Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy will work out Friday at Double-A Bowie, but he still hasn't been cleared to play in any games. Hardy's status remains day-to-day. He took live batting practice at Camden Yards and is nearing a return, but he needs to get full extension on his swing without feeling a twinge in his left shoulder. Hardy is able to take ground balls and throw. Batting has been the final hurdle, and he's progressed from dry swings with a fungo bat to coach toss, hitting off a tee and...

Nationals manager Matt Williams announced today that right-hander Craig Stammen has a torn right flexor that will require surgery. The injury could potentially force Stammen to miss the remainder of the season. "It depends on the extent of the damage and the rehab, but it's possible," said Williams. "We'll see." Stammen led the Nationals in appearances this season with five before experiencing right forearm stiffness that sent him to the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. He pitched four...

The Nationals have returned home, and Doug Fister will get his second shot at the Phillies in the last six days. At Citizens Bank Park, Fister pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings of six-hit ball before leaving with a 1-0 lead that the Nationals bullpen could not hold. Fister will again face Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, who is 15-8 with a 2.59 ERA in 33 outings vs. the Nationals. He allowed one run and two hits over seven innings against the Nats on Saturday. Danny Espinosa gets his normal...

There is a time in U.S. history that we generally take for granted, if we think of it at all. This nation defines its early history through the Revolutionary War and the goings on in Philadelphia in 1776. Despite that history, the United States almost wasn't. In 1787, when the constitutional convention met, the very idea of united states was in issue. Rather than rework the Articles of Confederation, the founding fathers took the convention in a different direction, with great controversy in...

The Nationals shuffled their bullpen again this afternoon, recalling left-hander Felipe Rivero from Triple-A Syracuse and optioning right-hander Taylor Jordan to the Chiefs to create a spot on the 25-man roster. Rivero, 23, will be making his major league debut in his first appearance. He was acquired in the February 2014 deal that sent right-hander Nathan Karns to Tampa Bay, a trade that also netted the Nats catcher Jose Lobaton and minor league outfielder Drew Vettleson. A hard-throwing...

The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher Felipe Rivero from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, and optioned RHP Taylor Jordan there. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rivero, 23, joins the Nationals for his first Major League assignment and provides the team with a second left-handed reliever in the bullpen. In five Spring Training games (5.2 IP) with the Nationals this year, Rivero was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He allowed just four...

The Nationals' 3-6 record is not the fast start that fans wanted and experts expected, and the early struggles have been three-pronged. The offense took the first five games off, the defense has had issues catching and throwing the ball, and the bullpen has given away leads. Of the three, the offense has already started to turn with Jayson Werth off the disabled list, and Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper's bats coming to life. The Nats' fielders are better players than they've shown so far...

When I sat on my couch last Wednesday to write my first piece of the season for MASNsports.com, Adam Jones had just one hit in his first 11 at-bats of the season. He was slashing a cool .091/.167/.182. So I instead focused my attention on Alejandro De Aza and the top of the order. In baseball, a lot can change in a week. The Orioles wrapped up their first homestand of 2015 and Jones absolutely raked in all six games. Against the Blue Jays, Jones collected seven hits in 10 at-bats and his first...

When right-hander Rafael Martin came off the field at hallowed Fenway Park yesterday, starter Gio Gonzalez was waiting with a new nickname for the 30-the-year-old rookie. "I'm the Mexican Assassin," Martin said with a smirk after working two impressive innings in the Nats' 10-5 victory. Martin was just that in his major league debut, as he struck out five straight Red Sox hitters, including three-time All Star Hanley Ramirez, in helping to preserve the Nats' third win of the season. "I...

The Phillies have gone into a tailspin since their last meeting with the Nationals. The three-game set last weekend in Philly was their last and only win streak, when they won two of three versus the Nats. A team meeting called by closer Jonathan Papelbon did not help them snap a three-game skid yesterday, when they lost to the Mets 6-1. Both teams begin play tonight in D.C. with identical 3-6 records. Alongside the Marlins, the trio is tied for third place in the National League East. The...