NEW YORK - When he saw Dusty Baker walking to the mound with two outs in the seventh inning last night, Max Scherzer assumed what all starting pitchers assume when their manager walks to the mound. "I thought he was going to take me out," the right-hander said. Baker, however, hadn't yet made up his mind. "When I went to the mound, I didn't know what exactly what I was going to do," the manager said. "Usually, I know what to do." Scherzer had just walked Alejandro De Aza, prolonging the...

The Orioles' final lineup today before the All-Star break includes Hyun Soo Kim in left field and Pedro Alvarez as the designated hitter. Mark Trumbo is in right field and batting fourth. Reliever Darren O'Day said his hamstring feels better, but he doesn't know when he'll be cleared to throw off a mound. He's headed to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Trumbo is the second non-rookie in history to hit more than 25 home runs before the...

NEW YORK - And so we have reached the first-half finale of what has been a most interesting season so far for the Nationals. They are guaranteed to go into the All-Star break at least four games up in the National League East, possibly six if they can beat the Mets again this afternoon. It'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound for this one, and though he has been erratic for most of the last two months, he has dominated at Citi Field over his career (7-1, 1.53 ERA in 12 starts). Fellow left-hander...

He got the start in the first game of this season, and today Orioles' right-hander Chris Tillman gets the call in the last game of the first half. Tillman (11-2, 3.55 ERA) faces Los Angeles Angels' right-hander Tim Lincecum (1-2, 7.50 ERA) in the finale before the All-Star break. Tillman is indeed having the bounce-back season the Orioles had hoped for. He has recorded 10 quality starts and pitched seven innings or more six times. The O's are a robust 15-3 (.833) when he has started. The...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg's first-half run is unprecedented in his career. The 12-0 start continues to be the best start of any season for the former No. 1 overall selection from San Diego State. He already has more wins than he had last season. In 2015, he went 11-7 in 23 starts. In 16 starts this season, he is 12-0. The day after he was announced as making the All-Star Game, Strasburg talked about his season to date. He spoke about how he is concentrating on his pitching and not letting...

NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy will never admit it, but make no mistake how much he is enjoying tormenting a Mets organization that made no serious effort to re-sign him last winter despite his consistent track record and historic postseason performance that helped lead the franchise to its first pennant in 15 years. Murphy hides his emotions well, and he expertly refuses to take the bait whenever he's asked to comment on his individual exploits, let alone when he does it to his former team as he...

During an interview Friday before the start of this series between the Orioles and Angels, third baseman Manny Machado expressed confidence in the team's front office. He has confidence in that group to make any moves the Orioles need to make to stay in first place for the long haul. "They know what we need," Machado said. "Now it is just a matter of getting it done. I think they've done a great job so far of bringing pieces that need to be put into this team. Every time we trade someone...

NEW YORK - Two things you can pretty much count on when the Nationals play the Mets: Daniel Murphy will drive in runs and Max Scherzer will pitch well. Both, of course, came true during tonight's 6-1 victory at Citi Field. Murphy homered and drove in four runs to lead the Nationals' offensive attack and give Scherzer some cushion to go after the New York lineup en route to his latest victory over his division rivals. Murphy delivered an RBI single in the top of the third, then an RBI double...

NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy has done damage against just about everybody he's faced this season, but he has saved some of his best work for his former employer. And he's doing it again tonight. Murphy has driven in one of the Nationals' three early runs off right-hander Logan Verrett, lacing a one-out single up the middle to give his team a 3-1 lead over the Mets. It was Murphy's 16th RBI in 12 games this season against the same New York club that drafted and developed him, the same one he...

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is putting the finishing touches on a strong first half. He had two more hits for the Orioles today, as he scored the tying run and drove in the go-ahead run in their 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. With runners on first and third in the eighth of a 2-2 tie, his line drive single to center put the Orioles ahead and sent them to their 50th win of the 2016 season. "This is a big win," Schoop said. "The more at-bats you get, the more you learn. I...