The Washington Nationals today recalled left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno and right-handed starter Blake Treinen from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, and optioned right-handed pitcher Taylor Hill to Syracuse. Treinen was recalled as the 26th man for the Nationals' scheduled doubleheader with the Chicago Cubs and will start the nightcap. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Cedeno returns to the Nationals for his...

The Orioles today announced that singer-songwriter Margaret Valentine will perform America the Beautiful during the seventh inning stretch at Oriole Park when the Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Earlier this week, the Orioles announced that jazz singer Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. will perform the National Anthem and God Bless America on Sunday. Valentine (@MagValentine) is a country and contemporary crossover singer-songwriter from Saratoga Springs, New York. She is...

CHICAGO - The Nationals lineup for the first game of today's doubleheader doesn't include Jayson Werth, Wilson Ramos or Danny Espinosa. Nate McLouth will man right field for the Nats in the day game, Jose Lobaton will be behind the plate, and Kevin Frandsen will play second. Gio Gonzalez will make his third start since coming back off the disabled list. His last time out, Gonzalez delivered six scoreless innings against the Brewers. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon...

Will the Orioles find out today whether Manny Machado must begin serving his suspension, whatever the length? It's hanging over their heads, but they're better equipped now to handle it. The Orioles have an extra reliever in their bullpen who can be sent down, and they have an infielder who can be summoned to Camden Yards. Let's just get it over with and move on. If it were up to me, and we know that's not the case, I'd recall Kevin Gausman to make the Wednesday or Thursday start and...

Dylan Bundy is ready to move up from the New York-Penn League. That is obvious. The Orioles' No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America made his third start with short-season Single-A Aberdeen last night, throwing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts against Hudson Valley. Bundy was pitching from 90-94 mph and thought his secondary pitches were solid during his 70-pitch outing. "Curveball, I was a real happy with it," he said. "Left a couple up in the fourth out of the zone,...

Chris Tillman says he was able to throw his fastball for strikes tonight in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Rays. "Any time you are able to throw to both sides of the plate and mix in your off-speed," he said, "it's kind of a recipe for success." The Orioles could have been fried after a Game 1 loss, but they earned a split with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap. "I was able to get some early outs in the count," he said. "They squared up a lot of balls, but we have eight great guys...

Following tonight's 4-1 victory over the Rays in Game 2, Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman was returned to his optional assignment and transferred to short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He won't be an IronBird for long. Gausman had to be sent out because he was the 26th player today and Aberdeen is home. He can return to the Orioles as early as Tuesday and might start Wednesday or Thursday against the Rangers. Game 2 starter Chris Tillman is on a roll, having allowed five runs in his last four starts...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Pitching on the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery, Dylan Bundy pitched five more scoreless innings for short-season, Single-A Aberdeen tonight in what will likely be his last start in the New York-Penn League. At this point, Single-A Frederick appears to be the most likely next stop for Bundy, although nothing has been announced. Bundy's fastball again sat in the 90 to 94 mph range on the Ripken Stadium scoreboard radar gun as he allowed just two singles and a...

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 1-for-2 with two RBIs in Double-A Harrisburg's 4-3 win at Akron. He has now completed four minor league rehab games as he recovers from a surgery to repair torn ligament in his left thumb. It was an eventful night for Harper on the basepaths. He stole two bases and was caught stealing in a rundown that allowed Michael A. Taylor to score the game's first run. Harper also earned a pair of walks. Harper batted third and played center field. He told us at...

Nick Hundley picked an opportune time tonight to hit his first home run as an Oriole. Hundley led off the bottom of the sixth inning by lining the second pitch from Rays reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo, a 90 mph fastball, into the left field seats to break a 1-1 tie. Oviedo had just entered the game as the replacement for starter Jake Odorizzi, who threw 106 pitches in five innings. Hundley was batting .195 with no homers and four RBIs with the Orioles before tonight. He hit one homer with the...