Manny Machado keeps making it easy to forget he's a 20-year-old shortstop. Machado made a veteran play to end the top of the ninth inning, fielding Evan Longoria's chopper, faking the throw to first, spinning and firing to J.J. Hardy covering third. Rich Thompson rounded the bag and got caught in a rundown, with catcher Matt Wieters applying the tag. Machado had no play at first. Thompson had no clue that Machado, still learning all the nuances of third base, would go the other way. Credit...

If you were thinking that John Lannan might be a little too hyped up for his first major league start in over five weeks, you don't really know John Lannan all that well. The veteran lefty, who isn't the type to let his emotions affect him too much on the mound, has thrown three scoreless innings to start tonight's ballgame. Lannan's allowed three hits so far, but he hasn't walked a batter (walks were his issue during his last start with the Nats) and he's gotten six groundball...

Wilson Betemit's defensive lapses cost him a regular spot in the Orioles' lineup. He's healthy now, but he's a man without a position. Left-handed designated hitter could be a nice fit. Betemit began tonight hitting .304 against right-handers, and his RBI single off Rays starter Alex Cobb in the bottom of the first inning scored J.J. Hardy for a 2-1 lead. Betemit raced to second base on the throw to third, where Matt Wieters advanced on the hit. Chris Davis walked with two outs to load...

He is starting on the mound for the Orioles tonight and he might be the biggest surprise on the team this year. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez is 6-4 with a 3.62 ERA, one year after he pitched a total of 56 2/3 innings in the Red Sox system, mostly at Double-A, going 0-7 with a 5.40 ERA. Now he is pitching big games for the Orioles in a pennant race. The Orioles found him pitching in Mexico over the winter and signed him as a minor league free agent on February 28, after spring training had...

One day after leaving the game in the fourth inning with a right knee injury, Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is still waiting to get an MRI and that won't happen until tomorrow. His mood is not any beter about the situation, he said. "Not really, I'm frusrated. That is all I can be right now until something positive shows up. It's just frustrating. "It is a good thing that there isn't a lot of swelling, but that just raises more questions for me about what is going on," Hammel...

The Orioles' rotation is coming a little more into focus, though it still includes some hazy patches. Get used to it. Manager Buck Showalter can't plan too far ahead, no matter how hard he tries. You already know that left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is starting Thursday afternoon against the Rays. Left-hander Joe Saunders will start Friday night in Oakland. Now comes the hazy part. Chris Tillman could start Saturday, with left-hander Zach Britton taking the mound on Sunday. Showalter could...

Today was originally scheduled to be Stephen Strasburg's final start of the 2012 season. Those who bought tickets to tonight's Nationals-Mets game at Citi Field hoping to see Strasburg's finale will get John Lannan instead. Lannan makes his return to the Nationals' rotation tonight as he takes on the Mets in the finale of this three-game series. The veteran left-hander has made two starts with the Nats this season, going 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings. Those starts were merely...

Nate McLouth remains in the leadoff spot tonight for the Orioles. Wilson Betemit is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit DH Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis RF Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP Only two Orioles have faced Rays right-hander Alex Cobb. Omar Quintanilla is 1-for-3 and Endy Chavez is 0-for-3. Manager Buck Showalter, interviewed for Buck's Blog on MASNsports.com,...

The Nationals have announced their 2013 schedule, which sees them open at home against the Miami Marlins and finish the season with six straight road contests - three at St. Louis and three at Arizona. The season opener will come on Monday, April 1. The Nats will host the Marlins for three games before hitting the road for three against the Reds. The annual Battle of the Beltways series will continue for an eighth straight season. Both the Nationals and Orioles will host two games over a...

The Washington Nationals today released their 2013 schedule, which includes 81 home dates, beginning with Washington's 80th home opener since 1901 on Monday, April 1 vs. Miami and is highlighted by an attractive slate of weekend visits from the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Twins. The annual Battle of the Beltways Series between the Nationals and Orioles continues for an eighth consecutive season with each club hosting a pair of contests over a four-game span, May 27-30. The...