Nationals manager Matt Williams has had to juggle his lineup again this year, fighting his way through the first two weeks of the season. Left fielder Jayson Werth has returned from shoulder surgery. Center fielder Denard Span is back for core muscle surgery. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is set to start his rehab assignment Friday for Double-A Harrisburg after missing time with a left knee injury. New infield additions Dan Uggla and Yunel Escobar, coupled with young outfielder Michael A. Taylor...

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon successfully completed five innings in his second extended spring game in Viera, Fla., today. He was 0-for-1 with two walks. Before yesterday, Rendon had not seen game action since spraining his left knee in a Grapefruit League contest on March 9. Manager Matt Williams revealed the plan for Rendon this afternoon. The 24-year-old will fly to D.C. tomorrow morning and work out with the team at Nationals Park prior to the final game against the Cardinals....

The Washington Nationals traded left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeno to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cedeno, 28, pitched in 25 games for the Nationals over the course of three seasons (2013-15). He was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA (16.0 IP). Cedeno was designated for assignment on April 14, 2015.

Beyond the emotion we saw on the field last night emerges this reality for the Orioles: They need to start pitching better against Toronto. The Blue Jays are 3-1 against the Orioles this year, and they've scored 36 runs. They have a team batting average of .313, and are slugging .556 with an OPS of .927, against the Orioles. Toronto has scored 10 or more runs four times this year, three times against the Orioles. The Birds have allowed 10 or more runs three times, all against the Blue Jays....

Alejandro De Aza is leading off and playing right field tonight for the Orioles, with Travis Snider moving to left field. Snider had some difficulties in right last night in a 13-6 loss to the Blue Jays. Jimmy Paredes is batting second as the designated hitter and Chris Davis is playing first base. Steve Pearce is on the bench. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza RF Jimmy Paredes DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Travis Snider LF Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph C Everth Cabrera...

Jose Bautista is missing from the Blue Jays' lineup for tonight's game against the Orioles at Rogers Centre. Bautista, who exchanged angry words with the Orioles last night after his home run off Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia and slow trip around the bases, is 2-for-29 lifetime against Ubaldo Jimenez. Reports out of Toronto say Bautista underwent an MRI on his right shoulder that revealed a strained muscle. He's listed among the reserves. Adam Jones, who shouted at Bautista from center field and...

Right-hander Doug Fister takes the mound for his third start of the season boasting a sparkling 0.69 ERA. Fister took the loss last June in his only game against the Cardinals, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings. He'll look ti become the first Nationals starter to reach two wins on the season against St. Louis tonight. Center fielder Denard Span had his first multi-hit game of the season last night, going 2-for-5 with two singles. Span has hit safely in both games since returning...

The Orioles today announced that Maryland's own Chef Bryan Voltaggio will appear at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, April 25, to throw the ceremonial first pitch, prepare a special, signature dish, and sign copies of his new book, HOME: Recipes to Cook with Family and Friends. A James Beard Foundation Award finalist and lifelong Orioles fan, Voltaggio is the executive chef and owner of nine restaurants including VOLT, Lunchbox, RANGE, two locations of Aggio, and four locations of...

Ubaldo Jimenez won't be aiming at the Blue Jays when he starts tonight for the Orioles. He won't be looking to knock down Jose Bautista or anyone else on the opposing side, no matter how tempting. The guy's already been ejected once this month. He's not interested in another early exit. Bautista is 2-for-29 (.069) with six strikeouts lifetime against Jimenez. Attack mode doesn't include fastballs aimed at the numbers. Jimenez held the Jays to one hit over seven scoreless innings in his...

Instability is one way to describe infielder Yunel Escobar's career. But barely two weeks into his fifth major league stop, the nine-year veteran has arguably been the most reliable of all of the Nationals. After squandering a one-run lead in the ninth against the Cardinals, Escobar bailed the Nats out with one swing of the bat, launching a solo homer to leftfor a 2-1 walk-off victory in the 10th inning last night. Most players round third and toss their helmet, maybe jump on the plate as...