NEW YORK - Tommy Hunter and Jason Hammel are being flip-flopped in the rotation for this weekend's series in Boston. Hunter had an ingrown toenail removed and is being given an extra day to recover, which lines him up to pitch on Sunday at Fenway Park. Hammel will start on Saturday. The day off tomorrow allows for extra rest for everyone in the rotation. Also, Zach Britton is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game on Saturday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. Britton will start...

It appears the Nationals are likely to be without Ryan Zimmerman for the entire series against the Phillies this weekend. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Zimmerman will hit off a tee on Friday, hit first time swinging a bat since going on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. There's a chance Zimmerman could return on Sunday for the series finale against Philadelphia, but a more likely scenario has Zimmerman back in the Nats' lineup for the first time after Monday's...

NEW YORK - Mark Reynolds is back in the Orioles' lineup tonight, starting at third base against Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova. Nick Johnson remains the designated hitter after collecting his first hit last night. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Nick Johnson DH Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Yankees: Jeter SS Granderson CF Rodriguez DH Cano 2B Teixeira 1B Ibanez RF Chavez 3B...

With the Nationals facing another left-handed starter tonight, Rick Ankiel will take a seat and Bryce Harper will get the start in center field for manager Davey Johnson. This will be Harper's second time playing center in his four major league games. Jayson Werth will hit in the No. 3 hole today, with Xavier Nady playing in left and hitting fifth. Tyler Moore again will come off the bench. Joe Saunders will take the mound for the Diamondbacks, looking to improve on his 2-1 record and 0.90...

NEW YORK - Orioles pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada has decided to undergo ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow, ending his 2012 season before it actually started. Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform the surgery on May 11 in Los Angeles. Yocum removed bone chips from Wada's elbow in 2007. An MRI and CT scan confirmed a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. The Orioles let Wada decide whether to have surgery or attempt to rehab. The Orioles signed Wada to a two-year, $8.14 million...

Orioles minor league right-handed pitcher Stu Pomeranz may be off to the best start of any pitcher on the farm right now not named Dylan Bundy. In his first two outings with Triple-A Norfolk, since moving up from Double-A Bowie, Pomeranz has pitched 3 2/3 shutout and hitless innings with nine strikeouts. So of 11 Triple-A outs he has recorded, nine have come via a strikeout. Between Bowie and Norfolk, the 27-year-old Pomeranz has pitched 17 innings allowing seven hits and no earned runs with...

Drew Storen was a happy guy yesterday. Not only did he finally have all his teammates back in the Nationals clubhouse after their West Coast road trip, but the Nats closer is getting close to beginning a throwing program, which he expects to kick off in the next week or two. "I'm excited," Storen said. "I need that back in my life." Storen has been grounded since undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip in his right elbow three weeks ago. He doesn't travel with the team on road trips,...

Nationals prospect Rick Hague has returned to high Single-A Potomac after starting the season in extended spring training. Since Hague has been called up to his minor league team, the questions are now focused on the status of left-handers Matt Purke and Robbie Ray. Both hurlers have been in Florida continuing to work at the Nationals' facility. It is not known for sure what the current status is for each pitcher, or what they were focusing on in Florida, but it is clear they needed to build...

NEW YORK - Before I head to Yankee Stadium for tonight's series finale, I wanted to explain more clearly what's happening with Nolan Reimold. Well, the "clearly" part might be a reach, but anyway ... Reimold's bulging disk is located in his cervical spine, and it's more neck than back. At least, that's how it's been explained to me. I'm not a doctor, so I'm depending on others to talk me through it. The timetable hasn't changed. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is still hoping that...

Last night, the Orioles' Brian Matusz picked up his first win since last June 6. Tonight, the Orioles will try to hand Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova his first loss since last June 3. Over his last 20 starts since that loss to the Angels on the road, Nova is 15-0 with an ERA of 3.61. The Yankees are 17-3 in those 20 games which includes a win for Nova on April 11 at Baltimore when he gave up two runs over seven innings in beating the Orioles at Camden Yards. Nova currently holds the major...