While today will be Bryce Harper's official home debut, in some ways, yesterday was his true sporting debut in the nation's capital. Harper used his off-day to go shopping in the D.C. area, and then went on a little tour of the Mall, checking out the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Some fans noticed him walking by - "They saw the rat tail and the tattoos," Harper joked - and asked him to take a few hacks in their pick-up softball game which was taking place nearby. "I was...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated earlier today that Mark Reynolds will return to the lineup tomorrow against the Yankees, and also will play in the Red Sox series that begins Friday. Tonight is another rest period for Reynolds, in part because Showalter is trying to get Nick Johnson on track. Reynolds needs to do the same. He's batting .143 and hasn't hit a home run after totaling 37 last season. He hadn't gone a full month without homering since September...

Positive news on the progress of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who threw Tuesday during batting practice and his throwing motion looked good. Zimmerman has been out with right shoulder inflammation of the AC joint. Manager Davey Johnson said Zimmerman can't hit until the weekend. The doctors don't think he can re-injure his shoulder by swinging. The injury occurred hitting the ground diving for a ball on defense. So, is there anything that Zimmerman could do to prevent the injury from...

NEW YORK - Manager Buck Showalter updated reporters on Nolan Reimold's tingling fingers and Tsuyoshi Wada's aching left elbow. Showalter confirmed that Reimold has a bulging disk in his back and won't play in the last two games of this series. The Orioles are hoping that Reimold joins them in Boston for the three-game series that begins on Friday. "They're trying a Medrol Dosepack to see if they can get the swelling down," Showalter said. "There's the potential that he could join us...

I tried posting the lineups from my iPhone a couple of hours ago, but apparently that failed miserably. So let's try this again. Bryce Harper is hitting seventh again today, and he's back in left field with Rick Ankiel playing center against Diamondbacks right-hander Trevor Cahill. Ankiel will hit third today, and Jayson Werth is back in the lineup hitting fifth after missing Sunday's game because of a migraine. Nationals SS Ian Desmond 3B Steve Lombardozzi CF Rick Ankiel 1B Adam...

The Orioles have had a better first month of the season in 2012 than in 2011, both on the stat sheet and in the standings. After April last year, they were 12-13, in third place and 3 1/2 games out. Now they are 14-9 and in second place, one game out of first. Here are other comparisons: * The 2011 team hit .236 and averaged 4.16 runs per game. The team now is batting .249 and scoring 4.17 runs per game. * The team ERA was 4.47 then and is 3.03 now. * The rotation ERA was 4.03 last April...

NEW YORK - Outfielder Nolan Reimold won't make another appearance in this series after an examination in Baltimore today revealed a bulging disk in his back. Reimold is taking a Medrol Dosepack to reduce the inflammation and could rejoin the team in Boston. There are no current plans to place him on the disabled list. Reimold complained of a tingling sensation in his fingers after last night's 2-1 loss to the Yankees. He's previously received treatment and missed games due to stiffness in...

Plenty to pass along coming out of today's pregame session with manager Davey Johnson, which came in a packed press conference room, filled with reporters who flocked to Nationals Park for Bryce Harper's home debut. Johnson said that reliever Brad Lidge will be out around a month after having surgery in Philadelphia to repair a sports hernia. Infielder Mark DeRosa will be out "for sure the full 15 days" as he battles an abdominal strain, says Johnson. The Nats will then go from there to...

NEW YORK - Endy Chavez is back in the Orioles' lineup tonight and playing left field. Nick Johnson will serve as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP For the Yankees: Jeter SS Granderson CF Rodriguez 3B Cano 2B Teixeira 1B Jones RF Martin DH Nunez LF Stewart C Hughes RHP

The Orioles today announced that the BROOKS ROBINSON sculpture unveiling originally scheduled for Saturday, May 12 has been postponed until Saturday, September 29. Robinson's sculpture will be unveiled as part of the Orioles Legends Celebration Series, in which the six greatest Orioles of all time will have a larger-than-life bronze sculpture dedicated in the newly designed centerfield picnic grove. "I am sorry I am unable to be there for the originally scheduled unveiling of the Brooks...