Manager: Terry Francona (3rd season) Record: 26-27 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Jason Kipnis (.330/.402/.509 with 5 HR, 26 RBIs), LF Michael Brantley (.303/.384/.469 with 4 HR, 32 RBIs), RF Brandon Moss (.253 with 10 HR, 32 RBIs), RHP Danny Salazar (5-1, 3.79 ERA), RHP Cody Allen (12 saves, 34 strikeouts) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2014) Pitching probables: June 5: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Shaun Marcum, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June 6: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Danny...

Nationals manager Matt Williams updated how pitchers Doug Fister (right forearm tightness), Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness) and Sammy Solis (left shoulder inflammation) are going through the rehab process while on the disabled list. All three worked out at Nationals Park on Thursday. "Doug threw 40-ish pitches in the bullpen today, felt good," Williams said. "Threw all of them. Threw his changeup and his curveball, his cutter. Came out of it feeling really good. That heavier load, we'll...

For two straight innings, Orioles pitchers worked out of huge jams to keep the game tied. Adam Jones didn't need a runner on base to break that tie. Jones ended a 20-game and 83 at-bat homerless stretch with a solo shot to left in the top of the eighth to snap a 2-2 tie and send the Orioles to a 3-2 win over Houston this afternoon. The Orioles avoided a four-game sweep, ended a five-game losing streak and improved to 24-29 as they get set for a weekend series in Cleveland. Jones connected on a...

The Nationals finally welcome Anthony Rendon back to their lineup tonight. The 24-year-old will make his season debut after missing the first 53 games with a sprained left MCL and a strained left oblique. Rendon will bat second and start at second base against the Cubs. Last season, Rendon finished fifth in the National League MVP vote after batting .287 with 21 homers, 83 RBIs and a league leading 111 runs. For the Cubs:CF Dexter Fowler 3B Kris Bryant 1B Anthony Rizzo RF Junior Lake SS Starlin...

Anthony Rendon is back. The 24-year-old was reinstated this afternoon and is set to make his 2015 debut after missing the first 53 games of the season recovering from a left knee sprain followed by a left oblique strain. On his rehab assignment, Rendon hit .250 with three doubles, three RBIs, three walks and one run scored over eight games with Double-A Harrisburg. The Nats will welcome Rendon and his bat back with open arms. He is coming off a season in which he won a Silver Slugger and...

Granted, it's only one inning today, but the Orioles appear to be taking a much more patient approach at the plate against Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel. The Orioles worked Keuchel for 28 pitches while taking a 1-0 lead at Minute Maid Park. I'm pretty sure rookie Lance McCullers finally reached that total last night after the fifth. I'm exaggerating, but not by much. McCuller's pitch count stood at 81 after a five-pitch seventh inning. The Orioles were swinging early, their aggression...

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. They optioned right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse and infielder Wilmer Difo to Double-A Harrisburg. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rendon, 24, missed the first 53 games of the 2015 season recovering from a left knee...

The struggling Orioles' offense gets a real challenge today as they try to get a win and avoid a four-game sweep at Houston. They face left-hander Dallas Keuchel (7-1, 1.76 ERA). He ranks second in the American League to Oakland's Sonny Gray (at 1.65) in ERA. Maybe the Orioles are encouraged by the fact that they are one of three teams this year to score four runs against him. On May 25 at Camden Yards, the O's pinned Keuchel's only loss this year on him as he went eight innings, giving up...

Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, the American League Pitcher of the Month for April and May, has won seven of eight decisions this season and posted a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts. Sounds like a daunting task for the Orioles today, but at least they've beaten him once this season. Caleb Joseph and Steve Pearce hit two-run homers off Keuchel in a 4-3 victory on April 25 at Camden Yards. Keuchel has surrendered only three home runs in 81 2/3 innings. Steve Clevenger caught last night so Joseph could...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles' lineup today for a fourth consecutive game. Hardy has avoided the disabled list and should return to the lineup this weekend in Cleveland. Meanwhile, Everth Cabrera starts at shortstop today. Steve Pearce is playing first base and Chris Davis is serving as the designated hitter. The Orioles will try to end a five-game losing streak, tied for their longest of the season. Since May 25, outfielder Delmon Young has hit safely in seven of his last eight...