At this point in the season, with the number of remaining games shrinking and the Nationals trying to scrap their way back into the playoff picture, Davey Johnson's bunch can't really afford to be losing ballgames. The Nats already knew coming into tonight's game against the Phillies that the Reds had won today, and a loss here at Nats Park would increase their deficit in the wild card race to 5 1/2 games with just 14 remaining. As hot as the Nats have been as of late and as hard as they...

The Orioles will try to improve their series record to 26-17-4 with a win today in Toronto, but it's more important to improve their spot in the wild card race. Taking a lead hasn't been an issue for the Orioles. Holding it in the late innings is another matter. A few more hits with runners in scoring position also would provide a boost. Might actually prevent all these one- and two-run losses. The Orioles are seeing another left-hander today, veteran Mark Buehrle, who's 11-8 with a 4.18...

After four innings of scoreless ball tonight, Gio Gonzalez had worked 13 consecutive innings without allowing a run. Then came the fifth inning. The scoreless streak is now over, and the Nationals trail 4-1. Gonzalez allowed four runs on four hits in the fifth, with John Mayberry's solo shot to left tying the game 1-1 and Carlos Ruiz's bases-clearing, two-out double to right bringing in three more runs to give the Phillies their first lead of the night. Ruiz's double came on a...

The Nationals' most improved player in the minor league system has been outfielder Billy Burns. This week, the team rewarded the organization's top base stealer with their coveted minor league Player of the Year award. Burns, 24, started the season at high Single-A Potomac and lit up the stat sheet with his quality at-bats, high batting average and ability to steal bases. Potomac manager Brian Daubach has seen how quickly Burns has grown as a player and remembers coaching him while managing...

The Orioles carried a a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning at Rogers Centre, but Chris Tillman issued a four-pitch walk to Moises Sierra and Colby Rasmus hit a two-run homer. Tillman hadn't allowed any runs since the first inning. Now he trails the Blue Jays 4-3. Oh, those leadoff walks. And those two-out walks. Just the walks in general. Tillman has allowed 30 home runs in 30 starts this season. He's surrendered 71 in his career, including 50 solo shots. Rasmus homered on a...

After taking yesterday and today off from throwing due to tightness in his right forearm, Stephen Strasburg is on track to play catch tomorrow at Nationals Park. Assuming all goes well during that session, Strasburg will throw a bullpen session Monday and then be in line to start Thursday, Sept. 19 against the Marlins. Strasburg was scratched from yesterday's scheduled start against the Phillies after feeling some tightness in his forearm during a throwing session Thursday in New York....

The Yankees lost today, which would enable the Orioles to pass them in the wild card standings with a win today in Toronto. The Orioles are wearing their black jerseys instead of the usual orange on Saturday. They won last night. Superstitious? Last night, Chris Davis hit his 50th home run. Today, Manny Machado hit his 50th double. Apparently, 50 is the new ... 50. Machado, Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada are the only Orioles with 50 or more doubles in a season. Roberts holds the record...

With the Nationals facing Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels tonight, Adam LaRoche will get the night off and Tyler Moore will start for the Nats at first base in the second game of this three-game set. LaRoche actually has pretty good numbers in his career against Hamels (.294 with four homers in 34 at-bats), but manager Davey Johnson will give the right-handed-hitting Moore the start at first in LaRoche's place tonight. Moore is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk against Hamels. Bryce...

The race for the two wild card playoff berths in the American League is, well, wild. Texas currently holds the first wild card spot, but now leads Tampa Bay by just one game, as the Rays hold the second wild card spot. Beyond that, four teams, including the Orioles, are within 3 1/2 games of Tampa, meaning those same four teams are now within 4 1/2 games of a Texas team that has lost nine of its last 11 games. The Rangers have a road trip upcoming next week to Tampa Bay and Kansas...

Danny Valencia remains in the Orioles' lineup today against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center. Brian Roberts is playing second base and batting ninth, one spot below Valencia. Chris Davis hit his 50th home run last night to tie Brady Anderson's single-season club record. Davis' 47 homers as a first baseman are the most in the AL since Jim Thome had 48 for Cleveland in 2002. Davis leads the majors with 90 extra-base hits, 20 more than Miguel Cabrera and two shy of Anderson's club record set...