Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper is scuffling just a bit to begin the season. Manager Matt Williams is not worried about Harper, saying his 21-year-old left fielder has seemed just a "tick off" at the plate the last few days. Williams said Harper might be bit frustrated with the slow start at the plate, as he's just 3-for-17 (.176) with no homers and no RBIs in four games. But that does not mean he tosses his whole approach out and reconstructs his swing. It is only April 5. "Everybody...

This afternoon, manager Matt Williams said right-hander Doug Fister is doing well in his rehabilitation from a right lat strain. Fister has been on the disabled list since March 23. Williams said Fister did "heavy exercise" today and felt no issues with the lat. The Nationals manager expects Fister to get back to baseball-related activities as early as Sunday. "We look to get him out there throwing, the plan is tomorrow, depending on how he feels, but in the next couple of days, anyway, so...

A blowout loss turned into a one-run defeat today, when the Orioles produced a stunning rally in the ninth inning, but it fell short. The O's, down 7-1 entering the ninth, scored five times to pull within one, but lost 7-6 to Detroit to fall to 1-4 with four straight losses. A Chris Davis single off Phil Coke was followed by an Adam Jones triple and Nick Markakis' RBI groundout to start the ninth, cutting the deficit to 7-3. A J.J Hardy walk and singles by Matt Wieters and Steve Lombardozzi...

Bud Norris is the latest Orioles starter to have a bad outing, as he gave up nine hits and five runs over five innings this afternoon in Detroit, leaving with his team behind 5-1. Brian Matusz came on to pitch in the last of the sixth. Norris' day started real well, as he rolled through the first two innings on 25 pitches. But that roll didn't last. He allowed three singles to load the bases in the third and Torii Hunter unloaded them with a three-run double. Two innings later, it was Hunter...

Bryce Harper returns to the No. 2 position in the Nationals batting order for tonight's game against the Braves at Nationals Park. The matchup between Atlanta's Julio Teheran and Washington's Stephen Strasburg should be a good one. Here's the Nationals lineup: CF Denard Span LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche 3B Ryan Zimmerman SS Ian Desmond 2B Anthony Rendon C Jose Lobaton RHP Stephen Strasburg

A Chris Davis RBI single in the top of the first has given the Orioles the early 1-0 lead today. It was Davis' third RBI of the series and season. David Lough drew a leadoff walk from Rick Porcello and stole second on the first pitch to Nelson Cruz. Lough is now 2-for-2 on steal attempts. Davis then dumped a single into left along the line and was thrown out trying to stretch that into a double after Lough scored. After the O's scored first, Bud Norris achieved an O's pitching first for this...

Even though it was exciting to watch the Nationals sweep the Mets in New York, there's nothing like baseball being played in the nation's capital. Yesterday, the Nats hosted the Braves for their home opener in front of 42,834 fans at Nationals Park. The stadium was alive as James Brown announced the starting lineup, the boys ran out on the red carpet and the flag was unfurled in the outfield. We captured some of that electric atmosphere in the video below. While you take a look back at the...

J.J. Hardy's lower back spasms are no longer an issue, and he's in the Orioles lineup for today's game at Comerica Park against the Tigers. With Hardy in, Ryan Flaherty takes a seat, no real surprise considering he's 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts. Nick Markakis is today's DH, batting fifth. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nelson Cruz RF Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis DH J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Steve Lombardozzi 2B Jonathan Schoop 3B Bud Norris RHP For the Tigers Ian...

I bet online dictionaries saw a pretty good spike in web traffic among D.C., Maryland and Virginia residents yesterday. There must have been quite a few searches for the word "lodged" after Justin Upton failed to make a play on the ball that ended up under the padding of the left field wall. The point made by manager Matt Williams after the game seemingly is a valid one - why, if the ball was lodged under the padding, was it so easy for Upton to then pick it up and throw it back into the...

The Orioles have scored 11 runs in their first four games, including a pair yesterday in the ninth inning. The starters have posted a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings. Where are you most concerned? I'm going out on a limb and saying the offense erupts this afternoon against Tigers starter Rick Porcello, who's carrying a career 6.58 ERA in 23 games in March/April and is 1-5 with a 5.14 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles. He's allowed 24 runs and 56 hits in 42 innings. (By the way, Porcello's...