The Orioles remain in buyers mode as they wait for the season to resume on Friday, when they begin a 10-game homestand. However, it's subject to change depending on what happens over the next three weeks. Here's what won't change: The Orioles continue to hold onto hope that the pitchers and position players currently on the 25-man roster and in the organization will provide the biggest lifts as they attempt to make the playoffs again. "I keep waiting for our team to perform at the level...

Nationals right-handed Max Scherzer gets his second All-Star Game start tonight in Miami. The Nats' top starter has had another outstanding first half as he leads the club in their pursuit of a second straight division title. But his effect on the Nationals in a philanthropic role in our nation's capital region is also very strong and dates back to his first season with the club. Back in 2015 around Christmas time, Erica Scherzer, Max's wife, heard about an unfortunate break-in at a local...

It wasn't exactly a joyous occasion for Ryan Zimmerman. Sure, he was excited to be an All-Star for the first time in his career, but his trip to St. Louis for the 2009 Midsummer Classic coincided with several developments that were not to be celebrated. Only five days earlier, Zimmerman's grandmother Ilene had died, forcing him to leave the Nationals and head to North Carolina for her funeral. He rejoined the club in Houston in time for the club's first-half finale - a 5-0 loss, the lone...

While the majority of the pitching focus rightly falls upon the Orioles rotation and an ERA that's approaching 6.00, the bullpen is rounding into shape. Manager Buck Showalter finally may have the unit in place that he's desired, beginning with closer Zach Britton, twice removed from the active roster with a strained left forearm. Britton's third appearance Sunday since his return easily was his most dominant with ground balls to first baseman Trey Mancini and third baseman Manny Machado and...

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis completed his first injury rehab game today after eight innings at Single-A Frederick. Davis batted second and had five plate appearances against Myrtle Beach. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Keys manager Keith Bodie removed Davis for a pinch-runner after a double in the eighth inning. Davis walked in the first inning against Pelicans starter Scott Effross and scored on Ryan Mountcastle's two-run double. He struck out looking in the second and...

To no one's surprise, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was this afternoon named as the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Miami. NL manager Joe Maddon of the Cubs made the announcement Monday afternoon in a press conference televised live on MLB Network. Maddon said he'd have chosen Scherzer over Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw even if Kershaw hadn't taken himself out of the running for the assignment by pitching a complete game in a 5-2 win...

He saw 720 players taken ahead of him in the First-Year Player Draft and he's never been on anyone's top prospects list. But there is one list where he ranks No. 1 right now. He is the league leader in ERA in the prospect-laden Double-A Eastern League for the Bowie Baysox. A 24-year-old right-hander taken by the Orioles in round 24 in 2014, Lucas Long has had one impressive season for Bowie. He is 5-3 with a 2.10 ERA. Over 73 innings, he has given up 61 hits and just two home runs, with 16...

Orioles minor league outfielder Austin Hays has been hitting well pretty much since his first day in the organization. He hasn't been slowed down much since they selected him in the third round of the 2016 draft. His rapid rise through the farm system and recent promotion to Double-A Bowie has some wondering how soon he can get to Baltimore. Taken with the No. 91 selection out of Jacksonville University, Hays, who just turned 22 last Wednesday, hit .336 last season with short-season Single-A...

The bullpen was called upon to keep the Nationals in the game Sunday and it did its job. Starter Joe Ross was held to just 3 1/3 innings, leaving with what manager Dusty Baker described as "triceps tenderness." Left-hander Matt Grace followed, and along with four other relievers, held the Braves to two runs the rest of the way, a span of 5 2/3 frames. Grace ended up finishing 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and only one earned run (two runs overall) with one walk and one strikeout. It was...

When the Nationals convened at Oakland Coliseum way back on June 2, having just enjoyed a lovely day off in the Bay Area, they knew they were about to begin a particularly difficult and prolonged stretch that would take them right up to the All-Star break. Staring at the Nats at that moment were 20 games in 20 days, then after one day off, another 17 games in 17 games before they at last could enjoy a breather. It was daunting, but this also was a team that not only was playing well but was...