Tonight would be a good time for Jason Hammel to pitch better than he has in recent outings. Hammel went 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA last year and while he is 7-4 this year, his ERA is up there at 5.30. Hammel has allowed four runs over six innings in each of his last two outings and in his most recent four starts, he is 0-2 with an ERA of 6.23. His last win came May 27 against Washington. His hits per nine innings are up and his strikeout rate is down. Hammel has been able to put together...

Maybe it won't be as dramatic as what Alexi Casilla did last night, but Danny Valencia would like a repeat. Last night, Casilla, who hasn't had much playing time recently, hit a key three-run homer in an Orioles win. It can be hard to sit for a while as a reserve and then start and come up big for the team, but that is the role of the bench player to try and stay ready when he gets a chance. Valencia gets his shot tonight batting eighth against Cleveland in the DH spot. "You go through...

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen threw in the bullpen today without any physical issues, and he remains scheduled to begin an injury-rehab assignment on Saturday. Double-A Bowie is his likely destination, according to manager Buck Showalter, but it hasn't been made official. Chen's assignment may last only one start before the Orioles activate him from the disabled list. Showalter said he wouldn't anticipate second baseman Brian Roberts and outfielder Nolan Reimold both coming off the disabled...

In no uncertain terms, Dan Haren has been an unmitigated flop for the Nationals this season. The 32-year-old veteran right-hander, signed to a one-year, $13 million contract over the offseason, has shown moments of competency, as in his four-hit, one-run win over Atlanta on May 2. But more often than not, he's been pounded by opposing batters, having lost his last six decisions. The Nats have not won a game he's started in his last eight starts. The move to officially place Haren on the...

The Nationals look for a series win tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman back in the lineup. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann goes for the Nationals. Zimmermann is 10-3 with a 2.26 ERA. Arizona counters with left-hander Wade Miley, who is 4-6 with a 4.70 ERA. The Diamondbacks are 41-35 and have won four of their last six games. Martin Prado has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games against the Nationals. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon...

After consulting today with orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrew in Gulf Breeze, Fla., Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy will undergo ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow Thursday morning, according to an industry source. Bundy was examined yesterday by team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens before returning to Florida for a follow-up opinion. An MRI taken on Bundy's right elbow back in April came back clean, but he's now been diagnosed with a small tear. Baseball America rated Bundy...

Pitcher Dylan Bundy has a scheduled appointment today with renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla. The Orioles may have an update later this afternoon. Bundy is seeking a follow-up opinion after yesterday's examination by team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens. Bundy felt more discomfort in his right forearm, near his elbow, while throwing from 120 feet Monday morning in Sarasota. Wasting no time, he flew into Baltimore for yesterday's exam and immediately headed back down...

It was a changeup. All he was trying to do was get the ball in the air to get the runner home from third. The results were quite different. First baseman Adam LaRoche's three-run shot lifted the Nationals to a 5-0 advantage early versus the Diamondbacks last night. That kind of rush of offense, and runs for Gio Gonzalez, had been rare so far this season. LaRoche said the fact that he was able to really crank it was a welcome change from his recent at-bats. "I am starting to feel better,"...

It was April 19 when Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia joined the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Before long, the hits came ringing off his bat. It wasn't much longer after that, that fans start wondering if the Orioles would promote the hot-hitting Urrutia to Triple-A - or even the majors, at some point. In early May, O's director of player development Brian Graham said Urrutia, who hadn't played much in two years, had to show the organization more than just offense to get promoted. He needed to be...

The Washington Nationals are proud to announce that legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond will perform his latest single "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)" during the Nationals-Brewers game on Thursday, July 4 at Nationals Park. It will mark the first time Diamond performs this song live, which he was inspired to write in the wake of this past April's Boston Marathon bombings and a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. "I, like so many other Americans, felt...