It is a pretty big night for Blake Treinen. In one day, he is called up again to the big leagues and later that night he makes his first major league start. Oh, and he has to face the Los Angeles Dodgers' potent offense and ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw. The Nationals right-hander has pitched well for Triple-A Syracuse to begin this season, with four starts and a 1.59 ERA. Last season, he made 22 starts for the Chiefs, going 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA. As a reliever for the Nationals this season,...

Nate McLouth peeled back the white bandage covering the fleshy section of his right hand between his thumb and index finger to reveal a dime-sized divot, the result of his eighth-inning sliding catch Monday night and his collision with the wall in foul territory in left field. The Nationals left fielder left the game after tumbling into the wall to make the catch of Dee Gordon's foul slice, and the chunk taken out of his hand was the most significant problem he experienced after making a catch...

The Orioles return to Tropicana Field tonight. That is the place where the 2013 season unofficially ended. The O's lost an 18-inning game there late last September and three more losses followed. They fell out of any wild card contention with a week left in the season. Going 6-13 last year against Tampa Bay didn't help their chances either. In 2012, when the Orioles returned to the playoffs, they had a winning record against every American League East team, including a 10-8 mark against...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned right-hander Brad Brach to the Tides. McFarland, 24, was with the Orioles earlier this season from April 22-25, posting a 2.25 ERA (4.0IP, ER) in two appearances. He has gone 0-1 with a 3.44 ERA (18.1IP, 7ER) in four starts for the Tides. Brach, 28, made two appearances for the Orioles after being recalled on May 2, allowing three earned runs in 1.2 innings.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles got through batting practice without any health issues and announced that reliever Brad Brach has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Brach's removal creates a spot for T.J. McFarland, recalled from Norfolk, and gives the Orioles four left-handers in their bullpen. Brach made two appearances with the Orioles and posted a 16.20 ERA in 1 2/3 innings. He served up a three-run homer to Minnesota's Joe Mauer on Saturday in his debut with the club. Brach,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles will recall left-hander T.J. McFarland after batting practice today because they need length in their bullpen, a true long man who can consume innings if a starter makes an early exit. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that the Orioles could go with a 13-man pitching staff down the road. However, they seem prepared to send out another reliever today to make room for McFarland. "I think there may be some corresponding things as we go forward in the next day...

Catcher Wilson Ramos reappeared in the Nationals clubhouse Tuesday afternoon, fresh off his minor league rehabilitation assignment and bent on showing manager Matt Williams that he was ready to be activated from the 15-day disabled list after surgery to remove a broken hamate bone from his left hand. Ramos thinks he'll be ready to go tomorrow, when the Nats close out their three-home game homestand against the Dodgers. "I think so," he said. "I think that's the plan for now. I don't need...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland sat at his locker this afternoon at Tropicana Field, chatting with teammates Zach Britton and Brad Brach while waiting to find out whether the Orioles were placing him on the 25-man roster. The Orioles are expected to officially recall McFarland, but it may not happen until the conclusion of batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter wants to make sure that everyone is healthy. Stay tuned. The Orioles could have four left-handers in their...

Although Matt Williams has more than a month of managing the Nationals under his belt, he's still the new guy in town. Fans have gotten a cursory view of Williams, but there is still so much to learn about the skipper. Maybe you want to know how Williams grades himself over his first month of managing. Are you curious about his pregame rituals or what he does when he's not at the park? Well, it's time to have your questions answered! Before each homestand, you'll have the opportunity to...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland is in the Orioles clubhouse at Tropicana Field. No roster move has been announced, but no relievers are listed on the lineup card, so it looks like one will be removed to make space. Matt Wieters is at designated hitter and Steve Clevenger is behind the plate for tonight's series opener at Tropicana Field with Chris Tillman on the mound against Chris Archer. Also, Chris Davis is in St. Petersburg, and played catch and simulated fielding...