Does anyone sleep well the night before an early-morning flight? Show of hands. The Orioles begin a three-game series tonight against the Rays at Tropicana Field, and they're prepared to make another roster move. As I wrote yesterday, left-hander T.J. McFarland was scratched from his scheduled start with Triple-A Norfolk and likely will be recalled to aid a bullpen that's in danger of burning out from excessive use. He'd be the only true long man of the bunch. The rotation has produced only...

To say the least, Nelson Cruz is off to a very strong start at the plate. Where would the Orioles be without him? Fortunately, they don't have to answer that question. Cruz has hit three homers over his last six games and seven in his past 13 contests. Over his last 15 games, Cruz is batting .328 (20-for-61) with seven homers, 22 RBIs and eight multi-RBI games. Impressive, indeed. Cruz's start rivals what Chris Davis did at a similar stage last year. Here are the stats of both after 28...

In two starts against the Nationals last season, Dodgers starter Zack Greinke won both times and allowed a grand total of two earned runs. The Nationals managed to score two earned runs in their first inning against Greinke in 2014. After a double by Denard Span to lead off the bottom of the first, Anthony Rendon got a hold of a 1-2 offering from Greinke and deposited it into the red porch seats over the wall in left-center. It was Rendon's first ever hit against Greinke in three recorded...

Double-A Harrisburg left-hander Matt Purke has had a tough start to the season, but the Nationals have no immediate intention of removing him from the starting rotation, a team source told MASNSports.com. They also confirm Purke's shoulder is fine. Purke was a third-round 2011 selection for the Nationals who missed most of the 2012 season because of a shoulder injury. He had left shoulder surgery in August of that season and pitched in 18 games in 2013 between high Single-A Potomac and the...

Manager Matt Williams is excited at the prospect of getting three starters back by the end of the week. He got one back Monday. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (hand) started for Double-A Harrisburg on Monday night. Scott Hairston (oblique) was activated off the disabled list before Monday's opener against the Dodgers. Doug Fister (lat) is expected to make his Nationals debut Friday night at Oakland. But Williams would like it even more if no one else gets hurt for a little while. "We just...

The Dodgers come into town for a three-game series with the Nats, who are trying to take advantage of a struggling Braves squad which has dropped its last six games. The Nationals currently sit a half-game out of first in the National League East, and look to end a two-game skid of their own. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa LF Nate McLouth C Sandy Leon P Jordan Zimmermann Dodgers star Yasiel Puig will miss...

The Orioles could be poised to make another roster move. Left-hander T.J. McFarland has been scratched from tonight's scheduled start for Triple-A Norfolk. He was supposed to take the mound in Louisville, but may be headed to St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Orioles begin a three-game series Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Nick Additon is taking McFarland's turn tonight. The Orioles optioned McFarland to Norfolk on April 25 to create room for infielder Jemile Weeks. He must stay down for...

The Nationals this afternoon activated outfielder Scott Hairston (strained left oblique) from the 15-day disabled list. He'll be in uniform and available for tonight's opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. To make room for Hairston on the 25-man roster, outfielder Steven Souza Jr. was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. In two stints with the Nats this season, Souza has gone 1-for-8 (.125). Hairston was placed on the DL on April 6, a day after injuring...

Left-hander Johan Santana threw two innings in an extended spring training start this afternoon, allowing one hit and striking out four. The best news to come out of the 28-pitch outing in Sarasota was that Santana hit 87-89 mph with his fastball, which is better than the 84-87 mph he was clocked at in the simulated game that preceded today's effort. Orioles manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace drove from St. Petersburg, Fla., on the club's off-day to watch Santana's...

Major League Baseball today announced the 31 winners of the 2014 Honorary Bat Girl Contest that recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrate a commitment to eradicating the disease. The winner of the Honorary Bat Girl Contest for the Orioles is Debra Nelson, who will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, May 11. Nelson will be honored during an on-field ceremony, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and will...