Sandy Leon will make his major league debut tonight as the Nationals host the Padres in the first game of a brief two-game series. He'll catch and hit eighth. Weather permitting, the game begins at 7:05 p.m. Here's the Padres lineup: CF Cameron Maybin RF Chris Denorfia LF Jesus Guzman 1B Yonder Alonso 3B Chase Headley C Nick Hundley 2B Orlando Hudson SS Jason Bartlett P Tim Stauffer Here's the Nationals lineup: SS Ian Desmond LF Roger Bernadina 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Bryce...

According to a team source, prospect third baseman Matt Purke has thrown three innings within the last week in Florida and looks to be a couple of weeks from returning to the Nationals' minor league system. Purke has been lengthened out and is building strength as he gets ready to return, according to a Nationals team source. The reason for Purke's attendance in extended spring training has not been detailed but it's certainly a good sign that he's pitching again and could be back in late...

Xavier Avery remains in the Orioles lineup tonight as the leadoff hitter and left fielder. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Nolan Reimold said he won't be examined by a team physician until later this afternoon, so no updates for now. Down on the farm, Steve Johnson allowed one unearned run in eight innings today in Triple-A Norfolk's 1-0 loss to...

It's looking like Chien-Ming Wang is just about ready to return to the big leagues. Wang threw eight-plus innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse this afternoon, allowing four runs on 11 hits with a walk, a strikeout and a hit batter. The Chiefs beat Rochester 6-4 in a game that was aired on MLB Network. Wang had his heavy sinker working today, as he got 14 groundball outs and benefited from three inning-ending double plays. A number of the 11 hits he allowed were on ground balls or...

As what could be considered the roughest part of the Orioles' schedule comes to an end this week, the good news is that the Orioles are going to finish with at least a winning record in 15 games versus the Rays, Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers. Even if they lose Monday and Tuesday at home to the Yankees, the Orioles are proving that they are an improved team, one that believes they can win, no matter the circumstances. The near-comeback win, a 9-8 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, is a perfect...

Did you know there were different species of orioles? We all know that there's a Baltimore Oriole - of the winged and baseball-playing varieties. There are also Puerto Rican, Hispaniolan and Bahama birds. And, believe it or not, a Cuban Oriole. They all used to be lumped into the same species, until elevated into individual statuses in 2010. The Cuban Oriole is endemic to the Caribbean island nation, and its habitats are tropical and subtropical forests, particularly those boasting mangrove...

Beneath the frustrating 9-6 loss to Joey Votto and the Reds, beneath the implosion of Henry Rodriguez, there were glimpses in Cincinnati of the team the Nationals are becoming. The weather Sunday was miserable thing and losing when the team scores six runs was a bitter blow, one that knocked Washington out of first place for the first time since the earliest days of the season. But it was a gutsy performance nonetheless after the bitter loss of Wilson Ramos on Saturday to come back and jump on...

It's mid-May, and the Orioles are 22-13 and have a 12-6 record against the American League East. What a beautiful sentence. As a pessimist, the part of the sentence that pops out immediately to me is "mid-May." I will never be the first to say that Team X is "for real" or that Team Y has a great shot for a pennant this season until I can declare so with certainty. Call me superstitious. However, to me, the Orioles carry more weight than any other team, and as a fan, I have to admit...

I'm not entirely sure how a guy can strike out the side on just 10 pitches in a save situation one night, looking absolutely locked-in and unhittable in the process, and then walk two, allow two hits and surrender a walk-off grand slam in a save situation the very next night. Henry Rodriguez entered both games with a one-run lead in the ninth inning. He was facing the same team. He was pitching in the same ballpark. He just delivered two vastly different performances, and showed again that...

According to weather.com, there's a 90 percent chance of rain today and an 80 percent chance tomorrow. The Orioles have games scheduled today and tomorrow against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. Sounds like a conflict to me. The Orioles could use a break, since their next off-day isn't until May 24 and the revolving door that leads into the clubhouse hasn't stopped spinning in more than a week. Stu Pomeranz deserved to stay on the 25-man roster, but the Orioles needed another bench...