We're back at Nats Park bright and early this morning, thanks to a 12:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch. The Nationals are having their annual Dream Gala tonight, an event that benefits the Dream Foundation. Players, coaches and staff will need to toss on their tuxes and make their way over to Shakespeare Theatre Company's Sidney Harman Hall after today's game, making for a long day, but one that will benefit a good cause. Jhonatan Solano will be behind the plate for the Nats today, this being...

Travis Ishikawa will make his second start at first base today, as the Orioles try to even their series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Chris Davis will serve as the designated hitter for the second time. He hit two home runs Wednesday in Detroit. Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH J.J. Hardy SS Travis Ishikawa 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Taylor Teagarden C Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the...

Multiple times within the last few weeks, the Nationals have earned a big win, and the topic of conversation has turned to whether that victory could be a momentum-starter, something to give the Nats a jolt and get them on an extended run. Each time, the Nats have followed that up with a loss, or a string of a few losses. I'm not going there again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice ... Instead of getting back into whether the Nats will be able to build off their 2-1 win over the...

The Orioles have a quick turnaround today with their 1:07 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Again, I'm convinced that they lead the world in day games. Taylor Teagarden most likely will be behind the plate, which will appease the fans who are convinced that Matt Wieters cost the Orioles last night's game by calling for a cutter to Munenori Kawasaki with Tommy Hunter on the mound. Apparently, Hunter's head doesn't move from side to side and he can't shake off a sign. And...

He is 27 and playing in Double-A for the fourth year in a row. Except for 22 games with Triple-A Norfolk last summer, Bowie catcher Caleb Joseph has not advanced past the Eastern League. He is having a big year at Bowie, so the obvious question is this: Why is he still in Bowie and not playing at Norfolk at this point? For now, it seems to come down to the fact that Chris Snyder is the regular catcher at Triple-A and the organization would rather Joseph be a regular in Double-A then getting...

It was clear to all watching that Stephen Strasburg wanted no part of pitching coach Steve McCatty or assistant trainer Steve Gober coming out to the mound to check on him in the seventh inning of tonight's 2-1 Nationals win. Two starts removed from a stint on the disabled list due to a lat strain, Strasburg had stretched his side a bit after allowing a two-out double to Josh Rutledge in the seventh, prompting McCatty and Gober to hop out of the dugout and go ask Strasburg if his side was...

The Nationals struck out 11 times against Rockies veteran starter Roy Oswalt on Thursday, yet found a way to scratch out four runs. On Friday, Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood, recalled from Triple-A on April 24, did not allow a run in the first five innings. The Nationals mustered only two hits in that span, but they found a way to scratch out a couple of clutch hits in the sixth. Then, a big blast gave them the lead in the seventh. The Nationals ended up winning 2-1 over Colorado for their...

Well, that was a tough one to lose. Down 3-1 early in the game, the Orioles moved ahead 5-3 in the sixth and 6-4 in the seventh, but lost 7-6 in the last of the ninth as the Toronto Blue Jays won their ninth in a row. Maicer Izturis led off the ninth with a single off Brian Matusz and advanced to second on a sac bunt. An intentional walk and groundout followed, advancing runners to second and third. Pedro Strop came on to face Rajai Davis and his line drive single to left provided Toronto...

Jason Hammel won't be satisfied with tonight's start. He's a harsh critic. But he had a chance to register his eighth victory of the season and his seventh on the road. It won't happen. Toronto shortstop Munenori Kawasaki continues to harass the Orioles, launching a two-run homer off Tommy Hunter in the seventh inning to tie the game 6-6. It was Kawasaki's first major league home run, and the first allowed by Hunter since May 24 in Toronto - a span of 12 appearances. Kawasaki doesn't...

Last season, Jordan Zimmermann went out start after start and delivered. He put up a 2.94 ERA over his 32 starts and got just 12 wins all season. The Nationals struggled mightily to score runs in Zimmermann's starts, and his win total suffered. This season, Stephen Strasburg has gotten the Jordan Zimmermann treatment. Strasburg came into tonight's outing getting the second-lowest run support of any qualified starter in the majors, receiving just 2.69 runs per start. He had a 2.50 ERA...