What a day for Rick Ankiel. Oh, and the Nationals' pitching staff fared pretty nicely, as well. Ankiel had a home run, single and double, and scored both of the Nats' runs tonight in a 2-0 win over the Marlins. The veteran center fielder went 3-for-3, while the rest of the Nationals' hitters combined to go 1-for-25. Ankiel's solo homer gave the Nats a 1-0 lead in the third inning, and his double in the bottom of the eighth helped provide a huge insurance run. On the double, right...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Anaheim that Tsuyoshi Wada is bothered by some neck stiffness, which tells me two things: Wada's stay on the disabled list could last longer than anticipated, and he's been hanging out with Nolan Reimold. Remember when lower back stiffness was all the rage? Wada's neck apparently was an issue before he gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings yesterday for Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles must decide whether to give Wada another start on his injury...

Ross Detwiler's day is done after six strong innings of work. In his third start of the season, Detwiler held the Marlins scoreless over his six frames, allowing just three hits and a walk. He struck out seven, tying a career high, and needed just 79 pitches to get through the sixth. He leaves with a 1-0 lead and Craig Stammen coming out of the bullpen to take over in relief. I know Detwiler was used primarily as a reliever in spring training and the Nationals are still trying to stretch...

The Nationals' first baserunner of the night was only on the bases for a few seconds. Rick Ankiel's solo home run to deep center has given the Nats a 1-0 lead as we go to the fourth inning. Ankiel got a 2-0 sinker from Marlins starter Carlos Zambrano and crushed it over the centerfield wall for his first longball of the season. Ankiel has also made his presence felt on the defensive side, as yet again, a runner declined to tag up on a fly ball to the Nationals center fielder. Earlier this...

It is just a hunch on my part, but unless it goes really south for Brian Matusz tonight in Anaheim, I don't think he is pitching for his rotation spot tonight. He earned his way into the opening day rotation with his offseason work and a good spring. I don't think that ends after three starts. Perhaps his spot would be more shaky if Tsuyoshi Wada had pitched better at Triple-A yesterday, but he gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings and seems not yet ready to join the big club. That said,...

Nolan Reimold has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight after being bothered yesterday by neck spasms. Mark Reynolds is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds DH Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP A series win in Anaheim would mark the first time that the Orioles have won each series of a three-city road trip since Aug. 7-16, 1998 at Minnesota, Tampa Bay...

While manager Davey Johnson pulled Jayson Werth from yesterday's game after six innings because of a minor hip injury, Werth insists he's fine. The Nationals right fielder told me today that he felt a little something in the hip a handful of days ago, but feels OK now. Werth, who is hitting .327 this season, says the injury is a non-issue going forward. Mark DeRosa might have gotten off to a rough start to the 2012 season, recording just two hits in 26 at-bats, but he's not the only...

With Michael Morse out of the lineup, Davey Johnson hasn't been happy with how he's used his outfielders this season. Against right-handers, Johnson's gone with a rotation of Xavier Nady, Mark DeRosa and Roger Bernadina in left field. But that's going to change. Johnson said today that DeRosa is going to see less time in the outfield as he looks to develop more consistency in his lineups. "I've kind of been wishy-washy in using the three of them in the outfield," Johnson said. "And I...

The new-look Miami Marlins arrive this weekend for another critical series. The Nationals are off to their best start since arriving in D.C. in 2005, and face a confident Marlins squad that has won four straight and stands at 7-6. "I think they had a great offseason," manager Davey Johnson said of the Marlins. "They have a lot of quality players. We have had trouble with them in the past. We saw them quite a bit in spring training. I am looking forward to this series. They have a fine ball...

The Orioles activated catcher Luis Exposito, claimed on waivers from the Boston Red Sox, and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. That move was expected. The surprise for me is the Orioles released catcher John Hester to make room for Exposito. Hester was batting .265/.342/.471 with a home run in 10 games. He went 3-for-6 with a homer on April 13, which began a five-game hitting streak that's still active. Well, the streak's active, but not Hester. The Orioles invited Hester, 28, to spring...