Nationals place right-hander Ryan Mattheus on 15-day DL, option outfielder Eury Perez to Syracuse and add to pitchers

Nationals place right-hander Ryan Mattheus on 15-day DL, option outfielder Eury Perez to Syracuse and add to pitchers
The Washington Nationals today placed right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus on the 15-Day DL, retroactive to May 20, with a fractured right hand, optioned outfielder Eury Perez to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, recalled right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya from Syracuse and selected left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad from Syracuse. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Abad, 27, joins the Nationals after...
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O's reinstate right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from 15-day DL, option right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk

O's reinstate right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from 15-day DL, option right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk
The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk. Gonzalez, 28, was placed on the DL on May 9, retroactive to May 4, with a right thumb blister. He is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA (35.1IP, 18ER) in six starts this season and will make tonight's start against New York. Jurrjens, 27, did not receive a decision in his only start for the Birds on May 18 vs. Tampa Bay (5.0IP, 6H,...
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Zach Wilt: Breaking down Jim Johnson's struggles

Zach Wilt: Breaking down Jim Johnson's struggles
Last season, Jim Johnson blew three saves in 54 chances, while this year, he's blown three consecutive opportunities. The Orioles closer is scuffling and the team is stuck in a season-worst six-game losing streak. Johnson has allowed eight earned runs in his last three appearances and has watched his ERA jump from 0.95 to 4.22. Arguably one of the best at his craft a season ago, Johnson is a unique breed of closer. He doesn't overpower hitters or record high strikeout totals; he forces...
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Ted Leavengood: Is it time to fish or cut bait?

Ted Leavengood: Is it time to fish or cut bait?
The end of a tough road trip may not be the right moment, but the time is coming for the 2013 Nationals to fish or cut bait. The basic facts were laid out in a USA Today article Monday that cited the Nationals' offense as 29th in batting average and OBP, and 27th in runs scored among major league teams. It did not get better last night as another struggling pitcher, Ryan Vogelsong, found his A-game against the Nationals, crafting a three-hit shutout over five innings before leaving with a...
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Orange, black and cartoon birds reign in ESPN's "Battle of the Uniforms"

Orange, black and cartoon birds reign in ESPN's "Battle of the Uniforms"
Don't underestimate the black and orange. More than 147,000 votes were cast in the final round of ESPN's "Battle of the Uniforms." Facing the No. 1 seeded Cardinals, the Orioles emerged as champions after fans voted for the cartoon bird over the Redbirds by a final percentage of 59 to 41. But it didn't start there. The Orioles entered the competition as a No. 13 seed, which begs the question: "Have you seen the orange alternates?" Regardless, they started off the battle by facing the...
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Domenic Vadala: Do the Orioles need to trade for a top starting pitcher?

Domenic Vadala: Do the Orioles need to trade for a top starting pitcher?
Orioles pitching has been the elephant in the room all season long, and to a certain degree, it came to a bit of a head last week and this weekend. First off, while starters going deep into games has been an issue all season, I'm also a firm believer in not letting one bad start get you down. While Jason Hammel has struggled through his last few starts, he never struggled as much as he did Friday night against Tampa Bay. However, he can't allow that to seep into his mind, otherwise he won't...
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Zimmermann a hard-luck loser

Zimmermann a hard-luck loser
Jordan Zimmermann and losses are two things that haven't been paired together too often this year. But on a night when the Nationals right-hander lowered his already-stellar ERA from 1.69 to 1.62, he absorbed just his second loss of the season, snapping a personal four-game winning streak with a 2-1 defeat against the Padres. Zimmermann (7-2) pitched his major league-best third complete game of the year, but was burned by his own error - a pickoff throw that got past first and put speedster...
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Zimmermann, Nats fall behind early (Nats lose 2-1)

Zimmermann, Nats fall behind early (Nats lose 2-1)
Jordan Zimmermann has been doing an exceptional job keeping opponents in the ballpark of late, which made Yonder Alonso's blast to start the second so striking. Alonso's fifth homer gave the Padres a 1-0 lead over the Nationals, making him the first player to clear the fence against Zimmermann since April 21. The Nats right-hander pitched 36 2/3 innings and four full starts in between homers allowed. Zimmermann came into the game as hot as can be. Overall, he started the year 7-1 with a...
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Orioles option Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk

Orioles option Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk
The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned infielder Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty, 26, is batting .133/.228/.233 in 30 games for the Orioles this season. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow.
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Duke to start for Detwiler on Monday (Harper out with bruised knee)

Duke to start for Detwiler on Monday (Harper out with bruised knee)
With Ross Detwiler's back a concern, the Nationals will turn to long reliever Zach Duke for Monday's start, according to multiple reports from San Diego. Detwiler was forced to leave Wednesday's start after three innings because of spasms in his lower back suffered when reaching for a throw covering first base. An MRI revealed some "irregularity," so the left-hander will miss at least one start. Detwiler has been one of the Nats' most consistent pitchers, going 2-4 with a 2.76 ERA in...
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Orioles announce series of roster moves

