The July 31 non-waiver trading deadline is approaching and speculation is flying about players moving to contenders. Soon it will be out of control. The Nationals might be looking for an outfield bat off the bench - how about Boston's Shane Victorino or Philadelphia's Jeff Francoeur? - and bullpen help to boost the bridge from rotation to closer. The Orioles could be looking for a corner outfielder. The Dodgers need starting pitching. The Mets need another bat and are shopping for a third...

The Orioles offense broke out today and it included a big inning, 14 hits, a couple of home runs and even hits with runners in scoring position. The Orioles went 4-for-5 with RISP in the top of the fourth today against 2011 American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander. They scored six runs that inning to break a 1-1 tie on their way to a 9-3 victory over Detroit. Coming into this game, the Orioles were 2-for-21 in this series with RISP and 3-for-57 over their last eight games. Today...

If it makes sense to keep Manny Machado at the top of the order rather than risk cooling off his bat, it also seems right to keep Jonathan Schoop near the bottom. It ain't broke. Schoop is on a serious tear since coming off the disabled list, and the Orioles are fortunate that he didn't sustain a serious tear in his right knee. He went 2-for-4 today with a home run and three RBIs in the Orioles' 9-3 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park and is 11-for-32 (.344) with three homers and seven RBis...

Nationals ace Max Scherzer found himself in an early jam in the first inning. After blowing three straight fastballs by Joc Pederson to start the game, Scherzer was tagged for back-to-back singles to right by Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez. Two batters later, Scherzer walked Yasmani Grandal on four pitches to load the bases with two outs. But, the right-hander battled back to strike out Yasiel Puig swinging on a heater to end the threat. Scherzer's free pass to Grandal ended a 39 2/3...

In honor of Nats Star Wars Day, shouldn't the players be trading in bats for lightsabers? If that was the case, we might hear Matt Williams yelling, "I've got a bad feeling about this!" from the dugout. While the Nationals will be looking to figure out Zack Greinke this afternoon, fans will be looking on dressed as Yoda, C-3PO, Han Solo and more at Nats Park. Check out the photos and tweets below for a closer look at a galaxy far, far away ... Happy #NatsStarWarsDay! May the force be with...

Denard Span started some light physical exercises after receiving cortisone injections in his back last Monday. "Just running, jogging on a treadmill and playing catch," Span said. "The back feels pretty good. We're getting there." With rehab assignments under way or getting started for Jayson Werth (fractured left wrist), Anthony Rendon (left quad strain) and Ryan Zimmerman (left foot plantar fasciitis), Span's plans to return to game action for the Nationals haven't been revealed yet,...

Anthony Rendon saw his first game action in nearly a month last night when he began a minor league rehab assignment at Single-A Potomac. The Nationals decided to start Rendon at third base so it would be easier on his strained left quad, which landed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 25. The 25-year-old went 2-for-2, smacking a double in the first inning and legging out an infield single in the third before exiting the game. "It's only been three innings in, but (for) the most part it...

The Orioles have not won a series since June 26-28 against Cleveland. Remember, that series ended with shutouts in both ends of a day-night doubleheader. Since then, the Orioles have lost series against Texas, the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota and Washington. They can end that slide if they get a victory today at Comerica Park in the third game against Detroit after splitting the first two. Chris Tillman's eight-inning gem Saturday night lifted the Orioles to a 3-0 win and back to the .500 mark...

I loaded up my morning blog entry on information related to Chris Tillman's one-hit gem last night against the Tigers at Comerica Park. As it turns out, there's more stuff to pass along. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Tillman is the only Orioles pitcher since the franchise relocated to Baltimore in 1954 to allow a hit to the opposition's leadoff batter and finish at least eight innings without surrendering another hit. He also did it on Sept. 28, 2012. Tillman and Joe Kennedy are the...

The focus in today's series finale against the Dodgers is rightfully on the pitchers. Today's impressive matchup pits National League ERA leader Zack Greinke of the Dodgers against Nationals ace Max Scherzer in a battle of right-handers. But the batters will have a say in whether either pitcher is successful, so here are today's lineups: For the Dodgers:CF Joc Pederson2B Howie Kendrick1B Adrian GonzalezLF Andre EthierC Yasmani GrandalRF Yasiel Puig3B Alberto CallaspoSS Jimmy RollinsRHP Zack...