After enjoying a much-needed off-day, their first since March 30, the Orioles are headed north to square off against the first-place Red Sox for a four-game weekend series that includes the annual 11 a.m. Patriot's Day game on Monday. It feels like the Orioles always play that game. The Birds took just one of three in their quick home series against the Blue Jays. Baltimore's offense scored only two runs in the first two games of that series before finally breaking out in the finale with five...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez had some good news on the progress of outfielder Adam Eaton who is on the disabled list with a left ankle bone bruise. Martinez predicted it might be a short stay on the 10-day for Eaton. "I saw him today and he's getting his workouts in," Martinez said. "We miss him on the field, but it's actually pretty good that he's able to continue to do his strengthening for his knees. But he'll be back. I think he's going to be back sooner than we think. He's...

"The American Spirit" is the latest in David McCullough's writings on the lineage of American history. There are few authors I run to the bookstore for to acquire their latest work, but he is one of them. The book contains 15 speeches of McCullough given before Congress, at the White House and to college graduates. Each contains historical matter relevant to the location of the speech, beautifully intertwined to a larger historical theme - America's history - for which this author has a...

Catcher Matt Wieters (mild left oblique strain) was activated from the disabled list yesterday. Today he is back in the starting lineup. "He's good. He's ready to go," Nationals manager Davey Martinez said. "He's going to play. (Pedro Severino) is here and Sevy is going to get some playing time, too. I'm excited to have Matt back and healthy." With Severino playing so well and Wieters coming off an injury, the question now is, will Martinez split time between the two or will one get...

The Nationals are back on track and Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com is back on your airwaves! The Nationals were able to take two of three from the Braves to rebound from getting swept at home by the Mets. Byron, formally of the late "District 34" podcast, joins Paul and I to discuss how the Nats turned things around this week with stellar outings from Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. We first touch on Byron's recent story on Matt Adams' value to his new team after the left-handed backup...

The Nationals look to take the momentum from their series victory over the Braves into a four-game matchup against the Colorado Rockies beginning tonight at Nats Park. The series also marks the return of fan favorite and former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, who is healthy this time around and playing left field and first base for his new team. Update: Tonight he starts in center field. Manager Davey Martinez has elected to lead off Trea Turner against the Rockies in game one. Matt Wieters...

The Orioles today announced that Chris and Jill Davis will host the second annual "Crush's Homers for Hearts," a charity Home Run Derby event at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, on Monday, May 14, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET. Proceeds from the event will again benefit the Pediatric Heart Program of the University of Maryland Children's Hospital (UMCH) at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Participants will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a Home Run Derby challenge in...

A lot of good to build on from right-hander A.J. Cole's second start. Last week in Atlanta in his first start of 2018, Cole got roughed up. He allowed 10 runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. This time, Cole allowed an early home run, settled in, then allowed another solo shot, but that was it. A much better result for Cole, as he went 5 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs on four hits. It was a no decision for Cole, as the Braves dropped the Nationals 5-3, in 12 innings. "He did a great job,"...

BOWIE, Md. - Just as the Orioles rotation is starting to produce positive results, providing a real lift to a team in the midst of a brutally tough schedule, a key reinforcement is about to be added to the mix. Right-hander Alex Cobb, signed on March 21, has now made four essentially spring training-type outings and his season is about to begin for real. Cobb joins the improved O's rotation on Saturday afternoon at Boston. He jumps right into the fire, so to speak, with his Orioles debut in...

On the list of baseball's most daring plays, the straight steal of home with two outs in the 10th inning ranks awfully high. It's a rare, do-or-die play at any moment in a game, let alone in extra innings with no margin for error. Ender Inciarte isn't afraid to take chances, though, and he took the ultimate one during Wednesday's game at Nationals Park. Leading off from third base with two outs in the top of the 10th and a 3-1 count on Kurt Suzuki, the Braves center fielder bolted for the...