Denard Span, who was placed on the seven-day disabled list for concussions on Saturday, has returned to Washington ahead of the Nationals to be checked out by doctors and begin working his way back. Span had an appointment today and could potentially start a rehab assignment as early as Thursday. "If he passes his tests, which we expect him to do, he'll go out on a rehab assignment as early as tomorrow and get three at-bats and see how he feels after that," Nats manager Matt Williams said...

Left-hander Zach Britton gave the Orioles three more scoreless innings today, raising his total to 11 1/3 this season and creating more discussion over whether he should be starting. Manager Buck Showalter likes Britton in his current role. He's become quite a weapon out of the bullpen. "The first weapon is he can get right-handed and left-handed hitters out. That's huge for a reliever," Showalter said. "He's in a good place right now and you can see it. Presentation-wise as much as...

SALISBURY, Md. - First pitch of today's doubleheader is minutes away as Single-A Delmarva right-hander Hunter Harvey pitches against Hagerstown right-hander Lucas Giolito in a matchup of two of the game's top young pitching prospects. Check back on this very blog and I'll provide a few updates during Game 1 of the doubleheader. The Shorebirds are 5-7 to start the year. Delmarva beat Hagerstown 9-2 Monday to snap a three-game losing streak before last night's game was rained out. Delmarva...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter covered a variety of topics in his post-game interview following today's 3-0 win over the Ray. For example: The weather "That's why the whole pine tar thing and about gripping the ball and stuff ... to have as good a breaking ball, it amazes me that guys can throw a breaking ball at all in these type of temperatures. It all kind of evens out. The batters don't have a feel. Baseball is such a feel game, which really puts more emphasis on ... We played a really...

In his first outing today since blowing a save over the weekend against the Blue Jays, Tommy Hunter stranded a runner in the ninth inning and closed out the Orioles' 3-0 win over the Rays. Hunter said the game-tying home run by Toronto's Colby Rasmus wasn't on his mind today. "Still, I feel like I made pitches the other night," he said. "I feel like I had a game plan going in and I executed it to the best I could do. I said it the other day, 'Give the guy credit.' I think I got some...

SALISBURY, Md. - Delmarva Shorebirds manager Ryan Minor knows a little something about top pitching prospects taking the mound for his team. The skipper of the Shorebirds, the Orioles' low Single-A affiliate, managed Dylan Bundy when he buzzed through here two years ago, pitching 30 innings, allowing just five hits and no earned runs with 40 strikeouts. Hunter Harvey may not put numbers quite that good, but he is off to a good start for this year's Shorebirds team. Today at 5:05 p.m.,...

MIAMI - The Nationals get their first crack at Marlins ace Jose Fernandez this season when the two teams wrap up their three-game set tonight. Fernandez, the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year, went 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against the Nats last year. He held Washington to one run on five hits and five walks while striking out 13 in 13 innings. Tonight, the Nats have Tanner Roark on the mound and Jose Lobaton back behind the plate after Sandy Leon started four of the last six...

Miguel Gonzalez didn't have a clean inning today. He also didn't give up a run. Gonzalez allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six over five scoreless innings for the Orioles, who continue to lead the Rays 3-0 at Camden Yards. He came out of the game only because of his pitch count, which stood at 98. That's what happens when the opponent puts a runner on base in each inning. Gonzalez has allowed three runs over 11 innings in his last two starts after surrendering seven runs and...

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, working on six days rest this afternoon and braving a game-time temperature of 39 degrees, has tossed three scoreless innings against the Rays. Gonzalez has stranded a runner in each inning while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out three. He's thrown 63 pitches, 40 for strikes. Nick Markakis has the only hit for the Orioles in three innings, a leadoff single in the first. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi has retired nine in a row. Manager Buck...

MIAMI - OK, so last night's 11-2 loss wasn't exactly the most enjoyable three hours for Nationals fans, players or coaches, but there were two moments last night that brought a smile to my face sitting next to the Nats' dugout. In the sixth inning, with the Nats down 11 runs, Steven Souza Jr. came into the ballgame, replacing Jayson Werth in right. Two innings later, Souza stepped into the batter's box at Marlins Park, took a first-pitch slider for ball one, and then scorched a 92 mph...