The Washington Nationals today selected collegiate right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde (University of Nevada-Las Vegas) with the 18th-overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound junior is regarded as one of the top collegiate arms in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. A native of Las...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Pitching on normal rest tonight after being moved up two days, Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman is done after failing to record an out in the second inning. Again. Tillman faced 11 batters and left with the Rangers leading 5-0. He threw 51 pitches, the last resulting in an RBI single for Elvis Andrus. Brad Brach replaced Tillman and got a force and a double play, leaving Tillman with five runs on his ledger. Tillman allowed six hits, walked three, struck out one and gave...

The Nationals selected UNLV right-hander pitcher Erick Fedde with the No. 18 selection in the First-Year Player Draft. Fehde underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday, according to media reports. The 6-foot-4, 180-lb., right-hander was highly regarded by his college coach. "Great competitor with tremendous work ethic," UNLV coach Tim Chambers said of Fedde. "He is the hardest worker I have ever coached in 27 years." Update: Fedde went 8-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts for the Rebels as a...

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister won his fourth consecutive start Thursday in a 4-2 victory over the Phillies. It is the first time a Nationals pitcher has won four straight decisions since Jordan Zimmermann accomplished the feat in September 2013. Fister allowed only four hits for a second straight start. Fister has issued only two walks in six starts this season. But the media really wanted to ask him about how he was able to do a full splits on one ground ball at first base early in the...

An announced crowed of 33,016 saw starting pitcher Doug Fister put on a show. The right-hander pitched seven innings, scattering four hits and surrendering two runs in the Nats' 4-2 win over the Phillies. However, Fister also showcased his athleticism off the mound with some nice plays, including going into a full split at first base. "He's a good athlete though. We saw him come off the mound a couple of times to get balls today that most pitchers don't get to, so he's a good athlete,"...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter will pitch at Single-A Delmarva Saturday night on a brief injury rehab assignment. How brief? The Orioles plan to activate Hunter before Sunday afternoon's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Hunter pitched two innings in today's simulated game before batting practice and covered first base. He will be used in relief for the Shorebirds' game against Lakewood that begins at 6:35 p.m. "Saturday, he will drive up to Delmarva," said...

Last July the Orioles swept a three-game series at Texas. Now, less than a year later, they can do it again. After 8-3 and 6-5 wins the last two days, the O's look for their second three-game sweep of 2014 tonight. They swept Tampa Bay on the road from May 6-8. The Orioles have a four-game win streak and offense has been a big reason. Over the four games the team average is .340 with 27 runs on seven doubles and seven homers. The O's are 13-for-37 (.351) with runners in scoring position. A...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez said the MRI taken on his right side yesterday came back negative and he still hopes to start this weekend at Camden Yards. The Orioles are prepared to put Gonzalez on the 15-day DL, backdated to Saturday, and recall Kevin Gausman from Triple-A Norfolk or use left-hander T.J. McFarland. However, they will wait until Gonzalez plays catch on Friday before making a final decision. "It's a lot better," said Gonzalez, who has registered four...

The Phillies have lost five in a row and needed to at least start off their final game of the series with the Nationals well. Veteran Chase Utley answered the bell. In the top of the first, following a leadoff double by Ben Revere and a sacrifice that moved him to third, Utley delivered a run-scoring single past starter Doug Fister into center field to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, their first of the series. Fister got out of the inning without any further damage. He is seeking his fourth...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Can the Orioles keep their offense cranked up for one more game in the Texas heat? The Orioles, going for the series sweep tonight, have totaled 50 hits over their last four games, including 30 in the first two at Globe Life Park. Over the last 16 games since May 18, the Orioles have recorded 12 hits or more nine times and are batting .295, the second-highest mark in the majors behind the Blue Jays (.297) before today. Their 87 runs over that span also trailed only Toronto...