The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Wilmer Difo from Double-A Harrisburg, and returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett from the 15-day disabled list on Friday. Center fielder Denard Span was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 7, with back tightness and right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann was placed on the paternity list. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Difo, 23, joins the...

While he doesn't have a Twitter account of his own, Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon was an old pro when he took to the @masnNationals account to answer fans' questions. MASN's Twitter followers submitted questions for Rendon using #AskRendon, and then the real fun began. Rendon wielded both baseball-related and off-the-field questions, with topics ranging from his favorite baseball player growing up to "the biggest bromance on the team." Naturally, some of his answers proved to be...

Would you be OK with a batter from a visiting team hitting the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards? What if it were a member of the New York Yankees? The Boston Red Sox? How about the Washington Nationals? What if Bryce Harper were to do it this weekend? Two years ago, then-Washington Examiner columnist Thom Loverro predicted that Harper would hit the warehouse, boasting, "They might as well order the plaque now. Sooner or later, he is going to hit that warehouse." Loverro argued it could well...

Bryce Harper enters this weekend's series at hitter-friendly Camden Yards batting only .194 (7-for-36) in 10 career games against the Orioles, his third lowest mark against any club in the majors. But this year's version of Harper is much more polished at the plate, where he has added patience and discipline to his approach. His .471 on-base percentage, .709 slugging percentage and 1.181 OPS leads all big leaguers while his .343 batting average is just seven points behind Detroit's Miguel...

While plenty of digital ink has been spilled examining what's wrong with Stephen Strasburg, Nationals rotation mate Doug Fister has struggled as well, though a little more quietly. Before Washington's 31-year-old sinkerballing right-hander landed on the DL with forearm tightness in mid-May, the free agent-to-be put up a 4.31 ERA in seven starts and 39 2/3 innings over which opposing hitters had a .291/.331/.456 line. In four starts since he's returned to the rotation, Fister has put up a...

Shortstop Wilmer Difo has now not played in two games in a row for Double-A Harrisburg. The team was in Richmond to play the Flying Squirrels for a series. Manager Matt Williams did say Wednesday that infielder Emmanuel Burriss has some experience in the outfield. Burriss has played two games in left field and two games in right field in his career. As I have talked about in this space recently, if Denard Span (back spasms) is placed on the disabled list, the Nationals have some depth in the...

So another Orioles-Nationals series is here. It seems to me the rivalary is getting bigger and better in recent years with both teams contending for the playoffs. It's been a matchup of two good teams. The games have been well attended and a nice rivalry is developing. The Nationals (46-38) are playing better with this three-game series set to begin. While they lost on Monday and Tuesday to Cincinnati before Wednesday's rainout, the Nats swept the Giants last weekend and are 12-5 over their...

Manager: Matt Williams (2nd season) Record: 46-38 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Bryce Harper (.343/.417/.709 with 25 HR, 60 RBIs, 6.1 WAR), 3B Yunel Escobar (.315/.365/.405 with 27 RBIs), 2B Danny Espinosa (.258/.338/.435 with 9 HR, 25 RBIs), C Wilson Ramos (.258 with 8 HR, 38 RBIs), RHP Jordan Zimmermann (7-5, 3.04 ERA), LHP Matt Thornton (2.18 ERA, 1.02 WHIP), RHP Drew Storen (25 saves, 1.97 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (1-3 in 2014) Pitching probables: July...

The Orioles are set to begin their final series before the All-Star break, hosting the Nationals through the weekend. They haven't announced their starters, but Chris Tillman is expected to pitch tonight. It's his turn and there are no indications that manager Buck Showalter is pushing him back. Let's run with it. Tillman has won his last four decisions. He didn't get one in his most recent start against the White Sox after allowing two runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 3-2...

The Orioles will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken, Jr.'s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game on Tuesday, September 1, at the 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The celebration will recognize the iconic moment when Ripken played his 2,131st consecutive game, passing New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig, on September 6, 1995. Ripken will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of a variety of commemorative events planned at Oriole Park to honor the anniversary....