Shortstop J.J. Hardy has returned to the Orioles lineup for today's game against the Blue Jays. The Orioles haven't announced a corresponding roster move. Jonathan Schoop is batting second today, followed by Manny Machado, who's back at third base. Machado is 13-for-36 (.361) in his last eight games. Adam Jones is 9-for-27 (.333) in his last six games, with a double, four home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored. Hyun Soo Kim was in an 0-for-12 slump, his longest hitless streak of the...

When Dusty Baker named Shawn Kelley his interim closer late Thursday night, the chosen replacement for Jonathan Papelbon while the latter endures through the first DL stint of his career, he did so with a caveat. "We think he's best suited for that until Pap gets back," Baker told reporters in San Diego. "But again, he's thrown two days in a row, and I doubt if he'll be in that situation again tomorrow. He'd love to do it again. He'll never not take the ball, but sometimes we have to...

Cross-country flights. Late-night starts. No off-days. Nothing right now seems to be able to derail the Nationals, who were at it again tonight during a 7-5 victory over the Padres. With another offensive explosion at Petco Park, the Nationals won for the 10th time in their last 12 games and in the process expanded their lead in the National League East to a season-high six games. Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy each homered, and Murphy added a two-run double to pace another well-balanced...

Captain Obvious said the Orioles need to start giving up fewer runs against the Toronto Blue Jays. They have allowed 10, 11 and 13 runs in their last three games against the Blue Jays. They actually almost won one of those games, losing 10-9 last Sunday at Rogers Centre. But the O's are 3-5 this year against the Blue Jays and they've allowed 52 runs in those games. Over those last three games, the Orioles have allowed 34 runs, 40 hits and 10 homers against Toronto. There has to be a concern...

With Mike Wright optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last night, the Orioles found a way to create room for Yovani Gallardo on the 25-man roster and hand him the ball for today's game against the Blue Jays. That's one move. The Orioles can figure out later who makes Wednesday night's start against the Padres. They need Wright to figure out how to regain his command and position himself for another promotion later in the summer, whether he's in the rotation or the bullpen. Shortstop J.J. Hardy also...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have optioned right-hander Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk. Wright, 26, went 3-4 with a 6.12 ERA (44 ER/64.2 IP) over 13 games (12 starts) with the Orioles this season. He started tonight's game vs. Toronto, suffering the loss after surrendering eight earned runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. In 25 career Major League games (21 starts), Wright went 6-9 with a 6.09 ERA (74 ER/109.1 IP).

It was a little over a year ago when Orioles right-hander Mike Wright pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings over his first two big league starts. But his current struggles reached another low point tonight. He gave up a career-worst eight runs and six hits, including three homers, over just 3 2/3 innings. The team that has tormented him before did it again, as he took the loss in the Orioles' 13-3 defeat against Toronto. His last two starts have come against this team and Wright has allowed 12 runs...

The Orioles will activate shortstop J.J. Hardy from the disabled list before Saturday afternoon's game against the Blue Jays, forcing them into at least two roster moves. They already intended to activate right-hander Yovani Gallardo to make the start, his first since April 22. Executive vice president Dan Duquette was headed to manager Buck Showalter's office to discuss whether a fresh bullpen arm also was needed after tonight's 13-3 loss to the Blue Jays before 38,306 at Camden...

When the Orioles last saw the them - last weekend at Rogers Centre - the Toronto Blue Jays scored 11 runs Saturday and 10 runs on Sunday. The Blue Jays' pounding of O's pitching continued tonight at Camden Yards. Toronto scored seven runs in the fourth to open an 11-2 lead and went on to win 13-3 in the series opener. Toronto left fielder Michael Saunders has feasted on O's pitching this year. Tonight, he hit three-run homers in the first and fourth innings, and added a two-run homer in the...

The combination of Mike Wright and Ubaldo Jimenez didn't work tonight at Camden Yards. It did, however, stir up the home crowd, which offered up a selection of boos and sarcastic applause after the top of the fourth inning came to a merciful halt. Wright was charged with eight runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. The last two runs scored after Jimenez replaced him. More on Jimenez later. This was Wright's start and he goes first. Wright walked a...