It's difficult to find anything negative going on for the Nationals right now. The team is coming off of a near-perfect homestand, has won 13 of its last 14 games overall and currently holds a league-best eight-game division lead over the Braves. Oh, by the way, they hold the best record in the National League at 75-54. Forget half-full. The Nats' glass is practically overflowing. But despite the fact that it's been practically all sunshine and rainbows for the NL East leaders, nothing...

Before he flies to Los Angeles tomorrow in advance of his right knee surgery on Wednesday, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado spoke one more time about his decision to have the procedure. "It has to be surgically repaired," he said. "The only way it was going to be fixed was with surgery. Maybe we could have gotten it to the best possible position to perform, but came up short. It wasn't healing right. The knee cap still feels loose, like it's wobbling in there. The only way was to go in...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't offering many hints about his September call-ups. He hasn't provided a number or any names. However, he indicated that the club will add one or more players who aren't currently on the 40-man roster. The Orioles have one opening after designating infielder Cord Phelps for assignment, and they can transfer third baseman Manny Machado to the 60-day disabled list. "The question is, are we calling up anybody who's on the roster?" Showalter said,...

PHILADELPHIA - Asdrubal Cabrera, who experienced tightness in his side while swinging in yesterday's game, will not be in the starting lineup at second base when the Nationals open a three-game series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Instead, Danny Espinosa will get the nod at second base. Washington's Tanner Roark (12-7, 2.80 ERA) faces Philadelphia's A.J. Burnett (6-14, 4.42 ERA) in a battle of right-handers. The Nats are seeking their 13th win in 14 games. For the Nationals CF...

Chris Davis has been moved down to seventh in the Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards. Davis' average has dropped to .189. Steve Pearce continues to bat second and play first base. Delmon Young is in left field while Nelson Cruz serves as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce 1B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Delmon Young LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 3B Nick Hundley C Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP The Oriole Advocates...

For O's fans concerned after the team got swept at Wrigley Field, here are some numbers to keep in mind. Beginning tonight as the Orioles host Tampa Bay, they will play 21 of their next 27 games at home and they are 15-5 in their last 20 games at Camden Yards. The Orioles will also play 27 of their final 34 regular-season games against the American League East and the club has a 30-19 division record. The chance to come back from a tough weekend looks pretty good. Tampa Bay (64-66) has won...

On Saturday, Aug. 30, the Oriole Advocates will conduct their 2014 Cardboard to Leather collection at Camden Yards, presented by Legg Mason. The Oriole Advocates created the program in 1992 to provide new and used baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Since the program started, the Oriole Advocates have distributed tons of equipment to youth baseball players throughout the world in places such as Afghanistan, Aruba, Belgrade, Belize, Cuba, the...

PHILADELPHIA - After that ridiculous homestand, the Nationals are in pretty good shape with 33 games left on their schedule. They are 21 games over .500 on the season, and hold the best record in the National League. They have an eight-game lead over the Braves in the NL East, the largest division advantage in baseball. Their largest margin at any point during 2012 was 8 1/2 games, so they aren't too far off from matching that mark. They've won 12 of 13, with yesterday's win over the Giants...

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 58-72 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Marlon Byrd (.269/.317/.466, 24 doubles, 23 HR, 75 RBIs); 2B Chase Utley (.280/.349/.428, 29 doubles, 11 HR, 69 RBIs); CF Ben Revere (.314/.333/.368, 58 R, 38 SB); LHP Cole Hamels (7-6, 2.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 5-8, 41 runs scored, 63 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 25: A.J. Burnett vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 26: Cole Hamels vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 27: Kyle...

For a moment last week in Chicago, it looked like the Orioles were going to be able to salvage a nice road trip despite dropping a series in Cleveland to start the swing. The White Sox had just been swept and the lowly Cubs were on the horizon. Then it all came crashing down - hard. One sweep (in part because of Jake Arrieta and Tsuyoshi Wada) later, no one feels quite as confident in the O's as they did a week ago. The division lead has shrunk from nine to six games, and there's still plenty...