Xavier Avery has played a lot of baseball games in his young career and has not been nervous during many of them. But he admits that he was Sunday when he made his major league debut, going 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot while playing left field against Tampa Bay. "It was great in that I got my feet wet. But I was nervous for about the first five innings, mostly on defense. Offensively, I was OK swinging the bat. But you don't want to mess up on the defensive side. Swinging the bat, I felt good...

Manager Buck Showalter believes tonight's game will start on time, but he'll know more when representatives from both teams, the umpires and head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry meet in the "rain room." There's a light rain falling and the tarp's on the field. Both teams will have to hit indoors. Tommy Hunter is scheduled to start Wednesday night's game in Kansas City. He'll probably fly out tomorrow afternoon. Left-hander Dana Eveland is available in the bullpen tonight after starting...

Former Orioles first-round pick

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...