I recently asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter to fill out Baseball America's Best Tools Survey, which he did without complaint. At least, while I was still in the room. And he got it back to me before the deadline. Each manager was asked to vote for players in his own league. The Orioles were well-represented in the survey, including Chris Davis, who finished first in the AL for "best power" and third for "most exciting player." Adam Jones finished first for "best outfield arm" and...

Jayson Werth is back in the Nationals lineup tonight against the Braves after being scratched from starting on Monday because of a strained groin. Werth pinch hit in the seventh of yesterday's loss to Atlanta, but returns to the lineup as the Nats seek their first win in three games. Also, Ryan Zimmerman is making his first career start in the No. 2 spot in the batting order. He has one career at-bat and two plate appearances batting second, but no starts. For the Braves RF Jason Heyward LF...

This is not a make-or-break road trip for the Orioles, but with 50 games left and now being on the outside looking in for a playoff berth, it is pretty important. The O's went backwards during a 4-5 homestand. They lost ground in the standings and days on the calender - not a good combination. Right now, not only are the Orioles chasing two teams ahead of them in the AL East, but they are now chasing two ahead of them for the second wild card. Texas is leading that race, by a half-game over...

The Orioles made the anticipated roster move today, reinstating second baseman Brian Roberts from the paternity leave list and optioning infielder Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk. Roberts had to be placed on the roster today. His three days were up. And Valencia was the obvious choice to go back down, since the Orioles didn't figure to go with an expanded bench. They already lost their designated hitter on this trip. Manager Buck Showalter indicated over the weekend that the roster could...

The Nationals made a series of roster moves today, selecting the contract of right-hander Tanner Roark from Triple-A Syracuse, optioning left-hander Xavier Cedeno back to Syracuse and transferring lefty Ross Detwiler to the 60-day DL. Optioning Cedeno to Triple-A clears a spot for Roark on the 25-man active roster, and moving Detwiler from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL opens a spot for Roark on the 40-man roster. Roark has gone 9-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 33 games (11 starts) this season with the...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated second baseman Brian Roberts from the paternity leave list and have optioned infielder Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk. Roberts, 35, is batting .245/.283/.357 in 30 games for the Orioles this season. His wife Diana had their first child, a son, Jax, on Friday. Valencia batted .216/.256/.500 (16-for-74) with five homers and 10 RBI in 25 games for the Orioles this season.

The Washington Nationals today selected right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeno to Syracuse. Additionally, the Nationals transferred left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Roark went 9-3 with two saves, four holds and a 3.15 ERA in 33 games/11 starts this season with the Chiefs. He...

Wilson Betemit is in the Gulf Coast League Orioles lineup today, batting second and serving as the designated hitter. Betemit drew a walk in the top of the first inning against GCL Red Sox left-hander Gabe Speier, a 19th-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Dos Pueblos (Ca.) High School. This is Betemit's first game since he tore the PCL in his right knee in a March 25 exhibition game against the Red Sox and was carted off the Ed Smith Stadium field. He's batting from the...

The Baltimore Orioles, OriolesREACH and Manager Buck Showalter and his wife Angela have partnered with KidsPeace to host the fourth annual Trick-or-Trot 5K/1-Mile Walk on Nov. 2. Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume for the race, which begins and ends at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and enjoy a post-race party with the Oriole Bird. The event starts at 8 a.m. and benefits youth in foster care. "Angela and I are proud to once again host the KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot event," said Buck...

Ready for a few mind-numbing stats? Stephen Strasburg has a 2.14 ERA in four starts against the Braves this season. He's allowed just five runs and struck out 26 in 21 innings against Atlanta. Yet, Strasburg is 0-1 in those four starts. The Nationals have scored two runs or fewer in 45.5 percent of their games this season. This season, the average major league team has scored two runs or fewer 29.1 percent of the time. For what it's worth, the Nats are 6-45 in games where they score fewer...