There were many obvious reasons for ace Max Scherzer to sign with the Nationals this offseason. The club was already the World Series favorites, he would be joining the game's most imposing starting rotation and, oh yeah, $210 million. But an added luxury, was the benefit to work with a top-flight catcher that was battle-tested and full of experiences with some of the game's elite pitchers. Throwing to catcher Wilson Ramos through his first three starts, Scherzer has been lights out, allowing...

It was a tough and frustrating night for the Orioles and their fans. But in the end, the O's also contributed to their own demise last night. Orioles pitchers walked seven, including the eventual winning run when Brian Matusz issued a four-pitch free pass to start the bottom of the ninth. The Orioles went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, including Chris Davis hitting into a double play with two on in the fourth and Manny Machado chasing a third strike with two on in the sixth. The...

BOSTON - Catcher Ryan Lavarnway figures to make at least one start for the Orioles during their four-game series against the Red Sox. Perhaps it comes today with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. following last night's 3-2 loss to the Red Sox. Lavarnway is making his return to Fenway Park, having spent parts of four seasons with the Red Sox after being chosen in the sixth round of the 2008 draft out of Yale University. "Yeah, this place will always hold a special place for me," he said....

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter referred to tonight's ejection of starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez as "professionally a little embarrassing," and he hopes that Major League Baseball will take action to make certain that it never happens again. Plate umpire Jordan Baker tossed Jimenez after Pablo Sandoval was hit on the right shoulder with two outs in the fourth inning. It was Jimenez's first career ejection and it didn't sit well with the Orioles, who lost 3-2 on Xander Bogaerts'...

Many scratched their heads when the Nationals made the blockbuster offseason signing to bring right-hander Max Scherzer to D.C. Sure, he was a former American League Cy Young winner, but why did the Nats need him with the stacked rotation they already possessed? There's certainly a long, long way to go for Scherzer to prove he's worth the $210 million the Nats committed to him, but through his first three starts, he's well on his way to making sure the checks clear. The 30-year-old was...

Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar strained his groin running out a ground ball in the fourth inning, according to manager Matt Williams. The Nats pulled Escobar from the Friday's game and moved Danny Espinosa to third base and Dan Uggla to second. Williams explained the move and how the team will evaluate Escobar before Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies. "He strained his groin a little bit, so we took him out to making sure he didn't do anything further," Williams said...

The first night of a seven-game road trip turned into nothing but frustration for the Orioles. Their starting pitcher was ejected. They were held to two runs. They had just one hit after the fifth inning. They lost in walk-off fashion. Xander Bogaerts' bloop RBI single to right off Tommy Hunter with one out in the ninth gave Boston a 3-2 win over the Orioles in the opener of a four-game series. Brian Matusz took the mound for the ninth with the game tied 2-2, and walked leadoff batter Mike...

BOSTON - Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez was ejected from tonight's game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning after hitting Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the right shoulder. Plate umpire Jordan Baker, in his second season as a full-time umpire, didn't issue any warnings. He simply moved around the plate and motioned that Jimenez had been tossed. Jimenez, as mild-mannered as they come, raised both arms in protest and manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout. Another...

BOSTON - Ubaldo Jimenez has walked three batters in three innings tonight, bringing back memories of his struggles to locate the plate in 2014. However, he's held the Red Sox without a run or hit and is holding a 1-0 lead. Jimenez walked Pablo Sandoval and Shane Victorino in the second, but Xander Bogaerts grounded to third baseman Manny Machado, who raced to the bag for the force. Mookie Betts walked with one out in the third, but Dustin Pedroia grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Jimenez has...

For the third time in his many games, the Nationals have put runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. This time it was right fielder Bryce Harper smacking a massive three-run homer over the center field wall to give the Nats an early lead. Two of Harper's team-leading three homers have come off Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan. Nats starter Max Scherzer surrendered two hits in the first, but was able to work of the inning with no problems. He breezed through the second, striking out first...