Nationals fans finally got a chance to give Jordan Zimmermann the standing ovation they wanted to last September. But they're cheering louder for Max Scherzer each time their new ace strikes out a member of Zimmermann's Tigers lineup. In a marquee matchup of elite pitchers facing their former teams, Zimmermann and Scherzer have been front-and-center at Nationals Park early on tonight. Fans gave Zimmermann two loud ovations in the first three innings alone: When he was announced as part of...

Manager Dusty Baker finally moved hot-hitting Daniel Murphy ahead of Ryan Zimmerman in the batting order. He said before the game he doesn't believe it is that big a deal, it was more about the matchup with Tigers right-hander and former National Jordan Zimmermann. "It would probably be unusual to you guys but not unusual to me because I've been thinking about some things for quite sometime," Baker said. "I talked to Zim and talked to Murphy first because I thought about it today in...

Bryce Harper has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for his actions following his ninth-inning ejection Monday night, but the reigning National League MVP is appealing the decision and remains eligible to play for the Nationals tonight against former teammate Jordan Zimmermann. Harper was suspended by Joe Garagiola Jr., MLB's senior vice president of standards and on-field operations, who in a news release announcing the punishment said it was...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles are eight games above .500 for the first time since the conclusion of the 2014 season. And they're doing it mostly with muscle. They hit four more home runs today, including two by Mark Trumbo, and avoided a rain-related interruption in their 9-2 victory over the Twins at Target Field. The Orioles were 0-7 against the Twins last season, but are 5-0 this year with a makeup game left. All 11 of the Orioles' runs on Sunday came via the home run, two of five last night...

When the Orioles bash home runs, it can be impressive to see. It was today at Target Field. Under cloudy and sometimes wet skies, the Orioles were raining homers. They hit three - two by Mark Trumbo - in the first four innings and added another later on their way to a 9-2 win over Minnesota. The Orioles are 20-12 and have won four in a row. They have also won six of eight and nine of their past 13 games to get to eight games over .500 for the first time in 2016. Trumbo hit a two-run homer that...

Every franchise experiences certain rites of passage throughout the course of its existence, and tonight the Nationals will experience a new one: The return of a star player now wearing an opposing uniform. Jordan Zimmermann makes his first-ever start at Nationals Park as a member of the Tigers, taking the mound for tonight's series finale. When he does, he'll become easily the best former National ever to face his old team here in town. Thinking back across the years, who else is even in the...

MINNEAPOLIS - It's raining home runs at Target Field. No tarp needed. The Orioles have hit three more today in four innings, including two by Mark Trumbo, and they lead 5-1 in the top of the fifth. Trumbo has taken over the team lead with 11 home runs and he also ranks first in RBIs with 27. He hit a two-run shot in the second that traveled an estimated distance of 431 feet, the ball slamming off the facing of the second deck in left field, and his solo shot in the fourth landed in the Orioles...

The Orioles will look for a sweep of a series shortened to two games by a rainout this afternoon in Minnesota. Last night Adam Jones drove in three runs to lead the Orioles to a 5-3 win. His two-run single in the ninth broke the 3-3 tie. Jones now has 1,305 hits as an Oriole, passing Orioles Hall of Famer Mark Belanger (1,304) for sole possession of 12th on the club's all-time hits. list. Melvin Mora (1,323) ranks 11th. Jones three RBIs on Tuesday gives him 659 as an Oriole, moved him ahead of...

MINNEAPOLIS - Today's game is expected to start on time. That's the good news. A storm is expected to arrive around 2 p.m. CT and the Orioles have been warned about the likelihood of at least one delay. Could be lots of first-pitch swinging. "We might be here a while, I'm told," said manager Buck Showalter. Brad Brach said his right leg is fine after being hit by a line drive last night in the bottom of the seventh inning. Danny Santana reached on an infield hit and Brach stayed in the...

MINNEAPOLIS - Nolan Reimold is starting in right field today and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter for the series finale against the Twins. Manny Machado stays at shortstop. Adam Jones collected two hits last night to give him 1,305 as an Oriole, passing Mark Belanger for sole possession of 12th place on the club's all-time list. Melvin Mora is 11th with 1,323. Jones also notched three RBIs to give him 659 as an Oriole, passing Nick Markakis for sole possession of ninth place on the...