It hasn't been the smoothest night for Edwin Jackson. He's allowed 11 baserunners in five innings, surrendered three home runs and has needed 94 pitches to get himself through his five frames. Somehow, despite all that action on the bases and all the lengthy innings, Jackson has managed to give up just three runs this far. The Nationals trail 3-2 as we go to the sixth. All three homers off Jackson have been solo shots (two by Jimmy Rollins, who is absolutely on fire right now), and the...

Jayson Werth is back with Single-A Potomac as his rehab assignment appears to be entering its final stage. Werth will play center field and hit leadoff for the P-Nats tonight. He might want to get used to the leadoff spot before rejoining the Nationals, as there's a chance Davey Johnson will slot him there once he's back in the majors a few days from now. "I've talked to him about leading off," Johnson said. "He normally was hitting, I think, last year, was hitting fifth. But he might...

Both Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann had red-hot months of July. Both guys have been battling ailments of some sort recently. Neither is thought to be serious, however. Zimmerman is out of the lineup today for the second straight day because of a tight back, which started bugging him on the Nationals' recent road trip. The third baseman feels it was a combination of the recent travel and a play at the plate on Sunday which kind of caused the back to tighten up, but he insists he'll be...

NEW YORK - Left-hander Zach Britton didn't make excuses for today's poor showing and he didn't pretend that he's a fixture in the Orioles' rotation. He admitted to reporters that he's concerned about being on a "short leash," as the question was phrased, and that he needs to produce better results if he wants to avoid a return trip to the minors. "Yeah, you try not to think about it, but we're in the hunt and I understand what I have to do to be at this level, and I'm not getting it...

NEW YORK - So much for the rotation being settled after the Orioles failed to make a trade for a starter. Zach Britton allowed seven runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings today, with three walks and three strikeouts. He sat at his locker after the game, his head bowed, his next start in doubt. Manager Buck Showalter didn't offer Britton a vote of confidence. He was noncommittal when asked whether the left-hander would get another start. Showalter also raised questions about Tommy Hunter's...

Fans who purchase 2013 season tickets beginning today receive priority for 2012 postseason tickets The Washington Nationals announced today that 2013 full season ticket packages are now available. Fans who place a deposit on full season ticket plans will receive 2012 postseason ticket purchase priority. CURRENT SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Nationals Season Ticket Holders will receive complete renewal and postseason ticket information in the coming weeks, but beginning today, they can reserve full...

Zach Britton threw 80 pitches today and failed to get through the third inning. That should tell you how his day went as the Yankees hammered the Orioles 12-3. Britton allowed seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings to fall to 1-1 with an ERA of 8.35. In three career starts in the Bronx, the lefty has allowed 20 runs (17 earned) over eight innings for an ERA of 19.12. Winning pitcher Phil Hughes gave up one run over six innings. The Orioles missed a chance to complete their first three-game sweep at...

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will miss his second straight game with a sore back when the Nationals host the Phillies at 7:05 p.m., though the Nats will welcome first baseman Adam LaRoche back from a sore back. Here's the Nationals lineup: 2B Steve Lombardozzi RF Bryce Harper 3B Chad Tracy LF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Danny Espinosa CF Roger Bernadina C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson

Here we go again. Kevin Gregg has a bad inning and the venom flows like Dick Vermeil's tears. Fans demand that the Orioles trade or release him. They say he only pitches effectively if inactive for long periods. They say he never should enter a game with runners on base. They blame him for the economy and Arsenio Hall's return to late-night television. OK, let's start with the reason he's pitching today: Zach Britton lasted 2 2/3 innings and - stop me if you've heard this one before -...

Well, there you go. Brag about the Orioles showing heart and character and they get crushed in the rain in New York. It is not over yet, but a comeback this time seems rather unlikely with the Orioles losing 11-1 to the Yankees in the fifth inning. The Orioles' run differential is taking a beating today. They entered this game getting outscored by 51 runs on the year, which is the fourth-worst run differential in the American League. But as someone reminded me on Twitter today, a lot of...