While awaiting tonight's second game of the series in Anaheim, it is clear that the Orioles need to begin to come up with some better pitching and defense pretty soon. Pitching and defense were staples of the club during the glory years of the '60s and '70s, but is eluding them in recent games. The Orioles made three errors last night. In addition to that, the club has just two quality starts from pitchers over the last 11 games and the starters' ERA is 5.69 in that stretch. Nolan...

Nolan Reimold is being held out of tonight's lineup because of neck spasms. Endy Chavez is starting in left field. Nick Johnson will serve as the designated hitter in search of his first hit. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

Brad Lidge has blown two of his four save opportunities so far this season. Henry Rodriguez, meanwhile, has closed out all four games in which he's gotten the ball in a save situation. Don't read too much into those early results, however. Manager Davey Johnson said after today's game - which the Nationals won in 10 innings after Lidge lost a two-run lead in the ninth - that he still plans on giving Lidge opportunities to close games. Davey Johnson meets with the media to talk about the...

The Orioles announced that left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada has been shut down after complaining of stiffness in his neck a few days ago. He originally went on the disabled list to build up arm strength and innings after being bothered in spring training by inflammation in his left elbow. Wada will return to Baltimore and be examined by a team physician. There's no timetable for his return to throwing. Wada threw 100 pitches over six innings in his second start in extended spring training, but he...

Shortstop Ian Desmond has been a pleasant surprise through three weeks of the season. With a solo homer and a game-clinching sacrifice fly to center, Desmond helped to guide the Nationals to a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Marlins. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Desmond was chosen as the leadoff hitter and many wondered if the talented young player would have the patience at the plate to be the first man up. But through 16 games, the answer is pretty clear that Desmond is a...

Given the injury luck that the Nationals have had so far this season, some might have feared the worst when they heard Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from this afternoon's starting lineup just prior to first pitch. But according to both Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson, the right shoulder inflammation that Zimmerman is suffering is minor, and shouldn't keep him out for an extended period of time. "It's been bothering me a bit just from diving around and jammed it a little bit,"...

Brad Lidge entered the game with a two-run lead and needing three outs to lock down the Nationals' second straight shutout of the Marlins. He couldn't deliver. Lidge got up on leadoff hitter Hanley Ramirez 0-2, then tossed four straight balls to put Ramirez on first and bring the tying run to the plate. Then, two pitches into Lidge's battle with Logan Morrison, the game was tied. Morrison crushed a 91 mph fastball that was basically sitting on a tee into the second deck in right,...

We've got a good old fashioned pitcher's duel here at Nationals Park, as Stephen Strasburg and Anibal Sanchez are matching zeros. Through five innings of play, Strasburg has allowed just three hits and has struck out five Marlins hitters. He's thrown 71 pitches, 43 for strikes, and has overpowered Miami's lineup with a fastball that's topped out at 98 mph and a curveball which has been nasty. Sanchez, meanwhile, has completely held Nationals hitters at bay, allowing just two hits...

Earlier today, the Washington Nationals proudly welcomed the 15 millionth fan in franchise history before the team hosted the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Sarah McCarty from Fairfax, Va., was designated as the 15 millionth fan to attend a Nationals game in Washington since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005. McCarty was presented with a Jayson Werth autographed jersey during an in-game presentation shown on the NatsHD scoreboard. McCarty will also receive four Lexus Presidents...

Ryan Zimmerman was written into today's lineup. He was scheduled to hit third and play third base. He was introduced with the Nats' starters to the crowd here at Nationals Park. But Zimmerman wasn't the guy standing at third when Stephen Strasburg threw his first pitch of today's game. Zimmerman has been scratched from today's game, with Mark DeRosa taking over at third base and replacing the Nationals All-Star in the three-hole in Davey Johnson's lineup. No reason has yet been...