The Washington Nationals today optioned catcher Sandy Leon to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Leon, 23, played in 10 games for Washington as a true rookie and batted .250 (7-for-28) with two doubles, two RBI, three walks and two runs scored. In Leon's eight starts behind the plate, the Nationals went 6-2. This is the corresponding move as 28 year-old catcher Kurt...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of outfielder Mate McLouth from Triple-A Norfolk. McLouth batted .244 (44-180) with five doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 29 runs scored and 33 RBI in 47 games for Norfolk after opening the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he batted .140 (8-57) with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBI in 34 games. In 2008, he was a National League All-Star, won a Gold Glove and led the NL with 46 doubles. In 765 major league...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have designated outfielder Endy Chavez for assignment and selected the contract of Nate McLouth from Triple-A Norfolk. McLouth, the Pirates' All-Star representative and a Gold Glove winner in 2008, is starting in left field. The 30-year-old was batting .244/.325/.461 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in 47 games with the Tides. Chavez batted .190 in 47 games with the Orioles. McLouth, who's wearing No. 48, found out yesterday that the Orioles were selecting his...

New Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki is in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the Marlins. The 28-year-old will catch Jordan Zimmermann and hit seventh. For the Nats: SS Danny Espinosa RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche CF Jayson Werth C Kurt Suzuki 2B Steve Lombardozzi P Jordan Zimmermann For the Marlins: LF Bryan Petersen RF Scott Cousins SS Jose Reyes 1B Carlos Lee 3B Greg Dobbs 2B Donovan Solano CF Gorkys Hernandez C John Buck P Mark Buehrle

After the second game of yesterday's doubleheader, Adam LaRoche summed things up as only Adam LaRoche can. "It could've been better, but we're all still alive after that, so we'll get them tomorrow," LaRoche said. The Nationals might have split the two games with the Marlins yesterday, but LaRoche is right - at least no one died on the field. That's always a plus. Splitting a doubleheader isn't anything to be too upset about. Unfortunately for the Nationals, however, the Braves are...

In the series at Yankee Stadium the Orioles hit .345 as a team with 15 extra-base hits including four homers while 19 runs. But they began the series with Tampa Bay, Friday by losing 2-0, and recorded their eighth shutout on the season. In the last week and a half the Orioles are 1-3 against the Rays. In the three losses they have scored two runs total with just 18 hits - only two for extra bases - and a team average of .182. They are a combined 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position in...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have been held hitless with runners in scoring position in 10 of their last 24 games. They've been limited to one hit in six other games. That's not easy to do, even if you're trying. The current streak is 0-for-22. I don't know if records have been kept, though I'm guessing Elias has them. It will be worth checking if the Orioles take another 0-fer tonight against the Rays. Matt Wieters went 2-for-4 last night and is batting .335 lifetime against the...

Today's roster move of the day which surprises absolutely no one: The Nationals optioned John Lannan back to Triple-A Syracuse following today's doubleheader. Lannan was added as the 26th man on the roster due to a new rule which gives teams an extra player for doubleheaders. The Nationals will be making another roster move shortly. This one apparently did surprise someone. Word of today's trade which brought catcher Kurt Suzuki to Washington apparently didn't reach Jesus Flores, who was...

Gio Gonzalez was good tonight. Very good. Facing the Marlins in the second game of today's doubleheader, the Nationals lefty thought he might've had the best stuff he's had all season. He worked eight innings, going deeper into a game than he had all season. He struck out ten, marking the third time this season that he's reached the double-digit K mark. Still, he ended up with a loss. Gonzalez was good tonight, Josh Johnson was just better. "It was all Josh Johnson really," manager...

Third baseman Matt Skole connected on a walk-off grand slam, his third homer in as many games, to lift low Single-A Hagerstown over the Lexington Legends, 6-3, Saturday night at Municipal Stadium. The grand slam completed a five-RBI night for the Georgia Tech product. He has three homers and 11 RBIs in his last three games. His season statistics are getting ridiculous. Skole now has 25 homers and 18 doubles with 87 RBIs in 94 games for a .292 average. The 25 homers lead the South Atlantic...