The Nationals had searched for a left-handed reliever prior to the deadline, but could not nail down a deal. Many teams wanted too much in exchange. So, President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo went the revocable waiver route and acquired left-hander Matt Thornton from the Yankees, according to Jon Heyman of CBSsports.com. Thornton has been impressive this season, with an 0-3 record and a 2.55 ERA in 46 games over 24 2/3 innings. He is a formidable specimen, towering on the mound at...

After a loss in last night's makeup game, the Nationals will look to turn things around tonight, but they'll be without Wilson Ramos. Ramos left the team today after being put on the Paternity List as he and his wife Yely are expecting their first child. Jose Lobaton will get the start behind the plate tonight, and is batting eighth. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Bryce Harper 2B Asdrubal Cabrera C Jose Lobaton LHP Gio...

Former Orioles closer Jim Johnson has signed a minor league deal with the Tigers, according to an industry source. Johnson threw a bullpen session yesterday in Sarasota, with pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor and minor league medical coordinator Dave Walker in attendance. The Orioles maintained interest in signing Johnson to a minor league deal, but they had no room for him on the roster until it expanded in September. Manager Buck Showalter said he made that point clear to Johnson...

The Washington Nationals today recalled catcher Sandy Leon from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed catcher Wilson Ramos on the Paternity List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Leon, 25, rejoins the Nationals for his third Major League stint of the season. The switch-hitting catcher is batting .212 (25-for-118) in 34 games with Syracuse this season, with eight doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. In 28 games...

The Nationals will be without catcher Wilson Ramos for the next couple of days. Ramos was placed on the Paternity List as he and his wife Yely are expecting their first child. Sandy Leon has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to take Ramos' spot on the roster. This is the third time Leon has been with the Nats this season. He is hitting .212 with eight doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs in 34 games with Syracuse this season.

FREDERICK, Md. - The first-place Orioles and second-place Blue Jays begin a key three-game series tonight with the O's (63-48) leading Toronto (60-53) by four games atop the American League East. Toronto is the only AL East team that the O's do not have a winning record against, but they are .500 at 5-5, including 2-1 at Toronto. The Blue Jays have outscored the Orioles 48-38 in the season series. The Orioles have been solid in division games with a 26-18 record and a 15-7 road record in...

Late last October the Orioles made a move that would have a big impact on the 2014 season, even if maybe we didn't completely realize it at the time. They hired Dave Wallace as pitching coach. Wallace had been the minor league pitching coordinator for four seasons for the Atlanta Braves. He would bring plenty of experience to the Orioles. He had been a pitching coach for four major league teams - the Houston Astros (2007), Boston Red Sox (2003-06), New York Mets (1999-2000) and Los Angeles...

The Orioles signed left-hander Joe Saunders to a Triple-A contract after he passed his physical. The transaction is official. Clay Rapada was released to make room for Saunders, who agreed to terms over the weekend. Saunders is being transitioned into a relief role to take advantage of his splits. Left-handers have a career .242 career against him. Right-handers are batting .295. The Tides didn't need two lefty specialists, which contributed to Rapada's release. So did his stats. Rapada...

The turning point in last night's 7-3 loss to the Orioles came in the top of the seventh inning, when Baltimore knocked out six hits, pushed across three runs and turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead. Tanner Roark had started that seventh inning on the mound for the Nationals, having worked six solid frames to that point, allowing just two runs (both solo homers) on four hits. Roark had been strong through six, but he surrendered three hits in a four-batter span to start the seventh,...

We're back at it again, Orioles fans! MASN's Social Media Weekend (#masnSMW) styled by Hair Cuttery starts this Friday, Aug. 8 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. By being social with MASN, you'll have chances to win during the entire Cardinals series at the ballpark. If you plan on heading to the Yard, you could win an opportunity to swap your seats for an upgraded view! Fans who are at the Yard and tag their tweets with #SeatSwap will be eligible to win a seat upgrade courtesy of...