Going out on a limb here, but just guessing you can't smack a baseball as far as Adam Jones or track down a high fly ball as well as the Orioles' center fielder. But that doesn't mean you can't beat him at your own game! That's right: The CareFirst Fan Challenge is back, and it's time for you to challenge Jones to whatever contest you'd like! This year, entering the fan challenge is easier than ever. Simply tweet us whatever you'd like to challenge Jones in using #IChallengeAJ. Tweets...

It's not Stephen Strasburg's fault that he was hyped beyond belief throughout his final collegiate season and all the way up to the majors. Having followed him that entire time from San Diego State University to the Nationals system and up through his electric major league debut, I'm willing to bet he would have been perfectly fine without the over-the-top attention. He made a point of saying he hadn't done anything yet to earn the spotlight when he was anointed the "next big thing" by...

Residents of the great state of Maryland can claim seven Hall of Famers as their own: Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, Home Run Baker, Al Kaline, Vic Willis, and, of course, Cal Ripken Jr. and Babe Ruth. As the Babe Ruth statue outside Camden Yards demonstrates, Marylanders are proud of their native sons, even when they play for the Yankees. Last weekend's Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game got me thinking about the connection between "Maryland, My Maryland" and the Major Leagues. The...

The Nationals can't seem to catch a break. Teammates welcomed Anthony Rendon back to the lineup last night. The 24-year-old took the field at second base to start the game and then singled in his first at-bat. But when the second inning started, Rendon moved over to third base, replacing Yunel Escobar, who was forced to leave the game after feeling pain in his right wrist following a check swing. Nationals manager Matt Williams said X-rays taken on Escobar's wrist were negative. Escobar will...

The script seemed to be written. In his long-awaited season debut, Anthony Rendon stepped to the plate with Michael A. Taylor standing on second base and Clint Robinson on first with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Nationals trailing by one run. But the script went up in flames as the game ended in the unlikeliest of ways with Cubs catcher David Ross back-picking Robinson off first base to leave Rendon standing at the plate with the bat on his shoulder in the Nats' 2-1 loss. "Just...

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Yunel Escobar left the game because of a right wrist injury. The X-Rays at the stadium were negative. "Yunel on the check swing, his right wrist wasn't feeling good so we'll evaluate that tomorrow and see where he's at," Williams reported postgame. "They took an X-Ray, he's fine. There's no issue there, he just tweaked it trying to check up." Escobar exited the game to begin the top of the second. Danny Espinosa was called in to play...

The Orioles are prepared to make another roster move today as their road trip leads them into Cleveland for a three-game series. Matt Wieters will be activated from the disabled list and manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem inclined to carry three catchers. Caleb Joseph figures to stay, but we'll see. Steve Clevenger is 5-for-11 with a double since being recalled and his defense has improved. However, life isn't always fair and that certainly applies to baseball. Left-hander Brian Matusz...

Much like tonight's game, Gio Gonzalez was slow to get started. After a 1-hour, 51-minute rain delay, Gonzalez loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. He then battled Cubs right fielder Junior Lake before walking him on the eighth pitch to bring center fielder Dexter Fowler to the plate for the game's first run. The Cubs followed with another run on shortstop Starlin Castro's double play grounder. It was the first test for Anthony Rendon who received the flip from Ian Desmond and...

Recently we have been hearing much about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for pitchers in professional baseball. In recent weeks, Orioles minor league pitchers Hunter Harvey and Branden Kline had PRP injections. PRP is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets and stimulates the healing of bone and soft tissue. A pitcher that gets such an injection usually must rest for about six weeks. Long before Harvey and Kline had PRP injections - and they are much more prevalent now -...

Anthony Rendon hasn't played a game with his Nationals teammates since March 9. The 24-year-old is set to bat second and start at second base in his season debut tonight after the Nats reinstated him from the disabled list earlier this afternoon. "It feels good," Rendon said. "I had a frustrating few months, but I'm happy to be back." Rendon initially sprained his left MCL on a spectacular diving play in his third exhibition game. After second and third opinions from renowned...