ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pitcher Hunter Harvey, the top prospect in the Orioles system, left tonight's start with short-season Single-A Aberdeen with soreness in his right flexor mass. Harvey lasted 1 1/3 innings and threw 23 pitches at Batavia before walking off the mound with the IronBirds athletic trainer. He walked one batter and struck out one. Harvey has been pitching in the New York-Penn League after undergoing sports hernia surgery in May. He moved up from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast...

The same script repeated itself in the first two games of the series between the Nationals and Pirates at Nationals Park. A Nats starter went at least eight innings. The Nats scored at least five runs, including a homer. The Pirates committed defensive mistakes. The Nats won the series Saturday night in a rain-delayed 6-0 defeat of Pittsburgh. Tanner Roark (9-5) went eight innings plus two batters, allowing five hits. Blake Treinen notched three outs in the ninth. The Nats have won five in a...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman inched closer tonight to that elusive 20-win mark. He also continued to make life easier on manager Buck Showalter, who otherwise must maneuver relievers to get through nine innings and keep everyone healthy. The bullpen didn't get busy tonight until Brad Brach started to warm in the top of the eighth inning with Tillman at 92 pitches. Tillman held the Rays to one run in seven innings, continuing a hot month of July, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 2-1...

The Nationals entered the season saying they were going to be more aggressive on the bases. And they have backed it up. With two stolen bases in the first two innings of tonight's game, the Nats now have successfully swiped 57 bases this year. That already matches their entire total from 2015, even though they're playing only their 92nd game tonight. And the Nationals' first steal of this game made a difference. Jayson Werth, who drew a one-out walk off Gerrit Cole in the bottom of the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As tonight's game plays out, it's important to check which long relievers are warming for the Orioles and which ones may be used, perhaps eliminating themselves from consideration for Tuesday night's start at Yankee Stadium. Pitch counts always factor into it, of course. Also, someone has to piggyback Dylan Bundy on Sunday. Vance Worley was warming early last night as Yovani Gallardo continued to labor and his count rose to 77 through three innings. However, he sat...

Daniel Murphy is out of the Nationals lineup for the second straight night, but the veteran infielder is available to come off the bench and likely will start Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. Murphy, who is dealing with a sore left hamstring, actually told Dusty Baker he was well enough to start tonight, but the manager elected to take a more cautious route and hold off for another day. "It's just from my experience - my own personal experience and experience as a coach and...

The Orioles look to continue their 2016 success against the Tampa Bay Rays as the clubs play the second game of their three-game series tonight at Tropicana Field. The Orioles are 8-2 versus the Rays this season. They have won six in a row, outscoring Tampa Bay 38-18. They completed their first ever four-game sweep of Tampa from June 24-26 in Baltimore. The Orioles rallied from two runs down last night to record a 4-3 victory at Tropicana Field. Jonathan Schoop's homer in the eighth broke a...

Stephen Drew and Clint Robinson are starting tonight. Drew is essentially subbing for second baseman Daniel Murphy, who is out with a hamstring problem, and Robinson for first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the disabled list with a rib cage strain. Both Drew and Robinson have done quite well for a bench that has been strong since the beginning of the season. Drew has seven homers and 16 RBIs, while Robinson has added five homers and 19 RBIs. Chris Heisey, Jose Lobaton, Trea Turner and...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles reliever Darren O'Day will throw a simulated game Tuesday in New York as his next step toward coming off the disabled list. It's a big step. O'Day hasn't pitched since straining his right hamstring on June 1. He's 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 appearances, with 25 strikeouts over 20 innings. A second bullpen session today, along with some fielding work, left manager Buck Showalter encouraged by O'Day's progress and potential to soon rejoin the 25-man roster. If...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter met earlier today with outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, interpreter Danny Lee and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells in his office before batting practice. We're still waiting to find out whether Kim has avoided the disabled list, but he claimed that he's feeling good and sounded optimistic that his season wouldn't be further interrupted. "It feels much better than the time I got injured. It feels great," Kim said through his...