NEW YORK - A starting pitcher's win-loss record is a reflection not only of his own individual performance but also of his team's performance, and so Stephen Strasburg could not have improved to 12-0 last night without the help of some other members of the Nationals who made their 3-1 victory over the Mets possible. Like Clint Robinson, who for the second straight night started at first base in place of the injured Ryan Zimmerman and for the second straight night homered. Robinson took...

He is one of the Orioles' top prospects. While he has never been ranked in an end-of-season top 100 list by Baseball America, catcher Chance Sisco was rated No. 85 yesterday when it released its mid-season top 100 prospects report. The Orioles' 21-year-old Double-A catcher is trending up. The kid the Orioles drafted out of a California high school in the second round in 2013 has always hit well for average. But this year, his defense seems to be taking some steps forward, too. All of this is...

NEW YORK - There was the no-hit streak, which extended a full 10 2/3 innings between two starts before Asdrubal Cabrera homered in the bottom of the fifth. And there is the record, now 12-0 heading into the All-Star break. For Dusty Baker, though, the most impressive thing Stephen Strasburg did tonight during the Nationals' 3-1 win over the Mets came in the bottom of the seventh, his final inning of the game. Facing potential disaster after walking Brandon Nimmo with two outs on a questionable...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have optioned right-hander Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk. Wright, 26, was recalled earlier this afternoon from the Tides and pitched 4.2 innings tonight vs. Los Angeles (AL), surrendering four runs (two earned) on three hits, while walking two and striking out two.

Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols has slowed down considerably, as evidenced by his RBI single last night that cleared Mark Trumbo's head in right field and ricocheted off the fence. He settled for one base despite the distance on his fly ball. Past knee and foot injuries didn't increase his 40 time. Pujols has been known to reach base with regularity against Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who starts this afternoon against the Angels at Camden Yards. Pujols is 15-for-32 lifetime...

The Orioles' lead in the American League East is down to one game following tonight's 9-5 loss to the Angels before 44,317 at Camden Yards. The Blue Jays have won seven in a row. The Orioles are fighting to stay in front of them while their rotation continues to raise concerns. Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only 1 1/3 innings and left to a chorus of boos. He was charged with five runs and five hits, walked two, struck out none and threw a wild pitch. Twenty-five of his 45 pitches were strikes. Angels...

After his latest poor outing - one in which he gave up five runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings - Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez said this is the toughest stretch of his career. "There is no doubt about it," he said. "This is the toughest thing I've had to face, but like I've said before, I'm never going to put my head down. I know I let the team down. I didn't do what I'm supposed to do, helping the team. But it's part of baseball. It's part of baseball. I have to keep going,...

NEW YORK - Stephen Strasburg may not be pitching in next week's All-Star Game as a precaution for the back injury that sidelined him late last month, but the right-hander sure looks healthy and dominant when he does take the mound these days. On the heels of his 6 2/3-innings of no-hit ball against the Reds on Sunday, Strasburg picked up right where he left off tonight against the Mets, tossing seven innings of two-hit ball to lead the Nationals to a much-needed, 3-1 victory at Citi...

It got even worse tonight for struggling Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. He had another short outing, put his team behind four runs early in the game and didn't survive the second inning. Jimenez allowed five runs and five hits over 1 2/3 innings as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 9-5 in front of 44,317 at Camden Yards. On the night the Orioles honored the 50th anniversary of the 1966 world champions, the Orioles pitched nothing like that club did that October. And with Toronto's win...

It's difficult to imagine another start for Ubaldo Jimenez following the All-Star break. The greater intrigue surrounds his spot on the 25-man roster. Jimenez didn't strengthen his case tonight, lasting only 1 1/3 innings, being charged with five runs and walking off the mound to a chorus of boos. How much is Jimenez struggling? Tonight didn't mark his shortest outing of the season. He retired only one batter on June 12 in Toronto. Fans grew restless after Jimenez issued a four-pitch walk to...