The Orioles added a pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft this afternoon when Major League Baseball announced the results of the third annual Competitive Balance Lottery. The Orioles were awarded the fifth pick after the second round next June. The drawing was conducted this afternoon at Major League Baseball's New York offices. The Competitive Balance Lottery gives clubs with the lowest revenues and in the smallest markets the opportunity to obtain additional draft picks. The 10 teams...

Are the Orioles in the market for a catcher despite earlier statements that they were satisfied with their choices at the major league and Triple-A levels? Has something changed in their backstop stance? "According to the trade rumors, it has," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. True enough. But are concerns over the lack of offensive production from Caleb Joseph and Nick Hundley enough to alleviate the worries over introducing a new catcher to the pitching staff more than halfway...

Ryan Zimmerman appears to be headed back to the disabled list, as he isn't listed on the lineup card today while minor league infielder Zach Walters is among the reserves. Zimmerman suffered a hamstring injury last night when running out an infield grounder in the sixth inning. So it looks like the 44 games he already missed this year because of a fractured thumb won't mark his only time on the DL. Zimmerman returned from the thumb injury on June 3 and has heated up of late, batting...

It seems like any time the trade deadline talk comes up relating to the Nationals, inevitably Danny Espinosa's name comes up in the conversation. Especially when Bryce Harper returned to the lineup June 30, Espinosa was relegated to the bench for spot duty in the late innings on defense or a pinch-hit appearance here and there. General manager Mike Rizzo has fielded calls from prospective teams in search of an infielder like Espinosa. A switch-hitter with outstanding defensive skills could...

The unfortunate bout of luck that befell a hustling Ryan Zimmerman is sure to put a slight strain on the post-All-Star break Nationals. A strained right hamstring is Zimmerman's injury and the Nats will now press onward, hoping that this setback is nothing more than a minor one. There is good news, though: The Nats sit in first place among their National League East brethren and lead Atlanta by two games. Washington has won four straight games, which is a nice tone to set while the final...

DENVER - There were plenty of positives last night for the Nationals. The 7-4 win over the Rockies, of course. Adam LaRoche snapping a fairly lengthy slump with a massive three-run homer. The bullpen putting up four scoreless innings, giving them 7 1/3 scoreless frames at the hitter-friendly Coors Field this series. Bryce Harper continuing to come around. Jordan Zimmermann making it out of his outing feeling good physically. Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury seemed to put a damper on all of...

Well, that was two impressive back-to-back wins by the Orioles and three impressive wins on this road trip. Lose a ninth-inning lead on Friday and win 8-4 at Oakland on Saturday. Lose big by a 10-2 score Sunday and respond by taking two in a row in Anaheim against the Angels. The Angels began this series with a Major League-best 28-10 record since June 6 and are averaging 5.6 runs per game in that time. In two games against the Orioles, they have scored four runs on just 11 hits and have...

While the Orioles continue to scout potential upgrades for their rotation, they're sending a pitcher to the mound tonight at Angel Stadium who's registered seven quality starts in his last eight outings. A true No. 1 starter? Manager Buck Showalter will let others carry that debate. He sees a pitcher, Chris Tillman, whose ERA has dropped from 5.20 on June 5 to 4.03 heading into tonight's game. Tillman fell one-third of an inning short, on July 2 against the Rangers, of making it eight...

The Orioles have posted back-to-back wins against the team with the best home record in the majors and their pitching has led the way. Miguel Gonzalez pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs tonight as the Orioles beat the Angels 4-2. The Orioles have allowed four runs in two games to the highest scoring team in the majors. The Angels entered this series with wins in 20 of their last 23 and 25 of 30 home games. But by taking the first two games, the Orioles have ended the Angels'...

DENVER - The Nationals don't know how severe Ryan Zimmerman's right hamstring injury is just yet. But the early information isn't too encouraging. Zimmerman had to leave tonight's 7-4 Nationals win over the Rockies in the sixth inning after coming up lame just before first base on an RBI groundout. Zimmerman made it through the bag, but crumpled to the ground behind the base, and needed assistance getting off the field and down the dugout steps. The Nats are calling Zimmerman's injury a...