MILWAUKEE - The Orioles will place Chris Tillman on paternity leave before Wednesday's series finale against the Brewers and recall left-hander Jayson Aquino, who's on the taxi squad after arriving today from Triple-A Norfolk. Paternity leave lasts a maximum of three days. Aquino was chosen to replace Tillman in the rotation. He's 2-7 with a 4.46 ERA in 12 starts with Norfolk. "We looked at some of the options and felt from talking to everybody that he was pitching the best of their...

Nobody brings out the best from the Nationals lineup like Joe Ross. Even though he doesn't throw a single pitch to any of its members. With Ross on the mound, the Nationals seem to turn what already is one of the most potent offensive groups in the majors into something otherworldy. And it happened again today, even with Dusty Baker sitting a bunch of his regulars for the early Independence Day game on South Capitol Street. A lineup anchored around Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and lesser names...

MILWAUKEE - Caleb Joseph is catching and Paul Janish is starting at shortstop for today's game against the Brewers. Joseph was behind the plate for Ubaldo Jiménez's gem in Toronto. Makes sense to keep them together. Seth Smith is making his third start this season in left field. Mark Trumbo is in right. Jonathan Schoop continues to bat third between Manny Machado and Adam Jones. For the Orioles Seth Smith LF Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Mark Trumbo RF Trey Mancini 1B...

The big show is later tonight on the National Mall, but there already have been some early fireworks on South Capitol Street today. (Sorry, I believe I was legally obligated to make that hacky joke.) The Mets have launched two home runs off Joe Ross, including José Reyes' shot down the right field line on the day's third pitch. The Nationals have scored a pair of runs themselves, but took the more traditional tact of manufacturing those. Reyes pounced on Ross' 0-2 fastball, sending it...

So that was not the start of a road trip that the Orioles wanted. Left-hander Wade Miley gave up seven runs over 1 2/3 innings as they fell behind big early in the game and lost 8-1 at Milwaukee on Monday. In the last five games, O's pitchers have had a few ups and downs. In that stretch they've allowed zero, six, 10, one and eight runs. As for Miley, this was his shortest non-injury start of the year and fourth game where he has pitched three innings or less. Three of those have come over...

Jayson Werth has progressed in his recovery from a badly bruised foot, heading to West Palm Beach, Fla., to work out with the Nationals' Gulf Coast League club. Werth has been out since fouling a pitch off the inside of his left foot June 3 in Oakland, unable to even put weight on the foot for several weeks. He finally was able to start baseball activities last week, playing catch and jogging before games at Nationals Park. Now he's working out at the Nationals' spring training complex, and...

Good morning to you from the nation's capital, where the Nationals and Mets will celebrate the national pastime with the traditional 11:05 a.m. Independence Day ballgame. The early start time always catches visiting teams and media by surprise, but I've always found this to be a cool tradition, and I sense fans like it as well. What better way to spend your Fourth of July than with baseball early and plenty of time afterward for barbeques and fireworks? The Nats and Mets will be a bit...

When the ball hit off his bat, Ryan Raburn was hoping for the best. But he honestly wasn't sure whether he'd won the game for the Nationals or come up short with a flyout to left that would take the contest to the 10th inning. "I was watching the umpire," Raburn said of his walk-off single off Fernando Salas in the ninth inning that provided the Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Mets on Monday night. "I seen him (signal) safe. I was hoping it stayed that way, then I seen them talking, so I...

MILWAUKEE - It's a tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Ubaldo Jiménez takes the mound and the Orioles again have no idea which version they're going to get. The Jiménez who shut out the Blue Jays on two hits over eight innings in his last start - it was a real beauty - or the Jiménez who lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Rays and was charged with nine runs? Both a little scared. Neither one prepared. Or should I go with, "Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change,...

When it was announced last Thursday that hard-throwing Double-A Bowie left-hander Tanner Scott was selected for the All-Star Futures Game, manager Buck Showalter made some nice comments about Scott and the strong season he is having. He also said this: "Who knows, he might even be a starting pitcher one day. If he can grasp the changeup like he's grasped the slider, who knows? He's doing well and has really gotten a grip on his walks. He's been fun to watch and we've had a good plan." The...