Here are the lineups for tonight's series opener in Miami between the Nationals and Marlins. Dan Haren will take on rookie sensation Jose Fernandez, who was named National League Rookie of the Month for July and August. Bryce Harper returns to the starting lineup after getting Wednesday off due to a sore hip. for the Nationals: Denard Span CF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Bryce Harper LF Jayson Werth RF Ian Desmond SS Adam LaRoche 1B Wilson Ramos C Steve Lombardozzi 2B Dan Haren P For the...

Nick Markakis is back in right field tonight for the Orioles after being used as a defensive replacement last night. Michael Morse is in left field and Danny Valencia is the designated hitter. Orioles starter Scott Feldman has a lifetime 5.16 ERA in September/October, compared to 3.98 in August. He's 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 15 career games against the White Sox, including nine starts. White Sox left-hander John Danks is 5-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 11 career starts against the Orioles and 1-1 with...

Shortstop Zach Walters is getting his shot to play with the Nationals in September thanks to a career-high season in power numbers at Triple-A Syracuse. Walters smacked 29 homers and drove in 77 in 134 games. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris talked about why Walters was able to ramp up his slugging numbers in 2013. "We are excited about the power display," Harris said. "He made a significant adjustment that allowed his strength and leverage and quickness in his swing...

The Orioles instructional league will begin Sept. 11 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., and runs through Oct. 8. The Orioles are sending 27 pitchers, seven catchers, 10 infielders, 10 outfielders and six players listed on rehab to the camp for a total of 60 players. Aberdeen manager Matt Merullo is instructional league manager and he'll be joined by a large staff of minor league coaches and instructors. The players will play games against teams from Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Boston,...

Call it a baseball revival. Long-suffering franchises are seeing the light after extended periods of darkness. But after the emotion of the moment passes, will fans keep the faith? The Orioles entered the winning tent last year after 14 consecutive losing seasons. The Pittsburgh Pirates followed suit this week, ending their worst-in-any-sport streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons when they won their 81st game. Baseball is fun again in both cities. Or at least I think it is. The Orioles'...

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo described Denard Span as a "front line defensive center fielder" when he acquired the then-28-year-old outfielder from the Minnesota Twins last winter. Rizzo went on to say that he saw the 2002 Twins' first-round pick who turned 29 in February as, "a confident leadoff type of hitter (who) appeals greatly to us because of his skill set as an offensive player. You know, high average guy, .350 OBP-type of guy, doesn't strike out - one of the tougher guys...

The Cardinals didn't help the Nationals out any last night, falling to the Reds to push the Nats a full seven games back of Cincinnati in the wild card chase. Twenty-three games to go with a seven-game deficit to overcome. Have at it, Nats. See what you can do. Over the last couple months, the Nats have seen their relief corps - a group that for the most part was pretty solid in the first half of the season - start to falter. Rafael Soriano went through a stretch where he was incredibly...

For the short-season, Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds, it was one of their biggest homers of the season. Last Sunday at Brooklyn, the IronBirds trailed the Cyclones 1-0 in the eighth inning. They needed to beat their division rival to stay ahead of them for first place. Conor Bierfeldt took a swing and drove a ball estimated around 425 feet out to center field to tie the game. "Our whole bench erupted and about 6,500 people just sat down in their seats," Aberdeen manager Matt Merullo...

While wondering whether the Ravens will ask to borrow the Orioles' defense... I'm going to make a bold prediction here, so stay with me. The Orioles will not rely on home runs for all of their scoring in their remaining 23 games. A single might do the trick. Maybe a double. Heck, they may bring back the sacrifice fly that was all the rage for two nights. The Orioles are on pace to hit 219 home runs, the second-highest total in club history. They belted 257 in 1996. This year's club is...

Each year, MASN gives fans the opportunity to challenge Adam Jones to a competition of their choice. After receiving all of the submissions, Jones hand picks three challenges for fans to vote on. This year, fans voted for 7-year old Parker Duke, as he challenged the O's outfielder to a donut-eating contest. The stage was set. With a dozen donuts in hand, Adam greeted Parker in the Orioles dugout. When it was all said and done, it was less about the competition and more about the experience...