SEATTLE - The Nationals will get to utilize the designated hitter for the next three days, and Jayson Werth will handle that role tonight. Werth will be in his normal No. 3 spot in the batting order, but will not roam right field here at Safeco Field. Nate Schierholtz will play right, getting his first start as a National. As I wrote earlier, we'll get a very strong pitching matchup tonight: Jordan Zimmermann (9-5, 2.93 ERA) will square off against Mariners righty Felix Hernandez (13-4, 2.07...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter, responding today to his daily question about the rotation, confirmed that Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman remain scheduled to start Sunday and Monday, respectively, against the Twins at Camden Yards. It's not etched in stone, but it's printed on the game notes. Showalter repeated that he's focused on tonight's game. He's left himself some wiggle room if he decides to make a change, but Chen and Gausman remain the listed starters. Catcher Matt Wieters...

The Orioles' Nelson Cruz said there is a lot to like about his situation with the team. A free agent at the end of this season, the major league's home run leader said that the Orioles have approached him about a possible contract extension. Cruz signed a one-year deal for $8 million, which has turned into a bargain for the Orioles, on Feb. 24. He is batting .256 with 34 homers, 88 RBIs, a .510 slugging percentage and an .834 OPS. "Just means they are interested," Cruz said this...

With a month left in the season, here's a look at what's going on with National League contenders. Atlanta: The Braves aren't out of the division race yet, but their best chance to make the playoffs is the Wild Card route. They know how to beat the Nationals, but they are not consistent enough against the rest of the league to win the NL East. Seven- and eight-game losing streaks have hurt them. The biggest problem is struggling to average four runs a game. Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward,...

Delmon Young is in left field and Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter tonight, as the Orioles open a four-game series against the Twins at Camden Yards. Miguel Gonzalez is 2-3 with a 3.66 ERA in eight home starts this season. He lost to the Twins in his only career start on May 4 after surrendering three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. Twins rookie Trevor May is 0-3 with an 8.79 ERA this season. He hasn't allowed a home run in 14 1/3 innings. Right-handers are batting .425...

Here's a look at the American League's contending teams as the season arrives at September. Baltimore: The Orioles beat the pitching-rich Rays three of four and with the way things are going, they look much like last season's World Series champion Red Sox. Everything is going right for the Orioles. Well, almost everything. Ubaldo Jimenez has been bad, but lefty Andrew Miller was a brilliant move for the bullpen. And when was the last time there were concerns about the rotation not going...

Nationals and Suns partnership runs through 2016 season The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Hagerstown Suns of the Single-A South Atlantic League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of...

SunTrust to serve as 2015 Heart Ball Chair Event Team also announces return of 50% off ticket fundraiser for select September games The Orioles today announced the renewal of their partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA) that features the club serving as mission engagement chair for the 31st Annual Baltimore Heart Ball scheduled for early 2015. In conjunction with SunTrust, who is serving as the 2015 event chair, the Orioles hope to help raise awareness to the AHA's...

Manager: Lloyd McClendon, first year Record: 72-60 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Robinson Cano (.325/.393/.469, 30 doubles, 12 HR, 71 RBIs); 3B Kyle Seager (.275/.344/.471, 26 doubles, 20 HR, 81 RBIs); RHP Felix Hernandez (13-4, 2.07 ERA, 0.89 WHIP); RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6, 2.83 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2013): Did not play Pitching probables Aug. 29: Felix Hernandez vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 10 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 30: Chris Young vs. Stephen Strasburg, 9 p.m., MASN2...

Before the Nationals' run of 10 straight wins, which started on Aug. 12 and lasted until Aug. 22, the longest winning streak this season came over a five-game stretch between June 28 and July 2, when the Nats beat the Chicago Cubs in both games of a doubleheader in Wrigley Field and took three straight from the Colorado Rockies on the road in Coors Field. The Nationals set a new season high of six straight with the second of back-to-back walk-off wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug...