Washington Nationals managing principal owner Theodore N. Lerner announced Saturday that the team has picked up president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo's contract option, keeping him with the club through the 2018 season. The Nationals exercised the option before the June 15th deadline, according to plan. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "We are pleased with the job Mike has done over the past nine years," said Lerner. "He and the baseball operations team...

Michael A. Taylor got the start in the leadoff spot in Saturday's first game of a day/night doubleheader as the Nationals downed the Marlins 6-4. Taylor had struggled at times in the leadoff spot prior to Ben Revere's return to the lineup last weekend. But on Saturday, Taylor once again displayed what he can do on offense and defense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two walks. He stole two bases and made an outstanding catch of a fly ball off the bat of the Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis that...

And we're back for the nightcap of this day-night doubleheader. Game 1 ended in a downpour, with Jonathan Papelbon striking out Giancarlo Stanton to preserve a 6-4 victory for the Nationals. Game 2 will begin under blue skies, believe it or not, though the temperature has dropped considerably and it's going to be quite chilly throughout this one. The Nationals will be going for the doubleheader sweep with a depleted lineup. Bryce Harper is out after dropping the appeal of his one-game...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg doesn't need to strike out a batter every inning or completely shut down lineups to be successful. Fresh off signing a new seven-year, $175 million contact extension earlier in the week, Strasburg pitched out of frequent challenges Saturday afternoon to drop the Marlins 6-4 i n the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Strasburg continued his best start of the season, improving to 6-0, with six innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three walks, seven...

Bryce Harper has dropped the appeal of his one-game suspension and will sit out tonight's game against the Marlins, a decision that allows the reigning league MVP to play in next week's showdown between the Nationals and Mets at Citi Field. Harper had initially appealed Major League Baseball's suspension, which was handed down Wednesday in the wake of his ninth-inning ejection two nights earlier, subsequent return to the field and cursing at plate umpire Brian Knight seconds after teammate...

Orioles reliever Brad Brach played catch in the outfield this afternoon and had a light bullpen session, throwing eight to 10 pitches before heading back inside. Brach hasn't appeared in a game since Tuesday night in Minnesota and manager Buck Showalter wants to use him tonight if the circumstances allow it. Showalter would like to lay off a couple of relievers. Closer Zach Britton and set-up man Darren O'Day have pitched the last two nights and in the last three games. Showalter said bullpen...

Yovani Gallardo didn't let the weather stop him today from picking up a ball for the first time since going on the disabled list. Gallardo made his scheduled 25 throws from 60 feet on flat ground. He's slated to expand the distance to 90 feet on Monday and to 120 feet most likely on Wednesday. Manager Buck Showalter has the rehab assignment dates charted, but he won't share them publicly until Gallardo starts throwing off a mound. Showalter said Gallardo's schedule is "similar" to the one...

The Orioles have been getting some real solid pitching most of this season and we've seen them deliver a real nice stretch of pitching during their current six-game win streak. The O's staff has given up three runs or less in five of those six wins, allowing 15 runs total with a team ERA of 2.33 during this streak. The O's bullpen has not allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings during the winning stretch. The win streak has lifted the Orioles' record to 22-12 as they host the Tigers tonight in the...

The Orioles will attempt to win their seventh consecutive game tonight and match their longest streak of the season, and they'll do so with adjustments made to their lineup. Hyun Soo Kim is making his seventh start tonight. He's in left field, with Joey Rickard moving to right and Mark Trumbo serving as the designated hitter. Also, Pedro Alvarez is making his first start at third base since August 2014 with the Pirates, who moved him across the diamond last season. Ryan Flaherty is on the...

Left fielder Christian Yelich got the Marlins off first with a mammoth home run to center field. The blast gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead after the first half-inning. It was the second straight start where Stephen Strasburg had allowed a first-inning home run. Nick Castellanos of the Tigers drilled a two-run shot on May 9. It also marked only the fourth homer Strasburg had allowed in his initial eight starts of the season. But the Nationals quickly got that run back for Strasburg - and then...