John Updike is recognized as a giant of the writing world, his fiction having covered the bestseller and positive review lists for decades, "The Maples Stories" is a collection of 18 works that he penned over five decades. They are the stories of a marriage between Richard and Joan Maple. They are the stories of his own married life to the point that some have said it might be hard to call the stories fiction. The works are poignant. They are not only close to the facts of so many marriages,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight due to an illness. Davis didn't play last night and was examined by a Rays physician. Trey Mancini is starting at first base and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter. Seth Smith is in left field, with Joey Rickard playing right. Ryan Flaherty joined a few teammates taking early batting practice today. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Mark Trumbo DH Trey Mancini 1B Seth Smith LF...

There's only one National League team the Nationals have yet to see in person this season. That will change tonight when they take the field to face the Brewers in the opener of a three-game series. It's been a surprising year for Milwaukee, which took advantage of the Cubs and Cardinals' struggles to lead the Central Division for most of the last 3 1/2 months. Things have begun to slide, though, and now the lead over the Cubs is down to a half-game, with the Pirates lurking three games back...

This Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30, MASN and COX will be kicking off Social Media Weekend at The Bullpen next to Nationals Park! Fans will have the opportunity to collect unique Nationals prizes at both the MASN and COX booths, and can try their swinging luck at the Cox Virtual Home Run Derby! Sara Perlman (@saraperlman) of "MASN All Access" will be on site to interact with fans of all ages on Saturday to kick off the festivities. For updates on the event and how to win prizes, be...

There's a ballgame tonight at Nationals Park, the first such ballgame there in 16 days. Such is life when you have a three-city road trip coming out of the All-Star break. The Nationals team that takes the field tonight will be markedly different than the one that was last seen here July 9, when Joe Ross departed with an injury that turned out to be a torn elbow ligament and Matt Albers closed out a 10-5 victory over the Braves. Edwin Jackson is now the No. 5 starter. Ryan Madson and Sean...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Is it possible for a pitcher to better locate the strike zone after he's settled into his comfort zone? The Orioles are banking on Wade Miley to carry on his success against the Rays and inside Tropicana Field as they continue their three-game series. Miley is 4-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.075 WHIP in 10 career starts against the Rays over 62 1/3 innings. He faced them on April 25 at Camden Yards and allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings. Miley also walked six...

Pitching, defense and a three-run homer. OK, the Orioles didn't get all three last night, but they did hit a solo homer. It was a nice and tidy 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays and a good start to an important road trip. At least in recent days, the Orioles certainly don't seem to be unnerved by the oncoming non-waiver trade deadline. Since being swept by the Cubs to start the second half, they are 6-2. Still under .500 at 48-51, the Orioles win did knock the Rays, at least for now, out of the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman had no real margin for error tonight against the Rays. Bending was permitted as long as he snapped back into shape without even the tiniest of breaks. All of those meltdowns with a lead and with runners on base had to stay in the past. And that's precisely where Gausman kept them. Gausman navigated through a bases-load\ed jam in the bottom of the third inning to preserve a one-run lead and continued to blank the Rays after surrendering a leadoff triple in...

For the past several years of writing online about the Nationals minor leaguers, I've had to make the disclosure that I'm a season-ticket holder to Washington's high Single-A affiliate in Potomac. Well, maybe not "had to," but I've felt the need to as a matter of integrity and my experience as a newspaperman (I'm old enough to have actually cut and paste with an X-acto knife and a wax machine). It's also because the inference that I might be a "homer" because I root for many of these...

For the first time since July 2, the Orioles play an American League East opponent tonight. On that date, they played Tampa Bay and the Rays are the opponent tonight at Tropicana Field to begin a three-game series and six-game road trip. The Orioles are 26-20 against AL East opponents and 5-4 versus the Rays, including a mark of 2-1 at The Trop. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-7, 6.11 ERA) will make his team-leading 22nd start. Gausman gave up just one run over six innings last Wednesday against...