PHILADELPHIA - Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth played both games of a doubleheader for Single-A Potomac this afternoon. The 35-year-old was 1-for-4 with a home run, a strikeout and two walks over the two seven-inning contests. He played left in the first game and served as the designated hitter in the second. Werth is eligible to come off the disabled list today and has maintained since his January right shoulder surgery that it was his goal to return by the Nationals' third series of the...

Now 2-2 on the season after back-to-back losses that followed a 2-0 start, the Orioles host Toronto here tonight at Camden Yards in the middle game of a three-game set. Toronto built a 10-1 lead by the fourth inning on Friday and had 16 hits in a 12-5 win that snapped the Orioles four-game home opener winning streak. The Orioles are now 17-7 in Camden Yards home openers and 12-9 when their home opener is against an American League East opponent. After hitting just one double during their...

The Orioles won't announce their roster move today until making certain that knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa arrives in Baltimore. Gamboa would be making his major league debut if he gets into a game. The Orioles want left-hander T.J. McFarland to make at least a couple of starts at Triple-A Norfolk. He's on the mound tonight in Charlotte. Mike Wright wasn't available to replace reliever Wesley Wright on the 25-man roster because he would have been working on short rest. Gamboa was scheduled to...

After starting the season 0-for-6 with three strikeouts against Tampa Bay, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis picked up his first hit of the year against Toronto Friday. Then he got his second and was robbed of a third. It was a good day at the plate for Davis, who went 2-for-4 with a single and double, and hit another ball to the wall in left only to see Blue Jays left fielder Kevin Pillar crash into the wall and rob him of at least an extra-base hit. Did some things come together for Davis and...

The Orioles will place reliever Wesley Wright on the 15-day disabled list today due to pain behind his left shoulder and neck area that's believed to be related to his trapezius muscle. Wright informed the team last night that he's been experiencing pain for the past few days. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs examined him this afternoon and recommended a stint on the disabled list. Wright has made two appearances, allowing one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. The Orioles will recall a...

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals send tall righty Doug Fister to the mound tonight to try to stop a two-game losing streak. Fister is coming off a questionable spring training, where he allowed an uncharacteristic seven homers en route to a 5.96 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. The Phillies will counter with three-time All-Star Cole Hamels. He took the loss on opening day allowing four runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks against the Red Sox. Nationals manager Matt Williams will give second...

Alejandro De Aza is back in the leadoff spot tonight for the Orioles, who continue their home series against the Blue Jays. Steve Pearce is in right field and Travis Snider is serving as the designated hitter. Everth Cabrera, who's on the field early today taking ground balls, is starting at shortstop. Outfielder David Lough is in Baltimore as expected. He's taking early batting practice. Update: For now, left-hander Wesley Wright is still listed among the Orioles relievers. Wright...

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals are just four games into the season and already there are concerns about the team's inability to score runs. They've only managed to cross the plate seven times in the first four contests after scoring just nine runs in the 45 innings played in last October's National League Division Series. Nationals manager Matt Williams has undoubtedly been forced to experiment with unfamiliar lineups as well as shifting infielders around. The question is whether those on the...

I'm not checking the forecast today. Fool me once... It all starts with starting pitching, and Bud Norris' struggles pretty much took the Orioles out of yesterday's home opener. The bullpen also shoulders some of the blame, allowing four runs in six innings, plus the three inherited runners who scored after Norris came out of the game. The Orioles totaled five runs and 13 hits, which should be plenty good on most nights. "Any time the other team pulls ahead that early, that big of a lead,...

PHILADELPHIA - Nats starter Gio Gonzalez was cruising through six scoreless innings when he suddenly lost his command with one out in the seventh. Back-to-back walks and a hit batter loaded the bases and forced Nationals manager Matt Williams to the mound to end Gonzalez's night. Williams seemed baffled after the game at how quickly the storyline changed for Gonzalez. "I don't know," said Williams. "He lost the strike zone. He still hadn't given up a run. He walked two guys and hit a guy...