Nick Markakis underwent surgery today in Sarasota and manager Buck Showalter spoke to him this morning. Pins were inserted into Markakis' thumb instead of a T-plate, which is a less-invasive procedure. They will be removed in three weeks if it heals as expected. However, the timetable for Markakis' potential return hasn't changed. The Orioles would have to make the playoffs and probably get into the second round. "He called me, I think, from the recovery room," Showalter said. "He was...

It must have seemed like a pretty quiet afternoon for LJ Hoes. He was watching television a little after noon when he got the phone call telling him to come to Baltimore to join the Orioles and play in the big leagues for the first time. "I was sitting at home watching a movie, 'Mr. Baseball,' so they called and said we need you here by 2:15. So now I'm here," the 22-year-old Hoes said. "They told me after the season to work out and stay in shape. Just want to help this team any way I...

The Nationals have won 10 of their last 11 games at Citi Field, including six straight. They look to continue that road dominance tonight against R.A. Dickey and the Mets. For the Nationals: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P Jordan Zimmermann For the Mets: SS Ruben Tejada 2B Daniel Murphy 3B David Wright 1B Ike Davis RF Mike Baxter LF Jason Bay CF Andres Torres C Josh Thole P R.A. Dickey

The Nationals have set their roster for instructional league competition, which will originate from their Viera, Fla., training facility, and begins this weekend. The report date is Sept. 14 with the first workout set for Sept. 15. The first game on the 14-game schedule is Sept. 22 on the road against the Mets. The last game is Oct. 10 against the Astros. As we first reported, third baseman Matt Skole and right-hander Aaron Barrett will begin their offseason in Florida and then leave for...

The Orioles made a series of roster moves today, selecting the contracts of outfielders Endy Chavez and LJ Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk and designating reliever Kevin Gregg and second baseman Ryan Adams for assignment. Chavez was expected here today, and Adams was my guess to be removed from the 40-man roster. However, the Orioles changed their plans with Hoes after Nick Markakis suffered a broken left thumb. Chavez batted .190/.222/.281 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 47 games with the...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contracts of outfielders Endy Chavez and LJ Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for them on the 40-man roster, right-hander Kevin Gregg and infielder Ryan Adams have been designated for assignment. Chavez batted .190/.222/.281 with two home runs and eight RBI in 47 games with the Orioles earlier this season. He was designated for assignment on August 4 and played 15 games for Triple-A Norfolk after being outrighted. Hoes will be...

So much for my earlier prediction that Nate McLouth wouldn't lead off tonight against Rays left-hander Matt Moore. McLouth is atop the order again. He's starting in left field, with Lew Ford playing right. Chris Davis is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter. Left-handers are hitting .268 against Moore, compared to .234 by right-handers, which could factor into manager Buck Showalter's lineup decisions. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C...

We've got quite a pitching matchup on our hands tonight up in Flushing, N.Y. Two of the top seven in the National League in ERA - R.A. Dickey and Jordan Zimmermann - will toe the rubber at Citi Field. Dickey (18-4, 2.64) is probably the leading candidate for the NL Cy Young award at this point, while Zimmermann (10-8, 2.99) is looking to carry some momentum from his last start out, when he allowed just two runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts in a win over the Cubs. That was the...

After Monday's three-homer offensive attack in a 5-1 win over the Mets, the Nationals have now hit 33 homers in their last 13 games and an incredible 27 homers in the month of September. That is 11 more than Milwaukee for best in the National League. The Nationals have 168 homers on the season, second only to the Brewers (177) in the National League, and better than Cincinnati (163), Pittsburgh (149) and Colorado (148). Looking down the starting nine, the top seven have displayed legitimate...

The magic number to clinch the division is down to 15 with 21 games left on the Nationals' schedule. Last night's 5-1 win over the Mets coupled with Atlanta's loss to the Brewers boosted the Nationals' lead in the division back up to 6 1/2 games, seven in the loss column. Never mind that the Nats didn't register a hit from the fourth inning on last night or that Gio Gonzalez walked five hitters in his first four innings, tying a season high for most walks in a game. None of that matters...