PHILADELPHIA - Max Scherzer appears to have his good stuff, and his mound strut, going early tonight, which could mean trouble for the Phillies. Scherzer is through three scoreless innings, allowing just two singles while striking out five as the right-hander attempts to pitch the Nationals to a series sweep at Citizens Bank Park. Ryan Zimmerman's RBI double in the top of the first gave the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead, and Scherzer has taken over since then. Scherzer cruised through his first...

Maybe the Orioles should begin Thursday night's game by ordering an intentional walk to Red Sox leadoff hitter Mookie Betts. Put up four fingers and give him the base. Betts hit his fourth home run in his last six at-bats, sending a 95 mph fastball from Mike Wright over the fence in right-center field to give the Red Sox another quick lead. Betts saw two pitches from Wright. He really liked the second one. The Orioles responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, two scoring on Mark...

PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals lineup for the second consecutive day, his right knee still sore after getting hit by a pitch two nights ago, though the club is hopeful he'll be ready to return for Friday night's series opener in Cincinnati. Harper did take some swings in the batting cage this afternoon for the first time since getting hurt, but the team figured it wasn't worth taking any chances, especially with Thursday off before this weekend's series against the...

The Orioles will need to beat Boston the next two nights at Camden Yards to split this four-game series with the American League East leaders. At 32-20, Boston has opened a three-game lead atop the division over the Orioles, who have a 28-22 record 50 games into the 2016 season. The Orioles' current win percentage of .560, if maintained over 162 games, would produce a final record of 91-71. Boston is on a 100-win pace. While the Red Sox are 24-11 since starting the season 8-9, the Orioles have...

The Orioles have optioned rookie reliever Ashur Tolliver to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for left-hander T.J. McFarland on the 25-man roster. McFarland has been recalled from Norfolk and will work out of the bullpen. Tolliver, 28, made four appearances in his first exposure to the majors, allowing three earned runs (four total) and four hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out five. The Orioles promoted Tolliver from Double-A Bowie, where he was 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 18 appearances....

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned left-hander Ashur Tolliver to Triple-A Norfolk. McFarland, 26, went 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA (3 ER/16.0 IP) in four appearances (three starts) with the Tides after being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 7. McFarland made the Orioles Opening Day roster and has gone 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA (7 ER/13.1 IP) over eight relief appearances this season. Tolliver, 28, pitched to a 6.75 ERA (3...

T.J. McFarland is in Baltimore and officially will be recalled later today after batting practice. The only question is how the Orioles make room for him on the 25-man roster. Manager Buck Showalter said the club had two or three choices, including the removal of a position player. However, Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Paul Janish is out of options and would have to be designated for assignment. Relievers Ashur Tolliver and Mychal Givens have options. Showalter mentioned that...

When Orioles rookie left-hander Ashur Tolliver was called in to pitch the ninth inning last night - on just his eighth day in the big leagues - his first batter was Mookie Betts. The Red Sox right fielder had already homered in the first and third innings off Kevin Gausman and in the seventh off Dylan Bundy. Betts was trying for a four-homer night and to make Tolliver his third victim of the evening. Only 16 players in major league history have hit four home runs in one game. Betts was chasing...

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals are going for a series sweep tonight at Citizens Bank Park, but they'll have to do it without the services of Bryce Harper once again. Harper remains out of the lineup, two days after taking a fastball off the outside of his right knee. This again isn't a huge shock. Harper said the knee didn't feel any better yesterday than it did the night before, and Dusty Baker hinted that he might try to take advantage of the team being off Thursday in order to give Harper...

Hyun Soo Kim is back in left field tonight for the Orioles and Pedro Alvarez is serving as the designated hitter. Kim continues to bat second. Matt Wieters is catching. Francisco Pena was on the field earlier today doing throwing drills. Adam Jones and Ryan Flaherty, who's starting at third base, are among the Orioles taking early batting practice. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Hyun Soo Kim LF Manny Machado SS Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Matt Wieters C Pedro Alvarez DH Jonathan Schoop 2B...