Brian Roberts said he'll play second base and bat two or three times in his first few games at Double-A Bowie. He isn't sure how many games he'll play in a row or how often he'll be used as the designated hitter. "It's essentially spring training, so it could be two days, it could be four days in a row. I don't really know yet," he said. "As my doctor likes to say, it's a fluid situation, so we're just going to play it by ear each day." Roberts indicated yesterday that he could...

PHILADELPHIA - You've got to appreciate Tyler Clippard's honesty. Asked how he'd feel about being given a shot at the closer's role, the 27-year-old righty didn't mince words. "I want it bad," Clippard said today. "I've been fighting for the opportunity for three years now. I feel like I've been over-stepped a few times along the way for the opportunity to get those saves, for whatever reason. I don't really know. But they have a plan and I trust their plan. "We've had a good...

PHILADELPHIA - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been scratched from today's Nationals lineup less than an hour before first pitch. When it rains, it pours. The scratch was a "manager's decision", according to a Nationals spokesman, who said that Zimmerman will be available to pinch hit. Chad Tracy will take Zimmerman's place in the lineup straight up, meaning he'll play third and hit third. This is the second time this year a Nats player has scratched because of a "manager's...

PHILADELPHIA - Henry Rodriguez will not be closing ballgames for the Nationals for the near future. Manager Davey Johnson announced today that he's going to go with a closer-by-committee going forward, and will use Rodriguez - who has struggled in save situations of late - in spots where there is less pressure riding on him. "Henry has been great," Johnson said. "(Lately), he's been not so great. I think he might be trying too hard. Probably change his role, put him in a little less...

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, who hasn't played in a game since May 16, 2011, will begin a minor league rehab assignment tomorrow night at Double-A Bowie. Manager Buck Showalter made the announcement on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Report on MASN, and the Orioles confirmed it in a tweet. Showalter said he expects Roberts to take the full 20 days, the maximum that a position player can spend on a rehab assignment. Pitchers get 30 days. Roberts has amped up his workout routine, taking...

To say the least, the improvement of 22-year-old outfielder Xavier Avery has been impressive. He has played nine big league games now and been hitless in just three. One of those was last night, but he still scored a run and drove in a run with an impressive bases-loaded walk against Boston. Avery's numbers were up pretty much across the board this year at Triple-A Norfolk over what he hit last season with Double-A Bowie. He has continued to put up good numbers since joining the...

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Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold has a second epidural injection scheduled for Friday, and he told me earlier this afternoon that he'll probably get it done. Reimold had his first injection on May 11. He underwent a follow-up exam yesterday from specialist Dr. Lee Riley, which led to Friday's appointment. Reimold, who hasn't played since April 30 because of a herniated disk in his cervical spine, believes that the shot will only alleviate the pain. He isn't sure that it will eliminate the...

PHILADELPHIA - For the second straight day, Steve Lombardozzi will start in left field for the Nationals and will hit out of the leadoff spot. Danny Espinosa again will hit in the six-hole and play second. Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nats tonight. The righty is 2-4 this season with a 2.58 ERA. This will be the second time Zimmermann has faced the Phils in a span of four starts. He got the loss back on May 6, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings. In...

Robert Andino has moved back up to the leadoff spot tonight. Steve Tolleson gets another start at third base for the Orioles. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Chris Davis DH Steve Tolleson 3B Xavier Avery LF Brian Matusz LHP Down on the farm, Jason Berken allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk, with one walk, six strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter. He threw 93...