Matt Wieters played in the All-Star game in 2011 in Arizona and last year in Kansas City, but he didn't make the American League team this year. "It's always a fun experience to go to the All-Star game, but at the same time you can get a lot of value out of three days off and be able to rest and get strong for the second half," he said. At the All-Star break last season, Wieters was batting .247 with 12 homers, 44 RBIs and a .758 OPS. As the break for 2013 approaches, he is batting .229...

PHILADELPHIA - After facing left-handers each of the last three days, the Nationals will take their hacks against Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick tonight in the finale of this four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. With a win, the Nats would salvage a split in this set despite dropping the first two games. Bryce Harper is 7-for-14 career off Kendrick with a homer and three doubles and Ian Desmond is 10-for-28 with two homers, a triple and two doubles off the righty. Jordan Zimmermann...

The Orioles were expecting to face Yu Darvish in the final game of their series against the Rangers. Instead, they get one of their former minor leaguers, Ross Wolf, after Darvish was placed on the disabled list. Only three current Orioles have faced Wolf. Chris Davis is 1-for-2 with a strikeout, Taylor Teagarden is 0-for-2 with a strikeout and Ryan Flaherty is 0-for-1. The Orioles haven't made a roster move today, but Chris Dickerson remains out of the lineup with a strained left shoulder....

Just as it appeared that left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada was getting close to being a consideration for the Orioles pitching staff, he turned in a dreadful start today for Triple-A Norfolk against the Gwinnett Braves. Wada was charged with seven runs and 13 hits in five-plus innings, with one walk, three strikeouts and two home runs. He faced one batter in the sixth without recording an out, and Mark Hendrickson let the inherited runner score. Wada threw 78 pitches, 52 for strikes. In his four...

Just when it seemed like the Nationals' long trek toward a new spring training home had gained some traction, there are indications that the team's hopes for a new complex in Kissimmee, Fla., may have encountered an unexpected road block. According to this blog from the Orlando Business Journal, Osceola County has temporarily tabled talks on construction of a new two-team complex that would house both the Nationals and Houston Astros. The Nationals, who currently play Grapefruit League...

PHILADELPHIA - Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos are raking lately, but they're not alone. There's also Jayson Werth, whose recent hot streak is worth taking note of. Since June 15, a span of 24 games, Werth has posted a .373/.454/.614 slash line with five homers, five doubles and 17 RBIs. He has at least one hit in 19 of those 24 games, and is 8-for-21 with three homers and seven RBIs in six games against the Phillies over the last month - all at Citizens Bank Park in front of fans who...

Major League Baseball and People magazine today announced the 30 winners of the "Tribute for Heroes" campaign, a national initiative that recognizes veterans and military service members and which builds upon both organizations' commitment to honoring our country's heroes. Rob Jones has been selected by a nationwide fan vote to represent the Baltimore Orioles. Jones is a study in bravery and determination. After losing both legs to an IED in Taliban territory in Afghanistan in 2010, the...

We all as fans know that Chris Davis is having a season for the ages. This weekend, while driving around the Baltimore area in my SUV and driving to the Washington area, I flipped one of the prominent sports talk radio stations in the area. The talk on that station centered on the Orioles' poor road trip to Chicago and New York, plus Davis. However, the talk on the muscular first baseman was not all positive. Almost every other call I heard on the station centered on whether or not Davis...

A lot of the All-Star Game chatter concerning the Nationals this year will be focused on Bryce Harper - and for good reason. It makes sense given the context of the scenario, his age, and the debate of whether or not he should be hitting in the Home Run Derby. But all of that aside, I think people need to shine a little more light on Jordan Zimmermann's first game as an All-Star. He's bounced back from Tommy John surgery and could be a No. 1 starter on a majority of teams in Major League...

PHILADELPHIA - If you haven't heard much about Henry Rodriguez lately, it's because the former Nationals reliever, who was traded to the Cubs a month ago, hasn't seen a whole lot of action with his new team. Prior to last night, Rodriguez had appeared in just four games since heading to the Cubs on June 11, and just one since June 23. Rodriguez got into a game last night, entering a blowout in the fifth inning. He faced five batters and didn't retire any of them. The five batters went...