Before Wednesday's game, Nationals manager Matt Williams provided the reasoning behind having Sandy Leon catch left-hander Gio Gonzalez's return from the disabled list against the Houston Astros. "Just getting (Leon) in there. He's got some experience with Gio, has caught Gio. Nothing in particular," Williams said. "Just get him in against the righty." Gonzalez got to 79 pitches in his last minor league rehab start. But he has not pitched in a major league game since May 17 against the...

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez from the 15-Day Disabled List, and optioned left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gonzalez, 28, returns to the Nationals after missing 29 games with left shoulder inflammation. He rejoins the Nationals' active roster after making two rehab starts with...

Kevin Gausman provided the Orioles with another outstanding start today, and during an afternoon where runs were hard to come by, they sure needed it. Gausman went six scoreless innings and Nelson Cruz ended his homer drought as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 2-0 at Tropicana Field. The Orioles took two of three in the series and improved to 37-34 for the season. This was the Orioles' sixth shutout of the year and their third in the last 10 games. They are 11-5 in American League East road...

The Nationals end a two-game series against the Astros tonight, sending left-hander Gio Gonzalez to the mound in hopes of finishing off a sweep. Gonzalez was activated off the 15-day disabled list today after spending time on the shelf with left shoulder inflammation. He'll have most of the Nats' regular lineup behind him, the lone exception being his batterymate. Sandy Leon will catch Gonzalez. For the Astros CF Dexter Fowler 2B Jose Altuve RF George Springer 1B Jonathan Singleton 3B Matt...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It was bound to happen again. Nelson Cruz hadn't hit a home run since June 3 in Arlington, Texas. He wasn't going to be shut out for the remainder of the season. That sort of power outage only happens in New Orleans during the Super Bowl. Cruz launched a 91 mph fastball from Rays reliever Kirby Yates in the top of the eighth inning, the ball smacking off a light hanging from the C ring catwalk. The catwalk. Yeah, the catwalk. It's the third ball to hit the C ring...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first inning and didn't allow a run. That's the good news. The Rays forced Gausman to throw 35 pitches. That's the bad news. The Orioles used four relievers last night. They have a six-man bullpen. They need Gausman to be more economical. J.J. Hardy's eighth error of the season, on Evan Longoria's bouncer, loaded the bases. Gausman struck out James Loney and Ben Zobrist on 84 mph splitters and...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nick Markakis led off today's game against the Rays with a single into center field, his 1,459th hit with the Orioles. He's 115 behind Boog Powell for fifth on the club's all-time list. Too soon to keep track? Markakis began the day batting .301/.360/.418 with 14 doubles, a triple, six homers and 28 RBIs in 70 games. He's now batting .406 in the first inning this season. Showalter was curious about the All-Star voting and how Matt Wieters continues to lead American...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving rookie Caleb Joseph the start behind the plate again today following a night game. What do you get a catcher for his 28th birthday? More at-bats. Joseph has caught Kevin Gausman's last two starts, with the right-hander allowing two runs in 13 innings. "I don't know about paired, but that's some of it," Showalter said. "We've got an off-day tomorrow. Just stay there for the time being with Caleb. "We'll see what...

The Orioles have not lost a road series to an American League East rival this year and they'd like to avoid doing that today. They are 10-5 in American League East road games and 3-0-1 in four series. The Orioles went 2-1 at New York, 2-2 at Boston, 2-1 at Toronto, 3-0 at Tampa Bay and now are 1-1 in this series against the Rays. When the Orioles made the 2012 playoffs, they went 9-3 in AL East road series and went 21-15 on the road in the division. Kevin Gausman (2-1, 3.71 ERA) gets the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Steve Pearce is starting in left field and batting second for the Orioles again today after contributing a home run, double and two walks in last night's game against the Rays. Caleb Joseph is catching a day game after a night game to keep him working with Kevin Gausman. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Kevin Gausman RHP For the Rays Matt Joyce...