The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Tommy Hunter from Double-A Bowie and selected the contract of left-hander Zach Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Phillips, the Orioles designated right-hander Jason Berken for assignment. Hunter has gone 4-8 with a 5.95 ERA (121.0IP, 80ER) in 23 games (20 starts) over four stints with the Orioles this season. In five minor league outings (four starts) between Norfolk and Double-A Bowie, Hunter was 3-1 with a 3.07...

It's hard to fathom that it's been 17 years since Sept. 6, 1995, when Camden Yards was at the center of the baseball universe on the night that Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game. That night, Cal broke a record set by the Yankees' Lou Gehrig that was once believed unreachable. Seeing The Iron Man one-up The Iron Horse was nothing short of magical, and there may have been more electricity buzzing through the ballpark for that game than on any other in Baltimore baseball...

Both Jayson Werth (hamstring cramp) and Adam LaRoche (sore back) are in the Nationals' lineup for this afternoon's game against the Cubs. Werth was pulled in the ninth inning of Saturday's game after feeling his hamstring cramp up, and he was a late scratch from the lineup yesterday. LaRoche has been battling a sore back the last three or four days and was held out of the lineup yesterday, although he did pinch-hit in the sixth inning. The Nationals will face Cubs righty Jeff Samardzija,...

Manager Davey Johnson confirmed that he, general manager Mike Rizzo and pitching coach Steve McCatty met with Stephen Strasburg about shutting the right-hander down for the season. "We were able to have a nice little conversation,. He hates McCatty more than before the meeting, and me and Rizzo," Johnson said with a laugh. "It is not secret that Stras is an intense competitor. He wants to be here, wants to be contributing, wants to be helping." Johnson said the shutdown is tough and will...

The Washington Nationals today named third baseman Matthew Skole Minor League Player of the Year and right-hander Nathan Karns Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the 2012 season. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. Skole hit .292 with...

When the Nationals showed up in their clubhouse today before the start of a four-game series against the Cubs, there were two new arrivals to pitch in during the stretch run. The Nats selected the contracts of right-hander Christian Garcia an left-hander Zach Duke from Triple-A Syracuse. To accommodate them on the 40-man roster - which stood at 39 before the additions - right-hander Henry Rodriguez was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Garcia, a longtime Yankees farmhand who joined the...

Manny Machado is batting sixth today for the first time in his major league career. Machado has hit seventh, eighth and ninth, but he's moving up against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ. He went 6-for-12 in the Yankees series. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Nate McLouth LF Lew Ford DH Robert Andino 2B Joe Saunders LHP For the Blue Jays: Rajai Davis LF Colby Rasmus CF Edwin Encarnacion 1B Adam Lind...

The Washington Nationals today selected right-handed pitcher Christian Garcia and left-handed pitcher Zach Duke from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Garcia converted all 21 save opportunities with a 2-1 mark and 0.86 ERA in 45 relief appearances this season with...

Outside the Nationals' clubhouse, the decision to shut down Stephen Strasburg has been met by many with a mixture of shock and disgust. Inside the Nationals' clubhouse, word that Strasburg will only get two more starts before his 2012 season is brought to an end was largely met with shoulder shrugs. Are some guys a little frustrated that Strasburg won't be there with them as they make the final push for the postseason? Sure. Are some guys disappointed they won't have their ace if and when...

Prior to writing for Birds Watcher, I covered the Orioles for another outlet in 2010-11. After what I still feel was the greatest closing act of all time last September against Boston, I wrote that I felt that game juxtaposed the fortunes of the two franchises together in some strange way for the future. (Shout out to my high school English teachers, as I was paying attention all those years - who else could work juxtaposition into a sports column?). I suppose that, at the time, I did in fact...