keep turning into outs. Opponents keep finding the openings and taking...

MILWAUKEE - The bases are loaded and the rookie pitcher is due up with his first major league at-bat. The rookie first baseman smokes a line drive up the middle with two on and two outs, and the second baseman, scrambling to get back in position, knocks it down with his chest and records the out. The shortstop makes a diving attempt, the ball deflects off his glove and rolls into shallow left field, and a runner scores all the way from second base. The opponent's third baseman lifts a fly ball...

The Nationals' series finale against the Mets was postponed when heavy rain converged upon the District shortly before scheduled first pitch and didn't show signs of letting up anytime soon. No makeup date was immediately announced. The two clubs do share a common off-day on Sept. 11, which falls in the middle of a 10-game homestand for the Nationals and the start of a nine-game road trip for the Mets. Otherwise, the teams are scheduled to meet once more in Washington this season: Aug....

With losses by 8-1 and 6-2 scores in the first two games of the series, the Orioles need a win tonight to avoid being swept in this three-game set at Milwaukee. The Orioles have been swept three straight this year at Kansas City, Houston, in New York versus the Yankees and at home against Minnesota. At 40-43, the Orioles have matched a season high at three games under the .500 mark and have fallen 8 1/2 games out in the American League East. Their road record is 15-27 and they have lost 16 of...

MILWAUKEE - Wanting to improve their shortstop depth in the minors, the Orioles acquired 21-year-old Milton Ramos from the Mets this afternoon for international signing bonus slots and assigned him to Single-A Delmarva. Ramos stays in the South Atlantic League, where the Colombian native was batting .227/.272/.276 with seven doubles, a triple and 18 RBIs in 57 games. A third-round pick in 2014 out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., Ramos has batted .242/.298/.312 in four...

Bryce Harper is not starting tonight's series finale against the Mets. That may disappoint fans who have tickets to this game, but there could've been even more disappointed fans Tuesday because Dusty Baker initially planned to sit Harper for the Nationals' Independence Day game. "It was planned," Baker said. "I was planning on doing it yesterday, but we talked about it and he loves playing on the Fourth of July. It's like his birthday, he said. So I told him I'll give you the next day...

MILWAUKEE - The Orioles transferred infielder Ryan Flaherty to the 60-day disabled list today to make room for closer Zach Britton on the 40-man roster. Britton came off the disabled list, Chris Tillman went on paternity leave and left-hander Jayson Aquino was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to make tonight's start against the Brewers. Mark Trumbo remains in the lineup tonight after leaving yesterday's game with a bruised left calf. Seth Smith stays in left field. Rubén Tejada gets the...

The Nationals are going for a sweep of the Mets tonight, but in order to pull that off they'll need not only to beat Jacob deGrom but to do it without Bryce Harper in their lineup. Harper is getting a rare day off, only his second this season for a reason not involving minor injury or suspension. We'll find out shortly from Dusty Baker if there's anything else going on, but Harper certainly is deserving of getting a breather if that's all it is. Brian Goodwin takes over in right field, with...