KANSAS CITY - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to put Jimmy Paredes in the lineup the day after a costly fielding error in the 12th inning allowed the Twins to score the tiebreaking run and complete a four-game sweep. He prefers to get a player back on the field rather than have him sit on the bench and dwell on the mistake, wondering whether the club has lost confidence in him. Paredes didn't make it into Monday's lineup in Kansas City, but he's returned to it tonight, serving...

Gio Gonzalez labored through a 26-pitch first inning that included a hit and a walk before finally escaping with back-to-back strikeouts of Justin Upton and Jedd Gyorko. Denard Span drilled a leadoff double in the first and then advanced to third on Jayson Werth's groundout. But Span was stranded as Padres starter Tyson Ross fanned Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper to end the inning. Ross singled off Gonzalez to start the third. After Yangervis Solarte popped out, Melvin Upton Jr. hit a grounder...

The Nationals are taking on the Padres this week and there has been talk about rookies Trea Turner and Joe Ross playing for the first time against the team that drafted them. But San Diego also has a starting catcher/first baseman in Derek Norris who began his career in the Nationals system and was drafted by the team in 2007 as a fourth-round selection. Norris played five seasons (2007-2011) in the Nationals organization, reaching Double-A Harrisburg, before being traded to the Oakland A's in...

KANSAS CITY - Hunter Harvey will throw another bullpen session on Thursday while recovering from a strained right flexor mass, and the Orioles remain encouraged by his progression. How much? The club is talking about sending Harvey to the fall instructional league in Sarasota and later assigning him to the Arizona Fall League. Harvey, the 22nd-overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Bandys (N.C.) High School, may have reached the majors in September if not for the injury. He...

The Nationals can win their third straight series with a victory in tonight's second game of the series against the San Diego Padres. The Nationals toppled the Friars 8-3 last night behind a grand slam from Ryan Zimmerman. They also dropped the Rockies (2-1) and Brewers (2-1) in their last two series. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-6, 3.98 ERA) looks to bounce back from two losses in a row. He is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts against San Diego. Padres right-hander Tyson Ross (8-9, 3.32) is...

If the Nationals miss these playoffs, injuries will undoubtedly be blamed for the team not meeting the sky-high expectations placed on them. Some have been blatant like Jayson Werth's fractured left wrist on a darting fastball, while others, such as Anthony Rendon's sprained MCL on a diving play, seemed otherwise harmless. Just last week, there was the unlucky Tyler Moore spraining his left ankle while accidentally stepping on a baseball in the batting cage. But none of the Nationals injuries...

If the Orioles are going to win tonight at Kansas City, they have to win a game in which the Royals are starting 29-year-old right-hander Johnny Cueto, who is 9-8 with a 2.70 ERA this year between Cincinnati and Kansas City. He was acquired by the Royals on July 26 from the Reds in exchange for left-handed pitchers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed. Cueto, who has never faced the Orioles, has been one of the game's best pitchers the last two seasons. He is 29-17 with a 2.43 ERA since...

According to Baseball Almanac, it has happened only 21 times. The last time was 2009 when Jered faced his brother Jeff Weaver. Phil and Joe Niekro squared off nine times in their careers. It almost happened in this series here at Nationals Park this week. Brother vs. brother on the starting pitching mound. The Nationals and Padres came within one day of pulling it off at Nationals Park. Right-hander Tyson Ross pitches tonight for the Padres. Little brother Joe Ross starts for the Nationals...

KANSAS CITY - With the Orioles facing Royals right-hander Johnny Cueto tonight, Ryan Flaherty gets the start at shortstop and Jimmy Paredes serves as the designated hitter. Steve Clevenger was serving as the left-handed DH, but he's on paternity leave. Paredes is starting for the first time since Aug. 12. He's 4-for-34 with 15 strikeouts this month. The Orioles confirmed that former All-Star closer Chris Perez has retired. Perez was working out in Sarasota while serving his 50-game suspension...

Gio Gonzalez looks to get back on track against the Padres tonight. Gonzalez was on a roll, going 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA over eight starts from June 21-Aug. 10. But since then, the left-hander has battled command issues, dropping two straight games while surrendering 11 runs (10 earned) over just 7 2/3 innings (11.74 ERA). Gonzalez is 5-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 starts at Nationals Park this season. The Padres send Tyson Ross (8-9 3.32 ERA), older brother of Nationals starter Joe Ross, to the mound...