Is Ryan Flaherty swinging and hitting better since he returned from Triple-A? The stat sheet says yes, but he didn't have much to out-perform of course. Flaherty was batting .133 when he was sent to the minors after the game on May 18. In nine games since returning to Baltimore, he is batting .276 (8-for-29) with two multi-hit games, two doubles and two RBIs. Does Buck Showalter see signs of progress for Flaherty on offense since his return? "Little bit," Showalter said. "He has hit...

Brian Roberts was back in the home clubhouse at Camden Yards today. It has been a while. He hasn't played in a game since the third day of the season and underwent surgery May 9 to repair his right hamstring. He made it clear how important it was to rejoin the team over the weekend during the Tampa series and how that provides him a nice mental lift in the final stages of his latest rehab. "It's great to be back," Roberts said. "You feel kind of isolated on an island down there (in...

Alexi Casilla most likely would have started again tonight at second base, but he jammed his right index finger yesterday while sliding into second base at Tropicana Field and he has a bandage wrapped around it. Casilla may be available tonight off the bench. It depends how the finger feels while he plays catch this afternoon. Casilla reached base three times yesterday, drove in two runs and made a sensational tag on Desmond Jennings' stolen-base attempt. "He's OK, but a little sore,"...

It's raining cats, dogs and other assorted house pets here at Camden Yards. If tonight's game is postponed, the teams likely will play a doubleheader on Tuesday. Stay tuned for updates. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson DH Ryan Flaherty 2B Freddy Garcia RHP For the Angels Mike Trout LF Josh Hamilton RF Albert Pujols DH Mark Trumbo 1B Howie Kendrick 2B Alberto Callaspo 3B Erick...

I'll say this: Tyler Moore took the news of his demotion like a pro last night. It's probably pretty easy for a guy who has just gotten sent down to the minor leagues to wallow in self-pity or make up excuses for his poor performance. Moore could've cited his inconsistent playing time as a reason for his .149 average and .464 OPS. He could've snuck out of the clubhouse before reporters entered or had a negative attitude about needing to go back down to Triple-A Syracuse to try and get his...

The Nationals have been hit hard in recent weeks by injuries to key players like Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos, Ross Detwiler and Stephen Strasburg. But perhaps the most important injury to hit the Nats this season was the hamstring injury that kept Jayson Werth out of the lineup from May 3 until last Tuesday's game against the Mets. The Nats missed not only his talent on the field, but his leadership in the clubhouse. Now it's apparent by the team's improved intensity that they're reaping the...

On Friday, June 14, the Orioles will celebrate Flag Day and the Army's Birthday as part of Military Appreciation Day and the team's ongoing military appreciation efforts. Pre-game ceremonies will include a swearing-in ceremony for future Army members as well as military involvement in the first pitch, presentation of colors and National Anthem. Col. Edward Rothstein, Retired Col. Bert Rice, Retired Sgt. Maj. Ray Moran and Col. Douglas Dillard will each throw out ceremonial first pitches on...

I almost didn't recognize my own house when I finally returned to the front doorstep last night. After spending nearly 15 straight hours at Nationals Park yesterday, I was starting to believe I'd need to eventually curl up and grab some shut-eye in the press box. I'm not sure the stadium employees would've enjoyed that too much. After a rough, deflating, extra-inning loss to the Twins on Friday night, the Nationals were happy campers last night. They picked up two big wins yesterday to...

Following Sunday's doubleheader, the Washington Nationals optioned first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Moore, 26, batted .158 with five doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI, six walks and seven runs scored in 38 games this season with Washington.

Nationals players and coaches showed up to the ballpark before 10 a.m. today. So did reporters, but that's neither here nor there. About 14 hours later, the Nats will file out of the home clubhouse at Nats Park exhausted and a bit physically worn down, but they'll at least have two more wins in the standings than they did when they arrived this morning. They'll also be back to .500 and will head out on their nine-game road trip in a much better mental state than if they would have dropped...