The Nationals send right-hander Stephen Strasburg to the mound tonight in the second of four games against the Padres. Weather permitting, of course. Strasburg is 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts, but has 42 strikeouts in 27 innings. The Nats have won three of his five starts, most recently a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday in which Strasburg picked up a no-decision despite six strong innnings and nine Ks. Strasburg will be opposed by lefty Robbie Erlin, who us 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA...

Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base tonight and Ryan Flaherty is at third for the Orioles' series-opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. Nelson Cruz, batting second again as the designated hitter, will attempt to drive in a run in his eighth consecutive game. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B David Lough LF Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Royals Nori Aoki RF Omar Infante...

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche got his wish. Major League Baseball announced today that the Playing Rules Committee has adjusted how umpires should apply the official playing rules in plays when a fielder loses possession of a ball attempting to transfer it to this throwing hand. The new interpretation of the transfer play will begin with games tonight. Here is the official announcement of how umpires will enforce the rule according to these standards: "The Committee has determined that...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Major League Baseball would make a significant adjustment to the controversial transfer rule within the next few weeks. That was the word on the street. It happened today. MLB announced that the Playing Rules Committee has provided its official view of how umpires should apply the rules when a fielder loses possession of a ball when attempting to transfer it to his throwing hand. The change will be implemented...

Late in the 2012 campaign, former Nationals manager Davey Johnson, who was tasked with helping to oversee the first two years of Bryce Harper's development as a major leaguer, was asked if there was anything he would like to see the then-19-year-old change? He said, "No," initially. "I like him just the way he is, to answer your question," Johnson told the reporter who asked. The all-out, hard-nosed, free-wheeling, super-aggressive approach Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, brought...

Online voting begins tonight; in-park voting set to begin on Sunday with return of Vote Orange Rewards Program After a successful 2013 campaign, in which first baseman Chris Davis, center fielder Adam Jones, and shortstop J.J. Hardy were selected by the fans to start the 2013 All-Star Game, the Orioles are again encouraging fans to vote early, vote often, and "Vote Orange" in 2014. Online voting for the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Minnesota will begin this evening at...

It started off with Jim Hunter at Orioles FanFest. Then, along came Tippy Martinez during an O's home game. This season, we're watching our Twitter account (@masnOrioles) be taken right out from under us - but we're more than OK with it! If you're on Twitter, you know that @masnOrioles helps keep you updated on all the latest Orioles news, game updates, MASN giveaways and more. You've probably also seen our Twitter accounts being taken over by different people associated with the Orioles...

Nelson Cruz had the Orioles' first multi-homer game of the 2014 season on Wednesday. It continues a career-long streak for Cruz, who has had at least one multi-homer game in each of his big league seasons. The lone exception, if you can call it that, came in 2005 when he had seven at-bats as part of a late-season call-up with the Brewers. With Wednesday's performance, Cruz's streak of seasons with a multi-homer game has reached nine. Since I had multi-homer games on the brain, I went back...

The Nationals have hit .223 with runners in scoring position thus far this season, ranking 22nd in the majors in that category. They've left 176 runners on base, which leads the National League. The talent is clearly there. The Nats are putting runners on, getting knocks and drawing walks. They had six of their starting position players notch at least two hits last night. For whatever reason, those hits largely just aren't coming with runners in scoring position. "I think we're trying...

The last time Manny Machado played in Frederick, he was playing shortstop and Jonathan Schoop was playing second base. That was in September of 2011 when that duo led a team that used strong pitching and defense to win the Carolina League championship. Machado will be back at Harry Grove Stadium tonight for a 7 p.m. game to begin his minor league rehab assignment. After getting over 30 at-bats in Sarasota, Fla., between simulated and extended spring training games, Machado's comeback ramps up...