Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper took swings in the batting cage with both hands this afternoon for the first time since tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb on April 26. Manager Matt Williams told the media prior to tonight's game against the Astros that Harper is a taking a positive step in his rehab program. "Today was the first time with two hands," Williams said. "It's limited, but he's excited about that." Williams said Harper came through the hitting session...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from the 15-day disabled list and designated right-hander Josh Stinson for assignment. Gonzalez, 30, was placed on the DL, retroactive to May 31, with a strained right oblique. He is 3-4 with a 4.17 ERA (58.1IP, 27ER) in 11 games (10 starts) for the Orioles this season, posting six Quality Starts and a career-best 7.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Stinson, 26, made one appearance for the Orioles after having his...

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was noticeably emotional this afternoon when speaking about the death of his boyhood idol and college baseball coach, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died Monday of salivary gland cancer at 54. "It's tough because the last couple of weeks, no one really knew what was going on," Strasburg said. "I mean, just from my perspective, he was like a god to me growing up. How much he did for San Diego and for baseball all over the country. You never would have...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles activated Miguel Gonzalez from the 15-day disabled list and pointed him toward the mound for tonight's start against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Reliever Josh Stinson, who's out of minor league options, was designated for assignment to make room for Gonzalez on the 25-man roster. The move leaves the Orioles with six relievers and six starters on their pitching staff. Left-hander T.J. McFarland is the long man backing up Gonzalez tonight. Kevin Gausman will...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow today in Gulf Breeze, Fla. The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews and didn't include any complications. Andrews replaced a ligament in Wieters' elbow with a tendon, shaved a bone spur and transposed a nerve. Wieters will spend tonight in the hospital and most likely travel to Atlanta on Wednesday. Wieters is scheduled to begin rehabilitation in some form right away, but...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado has been lowered to seventh again in the Orioles lineup, with Steve Pearce batting second tonight. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base. The Orioles still haven't announced a corresponding roster move for Miguel Gonzalez. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Rays Desmond Jennings CF Matt Joyce...

As the Nationals play their first home game following a 10-game road trip, Denard Span returns to the lineup after sitting out Sunday's game with a tight back. Span will also be looking to get on track, as the Nats center fielder has gone 0-for-18 over his last five games. Tanner Roark will be on the mound opposite Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who is 6-1 with a 1.33 ERA over his last seven starts. Roark is seeking his sixth straight quality start and has a 1.93 ERA over his last seven...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty are on the field early today, doing drills at second base with Bobby Dickerson and Mike Bordick. Delmon Young and Tampa Bay's Jerry Sands delivered pinch-hit home runs last night, the fifth time in Orioles history that each team had a player come off the bench and go deep. It happened most recently on June 10, 1985 with Floyd Rayford and Detroit's Barbaro Garbey, according to the Orioles' public relations department. The Orioles lost...

Six low Single-A Hagerstown Suns are invited to play in tonight's South Atlantic League All-Star game in Hickory, N.C. The six Suns players matches the number invited from the Greensboro Grasshoppers as the most for any team from the Northern Division. Right-hander Nick Pivetta, left-hander Jake Walsh, right-hander Austin Voth, catcher Spencer Kieboom, infielder John Wooten and second baseman Wilmer Difo were the Nationals prospects invited to tonight's contest on June 3. Walsh, a Missouri...

Back on Aug. 5, 1999, after the Cardinals' Mark McGwire hit his 500th career home run, reporters gathered around Tony Gwynn's locker in the San Diego Padres clubhouse in Busch Stadium. They wondered how Gwynn was feeling after coming up a hit short of 3,000 for his career. That night, as 45,106 fans watched, Gwynn and McGwire had a chance to become the first players in baseball history to reach a major milestone in the same game. "It would have been fun, but tonight was Mark McGwire's...