Bryce Harper is scheduled to be seen by a hand specialist today at Nationals Park, and the Nationals will wait until that examination is complete to determine if any further diagnostic measures, such as an MRI, are necessary. Harper jammed his left thumb on a headfirst slide into third base on a triple in Friday night's game against the Padres, and manager Matt Williams said early returns on the injury are promising. "The early tests, anyway, are pretty good," Williams said in his pregame...

Not surprisingly, outfielder Bryce Harper isn't in today's Nationals lineup against the Padres and hard-throwing right-hander Andrew Cashner. (That's Cashner, the pitcher, who is not to be confused with Cashner, the outfielder, who played left field for a batter in Thursday night's opener of the four-game series between the teams.) Harper jammed his left thumb sliding into third base on a triple in last night's 11-1 win over San Diego. X-rays taken at Nationals Park were negative, manager...

While waiting to determine the severity of first baseman Chris Davis' oblique injury, the Orioles decided to recall Jemile Weeks from Triple-A Norfolk to provide infield depth. An announcement is coming later today. Weeks is capable of backing up at second base while Ryan Flaherty starts at first in Davis' absence. The choice really came down to Weeks and David Adams, as I wrote late last night. Weeks is batting .296/.451/.481 with four doubles, three triples and seven RBIs in 72 plate...

It took more than the rain last night to dampen the Orioles' enthusiasm over Manny Machado's first injury rehab game at Single-A Frederick. Machado had three hits, all for extra bases, and could come off the disabled list next weekend. However, first baseman Chris Davis may go on it if his oblique injury proves to be more serious than he's anticipating When it rains, it pours. The best-case scenario is it's a Grade 1 strain, which takes less time to heal, but it's still a process for a...

FREDERICK, Md. - So Manny Machado took a big step toward returning to the Orioles, while Chris Davis left last night's game after four innings with a strained left oblique. Just another Friday night with the Baltimore Orioles. If you would have seen the amount of rain that fell on Harry Grove Stadium late yesterday afternoon, you would have been surprised, maybe shocked, they were able to play baseball there by 8 p.m. The Keys staff did an amazing job getting that field ready to play and...

Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton said it was difficult to get to know Stephen Strasburg early in the season. But now that they have had three or four games working together, they are slowly building chemistry and trust. That bonding played an important role in Strasburg's seven innings of shutout ball in an 11-1 victory over the Padres on Friday night. "First time, it was kind of like I don't know how to go and talk to him in the dugout. He is a quiet guy, he likes to be alone," Lobaton...

You hear ballplayers say it all the time. One of the best things about this game is that regardless of what happens one night, you get to come right back the next night and try all over again. On Thursday, the Nationals went 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position. They left 14 men on base. They dropped a tough 12-inning game to the Padres. On Friday, the Nats showed up, tossed on the unis and pounded the ball all over the yard. They smacked 17 hits. They plated 11 runs. They went 7-for-17...

Nationals manager Matt Williams said his team's strategy of working to get as many men on base as ppossible was a key an 11-1 victory over San Diego, even if they struggled with runners in scoring position in their Thursday extra-inning loss. "The theme is the same as it always is," Williams said. "We just try to give ourselves as many opportunities as we can. I think Anthony (Rendon) and (Ian) Desmond certainly set the tone tonight. Taking the ball the other way against a left-hander...

Despite the 11-1 romp over the Padres tonight, Nationals fans were probably holding their breath for much of the evening after Bryce Harper had to leave the game after four innings with an apparent injury. After the game, however, manager Matt Williams provided some good news, given the circumstances: Harper suffered a jammed left thumb when he slid into third base on a third-inning bases-clearing triple. X-rays on Harper's thumb came back negative, and while the Nats will re-evaluate Harper...

As expected, the Orioles have optioned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk and will announce a corresponding roster move on Saturday. They need an extra position player after first baseman Chris Davis strained his left oblique muscle tonight. McFarland allowed one run and five hits in three innings tonight. He threw 45 pitches and was the logical candidate to be sent down. McFarland posted a 2.25 ERA in two appearances since being recalled on Tuesday. The Orioles could bring up an...