Michael Morse has been activated from the 15-day disabled list and is playing right field and hitting fourth. Outfielder Corey Brown has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Morse. Here is the Nationals' lineup against the Braves: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Xavier Nady C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Michael Morse from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned Corey Brown to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Morse began the season on the DL and missed the Nationals' first 50 games with a latissimus dorsi strain. The 30-year-old batted .381 (8-for-21) with three doubles, one home run and five...

The Nationals regretfully announce that Dierks Bentley will be unable to play his previously scheduled June 2 concert at Nationals Park due to a serious illness in his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dierks and his family during this difficult time. Fans who purchased tickets to Saturday's Nationals-Braves game will now be able to enjoy a performance by country superstars Big & Rich in the first free NatsLive Post-Game Concert of the season. Known for the hit singles "Lost in This...

The Double-A Bowie Baysox tweeted their lineup for tonight's game against Reading at Prince George's County Stadium, and it included Manny Machado at third base for the first time in his professional career. Brian Roberts has returned to Bowie to continue his rehab assignment, and he's starting at second base. Jonathan Schoop, who had been replacing Roberts at second, is starting at shortstop. Machado, the Orioles' top position prospect, is batting .250/.349/.375 with 13 doubles, two...

Orioles fans had their pick from Robert Andino, Jake Arrieta, J.J. Hardy, Tommy Hunter and Mark Reynolds. Who's their current favorite? Who did they want to see in bobblehead form? Well, the answer is in, as Hardy has been picked as the AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead, which will be given to the first 20,000 fans age 15 and over on Sept. 30 at Camden Yards. It was the first time in Orioles history that fans were able to select the player they wanted for a bobblehead giveaway. Voting began...

The Orioles today announced that shortstop J.J. Hardy has been selected as the AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead. For the first time in Orioles history, fans were able to select the player they wanted immortalized in a bobblehead giveaway. The bobblehead is scheduled to be distributed during Fan Appreciation Weekend on Sunday, September 30 to the first 20,000 fans age 15 and over. Voting began on April 10 and fans voted three different ways throughout the promotion: through unlimited mobile...

Jim Johnson has been one of baseball's best closers this year - now if the Orioles can just give him a save opportunity. Johnson, who is 16-for-16 this year in saves, has not recorded a save since May 22 and that was eight games ago. The O's 2-8 slide has taken their bullpen out of play some nights in that they haven't had a late lead to protect. Johnson is having an All-Star caliber year with a 0.84 ERA. In 21 1/3 innings he has given up just 13 hits with four walks and 14 strikeouts....

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Remember when Bill Hall was removed for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning last night at Triple-A Pawtucket? I guess he needed more time to pack his bags. Hall is in Tampa - he confirmed it on Twitter - and will be added to the 25- and 40-man rosters for tonight's game against the Rays. Hall is replacing Nick Markakis on the 25-man. Markakis underwent surgery this morning to remove a broken hamate bone in his right wrist. The Orioles could transfer second baseman...

In 2007 and 2008 right-hander Brandon Erbe, 24, was making his way up through the Oriole minor league system, pitching for Single-A Frederick with the Keys. Now he is back and he's delighted to be with Frederick as his comeback from labrum surgery in August of 2010 continues. It's been a long road back for the Baltimorean and Orioles' 2005 third-round pick. Erbe pitched in just 4 2/3 innings all last year. But he recently came north to join the Keys from extended spring training. He said...

Following a nine-game road trip which seemed - to me, at least - to last a lot longer than a week and a half, the Nationals are finally back in the nation's capital and in the comfort of their own clubhouse. The road trip might have ended, but the tough stretch of division opponents has not. The Nats will host the Braves for three games this weekend, then will welcome the Mets to town for a three-game set before heading up to Boston to kick off the next round of interleague play. We still...