Bryce Harper's getting a rare day off today, but it's not due to anything injury-related, manager Davey Johnson said this afternoon. With the Nationals facing a lefty starter, Johnson figured this was a good time to rest one of his normal left-handed-hitting position players. It was either going to be Harper or Adam LaRoche, and Harper ends up being the one who will take a seat today. Johnson said he wants to get his rookie outfielder a bit of a breather while also allowing guys who...

The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Corey Brown from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Brown ranked among this season's International League leaders in most offensive categories with 83 runs (first), nine triples (second), 25 home runs (second), .523 slugging percentage (second), 253 total bases (second), 56 extra-base hits (fourth), 138 hits (tied for...

The Orioles today announced that left-hander Zach Britton has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Britton is 4-1 with a 4.80 ERA (45.0IP, 24ER) in eight starts with the Orioles this season. He has made three straight Quality Starts, earning the win in each game and pitching to a 1.25 ERA (21.2IP, 3ER) with five walks and 21 strikeouts. Britton will start tonight's game at Toronto.

The Orioles today announced a new ticket promotion to celebrate the team's push for the postseason in this 20th Anniversary season of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In an effort to encourage fans to "BUCKle Up!" and Back the Birds, the team will offer 1992 throwback pricing for select locations during the Orioles' series against the Tampa Bay Rays September 11-13. For all three games of the series, while supplies last, Eutaw Street Bleacher seats are $4.00 (regularly $19) and all Left Field...

Nick Markakis remains in the Orioles' lineup tonight after being drilled in the left arm by a pitch yesterday. Adam Jones stays in center field despite appearing to twist his ankle in that same game. Robert Andino makes another start at second base. The Orioles haven't announced that they've recalled left-hander Zach Britton, but he's on the mound tonight. UPDATE: They just announced it. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C...

With the Nationals facing Cubs left-hander Chris Rusin, Bryce Harper will have a seat today. Jayson Werth will play center field, Michael Morse will move over to right and Tyler Moore will play left field and hit seventh. This is Moore's first start since Aug. 26. Morse is back in the lineup after being pulled from yesterday's game in the fourth inning due to what manager Davey Johnson said was a hand injury. Another interesting change to Davey Johnson's lineup is that Ian Desmond will...

Tyler Clippard had one career save entering this season. He had one career save on May 20, six weeks into the Nationals' 2012 season. Clippard now possesses 31 career saves. And he's showing no signs of slowing down. The 27-year-old righty reached the 30-save mark for the 2012 campaign in yesterday's win over the Cubs. Given how badly Clippard wanted the opportunity to close games in the past and given how important these saves have been with the Nationals making a push towards the...

I've never complained about Mark Reynolds' crazy high strikeout totals, but it's definitely the popular thing to do in Birdland. All the cool kids are doing it. Power hitters go down swinging a lot; it happens. They swing hard and miss often, but when they put the barrel on the ball, it typically travels hundreds of feet. After hitting two bombs in the Bronx on Sunday, Reynolds struck out three times in Rogers Centre on Monday. Last season, Reynolds led the American League in strikeouts...

In past seasons, if the Nationals had reached 82 wins and guaranteed themselves a winning season, it'd have been a cause for celebration. Heck, given where the team finished in 2008 and 2009, you would've thought they'd be popping bottles in the Nats' clubhouse after finally notching that 82nd win. The Nats hadn't topped the 81-win mark since baseball returned to D.C. in 2005, and there hadn't been a winning baseball team in the district since 1969. But this season, reaching that 82nd...

First place in September? The Orioles could claim a share of it tonight. A win over the Blue Jays, coupled with a Yankees loss at Tropicana Field, would create a first-place tie in the American League East. And it wouldn't involve the Rays or Red Sox. It would be the team widely predicted to lose 100 games this season. The Orioles have won eight of their last 10 games and 14 of 20. And they're no longer bullied in their own division. They improved yesterday to 29-21 against the AL...