Max Scherzer breezed through the first four innings, allowing just one base hit with four strikeouts. But Braves third baseman Juan Uribe ripped a leadoff double in the fifth. Uribe then scored easily on a one-out single to center from shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Scherzer has thrown 64 pitches through five frames. Meanwhile, the Nationals have struggled to figure out Braves left-hander Manny Banuelos, who's making his major league debut. The rookie has struck out seven while only yielding two...

Following a month that featured his first career no-hitter and in the midst of one of the most dominant stretches in Major League history, Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for June on Thursday. Major League Baseball made the announcement. Scherzer, 30, is the first Nationals (2005-present) pitcher ever to earn the honor in back-to-back months, as well as the first Washington pitcher to take home the award twice in one season. The...

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado had his 12-game hitting streak halted last night, and he learned today that he wasn't named the American League's Player of the Month for June. The honor went to Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, who batted .303 (30-for-99) with four doubles, 13 home runs, 26 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 27 games. Machado led the league with 42 hits and finished second with a .365 average in 28 games. He ranked fourth with 22 RBIs, tied for fifth with a .411 on-base...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with two international free agents: outfielder Juan Soto and infielder Luis Aquino. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of Latin American Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Soto, 16, is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. According to Baseball America, he is rated as the No. 13 prospect in this year's international signing class. MLB.com has him...

Manager: Bruce Bochy (9th season) Record: 42-38 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Buster Posey (.304/.377/.496 with 13 HR, 56 RBIs), 2B Joe Panik (.316/.384/.463 with 30 RBIs), SS Brandon Crawford (.270 with 11 HR, 47 RBIs), LHP Madison Bumgarner (8-4, 2.99 ERA), RHP Santiago Casilla (4-2, 3.03 ERA, 20 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 3: RHP Jake Peavy vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 6:05 p.m., MASN July 4: LHP Madison Bumgarner vs. RHP Stephen...

After tossing his first career no-hitter, Max Scherzer was recognized as the National League Pitcher of the Month for June. Scherzer, who also received the honor in May, began the month by allowing a combined eight earned runs over two losses. But the 30-year-old right-hander responded in his third start with one of the most dominating performances in Major League Baseball History. Scherzer threw six perfect innings at Milwaukee before allowing a broken bat bloop single to the Brewers' Carlos...

Several teams are making news with the signings of Dominican baseball teenagers. The Nationals have spent a great deal of time and resources combing the Dominican for the best talent available and have had continued success with the opening of their Dominican baseball academy. Today the team announced they have agreed to terms with outfielder Juan Soto and infielder Luis Aquino. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and director of Latin American operations...

The Orioles signed veteran reliever Chris Perez to a Triple-A deal today and sent him to Sarasota while he begins serving a 50-game suspension. Perez, the 42nd overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami, was suspended on June 24 for a second offense of using a drug of abuse. He was a free agent after allowing eight runs and 14 hits in 7 2/3 innings with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Perez was an All-Star with the Indians in 2011 and 2012 when he totaled 75...

Manager: Robin Ventura (4th season) Record: 34-42 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Jose Abreu (.291/.342/.488 with 13 HR, 43 RBIs), RF Avisail Garcia (.273/.322/.391 with 7 HR, 29 RBIs), DH Adam LaRoche (.233 with 9 HR, 31 RBIs), LHP Chris Sale (6-4, 2.87 ERA), RHP David Robertson (16 saves, 2.76 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2 Pitching probables: July 3: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. LHP John Danks, 8:10 p.m., MASN2July 4: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Jeff Samardzija, 2:10 p.m., MASN2July 5: RHP...

The Nationals boast three of the top 10 hitters in the National League. Bryce Harper has been getting most of the attention and deservingly so. Harper isn't just knocking the ball out of the ballpark. He's hitting 68 points higher than his career mark and Harper's .340 batting average is third best in the league. With the Major League Baseball All-Star fan vote closing at 11:59 p.m. ET tonight, Harper is virtually guaranteed to lead all players. At last count, Harper had over three million...