Right-hander Garrett Mock makes his second rehab start tonight for the Potomac Nationals in their regularly scheduled 7:03 p.m. game at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge. This will be his second start since neck surgery in late April. Mock says he expects to go four innings tonight with a maximum of 65 pitches. Last week, Garret was solid in three innings for Hagerstown against Lexington, allowing one hit, no runs, one walk and striking out three on 34 pitches. He threw 15 more pitches in a...

Nationals place Ross Detwiler on the 15-day DL The Washington Nationals today returned right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis from a rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 60-Day Disabled List. The Nationals also placed left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to August 6, with a right hip strain. Nationals Senior Vice President & General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Marquis will get the starting nod in Washington's series finale this...

The Orioles announced that following today's game they optioned LHP Troy Patton to Triple-A Norfolk. Patton has been in uniform for eight games with the Orioles this year but has not seen game action. In two stints with the Tides earlier this year, Patton went 7-9 with a 4.80 ERA (108.2IP, 58ER) in 20 starts. A corresponding roster move will be announced prior to tomorrow's game.

Following today's series finale at Dodger Stadium, the Washington Nationals optioned right-handed pitcher Collin Balester to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 24 year-old Balester went 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (4 ER/6.2 IP) in five appearances with the Nationals. He was recalled by Washington on July 24.

For a player who is rather quiet and never seems to be in the limelight or the center of attention, this was different. When Cesar Izturis hit a bloop single to center in the second inning Sunday, the fans erupted in cheers and so did the players in the O's dugout. It was the 1,000th career hit for Izturis, who suddenly, at least for a short time, was in the spotlight. "To get that 1,000th hit is something special for me. That moment is something you look for all your career. Today was a...

Manager Buck Showalter must take his pre-game questions black, because this one wasn't sugarcoated. A reporter asked Showalter about Alfredo Simon, who would pick up his 17th save later in the day. "Based on what you've seen, is this guy a major league closer?" "Never overlook an orchid while searching for a rose," Showalter replied. "We'll see. You see the stuff and see why he's had success. Who knows? We've got to know. We don't want to be guessing about it. When we get through...

In case you haven't already purchased tickets to attend tonight's A Night at the Park event benefiting the ziMS Foundation, it appears that tickets will be on sale for a few more hours. A general admission ticket for $75 includes access to the Mutlu and Amos Lee live performances, as well as the silent and live auctions. This is the inaugural event for the ziMS Foundation in Washington D.C. and it begins at 7:00 p.m. with NBC's Chuck Todd as the Master of Ceremonies. Senator Dorgan,...

The best free agent pitching addition for 2010 occurred late in 2009. Pitcher Livan Hernandez was signed to a minor league contract on August 26, 2009 after the New York Mets gave up on him. Hernandez went 2-4 last year in eight starts with the Nats. In the offseason, the Nats resigned him February 24. Since Opening Day - and apologies to a certain phenom pitcher - Hernandez has been the Nats' most consistent starter. In his last 10 starts, Hernandez has gone 3-3 with an impressive 3.15...

Let's start with the good. Nolan Reimold, starting again in left field tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, is 2-for-3 with his 10th home run. He also stole his sixth base, always encouraging news when we recall the Achilles issues that have hounded him since spring training. Reimold is batting .232 with 31 RBIs. Maybe we'll see him in September. I'd like to think he'll be a major part of the 2011 team, but I'd also like to think that I still have a shot at Salma Hayek. The odds on Reimold are...

The Orioles have decided to recall catcher Craig Tatum from Triple-A Norfolk, and he will be in uniform for tomorrow night's game at Camden Yards. Tatum replaces Troy Patton on the 25-man roster and will give the Orioles a four-man bench. At Norfolk, Tatum had only two hits in his 21 at bats, knocking in three runs in the process.