SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals have found their much-needed closer, and though he's only going to be a two-month rental, the club didn't have to give up any of its top prospects to get him. The Nationals have acquired Mark Melancon from the Pirates in exchange for left-hander Felipe Rivero and Single-A left-hander Taylor Hearn, the team announced this afternoon. The deal came together just before the scheduled 4:05 p.m. EDT first pitch of today's game against the Giants, allowing the...

SAN FRANCISCO - After another wild victory last night, the Nationals are back at it this afternoon, trying to make it three in row over the Giants at AT&T Park. They'll be fielding a lineup that's a bit shorthanded, with Daniel Murphy sitting out after tweaking his left leg last night and Wilson Ramos getting a well-deserved day off after catching nine in a row. Murphy is dealing with tightness in the same leg he injured during the All-Star Game, though Dusty Baker said it's not...

The Nationals continue to pursue bullpen help as the Aug. 1 trade deadline looms. The Pirates and Nationals' talks regarding right-hander Mark Melancon are heating up, a league source confirmed. The Pirates are interested in a top starting pitching prospect in return, or maybe two. Pittsburgh inquired about No. 1 pitching prospect Lucas Giolito, but he is unavailable. The talks center around a package that would contain right-hander Erick Fedde or right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, or both,...

TORONTO - New Orioles reliever Logan Ondrusek pitched in Japan the last two seasons but has not been on the mound in a major league game since he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 14, 2014. After he signed with and joined the Orioles yesterday, the 31-year-old right-hander now looks forward to his debut with his new team. "You know, I'm happy to be here," he said this morning in the Orioles clubhouse. "It's a good opportunity for me and the team has been doing really well. Nice to...

TORONTO - The Orioles' starting rotation is set through the Texas series that begins Tuesday night at Camden Yards. Yovani Gallardo starts in Toronto this afternoon and Chris Tillman pitches here Sunday. Dylan Bundy starts the series opener Tuesday against Texas, with Kevin Gausman pitching Wednesday and Gallardo back on the mound on Thursday night. The Orioles don't need a fifth starter again until Saturday. After a brief run of solid starting pitching for a time, O's starters have an ERA...

Nolan Reimold is starting in left field today as the Orioles try to end their losing streak at four games and maintain their hold on first place in the American League East. Matt Wieters is catching a day game after a night game. Jonathan Schoop moves up to second in the order. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Jonathan Schoop 2B Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Yovani Gallardo RHP For the Blue Jays Jose Bautista DH Josh...

SAN FRANCISCO - Lost amid the chaos and the celebration of last night's triple-play-featured Nationals victory was a potentially disheartening sight: Daniel Murphy coming out of the game with an apparent injury. Murphy departed in the bottom of the sixth, one inning after he appeared to pull up a bit rounding second base on a long triple to deep right-center. According to manager Dusty Baker, Murphy said "his legs were tightening up." "It's cold," Baker said. "Invariably whenever you...

TORONTO - Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo faced the Toronto Blue Jays twice last year in the regular season for the Texas Rangers and did not allow a run. He faced them last month at Camden Yards and got a win. He has strong career numbers versus the Blue Jays. We'll see if Gallardo can slow down this team this afternoon, as the right-hander with a 3-2 record and 5.37 ERA pitches against Toronto and lefty J.A. Happ, who is 13-3 with a 3.27 ERA. In two 2015 starts for Texas, Gallardo gave...

SAN FRANCISCO - Sammy Solis, standing on the mound, wasn't quite sure what was going on. Max Scherzer and a few others, watching from the clubhouse, were confused as well. Denard Span obviously had no idea, because he kept running to the plate, unaware he needed to run back to third base. Dusty Baker, in the dugout, was just happy he actually was able to see the entire play develop with his own eyes after missing a similar opportunity 40 years ago. The only ones who truly needed to be in...

TORONTO - The Orioles need to prove they can beat the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. If they can't do it today, they'll be looking up at the Blue Jays in the standings. Last night's 6-5 loss was frustrating for the team and its fans. Kevin Gausman could not follow up some recent good outings. The Orioles could not start the series off on the right foot. The O's got frustrated at home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez and saw another replay call they thought would go in their favor not go...