SAN DIEGO - At this point, there's no sense agonizing when Gio Gonzalez gets himself into early jams and racks up a high pitch count. It may frustrate everyone wearing a Nationals uniform, or rooting for them, but Gonzalez has shown time and again he'll find a way to get out of the trouble with minimal, if any, damage. Gonzalez is up to his old tricks again tonight against the Padres. Despite allowing five batters to reach base in his first two innings, the left-hander posted zeros on the...

Is it too early to wonder which player would represent the Orioles at the All-Star Game if Manny Machado is traded before July 17? Kevin Gausman could make it if he stays on his roll. Otherwise, left-hander Richard Bleier has earned consideration by anyone's standards. There are still plenty of games left before the break, but look at Bleier today. He's 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in 17 appearances. One run allowed in 22 2/3 innings, and it happened on April 2 in Houston. Only three walks, and one...

Getting back some of their injured players was deemed as a possible solution to what's been ailing the Orioles. Maybe inject some life into the offense. Maybe tighten up the defense. Maybe create some late-inning excitement and a much-coveted win. The defense part, though improved, remains a work in progress, but the Orioles won't quibble on this night. They'll just give thanks. Sweat profusely and offer their gratitude. Mark Trumbo, in his eighth game since coming off the disabled list,...

With a team batting average of just .220 with runners in scoring position, the Orioles have come up short in a few clutch spots this year. But tonight Mark Trumbo delivered a key two-run single in the eighth as the Orioles beat Kansas City. In his eighth game since coming off the disabled list, Trumbo's two-out, two-run single to center broke a 3-3 tie as the Orioles beat the Royals 5-3 to snap a seven-game losing streak. With the win the Orioles are 9-27 and won for just the second time in 10...

SAN DIEGO - Bryce Harper joked a few times recently about wanting to be an "Iron Man" and play in all 162 of the Nationals' games this season. Deep down, the star slugger knew that wasn't going to happen. It was only a matter of time before he got a day off. And that day is today. With a left-hander on the mound for the Padres and Harper mired in an 0-for-19 slump, manager Davey Martinez decided to sit him down for tonight's series finale at Petco Park. That decision came only after a pair...

John Faragher is a noted historian, particularly regarding the American west. His biography of Daniel Boone is considered a seminal work. "Eternity Street: Violence and Justice in Frontier Los Angeles" may gain the same reputation. This is the story of the wild west, in all its horror, set in L.A., well before the Dodge City stories came to be. California became a territory in 1848 because of U.S. military force against Mexico. It became a state two years later. While Faragher takes us from...

As the Orioles (8-27) look to break a seven-game losing streak tonight, they host the Kansas City Royals in the second game of a three-game series and nine-game homestand. Right-hander Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.89) will make his eighth start and fifth at home. Cashner went 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA over his first three starts, but over his past four he is 0-3 with a 6.97 ERA. He's allowed 28 hits and five homers over 20 2/3 in those games. Many of Cashner's stats come up short from his 2017...

Tanner Scott is riding the Triple-A shuttle this season, making his third appearance with the Orioles following today's promotion as the corresponding roster move for Darren O'Day going on the disabled list. Scott was recalled on April 8 while the Orioles recalled Jimmy Yacabonis, and he was sent down the next day while Hunter Harvey was recalled from Double-A Bowie. The Orioles recalled Scott again on April 20 while optioning infielder Engelb Vielma, and he returned to Norfolk eight days...

SAN DIEGO - It was going to happen eventually. And given the circumstances, tonight made a lot of sense for Bryce Harper to get his first day of the season off. Manager Davey Martinez made the decision to rest Harper, who is on an 0-for-19 slump and now batting only .230 (albeit with a .410 on-base percentage and .951 OPS). With left-hander Joey Lucchesi on the mound for the Padres, this series already captured and a four-game series on tap this weekend against the very good Diamondbacks, this...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter mentioned the possibility earlier today of a roster move involving the bullpen and it was announced after batting practice, with reliever Darren O'Day going on the 10-day disabled list and left-hander Tanner Scott recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. O'Day has a hyperextended right elbow. The DL move is retroactive to Sunday. Showalter used O'Day in Friday night's game in Oakland and the right-hander allowed one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. He also struck out...