Double-A Harrisburg Senators center fielder Michael Taylor continues a very impressive season at the plate to go a long with spectacular defense. A high-ranking American League scout told me Taylor has all the tools defensively to play in the majors right now. On Sunday's "Nats Insider" heard on 106.7 The Fan, PennLive.com and Harrisburg Patriot-News Senators beat reporter Geoff Morrow told me Taylor's defense is unlike any he has ever seen come through the Nationals organization. "I...

Manager: Walt Weiss, second year Record: 36-46 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: SS Troy Tulowitzki (.353/.445/.618, 16 doubles, 18 HR, 46 RBIs); LF Corey Dickerson (.343/.403/.623, 13 doubles, 10 HR, 33 RBIs); 1B Justin Morneau (.307/.342/.516, 19 doubles, 13 HR, 58 RBIs); LHP Tyler Matzek (1-2, 4.24 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 3-4, 29 runs scored, 27 runs allowed Pitching probables June 30: Yohan Flande vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD July 1: Christian Friedrich vs. Stephen...

Finally. For the first time since the seventh inning on opening day, the Nationals will have their full roster in place today, when Bryce Harper is activated from the disabled list. Harper played in just 22 games this season before tearing a ligament in his left thumb when sliding into third base on a triple. He's missed the Nats' last 57 games, but tonight, he'll return. And on his bobblehead giveaway night, no less. Harper never really got going prior to his injury, hitting just one homer...

We've reached the midpoint of the 2014 season, and it's time once again to grade the Nationals on their performance so far. This year, the team stands at 43-38, a half-game behind first-place Atlanta in the National League East. A year ago at this time, they were 41-40 and 6 1/2 games behind the Braves. An improvement of two wins may not seem like much, but the Nats have made much bigger gains in the individual components of their play, and appear to be on an upward curve. Starting pitching:...

It looks more and more like Nelson Cruz won't be taking part in this year's Home Run Derby at Target Field. Despite an invite from American League team captain Jose Bautista, Cruz said he'd rather not risk taking part in the event and having it alter his swing going into the second half of the season. Despite being tied for the major league lead of 25 homers with Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Abreu, Cruz's decision is a logical one. He participated in the derby in 2009 while with the Texas...

Manager: Ron Washington, eighth year Record: 37-44 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: 3B Adrian Beltre (.332/.376/.508, 18 doubles, 9 HR, 42 RBIs); RF Alex Rios (.304/.336/.438, 27 XBH, 34 RBIs, 13 SB); RHP Yu Darvish (8-4, 2.42 ERA, 1.18 WHIP); RHP Nick Tepesch (3-3, 3.65 ERA) Season series vs. O's: 1-2, 16 runs scored, 20 runs allowed Pitching probables June 30: Joe Saunders vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 1: Nick Martinez vs. TBD, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 2: Nick Tepesch vs. Chris...

During yesterday's pregame session with the media, Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked to explain how his bullpen had allowed only one run in the last 29 2/3 innings. "Well," he replied, "now that you've jinxed it ..." Showalter was kidding at the time, but look what happened. Evan Meek was charged with four runs and Brian Matusz was charged with five in a 12-7 loss to the Rays at Camden Yards. Lesson learned. Don't talk about it. Just appreciate it. Showalter extended Matusz to 2...

Jonathan Schoop has had his moments this year for the Orioles. He homered in two different games against New York's Masahiro Tanaka. He homered off Toronto's Drew Hutchison. He hit a pair of homers May 26 at Milwaukee off Kyle Lohse and Francisco Rodriguez. During his rookie season at 22, Schoop is getting the bulk of the starts at second base. His two hits Sunday raised his average to .218 with six homers and 21 RBIs. I asked manager Buck Showalter on Sunday how Schoop is dealing with all...

Miguel Gonzalez was disappointed with his outing today - and he could say the same for his three starts since coming off the disabled list. The right-hander gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings today, has an ERA of 6.13 and has given up 25 hits in 14 2/3 innings in those last three starts. "Command," Gonzalez said. "Just flying open and I have to keep working on that and staying back. That has been my biggest issue this year. Other than that, I felt good. "Just have to stay mentally strong....

The Orioles planned on sending down a reliever and bringing up an infielder once third baseman Manny Machado began serving his suspension. However, the rotation has produced one quality start in the last seven games, taxing a bullpen that may not be able to handle a subtraction. "The timing is never good, especially with some of the pending things, because you'd like to do some things with an infielder, but where we are with the bullpen is going to make that hard to do," manager Buck...