There is something to be said for a rookie pitcher who is called up and told to jump right on the mound for a crucial start for the big club. Right-hander Joe Ross certainly looked the part in his initial start with the Nationals on June 6 against the Cubs. In that game, he went five innings, allowed six hits and only three runs with no walks and four strikeouts. He took the loss that day, but showed poise beyond his 22 years. And tonight, just like in that first game in early June, he comes...

In an effort to raise funds for the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and to join other "Big Leaguers" around the country in making a global impact, Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer has teamed up with Adam Wainwright's Big League Impact to launch Big League Impact DC. His inaugural event will be a fantasy football draft held on Saturday, August 22 at Nationals Park. Proceeds from the tax deductible fundraiser will benefit the...

Mets ace Jacob deGrom takes the mound tonight in his first appearance since stealing the show in the All-Star Game a week ago. deGrom, the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year, blazed through the sixth inning last Tuesday, whiffing Oakland's Stephen Vogt and Cleveland's Jason Kipnis on 97 mph heaters before fooling Detroit's Jose Iglesias on a filthy curveball. The long-haired 27-year-old brings a 9-6 record and 2.14 ERA into tonight's start, but two of his losses have come to the...

NEW YORK - The Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener at Yankee Stadium includes Chris Parmelee at first base and batting ninth. Travis Snider is back in left field and Chris Davis remains in right. Matt Wieters is catching. The Orioles' .288 average with runners in scoring position ranks third in the majors behind the Blue Jays (.297) and Rockies (.295). For the OriolesManny Machado 3BJimmy Paredes DHAdam Jones CFChris Davis RFMatt Wieters CJ.J. Hardy SSTravis Snider LFJonathan Schoop...

The Nationals officially recalled rookie right-hander Joe Ross from Triple-A Syracuse to make tonight's start against the Mets. This will be Ross' second stint with the Nationals this season after impressing with a 2-1 record and 2.66 ERA in three starts in June. Ross struck out 23 and walked only two across 20 1/3 innings after debuting in the majors on June 6. The former 2011 first-rounder figures to remain in the rotation until Stephen Strasburg (left oblique strain) comes off the 15-day...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Joe Ross from Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and optioned infielder Wilmer Difo to Double-A Harrisburg. Ross will start for the Nationals against the Mets on Tuesday night. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ross, 22, returns to the Nationals for his second major league stint of the season. The Nationals selected Ross' contract from Double-A on June 6 and the rookie right-hander dazzled in...

There are probably a few words we could use to label the Orioles-Yankees series that begins tonight: Big, important, crucial, critical. For the good of the collective psyche of Birdland, the Orioles probably need to take at least two of three games. At worst, they'll be seven games out by Thursday night and at best they will be one game behind New York. While getting swept would be pretty disastrous for this Orioles team, anything other than that and they will be well within striking distance...

NEW YORK - Center fielder Adam Jones has been named the Orioles' 2015 Heart and Hustle Award winner by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. The award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game. It's the only award voted on by former players. Jones is a three-time recipient with the Orioles. "We are proud to present Adam with the Heart and Hustle Award again this year," said MLBPAA...

From the time they arrived from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have been a mainstay in the Washington, D.C., sports scene. But the Nats are also very active in the community, working diligently over the past decade to touch the lives of many in the region and proving that baseball has a further reach than wins and losses, balls and strikes, batters and pitchers. Each Thursday through mid-August, MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr will explore the Nationals' community outreach...

The All-Star break has passed and the second half of the 2015 MLB season has officially begun. After the series with the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, the Nationals face the Mets to kick off the second half. This is the first time the Nats are facing their second-place rival since the first week of May, if you can believe it. Even with all the injuries and the poor performance in May, it was a very good first half for the Nats. They ended the first half with sole possession of first...