KANSAS CITY - The Nationals scored in the top of the first inning, keeping with their usual theme. But then their starting pitcher gave it right back (and then some) shortly after, completely bucking recent trends. Despite homers from Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy, the Nats find themselves trailing 3-2 after four innings at Kauffman Stadium after the Royals strung together a three-run rally against Tanner Roark. First, the good news: Rendon finally hit his first homer of the season, a...

KANSAS CITY - Any discussion of how the Nationals can improve their offensive production almost certainly starts with two struggling lineup members who have track records of success: Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman. The two infielders have lagged behind others through the season's first month, combining for just one home run and nine RBIs (eight of them via Zimmerman). There are signs of encouragement, though. Or, at least, signs of bad luck that may change. Rendon, in particular, has been...

Though he owns two Gold Gloves and a Platinum Glove at third base, Manny Machado arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this spring determined to get better. He wasn't going to rest on his hardware. Leave it to the unpredictable nature of baseball to move Machado away from his goal and his position. Machado is starting at shortstop tonight with J.J. Hardy on the disabled list. It could be temporary or the norm. Manager Buck Showalter is taking it one day at a time. There are people in the...

They come to town as the last place team in the American League East. The New York Yankees are 8-15 and have lost five in a row heading into tonight's series opener at Camden Yards. New York has been outscored 33-12 during the losing streak and were just swept at Fenway Park. The Yankees are 1-5 on a nine-game road trip. They are 3-8 in road games and 3-6 in AL East games. Even with losing the last two games of their series with the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, the Orioles are 9-3 at...

Ryan Flaherty received a text message yesterday alerting him to the fractured bone in J.J. Hardy's left foot. He was in Louisville with Triple-A Norfolk and headed out to the field when told to catch a flight to Baltimore. Flaherty had to backtrack and retrieve his luggage. He arrived last night around 7:30 p.m. and is starting at third base tonight in the series opener against the Yankees. "You don't know what's going to happen in this game. I'm just fortunate to be back here," he...

Orioles closer Zach Britton, who left Saturday's game with a sprained left ankle, is hopeful that he can return to pitch during what is left of this homestand. He hopes he can return during the three-game series with the Yankees that starts tonight. "I think this week is a good timeline," Britton said this afternoon in the clubhouse. "I'm not sure exactly whether that is tomorrow or the next day. Once I throw outside, I'll have a better idea. "I feel a lot better (than Saturday)....

Orioles manager Buck Showalter had Manny Machado at third base in his original lineup. They met in his office with the door closed before batting practice, and Machado emerged later as the shortstop. Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Machado talked Showalter into making the switch. "I have that right," Showalter said. The Orioles aren't setting a timetable for J.J. Hardy's return from a hairline fracture in his left foot. Showalter said it could be sooner than six to eight weeks. "I...

KANSAS CITY - Road interleague games present teams with the DH dilemma: Who to use, whether to pull a guy off the bench or whether to give one of your regulars a semi day-off by not playing the field. Last night, Dusty Baker went with a bench guy, Stephen Drew. Tonight, he'll go with a regular, Jayson Werth. (The tentative plan for tomorrow is to use Ryan Zimmerman.) Werth has been hitting the ball harder of late; perhaps a chance to focus solely on offense for one night will help get him...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled infielder Ryan Flaherty from Triple-A Norfolk and placed infielder J.J. Hardy on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 2) with a left foot fracture. Flaherty, 29, has batted .200/.273/.200 in four games with the Orioles this season. Over five games with Triple-A Norfolk this season, Flaherty hit .421/.500/.474 with a double, an RBI, three runs scored and three walks. In 359 career major league games, Flaherty has batted .215/.282/.364...

Update: Ryan Flaherty is now starting at third base, with Manny Machado starting at shortstop. Flaherty is playing shortstop tonight as the Orioles open their three-games series against the Yankees at Camden Yards. The Orioles placed J.J. Hardy on the disabled list earlier today and recalled Flaherty from Triple-A Norfolk. Machado remains at third base and his batting second. Joey Rickard is in left field, Mark Trumbo is in right and Pedro Alvarez is the designated hitter. For the Orioles Joey...