The Nationals' home opener in 2012 was against the Cincinnati Reds. They won three of the first four at Nationals Park to set up a truly successful first month and got the season rolling toward 98 wins. The Reds didn't like that movie and let Washington know they will be playing a very different role this year. The Reds had the second best record in the National League last year, winning 97 games. With Shin-Soo Choo at the top of their order, they are going to be even better. Choo's...

Last season, the Orioles never once fell under the .500 mark on their way to 93 wins and the playoffs. They won't be able to say that about this year. The Orioles are now 3-4 and lost their third straight game today as Boston won its home opener 3-1 over the Orioles at Fenway Park. It's the first three-game losing streak for the O's since last July 23-25. The Orioles, who scored 29 runs in their first four games, had gone 15 consecutive innings without a run until Adam Jones' solo homer...

BOSTON - Wei-Yin Chen carried a shutout into the seventh inning today, but the weight of it eventually brought him down. Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the seventh inning by reaching on an infield hit, Mike Napolis doubled to left-center field to put two runners in scoring position, and Daniel Nava launched a 1-1 pitch over the Green Monster in left. Shutout gone. Winless streak alive. Chen hasn't posted a victory in nine consecutive regular-season starts. The Orioles have scored 15...

BOSTON - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has been named the American League's Player of the Week, an honor that seemed destined to be bestowed upon him after his historic home run and RBI binge. Davis batted .455/.500/1.136 with three doubles, four homers, 17 RBIs and five runs scored in the Orioles' first six games. He went 0-for-4 yesterday to end his streak of five consecutive games with at least one RBI to start the season, falling one shy of the club record shared by Mike Devereaux...

BOSTON - Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth was stranded in the first inning today after a leadoff single, and Chris Davis was stranded in the second after a leadoff walk. Manny Machado and Nick Markakis singled with two outs in the third, but Adam Jones took a called third strike. Davis drew another walk leading off the top of the fourth, but Matt Wieters grounded into a force - Davis appeared to beat the throw - and J.J. Hardy hit into a double play. The game is scoreless, but not because...

On Tuesday, April 9 the Washington Nationals Racing Presidents will welcome the mascot of Vice President Selina Meyer, star of HBO's hit comedy series "Veep" as a guest competitor in the GEICO Presidents Race. Meyer will make her appearance at Nationals Park to promote season two of VEEP, which premieres on HBO on Sunday, April 14. Earlier today, Vice President Meyer accepted an invitation to partner with Teddy to challenge George, Tom, Abe and Bill in the first presidential relay of 2013....

The Orioles will try to put an end to a two-game losing streak today and a Red Sox streak as well. The Red Sox have won their last eight home openers since 2005, the longest streak in club history and the longest active streak among major league teams. Boston is 16-4 in home openers since 1993. By the way, with Boston at 4-2 and in first place, yes it's very early, but it's fair to ask this: Are the Red Sox in for a big turnaround season after going 69-93 and finishing in last place in...

BOSTON - Reliever Luis Ayala is available to pitch today after becoming dizzy yesterday at Camden Yards and spending a few hours at a local hospital. Ayala is throwing in the bullpen during batting practice to make certain that he's physically up to the task. "He wasn't feeling well and doctors took some of his vitals and decided to check it out a little further at the hospital, just to be on the safe side," said manager Buck Showalter. "I think for Louie to tell you that he wasn't...

Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Matt Skole has been placed on the disabled list with hairline fracture in his left wrist, according to a team source. Skole is expected to miss three to four weeks. Skole was injured Friday night when his arm was hit by a runner on a play up the baseline. Justin Bloxom is a good possibility to be moved to first base while Skole recovers. The team announced that outfielder Jerad Head had been called up from extended spring training. The Nationals'...

Lessons learned from the season's first week: * The Red Sox are going to be better than most thought. Lefty Jon Lester is back on track. The always-shifting defense, which some times has third baseman Will Middlebrooks playing in short right field, has been an improvement. Shortstop Juan Iglesias, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and catcher David Ross are important ingredients in the Red Sox's run prevention, and Red Sox fans aren't going to like when Stephen Drew comes back this week and...