While the Orioles await the results of the MRI on Manny Machado's left knee, Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base tonight against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. This is the first lineup without Machado since the Orioles selected his contract on Aug. 9, 2012. Nate McLouth is batting second tonight. Dan Johnson will make his first start for the Orioles as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Brian Roberts 2B Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Nick Markakis...

Still no word on Manny Machado's MRI, which took place early this afternoon. The Orioles are expected to make an announcement later today. That's all I've got at the moment. The only certainty is that Machado won't play again in 2013. I wrote this morning that Danny Valencia and Ryan Flaherty are two candidates to replace Machado at third base, and Jonathan Schoop has played the position in the minors. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't used Schoop while his club's been in a pennant race,...

High Single-A Potomac Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor again made positive strides this season, improving his approach and refining his defense to post impressive numbers for the Carolina League's Northern Division champions. Potomac hitting coach Mark Harris told me early in the season that Taylor had calmed down his approach at the plate and had focused on one thing while up at-bat, and that helped him get into a consistent rhythm. Taylor hit .263 in 133 games, with 41 doubles, six...

In Monday's series finale at Tampa Bay, Manny Machado suffered a gruesome knee injury while rounding first base. Immediately after being carted off the field in a stretcher, there was an outpouring of support for the O's third baseman. Below are just some of the many tweets from Machado's peers in reaction to his injury. Best wishes out to Manny today for that terrible injury. Get well soon man!— Mike Trout (@Trouty20) September 23, 2013 Prayers up for Manny Machado— Torrey...

ST. LOUIS - One image from the postgame scene in the Nationals clubhouse last night stays with me above all others this morning. That image is Bryce Harper seated at his locker, staring at nothing in particular. Harper was in full uniform, his feet resting on the wooden beams on either side of his locker. He stayed in that position for nearly 45 minutes after the game, refusing to change out of his clothes and move on from the idea that the Nationals still had a chance at postseason...

There's no crying in baseball - unless, of course, you're an Orioles fan who watched Manny Machado go down Monday at Tropicana Field. Then crying is completely acceptable. I'm OK admitting that my eyes got a little misty as I watched the Birds' young phenom get carted off the field on a stretcher after twisting his leg on first base. I didn't take the injury well, I felt sick to my stomach watching the replays and sat in silence, unsure how I should react as the game continued. After it...

There are landmark moments that stand like Mount Rushmore looking down upon the crowd of gameday events that have transpired since the first pitch was thrown out at RFK Stadium in 2005. There was Jayson Werth's walk-off home run to send the Nationals to a Game 5 in the 2012 National League Division Series, Stephen Strasburg's 14-strikeout debut in 2010 and maybe Bryce Harper's breakout game against the Phillies when he stole home. But the launch date for the current Nationals team happened...

ST. LOUIS - A harsh reality hit the Nationals tonight following their 4-3 loss to the Cardinals, a defeat that came just minutes after the Pirates and Reds had taken care of business and earned late wins. "The postseason door is officially closed," Ian Desmond said. The Nats will have five more regular season games and then head their separate ways, bound for the offseason after a turbulent 2013 campaign that saw them struggle through the first four months of the season before putting...

ST. LOUIS - Minutes after his team had been mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture, Davey Johnson held back tears as he discussed the Nationals' dreams of postseason baseball coming to an end. Johnson, the Nats' 70-year-old skipper who is in his final season at the helm of this team, spoke evenly, and his voice didn't break at any point during his session with reporters, but you could see the sadness on his face. The Nationals' 4-3 loss to the Cardinals coupled with wins by...

ST. LOUIS - Not only are the Nationals losing here in the late innings in St. Louis, but the Pirates and Reds just won in dramatic fashion. With their win, the Pirates will clinch a playoff spot if the Nats lose here tonight. Same deal with the Reds. Put in other words, the Nats are three outs away from elimination. The Nats go into the top of the ninth inning trailing the Cardinals 4-3. A Ryan Zimmerman RBI groundout in the eighth cut the Cardinals' lead in half, but the Nats will need a...