SAN DIEGO - Nationals vice chairman and principal owner Mark Lerner, the most visible member of the franchise's family ownership group, revealed tonight why he has been absent from public view for much of the season: Lerner has been battling cancer in his left leg for months and recently needed to have the limb amputated above the knee. "Thanks very much for your concern and good wishes," Lerner wrote in a letter provided to MASNsports.com through a club spokeswoman. "I know you recognize...

SAN DIEGO - Just when the Nationals appeared to have to solved their bullpen woes, one of their recently acquired arms has gone down with an injury. Ryan Madson was placed on the 10-day disabled list today with a sprained right index finger, an injury that is not believed to be serious but will nonetheless sideline the club's new setup man for the time being. Shawn Kelley, who already had been close to returning from a long rehab assignment, was activated off the DL and is available out of the...

The Orioles finally made it back home after their 10-day West Coast trip. White pants instead of gray. Jeremy Hellickson makes his fourth start with the Orioles. He shut out the Royals over seven innings in his debut, allowed three runs in six innings in Anaheim and allowed six runs in five innings in Oakland. Not the way to trend. Hellickson owns a 3.02 ERA and 1.056 WHIP in eight career games (seven starts) against the Angels. Albert Pujols is 2-for-14 with a double, home run and six...

It's time to clean out your closets, dig into the corners of the garage and check your depository of old sports equipment for usable baseball gear that can be repurposed to new owners. The Oriole Advocates will hold their annual Cardboard to Leather collection before Sunday's Angels-Orioles game and until the second inning at all Camden Yards gates. Cardboard to Leather is one of the Advocates' signature programs, a means of collecting and distributing new or gently used baseball equipment...

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Shawn Kelley on Thursday and placed right-handed pitcher Ryan Madson on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to Aug. 14) with a right finger sprain. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kelley, 33, returns to the Nationals after missing 51 games with a right trapezius strain. The veteran late-inning reliever made eight rehab appearances with...

SAN DIEGO - Hello from Petco Park, where it's a spectacularly perfect day. Shocking, I know, considering we're in San Diego. The Nationals open a seven-game road trip with the first of four here against the Padres, the undercard I suppose for next week's series in Houston against an excellent Astros club. The Padres are not excellent; they rank last in the majors, scoring 3.88 runs per game, and 23rd in the majors, allowing 5.08 runs per game. The Nats, of course, have boasted the National...

The other shoe dropped today for the Orioles. Infielder Ryan Flaherty has been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for him, the Orioles outrighted infielder Rubén Tejada to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. The 40-man roster remains full with Flaherty replacing Tejada. Tejada's removal from the 25-man roster was anticipated. He appeared in only two games this month, playing the ninth inning at shortstop and third base. He hasn't batted since July 31, the day...

Manager: Andy Green Record: 54-66 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Wil Myers (24 HR, 59 RBIs), LF Jose Pirela (.293/.344/.520), 2B Yangervis Solarte (.271/.347/.426), LHP Brad Hand (2.19 ERA, 10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: Aug. 17: RHP Edwin Jackson vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin, 10:10 p.m., MASNAug. 18: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Luis Perdomo, 10:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 19: TBA vs. LHP Travis Wood, 8:40 p.m., MASN2Aug. 20: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. TBA, 4:40 p.m., MASN2 Inside...

It was a disappointing road trip, Captain Obvious called and told me. He added it was a real chance for the Orioles to beat teams they are directly competing with for a wild card spot and that they went 2-4 against the Angels and Mariners, losing both series. This is no way to start a strong late-season charge. It ended in the most disappointing fashion with Chris Davis taking a called third strike with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 7-6 loss at Seattle. Yep,...

SEATTLE - The Orioles are off today and back at Camden Yards on Friday, where they've gone 35-23 this season. There's no place like home for this team. Clicking heels is optional. And anyone who's afraid to admit it is cowardly lyin'. (Please accept my apology. It's been a long season.) Yesterday's loss in Seattle left the Orioles 24-39 on the road. They should be giddy to get off the road, especially with their 35 wins at home tied with the Yankees for second-most in the American...