FREDERICK, Md. - Tonight's game here at Harry Grove Stadium between the Single-A Frederick Keys and Myrtle Beach Pelicans is now set for an 8 p.m. first pitch. Manny Machado is playing in his first rehab game tonight. He was slated to bat second and play third base. Due to the heavy rain from earlier and with a still somewhat damp field, Machado will now DH and not play the field tonight. He will still bat second, but as the DH. Jason Esposito, who was the DH, will now start at third...

FREDERICK, Md. - As the rain continues to fall steadily, it's looking more and more like Manny Machado's first rehab game with the Single-A Frederick Keys may have to wait another day. As of this hour, the tarp is still on the field, but the game has not yet been postponed. Machado took some ground balls at third base around 3 p.m. before the rains hit and can still handle himself at a press conference. He just held one with reporters here in one of the Keys' second-level suites at Harry...

It's raining hard in Frederick, where Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is supposed to start his injury rehab assignment. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Machado could serve as the designated hitter tonight instead of playing in the field if the game isn't postponed. Machado would play third base on Saturday. A simple tweaking of his schedule. The Orioles are taking batting practice, but they anticipate rain tonight which could interrupt the game. In the event of a postponement,...

FREDERICK, Md. - While rain continues to fall and the tarp is on the field here a at Single-A Frederick's Harry Grove Stadium, tonight's game is still on as of around 4 p.m. Manny Machado is scheduled to play for the Keys tonight to begin his rehab assignment. The rain started here around 3 p.m. just as Machado was taking some ground balls at third base before batting practice, which was later canceled. It appears that the gates will open at 6 p.m. on schedule and that any decision on a...

The Nationals send right-hander Stephen Strasburg to the mound tonight in the second of four games against the Padres. Weather permitting, of course. Strasburg is 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts, but has 42 strikeouts in 27 innings. The Nats have won three of his five starts, most recently a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday in which Strasburg picked up a no-decision despite six strong innnings and nine Ks. Strasburg will be opposed by lefty Robbie Erlin, who us 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA...

Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base tonight and Ryan Flaherty is at third for the Orioles' series-opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. Nelson Cruz, batting second again as the designated hitter, will attempt to drive in a run in his eighth consecutive game. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B David Lough LF Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Royals Nori Aoki RF Omar Infante...

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche got his wish. Major League Baseball announced today that the Playing Rules Committee has adjusted how umpires should apply the official playing rules in plays when a fielder loses possession of a ball attempting to transfer it to this throwing hand. The new interpretation of the transfer play will begin with games tonight. Here is the official announcement of how umpires will enforce the rule according to these standards: "The Committee has determined that...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Major League Baseball would make a significant adjustment to the controversial transfer rule within the next few weeks. That was the word on the street. It happened today. MLB announced that the Playing Rules Committee has provided its official view of how umpires should apply the rules when a fielder loses possession of a ball when attempting to transfer it to his throwing hand. The change will be implemented...

Late in the 2012 campaign, former Nationals manager Davey Johnson, who was tasked with helping to oversee the first two years of Bryce Harper's development as a major leaguer, was asked if there was anything he would like to see the then-19-year-old change? He said, "No," initially. "I like him just the way he is, to answer your question," Johnson told the reporter who asked. The all-out, hard-nosed, free-wheeling, super-aggressive approach Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, brought...

Online voting begins tonight; in-park voting set to begin on Sunday with return of Vote Orange Rewards Program After a successful 2013 campaign, in which first baseman Chris Davis, center fielder Adam Jones, and shortstop J.J. Hardy were selected by the fans to start the 2013 All-Star Game, the Orioles are again encouraging fans to vote early, vote often, and "Vote Orange" in 2014. Online voting for the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Minnesota will begin this evening at...