MINNEAPOLIS - When does four games below .500 at the All-Star break feel like a positive development? When the Orioles were six below with two left. Too bad there's really no such thing as momentum in baseball based on games won. The next day's starting pitcher dictates it. And four days will pass before the Orioles resume play. They need Kevin Gausman to come out strong on Friday against the Cubs. They need the entire rotation to step up or they have no shot at contending. The starters are...

We write here often about some of the top players in the O's minors. Often they are players well-known because they were high draft picks and/or have played well for a long time. Today let's take a look at a few players flying under the radar. This is by no means a complete list but some of these players should start getting noticed more. At Single-A Frederick, young outfielder Ademar Rifaela from Curacao has had a solid season. He is putting up better numbers than in his previous four...

MINNEAPOLIS - The fire alarm didn't sound at Target Field today. It only looked like a drill as the Orioles rushed to get out of the ballpark and catch their flights home for the All-Star break. Stragglers were in danger of being left behind. The Orioles ended the first half with two consecutive wins, including today's 11-5 romp over the Twins to leave them 42-46 and in fourth place in the American League East, 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Red Sox and four out of the wild card. "It's...

The diminished velocity was noticeable from the outset, with the radar gun at Nationals Park consistently flashing "89" or "88" on Joe Ross' fastballs, with only an occasional "90" or "91" sprinkled in there. But because Ross coasted through his first two innings against the Braves with little trouble, there wasn't much reason for those inside the home dugout to start asking questions. It was the top of the third when the Nationals began to have some concerns about Ross' health, when...

One key to the Nationals' big lead in their division heading into the All-Star break is the heart of their order. Their 3-4-5-6 hitters in the lineup have established a nice core of their offense which is difficult for any opposing pitcher to navigate. Sunday, they added their No. 7 hitter to the mix of lethal bats and that was too much for the Braves in a series-ending 10-5 Nats win. The 3-4-5-6 hitters in the lineup - Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon - combined...

MINNEAPOLIS - Whose idea was it to stop the season? The Orioles have closed the first half with back-to-back victories, jumping out to an early lead today and defeating the Twins 11-5 to gain a series split before an announced crowd of 25,848 at Target Field. Adam Jones homered twice and drove in five runs, Caleb Joseph had three RBIs and Ubaldo Jiménez was scored upon in only one of his five innings. Jiménez had allowed only nine earned runs in 44 2/3 innings at Target Field before today...

For the second straight afternoon, the Nationals lost a starting pitcher by the fourth inning. This time, they still managed to find a way to win. Despite the early departure of Joe Ross, pulled in the top of the fourth with his velocity diminished, the Nationals rode a wave of clutch hits and solid relief work to a 10-5 victory over the Braves to close out the first half of the season on a high note. Matt Wieters drove in three runs, Anthony Rendon drove in two, Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Heisey...

The Nationals went after Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb in the bottom of the first inning. Newcomb had trouble finding the strike zone early as Brian Goodwin and Wilmer Difo were walked. Bryce Harper followed with a single to left field that loaded the bases. Goodwin stopped at third base despite a wave home sign from third base coach Bobby Henley, respecting Matt Kemp's arm. The move proved wise because Ryan Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to right field scored Goodwin. Later, Anthony Rendon...

MINNEAPOLIS - Chris Davis took batting practice again this morning and he remains scheduled to begin a short injury rehab assignment Monday afternoon at Single-A Frederick. Davis will get three or four at-bats with the Keys in his first game since going on the disabled list retroactive to June 13 with a strained right oblique. "It went fine," said manager Buck Showalter. "Ready to go tomorrow at Frederick. He's had his All-Star break." Showalter said Davis just needs to get "back in the...

The Orioles hit the All-Star break after today's game in Minnesota, which will end not only the first half but a four-game series and a seven-game road trip. The Orioles will hit the break in a very different situation than a year ago. At the 2016 All-Star break, they were 51-36, leading the American League East by two games and sending five players to the Midsummer Classic. This year, they are 41-46 and tied for fourth in the AL East with Toronto. They are 8 1/2 games back of first place....