The Orioles will wait to announce how they created room for starter Dana Eveland on the 25-man roster until team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens arrives at the ballpark around 5 p.m. The feeling here is Tommy Hunter could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk if Jason Hammel is cleared to start on Monday. Otherwise, manager Buck Showalter will have to tweak his rotation again. On the other hand, the Orioles could option Hunter if Hammel unexpectedly can't make the start, knowing Hunter can be...

How does Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips welcome the Nationals to town? By taking a dig at Bryce Harper on Twitter. Here's what Phillips tweeted earlier today: "GoodAfternoon #Cincinnati... Today we host #BabeRuth & the @Nationals for a 3 game series at #GABP! See y'all there" That's the second "Babe Ruth" reference we've heard in the last week. An unnamed Phillies player apparently made a similar comment referring to Harper during last weekend's series at Nationals Park. (I'm...

Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base tonight after playing left field in Game 1 of yesterday's doubleheader. For the Orioles: Ryan Flaherty 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit LF Chris Davis 1B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Dana Eveland LHP No roster move has been announced, and it might not come until batting practice ends. Tommy Hunter is here - he ran in the outfield earlier today - but he still could be optioned to Triple-A...

The Washington Nationals announced today that Dierks Bentley (June 2), The Wallflowers (July 21) and Third Eye Blind (August 18) will comprise the lineup for the NatsLive Post-Game Concert Series, three FREE concerts following select Nationals home games throughout the summer. "I can't imagine anything that epitomizes summer better than baseball and outdoor concerts," Nationals Chief Operating Officer Andrew Feffer said. "Not only will Nationals fans get to watch great baseball, but now...

Bill Hall to a minor league deal. Tejada contacted the Orioles about receiving a tryout after he couldn't land a major league contract in free agency. Tejada, who turns 38 later this month, batted .234/.270/.326 with 16 doubles, four homers and 26 RBIs in 91 games with the Giants last season. He's already had two tours with the Orioles, from 2004-2007 and again in 2010.

Yeah, 31 games in is a pretty arbitrary point to start having a team MVP discussion. I'm aware of that. But, hey, let's have it anyway. We're now five weeks into the season, and when you look over the Nationals roster, there are a number of guys who could be in the team MVP picture to this point. At least three of the Nats starters could be in the discussion. Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 1.64 ERA, 51 strikeouts), Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 1.72 ERA, .156 batting average against) and Ross Detwiler...

It sure is nice to have a pitcher who can take the mound with his team stuck on a three-game losing streak and promptly strike out 13, allowing just one earned run over six innings. That's what aces are for. Stephen Strasburg picked the Nationals up last night, putting together yet another quality start - his seventh in as many outings this season - and helping to snap the Nats' three-game skid. The 23-year-old right-hander has made many a team look silly so far in his young career, but he...

What a week for home runs in Baltimore. Josh Hamilton became only the 16th player to hit four home runs in a game Tuesday. Two days later, the Orioles established an American League record by homering in the team's first three at-bats of a doubleheader against the Rangers. Ryan Flaherty, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis did the early yard work for the Birds. Overall, the O's hit five home runs in a game for the first time since June 30, 2010, against Oakland. That's two short of the club record...

It's obvious that the Nationals won't fix their offensive struggles overnight. Michael Morse is still weeks away with a strained lat muscle. Jayson Werth's absence with a broken wrist has left a huge hole in the middle of the lineup. Bryce Harper has been very good so far, but he's not Superman, and Ryan Zimmerman is working his way back into form after missing 14 games with a shoulder injury. That means manager Davey Johnson is going to have to make use of the tools he has to maximize...

For years, they competed in the American League East. They competed for fourth place with the loser gaining the right to finish in the AL East cellar. But in an attempt to turn the AL East standings upside down, the Orioles host Tampa Bay this weekend at Camden Yards with first place on the line. The clubs are tied for the division lead with identical 20-12 records heading into an important three-game series. In a so far reversal of many years of fortunes, New York is in fourth place and...