ATLANTA - Most of the Nationals beat writers covering last night's game at Turner Field felt that there was a bit of a playoff vibe surrounding the division battle between the Nats and Braves. The pitching was excellent, the game was tight, the crowd was large and rockin', and the game ended in dramatic fashion. Not all the guys in the Nationals' clubhouse agreed with our line of thinking. Some brushed off the idea that last night's game had a postseason feel to it, saying that it was...

I still like the Orioles' chances of making the playoffs if they can find 25 healthy players in October. Another game brought another injury, this one to Wilson Betemit, whose wrist pain most likely has ended his season. Manager Buck Showalter delivered the news on MASN following the Orioles' 3-2 loss in Oakland. Meet the new injury, same as the old injury. It's not a huge blow. It doesn't rival the losses of Nick Markakis and Jason Hammel. But Betemit was hitting .302 against...

Instructional workouts begin today in Viera, Fla., with dozens of the Nationals prospects on hand to work on several aspects of their games. Players will work on refining their skills, glove work, plate organization and fielding techniques. Also, just like first baseman Tyler Moore getting his first chance to work in the outfield last season, some players will work out at different positions to add versatility to their games. Second baseman Justin Miller will work behind the plate after...

Well, that was a rarity. An Orioles one-run loss. With it goes a chance for the Birds to move into sole possession of first place in the AL East after the Yankees loss earlier Friday night proceeded the O's 3-2 loss at Oakland. That was just the Orioles second one-run loss in their last 18 one-run games and they fall to 27-8 on the season in the one-run contests. It was a frustrating night for an O's offense that had scored 66 runs in the previous 11 games. In six of nine innings they got...

ATLANTA - Think the Nationals were emotionally beat-up after being on the losing end of a 2-1 walk-off loss to their chief division opponent? Think again. They'll be just fine. "No one in here is hanging their head," Ian Desmond said afterwards. "More scratching their head than hanging their head, I guess." "It's just one of those days, one of those games," Jayson Werth said. "You can't really hang your head too much. It was a tight game. Both teams battled, and they were able to...

The Orioles' instructional league is under way at the team's spring training home in Sarasota, Fla. There are 59 players listed on the instructional league roster, with 31 pitches, five catchers, eight infielders, eight outfielders and seven players taking part in rehab. Here is the complete O's instructional league roster: Pitchers: Wilmer Aquino, Tim Berry, Parker Bridwell, Dylan Bundy, Miguel Chalas, Zach Davies, Dioni Dominguez, Gene Escat, Miguel Garcia, Kevin Gausman, Kevin Grendell,...

ATLANTA - From the Nationals' perspective, this was just one of those tip-your-hat type of games. They ran into a scorching hot starting pitcher in Atlanta's Kris Medlen, surrendered just two extra-base hits, faced arguably the best closer in the majors in the ninth and then allowed the game-winning run on an infield single, a soft line drive to right and a fielder's choice. They didn't play all that poorly, they just got beat. Ross Detwiler was pitching out of the stretch nearly the...

If you keep a scorebook at home, remove the error charged to first baseman Mark Reynolds on Sept. 9 against the Yankees. Give Robinson Cano a double. I hope you used a pencil. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an error by Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson that scored Manny Machado, who singled, advanced to second on Robert Andino's fly ball to center field and took third on Nate McLouth's fly ball to right. Machado must have heard about Coco Crisp's weak arm in...

Here are some notes on several Orioles hitters as the club begins this big three-game, weekend series at Oakland. * Robert Andino: Is 2-for-18 over his last five games and is 5-for-11 vs. Oakland. * Chris Davis: Over his past 18 games, he's batting .323 (21-for-65) with seven homers and 12 RBIs. He is 10-for-21 (.476) this year with two homers and six RBIs vs. Oakland. * Lew Ford: Has three homers over his last 29 at-bats. * J.J. Hardy: In the last 10 games, he is batting .333 (14-for-42)...

ATLANTA - They're far from the only team which can say this lately, but the Nationals are having a really tough time against Braves right-hander Kris Medlen tonight. They trail 1-0 after four innings thanks to some solid work on the mound by Ross Detwiler, but Medlen has kept the Nats out of striking distance all night so far. He has a whopping nine strikeouts through four innings, six of which have been looking. Nationals hitters have been befuddled by Medlen's pinpoint-accurate two-seam...