The unorthodox lineup the Nationals unveiled Tuesday night was supposed to be a temporary one, but perhaps Davey Martinez is going to have to reconsider its long-term potential now. Because although the Nationals' out-of-nowhere offensive explosion of the last 48 hours might be temporary, there just might be some staying power here as well. With Bryce Harper again leading off, Matt Adams batting third and Wilmer Difo batting ninth, the Nationals ransacked the Pirates pitching staff again...

The Orioles will find out tonight whether Chris Tillman's last start was a sign or a tease. Whether his success was based more on the opponent or ... The second question may go unanswered because Tillman is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in six career outings against the Angels. He's 7-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts against the Tigers. Manager Buck Showalter lined him up properly. Didn't skip him after the rainout. Everyone was pushed back a day and Tillman got the ball. In two starts at Angel Stadium,...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will seldom, if ever, publicly express how he will use - or not use - his relievers. So if he is making any changes involving struggling reliever Brad Brach, he didn't say so today. In fact, the skipper expressed confidence in Brach, who took the loss last night. Over his past four games, Brach has allowed 10 hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings. His ERA in the ninth inning is 14.73. "He's going to get (more) opportunities," Showalter said....

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Less than 24 hours since last night's collision with third baseman Pedro Álvarez's left arm, Orioles catcher Chance Sisco has soreness near his nose, but nothing worse. No concussion, no cuts. Officially, he suffered a facial contusion. Pretty remarkable since the collision - as Sisco went running to chase a foul pop along third base - left him on the ground for several minutes looking like a boxer that had just been knocked out. Sisco said today he is fine and available...

I think Bryce Harper likes batting leadoff. In his first game of the season batting from the leadoff spot in the order on Tuesday night, Harper hit a three run shot in his third at-bat. Wednesday night, he hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first against Pirates starter Ivan Nova. Matt Adams, who hit two homers Tuesday, dropped in an opposite field homer over the left field wall. The Pirates got on the board in the first thanks to a pair of one-out singles by Gregory Polanco and Starling...

Danny Valencia is back in the lineup at third base as the Orioles continue their series in Anaheim. Valencia was day-to-day with tightness in his hamstring, which caused him to be scratched from Sunday's lineup. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter against left-hander Andrew Heaney. Craig Gentry is in right field instead of Anthony Santander. Chris Davis continues to bat seventh. Engelb Vielma is starting at second base instead of Jace Peterson. The Orioles rotation has registered 12 quality...

Daniel Murphy today confirmed what was pretty obvious to anyone who watched him work out at Nationals Park yesterday afternoon: His surgically repaired right knee is still in pain when he tries to run, which has left his potential return from the disabled list up in the air. "I'm not in a position where I can run right now to play," the veteran second baseman said in his first session with reporters since he returned from extended spring training earlier this week. Murphy, who had...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles have lost seven consecutive road games and will try to break that streak tonight in the second game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles were held to one hit and no runs last night through eight innings. Then they tied the game 2-2, scoring twice in the top of the ninth. But they lost 3-2 in walk-off fashion in the last of the ninth on Justin Upton's bases-loaded single off right-hander Brad Brach. The Orioles have won two in a row...

It looks like third baseman Anthony Rendon is very close to returning to the active roster. Rendon has gone through full batting practice each of the last two pregames for the Nationals. He has been on the 10-day disabled list with a left toe contusion since April 19. Rendon will start a rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac as they take on Wilmington Thursday and Salem Friday in Woodbridge, Va. "He's going out tomorrow," said manager Davey Martinez. "He'll play one or two games. He...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - In the Orioles' latest loss - one where the offense came up short again and the defense made a key miscue - starting pitcher Alex Cobb was a bright spot. Signed by the club to a four-year deal worth $57 million on March 21, Cobb had begun his O's career going 0-3 with an ERA of 13.11 and with batters hitting .484 off him. This was very unlike the pitcher who was so solid over many years for Tampa Bay. His late signing, which led to an expedited spring training, hindered his...