ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters could more easily ignore the non-waiver trade deadline in past years, his importance to the Orioles or his elbow surgery cementing his status in the organization. A pending free agent on a team that's lost 15 of its last 20 games, Wieters is now more susceptible to having his name linked to various rumors, including talks with the Braves. All he can do is slip back into ignore mode. "It's definitelly different, but as a player you can't think...

As the Orioles look to get their offense going tonight, they'll try to do so against the pitcher than leads the American League in ERA since April 29. Tampa Bay right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (8-3, 3.54 ERA) gets the starts for the Rays. He's made 21 appearances, 14 as a starter. Since he joined the Rays rotation for good on May 14, his eight wins are tied for the major league lead with Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole, Houston's Dallas Keuchel and Detroit's Anibal Sanchez. Since June 20, the Rays...

Manager: Dan Jennings (1st year) Record: 41-58 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: SS Adeiny Hechavarria (.276, 37 RBIs), LF Christian Yelich (.265, 5 HR, 22 RBIs), 1B Justin Boar (.263 with 10 HR, 30 RBIs), RHP Jose Fernandez (3-0, 2.77 ERA), RHP Tom Koehler (8-6, 3.16 ERA), RHP A.J. Ramos Season series vs. Nationals: 4-2 Pitching probables: July 28: RHP Jordan Zimmermann vs. RHP Jose Fernandez, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 July 29: RHP Doug Fister vs. RHP Tom Koehler, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 July 30: RHP Max...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles rotation will stay in turn for the three-game series against the Braves next week at Camdem Yards. Kevin Gausman will start Monday night, followed by Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman. Matt Wieters came up with the idea of taking ground balls at first base this weekend at Tropicana Field. He suggested it to third base coach and infield instructor Bobby Dickerson, who passed it along to manager Buck Showalter. "It's something where I wanted to be available to...

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals lineup is beginning to round into form. Anthony Rendon returns from the disabled list after missing the last 25 games with a strained left quad. Manager Matt Williams has penciled Rendon in at second base where he has started 12 of his 18 games this season. The Nationals also welcome back Yunel Escobar after the 32-year-old rested his sore left wrist and hand the past two games. Escobar, whose .321 batting average is fifth in the National League, will play third...

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals took a major leap forward on the road to health by reinstating Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list this afternoon. Rendon's season has been plagued by three different injuries, limiting him to just 18 games for the Nationals. A sprained left MCL suffered in spring training followed by a left oblique strain robbed Rendon of the first 53 games of the year. The 25-year-old returned to hit .290/.375/.362 with five doubles and five RBIs before landing back on the...

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Abel De Los Santos to Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rendon, 24, returns to the Nationals' active roster after missing 25 games with a left quad strain. He appeared in six Minor League rehab games with Single-A Potomac, hitting .471 (8-for-17) with...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If the Orioles are going to make a run at another division title, or at least a wild card berth, they need to improve on their 19-31 road record. They'll try again tonight in the second game of their series against the Rays. Manny Machado is batting third again tonight for the Orioles, with David Lough leading off. Chris Davis is batting second as the designated hitter. Ryan Flaherty is starting at first base. The Orioles lead the majors with 27 outfield assists. Their...

The Nationals' top prospect, right-hander Lucas Giolito, has been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg according to a release from the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 21-year-old, a 2012 first-round selection, has gone 2-3 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 10 starts. On July 6 versus Wilmington, he went six innings, allowed three hits, no runs, one walk and struck out 10. In five of those starts, he did not surrender an earned run. Rick Giolito, Lucas' father, broke the news on Twitter: Proud of...

Left-hander Sammy Solis entered Friday night's game versus the Pirates in a good situation. The Nationals had just tied the game at 5-5 on a dramatic home run by the hot-hitting Ian Desmond. After trailing 2-0 and 5-4, the Nationals had tied the game again. Max Scherzer was done, finishing five innings. Now it was time for the bullpen to take over and hold back the Pirates. It didn't work out that way for Solis. After a strikeout of Pedro Alvarez, Solis allowed a single to Francisco Cervelli....