Bookend pitching difficulties doomed the Nats on Saturday night. Starter Joe Ross struggled early and the bullpen could not slow the Reds in extra innings. Cincinnati dropped the Nationals 9-4 in 10 innings to end their winning streak at six games. The concern after the game was the velocity drop for Ross on his fastball. According to Brooks Baseball, his sinker averages around 93.4 mph. In this game, it was averaging only 91.8 mph. Manager Dusty Baker did not think this meant that Ross was...

Following Saturday's 9-4 loss in 10 innings to the Reds, Nationals manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Stephen Strasburg would return from the disabled list to start on Sunday in the series finale. "We're getting one of our main men, Stras, back tomorrow," Baker said. "He can put us back in sync for the remainder of first half." Strasburg has been on the disabled list retroactive to June 16 with an upper back strain. He missed starts in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Although not officially...

SEATTLE - As the Orioles face Seattle here at Safeco Field in this four-game series they are playing with just one left-hander in their bullpen, closer Zach Britton. Lefty T.J. McFarland went on the disabled list on Thursday and was replaced by a right-hander. Are the O's a little short on southpaws in the bullpen? "It would be an excuse that we are not going to use," manager Buck Showalter said before tonight's game. "I think it will change at some point. It's a little unconventional,...

SEATTLE - The Orioles are hopeful that reliever Darren O'Day could throw another bullpen session when the team plays in Los Angeles starting Monday. But while saying O'Day felt good today and that was a positive step, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said again that O'Day's return from a high hamstring strain is still moving at a slow pace. Showalter made it sound like the chances for O'Day to throw a 'pen session during the upcoming Dodgers series are not great. "That would be a nice...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 19 international free agents: right-handed pitcher Johan Adon, right-handed pitcher Thony Amoroso, infielder Yasel Antuna, right-handed pitcher Carlos Cuello, outfielder David Escobar, shotstop Luis Garcia, right-handed pitcher Niomar Gomez, right-handed pitcher Rafael Melendez, outfielder Ricardo Mendez, catcher Kelvin Pacheco, right-handed pitcher Eric Pena, outfielder Landerson Pena, catcher Wilmer Perez, catcher Israel Pineda, infielder...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 19 international free agents. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President of International Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the announcement. Here is the rundown of the free agents: RHP Johan Adon RHP Thony Amoroso INF Yasel Antuna RHP Carlos Cuello OF David Escobar SS Luis Garcia RHP Niomar Gomez RHP Rafael Melendez OF Ricardo Mendez C Kelvin Pacheco RHP Eric Pena OF Landerson Pena C Wilmer...

Manager: Craig Counsell (2nd season) Record: 35-46 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: LF Ryan Braun (.323/.383/.546 with 13 HR, 44 RBIs), SS Jonathan Villar (.296/.382/.422 with 30 RBIs, 26 SB), C Jonathan Lucroy (.300 with 10 HR, 39 RBIs), 1B Chris Carter 920 HR,49 RBIs), RHP Junior Guerra (5-1, 3.25 ERA), RHP Jeremy Jeffress (2.60 ERA, 21 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: July 4: RHP Junior Guerra vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 11:05 a.m., MASN July 5: RHP Zach Davies vs. RHP...

Joe Ross had trouble getting outs in the first inning in Saturday's start against the Reds. The Nationals right-hander allowed four runs in the first three frames against the Mets over six innings in his last start June 27. The Nats rallied for an 11-4 win. Saturday, the Reds slapped three hits and scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by an Adam Duvall two-run double. In the second, Zack Cozart added an RBI double to make it 4-0 Reds. The Reds already have four runs and six hits...

Veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo made his second rehab start with the rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals today and it was a solid improvement over his first game back. Arroyo is rehabbing from inflamed tendons in his right shoulder. The 39-year-old signed with the Nationals as a minor league free agent on January 26. He last pitched in the majors in 2014 with Arizona. Arroyo underwent Tommy John surgery July 15, 2014. On June 26, Arroyo pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits...

SEATTLE - The Seattle Mariners have been pretty good this year against the American League East and the Orioles are quite aware of that. Seattle is 4-1 versus the Orioles and 11-6 against the AL East, including a 5-0 record at Safeco Field. The Orioles will try to hand them their first home loss against an AL East team when the clubs play tonight in the third game of a four-game series. The Orioles need to win the next two games to gain a split of this series. Since 2012, the Orioles are 19-14...