Keith Lupton, a man that was instrumental in the start-up and operation of three Orioles minor league franchises, died Sunday. He was 73. Keith was well-known to long-time employees in the Orioles player development department and was a minor league executive that won General Manger of the Year honors in the South Atlantic, Carolina and Eastern leagues. Most recently, he was involved with two independent Atlantic League teams, the Lancaster Barnstormers and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. (In the...

The first week of baseball is in the books. Six games doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of a baseball season. Still, there are questions and talking points from the early going: Q: The Blue Jays scored 23 runs in beating the Orioles two of three at Camden Yards. Is there any sizzle behind the Blue Jays being a trendy pick to win the American League East this season? Should the Orioles be concerned? A: No. The Blue Jays lineup is devastating with Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes,...

BOSTON - Left fielder Jayson Werth will hit cleanup in his return to the Nationals. Manager Matt Williams slotted Werth, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list this morning, into the fourth spot in the lineup for today's afternoon game at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has hit cleanup in each of the Nationals' previous six games this season, drops to fifth in the lineup. He is struggling, starting the season 3-for-26 (.130). Clint Robinson's...

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Jayson Werth from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, and optioned outfielder Matt den Dekker to Triple-A Syracuse. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Werth, 35, returns to the Nationals' active roster after missing the first six games of the 2015 season following offseason (January 9) surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder. On a three-game rehab assignment with...

BOSTON - Jayson Werth has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and is expected to be in uniform and in left field when the Nationals play in the season's first game at Fenway Park later this afternoon. Werth rejoined his team in Philadelphia last night in time for a disco ball celebration in the team clubhouse after the Nats' second win. He had been targeting today as a return date since his January surgery to repair his right shoulder, which was initially injured while making a...

Manager: Joe Girardi, eighth year Record: 2-4 Last 10 games: 2-4 Who to watch: DH Alex Rodriguez (.300/.417/.550, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBIs); 1B Mark Teixeira (.222/.375/.611, 2 HR, 3 RBIs); RHP Michael Pineda (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP); LHP CC Sabathia (0-1, 6.35 ERA, 1.412 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2014): 6-13, 57 runs scored, 91 runs allowed Pitching probables April 13: RHP Michael Pineda vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN2 April 14: LHP CC Sabathia vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2...

Manager: John Farrell, third year Record: 4-2 Last 10 games: 4-2 Who to watch: LF Hanley Ramirez (.320/.333/.680, 3 HR, 7 RBIs); SS Xander Bogaerts (.407/.467/.519, 2 XBH, 2 SB, 6 RBIs); RHP Rick Porcello (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.333 WHIP); RHP Justin Masterson (1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.833 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2014): DNP since 2012 Pitching probables April 13: RHP Rick Porcello vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 3 p.m., MASN April 14: RHP Justin Masterson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 6 p.m., MASN April 15:...

BOSTON - For a fraction of a second late yesterday afternoon, it appeared like the Nationals would blow a two-run 10th-inning lead. The Phillies had men at first and second with two outs and one run having already crossed the plate. Cesar Hernandez hit a sharp ground ball that surely looked to be heading to right field until Nats first baseman Ryan Zimmerman dove to his right and gloved the ball. He quickly popped up and tossed to closer Drew Storen, who hurried to cover the bag and just beat...

Repeat after me: "It's still early. ... It's a marathon, not a sprint. ... Nobody ever won a pennant in April. ... Three of our best hitters haven't played yet." Can we think of any other worn-out clichés to perk up the spirits of Nationals fans expecting more after a 2-4 first week? There are probably plenty. Quite a few have appeared on Nats message boards and discussion groups this year, almost as many as the number of posts pointing out mistakes the Washington fielders, hitters,...

The strongest start of the first five games of the season by an Orioles starter was turned in by the most unlikely of sources. Ubaldo Jimenez tossed an absolute gem of a game on Saturday night in a 7-1 win over the Blue Jays. He gave the Orioles everything they wanted. It's exactly the kind of performance they expected when they signed him to a big contract before last season. We've been watching Jimenez develop some new tendencies while on the mound since last September, and it seems to be...