Orioles announce series of roster moves
The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Jair Jurrjens and recalled right-hander Jake Arrieta from Triple-A Norfolk. Jurrjens will start this afternoon's game against Tampa Bay. Additionally, outfielder Nolan Reimold has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 12, with a right hamstring strain, and right-hander Alex Burnett has been optioned to the Tides. To make room for Jurrjens on the 40-man roster, second baseman Brian Roberts has...
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Lombardozzi in left, Gonzalez on hill at Padres

Lombardozzi in left, Gonzalez on hill at Padres
Gio Gonzalez takes the mound tonight at San Diego looking to build on one of his best starts of the season. Gonzalez held the Cubs to two hits over seven scoreless innings Sunday, and was removed after just 86 pitches while holding a 1-0 lead. The Nationals went on to lose 2-1, but the left-hander seems to be on an upswing, having pitched consecutive quality starts for the first time in 2013. The Nats take aim at their second straight win to begin the Padres series with a pretty standard...
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Birds battling St. Louis for title of best uniforms in baseball

Birds battling St. Louis for title of best uniforms in baseball
Duking it out against the Cardinals, the Orioles are looking for their fans to rally behind them and support their push to the top. But this is not a battle of who's best on the diamond. Rather, it's a debate of who looks best on the field in ESPN's "Battle of the Uniforms." Mimicking their wearers' 2012 season, the Orioles' uniforms have played the role of an underdog, scrapping their way into the final round of the battle as a No. 13 seed. Defeating the other orange uniforms, the...
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The Washington National Opera presents Opera in the Outfield at Nationals Park

The Washington National Opera presents Opera in the Outfield at Nationals Park
The Washington National Opera, in conjunction with the Washington Nationals, will present the fifth annual Opera in the Outfield at Nationals Park featuring a live simulcast of the legendary American musical Show Boat on Saturday, May 18. The event is free and open to the public and will take place rain or shine. Gates will open at 5 p.m. for "pregame" activities, including entertainment and activities, and Show Boat will begin at 7 p.m. Seating will be available in the stands, while...
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Birdland Summer 6-pack offers fans six games at discounted prices

Birdland Summer 6-pack offers fans six games at discounted prices
Summer isn't complete without Orioles baseball, and the team's new Birdland Summer 6-Pack ticket offer gives fans the opportunity to watch the Birds take on a variety of opponents, including the Yankees and Red Sox, at a discounted rate over the remaining months of the season. For as little as $54, fans will select tickets to six Orioles home games, including two prime games, all at the non-prime game price. Fans will be able to choose from 20 prime games and 41 non-prime games. The...
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Orioles announce Father's Day Catch on the Field opportunity for fans

Orioles announce Father's Day Catch on the Field opportunity for fans
The Orioles, in partnership with Majestic, have announced a special opportunity for fans to play catch on the field for the first time on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16, prior to their game against the Boston Red Sox. Fans may purchase one of two ticket packages that include a pair of tickets for the 1:35 p.m. game and a 25-minute pre-game session of catch on the Oriole Park field. A portion of the proceeds will benefit OriolesREACH and the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation. The...
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Matthew Taylor: Some context on Johnson's consecutive saves record

Matthew Taylor: Some context on Johnson's consecutive saves record
Jim Johnson's consecutive saves streak ended at 35 games Tuesday night in a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. Johnson's streak was one better than Randy Myers' previous Orioles record of 34 and one worse than Mariano Rivera's personal best of 36. Eric Gagne is in a world all his own with his major league record of 84 consecutive saves for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While it's interesting to see how Johnson's run stacks up to those of other great relievers, the more remarkable context is...
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Patrick Reddington: Can Strasburg become Nationals' "Big Train"?

Patrick Reddington: Can Strasburg become Nationals' "Big Train"?
Walter Johnson was born in Humboldt, Kan., in November 1887. In 1905, the future Washington Senator and his family lived in southern California, where, as Los Angeles Times writer Chris Dufresne noted in a 2008 article, the Fullerton Union High Indians pitcher first made a name for himself. "Johnson attended Fullerton Union High long enough to have, in 1905, struck out 27 batters in a 15-inning game against Santa Ana High," Dufresne wrote. Two years later, after he'd moved to Idaho and been...
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Nationals recall Johnatan Solano, place Wilson Ramos on DL

Nationals recall Johnatan Solano, place Wilson Ramos on DL
The Washington Nationals today recalled catcher Jhonatan Solano from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed catcher Wilson Ramos on the 15-Day Disabled List with a left hamstring strain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Solano, who is 1-for-6 in three games with Washington in '13, batted .167 (8-for-48) with two doubles, two walks and three runs scored in 12 contests this season with Syracuse. The...
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Rachel Levitin: A little perspective, please

Rachel Levitin: A little perspective, please
After this past weekend's series loss to one of the worst teams in baseball and a pair of losses in Los Angeles this week, the Nationals continue to battle in their pursuit of meeting the expectations imposed upon them. But here's the thing: For all the hiccups this team has encountered, they're still just one game behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East. To me, this season is all about perspective for the Nationals and their fans. Who could have ever predicted the...
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