The flu-like symptoms that caused third baseman Anthony Rendon to miss yesterday's game against the Braves are apparently no longer an issue, and he's back in the Nationals lineup for today's opener of a four-game series at Citi Field against the Mets. Ditto for shortstop Ian Desmond, who sat out yesterday's contest after leaving Tuesday's game early with tightness in his back. Tanner Roark (12-10, 2.91 ERA) faces Bartolo Colon (13-11, 3.96 ERA) in a battle of right-handers. For the...

Today's the day officials from the Nationals and Astros meet with the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council to make their pitch for a new shared spring training site. According to news reports, the teams will ask for Palm Beach County to chip in almost $155 million from a hotel tax to help offset costs for the stadium project. About $50 million in funds from a state program designed to retain Grapefruit League teams would be combined with almost $57 million from the Astros and...

It is a question that Nationals players and their manager have deflected for what seems like an entire six-game homestand. Do the Nationals feel like they're close to clinching the National League East? Manager Matt Williams has repeated the mantra, whether his team wins or loses, of "one game at a time." His players have followed suit. Whether they are winning two in a row to take a series from the Braves or falling 6-2 in the finale, the company line has been don't get too high or too low...

We all know Nick Markakis has some kind of glove. What about yesterday's diving grab at Fenway Park that kept Wei-Yin Chen's perfect game intact, or the game-saving grab at the wall at U.S. Cellular Field last month? Yep, Markakis can flash the leather. But Markakis also has some pretty impressive closing speed. What's that? You say Markakis has only stolen four bases this season, six in the last three seasons and has only reached double digits in swipes twice in his nine-year career? Or...

It feels like it has been months that people have been debating who should be on the Nationals' postseason roster. The main focus of the debate has been which starter should go to the bullpen. All I'll say about that is tonight is a big start for Tanner Roark, who has regressed to the mean a bit since the beginning of August pitching 44 1/3 innings to a 3.65 ERA (while, in the same time period, Gio Gonzalez has pitched 40 2/3 innings with a 3.54 ERA). Not much difference in those numbers, but...

I don't have the greatest of memories, but I vividly remember exactly what I did on June 30, 2009. It was another difficult season for my beloved Orioles, who were already seven games under .500 and losing 9-1 to the Boston Red Sox when a rain delay paused the game in the top of the fifth inning. My girlfriend, now wife, convinced me to stop watching and go out to dinner with her as the summer storm rolled through the city. We opted to pick crabs in Towson on that Tuesday evening, and out of...

Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 71-75 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.248/.347/.477, 23 doubles, 27 HR, 81 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.301/.344/.422, 34 doubles, 9 HR, 53 RBIs, 73 R); RHP Bartolo Colon (13-11, 3.96 ERA, 1.16 WHIP); RHP Zack Wheeler (10-9, 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-10, 34 runs scored, 62 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 11: Bartolo Colon vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 12: Dillon Gee vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was fairly pleased with his outing, even though he took the loss in a 6-2 setback to the Braves. In a scoreless game in the fifth, B.J. Upton was able to connect on Strasburg's first offering and hit it over the fence for a 1-0 Atlanta lead. "Ball just found his bat," Strasburg said. 'I just got to make a better pitch 0-0. I felt great out there. I felt like I was hitting my spots and just couple hits that (were) just out of our reach that was the ball game."...

BOSTON - For Orioles fans, there's no baseball today. You might prefer that I start you off with the magic number. OK, here goes ... Eight is enough. The Blue Jays and Yankees won last night. It's mathematically possible that the Orioles clinch the division during the homestand that begins Friday with a doubleheader against the Yankees. I haven't ventured inside a champagne-soaked clubhouse at Camden Yards since 1997 following the American League Division Series. I expected it to become...

There won't be a sweep, but the Nationals will head out on their 11-game road trip with an eight-game lead over the Braves, needing a combination of Nats wins or Atlanta losses equaling 10 to clinch the National League East. Matt Williams' team might very well return home with the division crown locked up. Today, the Nats dropped a 6-2 ballgame to Atlanta, with Aaron Harang stymieing them over seven innings. Stephen Strasburg allowed three runs over six innings, striking out eight and walking...