PHOENIX - And so the calendar has shifted to August and the baseball season reaches its final third. But not before today's non-waiver trade deadline, which comes at 4 p.m. EDT (1 p.m. out here in the desert). Those of you who have followed this over the years know the trade deadline has always been July 31. But since that fell on a Sunday this year, Major Leauge Baseball made the wise decision to push it back a day, ensuring the deadline wouldn't come and go while just about every team in...

So the Nationals have finally landed a new closer, with Mark Melancon coming from Pittsburgh. General manager Mike Rizzo sent left-hander Felipe Rivero and prospect Taylor Hearn to the Pirates in hopes that he can solve the late-inning issues that have plagued the team in the past week. But what will become of the man he's supplanting, Jonathan Papelbon, and the rest of the bullpen? Papelbon is on record as saying he is OK with the move, despite the fact that his new role is undefined. When...

As the Orioles struggle to cling to their lead in the American League East, they are starting to show their true colors - and they aren't orange and black. The pitching staff has looked more like black and blue of late. I'd call the offense green at this point, not because it's new or fresh, but because it looks sick. It may be true that the Orioles battled to avoid a sixth straight loss in Toronto yesterday, but everything isn't rosy in Birdland right now. The O's have still lost nine of...

Manager: Chip Hale (2nd season) Record: 43-62 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 2B Jean Segura (.311 with 129 hits), 3B Jake Lamb (.282 with 21 HR), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.297 with 68 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (10-3, 3.62 ERA), RHP Jake Barrett (2.79 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2015) Pitching probables: August 1: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Archie Bradley, 9:40 p.m., MASNAugust 2: RHP Tanner Roark vs. LHP Robbie Ray, 9:40 p.m., MASN2August 3: RHP Max...

With Reynaldo Lopez struggling a bit with five walks and lasting only four innings in his second major league start Saturday at San Francisco, it is easy maybe to forget what a giant step forward the Dominican hurler has made in his development this season. Lopez allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts in the no-decision for the Nationals at AT&T Park. The Giants went on to win 5-3. Lopez tossed 92 pitches, 51 for strikes. The right-hander went 5-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 minor...

When the Orioles came to bat in the 12th inning on Sunday at Toronto, they had scored just three runs since the start of Saturday's game at Rogers Centre. They had scored just 12 runs during their five-game losing streak. But they scored four runs in that inning - on Jonathan Schoop's single and Adam Jones' three-run homer - as they picked up a huge win. After Saturday's deflating blowout loss and poor starts by Kevin Gausman and Yovani Gallardo in Toronto, the O's pitching was outstanding...

The Orioles won't be sellers at today's deadline. Let me get that one out of the way before you have time to brush your teeth or finish your first cup of coffee. I'm amazed that so many fans suggest that the Orioles trade Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo or anyone else who will fetch prospects. This team is in first place again. A loss yesterday would have put it 1 1/2 games back. Still a contender. Still not shifting its focus to 2017. The same people who complain about Caleb Joseph...

SAN FRANCISCO - There were two uncharacteristic mistakes in the field that led to two runs. There was an uncharacteristic sequence of bad baserunning that might have cost them a run. There was an uncharacteristic display of emotion by Ryan Zimmerman after fans at AT&T Park were getting on him in the bottom of the ninth. And there was an all-too-characteristic lack of hits in key spots, all of which contributed to a 3-1 loss for the Nationals and a four-game series split with the Giants that...

The Orioles announced tonight that they have acquired left-hander Wade Miley from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for left-hander Ariel Miranda. Miley, 29, has gone 7-8 with a 4.98 ERA (62 ER/112.0 IP) over 19 starts with the Mariners this season. Over 157 career Major League games (153 starts), he has posted a 56-54 record with a 4.07 ERA (427 ER/944.1 IP) and 728 strikeouts. The left-hander spent the 2015 season with the Boston Red Sox, leading the club in wins (11), starts (32), innings...

The Orioles have reached agreement on a trade with the Mariners less than 24 hours before the non-waiver deadline, acquiring left-hander Wade Miley in exchange for lefty Ariel Miranda. Multiple sources confirmed it before the Orioles made the announcement a few minutes ago. The rotation finally gets a southpaw. The Orioles and Mariners have been engaged in heavy discussions involving Miley for the past few days. Miley, 29, is 7-8 with a 4.98 ERA in 19 starts this season and 56-54 with a 4.07...