For all of the talk about how much the Nationals struggle against the Braves, it's the team's record against another divisional opponent that should be raising a few eyebrows. Following Thursday night's 4-1 win over the Mets, the Nationals hold a 10-2 advantage against New York in 2014, having outscored them 62-34. Sure, the Mets don't appear to have any hopes of playing in the postseason, while the Braves and Nationals fight atop the division, but with the regular season schedule pitting...

Did everyone enjoy the off day? Major League Baseball has a new commissioner. Dylan Bundy has a new lat injury. That pretty much covers the news. Rob Manfred - the commissioner, not the technical name for Bundy's injury - shouldn't be confused with WBAL Radio's Fred Manfra. Two different guys. As for Bundy, his season at Single-A Frederick was winding down and I doubt that the Orioles were going to recall him next month, so being shut down isn't a crushing blow. His right elbow is sound....

Prior to Thursday night's game, Nationals manager Matt Williams was confident starter Stephen Strasburg was going to come out firing. It seemed like a reasonable, even predictable comment for a manger to make of his own starting pitcher. Yet with a meager 1-8 road record this season coming into tonight, Strasburg's success away from our nation's capital had been anything but a realistic notion. As it turns out, Strasburg backed his skipper in a big way and backed the Nationals in a 4-1 win...

When Baseball America came out with its list of the Orioles top 30 prospects last December, pitchers took up the first four spots, and six of the top eight on the list. Based on what we've seen happen this year, and with the departures from that list of Kevin Gausman and Eduardo Rodriguez, several hitters should start making their way higher up on the Orioles' top prospects list next winter. In some respects this has become the year of the hitter on the O's farm. Several players have had...

The Nationals didn't waste any time in giving Stephen Strasburg room to work. After the newest National Asdrubal Cabrera drew a walk with one out in the first inning, Adam LaRoche blasted his 17th home of the season, a two-run shot that put the visiting team ahead 2-0. It's LaRoche's third first-inning home run of the season, tying him for the most in any single inning this year. In fact, the opening frame has been kind to LaRoche. In 53 at-bats, the righty has collected 14 RBIs and is...

It's been a whirlwind of changes for Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. Not only has the infielder had to get used to playing for a new team, but for the first time in his eight-year career, he's in a new league. Oh by the way, he's learning a new primary position, too. All in a day's work. "It's hard when you switch leagues and you don't know the pitching," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "It's especially difficult when you're switching positions and going to the...

Left-hander Joe Saunders tossed two scoreless innings today for Triple-A Norfolk, walking one Buffalo batter and striking out one. The Saunders relief experiment seems to be working so far. He's permitted one earned run over 5 1/3 innings since the Orioles signed him to a minor league contract. It hasn't been a totally clean experiment, with Saunders allowing five hits and walking two, but the Orioles understand that it's a transition for him. Saunders has never pitched in relief during...

Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy has been placed on the disabled list with Single-A Frederick due to a right latissimus strain. It happened while Bundy was running in the outfield following his most recent start. Bundy saw Orioles doctors today in Baltimore. "We did an MRI and it confirmed the muscle strain," Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said. With the minor league regular season set to end Sept. 1, this could make it hard for Bundy to pitch again during this...

NEW YORK - Denard Span is back in the starting lineup in his customary center field and leadoff roles as the Nationals go for a sweep of their three game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field. A night after hitting his first home run in a Washington uniform, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera remains in the two-hole. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will take the mound for the Nats, opposing the Mets' Dillon Gee. For the NationalsCF Denard Span2B Asdrubal Cabrera3B Anthony Rendon1B Adam...

If there was a 25-year-old pitcher making just under $4 million with an ERA of 3.68 compared to the major league average of 3.87 and who couldn't be a free agent until after the 2016 season, this would be a pitcher you'd want on your team. On the other hand, mention the name of Stephen Strasburg attached to those stats and you get a much different response. The expectations are higher. You'll hear how first overall picks are supposed to be better, and anything less than a Cy Young is a...