It is beginning to look like Groundhog Day. The Orioles show up at Camden Yards, get a decent starting pitching performance many nights, but can't back it up with enough offense to win. Any offense would be appreciated at this point. The Cleveland Indians have an excellent pitching staff and the Orioles offense can vouch for that after scoring just seven runs on 21 hits the last four days. Thanks to Dylan Bundy they were not swept four straight. Right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed two runs over...

SAN FRANCISCO - A.J. Cole's time with the Nationals is officially over, but he's going to get another chance to pitch in the big leagues. With the Yankees. The Nats announced tonight they traded Cole to the Yankees for cash considerations, receiving something in return for the right-hander who had been designated for assignment on Friday. Cole opened the season as the Nationals' No. 5 starter but was moved to the bullpen after two starts, once veteran Jeremy Hellickson (a late spring...

The Orioles tonight ended a season-opening stretch where they played all five American League playoff teams from last season. To say the least, they didn't handle it well. Tonight's 2-1 loss to Cleveland was the latest flat game for the offense. The Orioles have lost nine of 10 of 11 of 13 to begin the year at 6-17. They scored just seven runs on 21 hits in losing three of four to Cleveland. They have scored three runs or fewer 16 times in 23 games. I asked first baseman Chris Davis if it is...

The mere mention of a utility infielder as part of a winter shopping list can make the eyes of the most engaged fans glaze over or roll into the tops of their heads. The national media isn't chasing those rumors. It's never as important or interesting as starting pitching or a bat. The Orioles had three spots to fill in their rotation and they wanted a left-handed hitting outfielder. Those areas were marked as priorities. But they never downplayed the need for a versatile player who could...

Kevin Gausman pitched a very strong game. But so did Carlos Carrasco as the Orioles bats fell mostly silent again tonight. Cleveland beat the Orioles 2-1 at to take the last three games and three of four in this series. The loss was the Orioles ninth in 10 games and 11th in 13 contests as they fall to 6-17. Cleveland is 12-8 and has won nine of its past 12 games. Gausman began tonight with a 13.50 ERA and batting average against of .429 in the first inning of his starts this year, and then he...

Further evidence that the Orioles can't catch a break arrived tonight when the Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco caught a line drive. Cruel but usual punishment. A slumping Anthony Santander was denied by Carrasco, who stuck his glove in the air, snared the ball and threw to first base to double off Chance Sisco and end the bottom of the second inning. Santander was 1-for-17 and 3-for-27 before tonight. The guy needed a single and the Orioles needed more fuel for their rally. They...

SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals should have their full complement of late-inning relievers available tonight should the situation arise in their series opener against the Giants. Ryan Madson, who was unavailable for all three games over the weekend in Los Angeles while his arm recovered from three straight days of work prior to that, told Davey Martinez he would be good to go tonight if needed, a relief to the manager. "Yes, he's available," Martinez said. "He feels good. I'm glad we got him...

With eight losses in the last nine games, and 10 in the past 12, the Orioles will try to split their four-game series with Cleveland tonight. The Birds won Friday, but lost the last two days to the Tribe by 4-0 and 7-3 scores. The Orioles offense continues to scuffle and is producing just 3.3 runs per game after last year's team averaged 4.6 per game to rank eighth in the American League. The Orioles' current team slash line is .215/.284/.359 and they rank 15th and last in the league in each...

SAN FRANCISCO - It's not as warm here as it was a few hundred miles down the coast over the weekend, but it's no less pleasant as the Nationals shift from Los Angeles to San Francisco for the final leg of their road trip. After dropping two-of-three in frustrating fashion to the Dodgers, the Nats have a chance to come home with a winning record on the trip if they can take two-of-three from the Giants, who still are without Madison Bumgarner. It'll be right-hander Chris Stratton (owner of a...

Trey Mancini is testing his right knee today by performing baseball activities on the field, and he's hoping to get back into the lineup Tuesday night against the Rays at Camden Yards. Mancini said the knee no longer hurts when he walks and there's just a hint of stiffness, but nothing that suggests a longer stint on the bench. "We'll have a good feel after BP about how close he is, and even his availability tonight," said manager Buck Showalter. Mancini will return to his role as leadoff...