PHILADELPHIA - Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field rocket off Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan in the first that just cleared the wall in left. The solo homer is Harper's second of the season. The Nats have now hit three homers in the first inning through six games this season. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman and center fielder Michael A. Taylor are the others to deliver early bombs. Nats starter Max Scherzer walked Phillies left fielder Ben Revere to start the game, but...

Ubaldo Jimenez was among five pitchers last night who threw at least seven innings and gave up two hits or fewer, joining Boston's Joe Kelly, Philadelphia's Cole Hamels, Milwaukee's Jimmy Nelson and Tampa Bay's Chris Archer. According to Elias, it's the highest total since Sept. 23, 2000, when the list included Atlanta's Greg Maddux, Cleveland's Bartolo Colon, Oakland's Kevin Appier, the Dodgers' Kevin Brown and Pittsburgh's Dan Serafini. T.J. McFarland started for Triple-A Norfolk...

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop was scratched from today's lineup due to a sore left quadriceps muscle. The Orioles say he's available off the bench. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base and batting eighth. Shortstop Everth Cabrera moves up to seventh in the lineup. Schoop has homered in both games of the current homestand. He hit his first career grand slam last night. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Steve Pearce 1B Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Travis Snider RF Manny Machado 3B ...

When Chris Tillman takes the mound today, he'll be throwing to catcher Ryan Lavarnway for the first time in a regular season game. I asked Lavarnway if he and Tillman can gain anything from last night as they attack the Blue Jays hitters today? They saw Ubaldo Jimenez hold Toronto to one hit and no runs over seven innings last night. Can they just take that game plan that Jimenez used into today's game or does Tillman have a different style of pitching? "I think there is a little bit of...

PHILADELPHIA - Right-hander Max Scherzer heads to the mound this afternoon to try to stop the Nationals' three-game losing streak. Despite taking the hard-luck loss in his outing on opening day, Scherzer was brilliant, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing three unearned runs on just four hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts. Lefty Clint Robinson gets his second start of the season in left field with the Phillies' starting journeyman, right-hander Sean O'Sullivan, on the mound. Robinson...

After exchanging blowout wins, the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays play the third and deciding game of their three-game series here this afternoon. Toronto spoiled the O's home opener with a 12-5 win Friday, but the Orioles won 7-1 last night in front of 38,897 at the Yard behind Ubaldo Jimenez and a Jonathan Schoop grand slam. Right-handers Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA last season) and Drew Hutchison (11-13, 4.48 ERA) will make their second starts of 2015 today. Both started on opening...

Steve Pearce is playing first base and Chris Davis is serving as the designated hitter for the Orioles, as they attempt to take two of three games from the Blue Jays on their first homestand. Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate for starter Chris Tillman. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Steve Pearce 1B Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Travis Snider RF Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Everth Cabrera SS Ryan Lavarnway C Chris Tillman RHP

PHILADELPHIA - It appears that infielder Danny Espinosa is returning to switch-hitting. Espinosa's first two at-bats of the season resulted in groundball outs from the right side of the plate against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels. But when Espinosa's turn came to lead off the eighth against right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, he stepped into the left side of the batter's box. The debate over whether Espinosa should be a switch-hitter has been going on in the Nationals organization for a few years. His...

The Orioles will go for their second series win today in two opportunities, which should satisfy even the harshest critics. OK, maybe not. Situational hitting is lacking. Bud Norris didn't get an out in the fourth inning of the home opener. Zach Britton threw too many pitches while striking out the side against the Rays. Can't please 'em all. Chris Tillman makes his second start of 2015 after holding the Rays to one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings on opening day at Tropicana Field. He's...

So far, so good for Orioles right-hander Jason Garcia. The 22-year-old Garcia had not pitched above low Single-A level until Wednesday, when he threw a scoreless inning against Tampa Bay. On Friday, he pitched during the home opener, going 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one run against Toronto. Garcia recorded his first major league strikeout when he fanned Edwin Encarnacion in the sixth inning. I asked Garcia if pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti have offered him...