How long has been since the Nationals last played at home? Well, in their most recent game at Nationals Park, Lucas Giolito started and lasted only 3 1/3 innings, Michael A. Taylor started in center field, Jonathan Papelbon took the loss, Trea Turner in center field was in its early experimental phase and the Nats held a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League East. As the late, great Troy McClure said on the The Simpsons' 138th Episode Spectacular: "Ha ha ha, they haven't changed a...

Hey, O's fans. Welcome to this week's edition of Yard Work. In this week's episode... As the season moves into August, the Orioles find themselves battling the Blue Jays and Red Sox atop the American League East. For the Birds, it's been an odd season full of streaks. Since June 22, the Orioles have had two winning streaks of at least five games and two losing streak of at least five games. Is there a reason for the team's streaky nature? Steve Melewski and I will discuss. In trade...

Reports have surfaced that Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is set to announce his retirement effective after the season. News that brings me, not to tears, but a shrug. What really needs to be retired is the notion that all fans in Baltimore still lose their collective minds whenever Teixeira comes back to town. The mere mention of his name over the PA system at Camden Yards used to elicit a deafening chorus of boos and expletives. But lately, I'd more accurately describe the response as a...

Baltimore's gritty, do-it-all workhorse has returned to town. The Orioles traded for Steve Pearce on Monday in a move that delighted many fans who appreciate having a familiar face back in the fold. Just how familiar are you with Pearce? Find out with this Steve Pearce trivia: 1. Steve Pearce has four career multi-homer games, three with the Orioles and one with the Tampa Bay Rays. Two of those multi-homer games have come against pitchers who have suited up for the O's. Who are they? The...

In his two relief appearances for the Washington Nationals since he was acquired last weekend, new closer Mark Melancon has taken the mound with 14-1 and 8-3 leads. Not exactly high-leverage situations, but he's thrown two scoreless innings in relief for the Nationals on 25 pitches, giving up one hit and striking out three. Dusty Baker was impressed with the right-hander's Nationals debut. "Same stuff we saw on the other side," Baker said. "We know he throws strikes and we know he's tough...

The Orioles' 2016 first-round draft pick, right-handed pitcher Cody Sedlock, has now made five pro appearances for short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Sedlock has made five outings of three innings each, going 0-1 with an ERA of 3.00. In 15 innings, he has allowed nine hits and five runs with eight walks and 14 strikeouts. "He's been good," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham said. "I've seen him in game action as well as several bullpens. He's got a four-pitch mix with plus...

Daniel Murphy has been the best hitter in the National League all season. Murphy took home July Player of the Month thanks to his .372 average with 12 doubles, six homers, 26 RBIs and a 1.144 OPS in the seventh month of the year. Murphy was also NL Player of the Month in May. But neck and neck with Murphy atop the NL in batting average all season has been catcher Wilson Ramos (.358 to .331). Ramos' splits in July have been good as well. The Venezuelan catcher hit .291 with four doubles, three...

Miguel Gonzalez is starting tonight against the Orioles in Chicago. We said it wouldn't get weird. Gonzalez hasn't faced the Orioles. Not before they signed him in 2012 and not after they released him in spring training this year. The decision wasn't popular among players, many of them refusing to discuss it publicly. Pitchers that I approached declined comment, saying it was "too soon." Gonzalez is 2-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) this season. He recorded quality starts in all...

New Orioles left-hander Wade Miley said he should be fine after taking a comebacker off his lower leg to end his outing tonight. Rougned Odor's hot smash up the middle deflected off Miley and toward second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who threw Odor out to end the top of the fifth inning. "It is on the (left) lower calf," Miley said. "It tightened up a little bit. But it's going to be fine. Not a big concern at all. Just one of those things. I'm glad it hit me. It would have been one more run...

Wade Miley's debut with the Orioles tonight ended after five innings and a shot off his left calf that caused him to limp into the dugout and through the tunnel with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. However, no X-rays are scheduled and Miley is confident that he'll make his next start, saying it's "not a concern." Manager Buck Showalter sounded the same optimistic tone following a 5-3 loss to the Rangers before 28,762 that ended a three-game winning streak and prevented a...