The Nationals showed up to spring training with injuries and they've continued to play short-handed since opening day. They've persevered through serious setbacks and nagging twinges to maintain their expected position atop the National League East. At some point, though, the depleted roster has to catch up to them. Tonight, the Nationals couldn't outlast the Reds after losing center fielder Denard Span and third baseman Yunel Escobar. An eighth-inning solo homer from Eugenio Suarez off Nats...

Darren O'Day is a very good relief pitcher, but you already know that. You probably also know by now that O'Day was selected to the All-Star Game along with fellow Orioles Adam Jones, Manny Machado, and Zach Britton. All are deserving choices, though plenty of deserving players around the league are left off the team each year. Regardless, it's impressive to have four players on the team overall and two pitchers from the same bullpen. It's impossible to watch O'Day pitch without marveling...

Reliever Casey Janssen thrives on those late-inning calls. He got one Monday night against the Reds in a tie ballgame. But for the first time in his career, Janssen allowed a home run on a 0-2 count. Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez drove the offering deep down the left field line for the solo shot just inside the foul pole that lifted the Reds to a 3-2 win over the Nationals. It was his third homer of the season. The Reds went on to win the game by not allowing a hit over the final three...

It was a high fastball and Minnesota's Brian Dozier didn't miss it. Dozier's two-run blast in the last of the 10th gave Minnesota a 4-2 walk-off win over the Orioles tonight in the opener of a three-game series. Working his second inning, Tommy Hunter allowed a one-out single to Danny Santana. He fell behind Dozier 2-0, who smoked a 96 mph fastball for his 17th homer to win the game. This was the Orioles' third walk-off loss of the year. The other two were April 18 at Boston and May 23 at...

Nationals center fielder Denard Span left tonight's game after the second inning. The Nationals don't provide injury updates during the game, but Span has been bothered by back spasms since June 7. Michael A. Taylor took over for Span in center field while Matt den Dekker entered the game in left. The Reds and Nationals nearly made it through the first inning before heavy showers arrived. After a 29-minute rain delay, Bryce Harper stepped into the batter's box and launched the first pitch...

The Orioles will have four representatives in Cincinnati next week for the 86th All-Star Game, including two first-timers from their bullpen. Center fielder Adam Jones has made his fifth All-Star team and third baseman Manny Machado is selected as a reserve for the second time in his career. They're joined by closer Zach Britton and set-up man Darren O'Day, novices to the Midsummer Classic. Jones, also an All-Star in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014, is batting 286/.334/.464 with 13 doubles, three...

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named to the 2015 National League All-Star team on Monday night. Scherzer joins right fielder Bryce Harper, who was announced Sunday as a fan-elected starter, as the Nationals' selections to the National League squad. The 2015 AL and NL All-Star rosters were unveiled during the "Esurance All-Star Selection Show" on ESPN on Monday night. Scherzer, who has now received three consecutive All-Star nods, is 9-6 with a 1.82 ERA in 16...

In one of the worst-kept secrets ever, Max Scherzer will join Bryce Harper at next Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. Despite leading the National League East by 4 1/2 games, only Harper and Scherzer have been chosen to represent the Nationals at the Midsummer Classic. Scherzer has been arguably the game's most dominating pitcher through the first half of the season. He was named the NL Pitcher of the Month in May and June. The high point game when Scherzer tossed his first career...

On Sunday night, Nationals manager Matt Williams placed first baseman Clint Robinson in the cleanup spot behind right fielder Bryce Harper. In Monday's opener against the Reds, Williams placed catcher Wilson Ramos in the cleanup role. It didn't hurt that Ramos was coming off a game in which he went 2-for-3 with a single, a home run and a walk, plus two RBIs. But Williams said during his pregame meeting with the media there are a few different strategic reasons why they adjust the cleanup...

The Orioles and Twins begin a three-game series tonight in Minnesota; the teams begin the series with identical 43-39 records, and both are in second place. The Orioles and Twins are tied for the second American League wild card spot right now, one game behind the Angels and one game ahead of the Rays and Blue Jays. Minnesota, which just split a four-game series against Kansas City, has the best record in its league against American League East opponents at 9-4. The Twins are 5-2 against Boston...