The prospect of a rainout couldn't have been particularly appealing to the Nationals, who only five days after winning a lopsided matchup between Gio Gonzalez and Bartolo Colon had to be licking their chops at tonight's scheduled rematch. But after waiting out a 1-hour, 7-minute delay to start their series opener against the Mets, the Nationals found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided game, unable to touch Colon while New York's lineup battered Gonzalez all around the park during a...

The Orioles weren't done making moves tonight with the Brian Matusz trade. They also acquired Single-A right-hander Franderlin Romero from the Reds for two international signing bonus slots. Romero, 23, was 1-4 with a 2.87 ERA in eight starts with the Dayton Dragons. He walked nine batters and struck out 42 in 47 innings. In seven minor league seasons, Romero is 15-25 with a 3.07 ERA in 78 games (62 starts). He allowed two hits in six scoreless innings in his last start. The announcement comes...

The Orioles have traded left-hander Brian Matusz, their first-round selection in the 2008 draft, to the Braves for right-hander Brandon Barker and left-hander Trevor Belicek. Atlanta also will receive a Competitive Balance Round B pick (76th overall) in the upcoming draft. The Braves reportedly will designate Matusz for assignment, essentially making the deal in order to acquire the draft pick and take on the rest of his salary for 2016. Matusz was being paid $3.9 million in the final year of...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired minor leaguers right-hander Brandon Barker and left-hander Trevor Belicek from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for left-hander Brian Matusz and a Competitive Balance Round B pick (76th overall) in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. Barker, 23, went 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA (10 ER/45.0 IP) and 40 strikeouts in nine games (eight starts) with Double-A Mississippi this season. In 50 career minor league games (40 starts), Barker has gone 20-14 with a...

VOTE for Friday's @CareFirst #Orioles Player of the Game! #IBackTheBirds— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) October 1, 2016

Rain had been in the forecast all day, and sure enough it came as expected, delaying the start of the Nationals' series opener against the Mets. For now, the Nats say they plan to begin at 8:10 p.m., hoping the skies clear enough and soon enough to get the full game in as scheduled and avoid a makeup date down the road at some point. If it comes to that, the Nationals and Mets have options. With New York making two more trips to D.C. this season (June 27-29, September 12-14), there's no need...

Two quality start streaks are on the line tonight in Houston. Chris Tillman and Astros right-hander Doug Fister each have posted six consecutive quality starts, though the numbers don't exactly match up. That would be quite a coincidence. Tillman is 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in nine starts this season. He's allowed eight runs in his last 39 1/3 innings during his streak. Fister is 4-3 with a 4.22 ERA in eight starts this season and he's allowed 14 runs in 38 1/3 innings during his streak. Maybe we...

Manager: A.J. Hinch (2nd season) Record: 17-28 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 2B Jose Altuve (.328/.413/.582 with 9 HR, 27 RBIs), RF George Springer (.254/ with 9 HR, 25 RBIs), SS Carlos Correa (.253 with 7 HR, 20 RBIs), LF Colby Rasmus (8 HR, 31 RBIs), RHP Doug Fister (4-3, 4.22 ERA), RHP Will Harris (0.46 ERA, 11 holds) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2015) Pitching probables: May 24: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Doug Fister, 8:10 p.m., MASN2 May 25: TBA vs. RHP Collin McHugh,...

Dusty Baker isn't a big believer in the concept of personal catchers, but when he took the job as Nationals manager over the winter, he inherited the Gio Gonzalez-Jose Lobaton pairing. Gonzalez and Lobaton never formally were named as permanent batterymates, but the two had worked together in 19 of the left-hander's final 23 starts in 2015 and enjoyed success. So Baker kept them together each of the first eight times Gonzalez pitched this season. Until tonight. Seeking more offense from his...

The Orioles have signed left-hander Brian Duensing to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed the deal. Duensing exercised the opt-out clause in his contract with the Royals last week and they subsequently released him. They signed him as a free agent in February, released him in March and re-signed him four days later. It just wasn't meant to be. Duensing, 33, was 1-0 with a 3.10 ERA and two saves in 12 relief appearances...