The Nationals have a shot to repeat last week's series win in New York with a matinee matchup against the Mets. Last week, the Nationals lost the first game at Citi Field, before bouncing back to win two games in a row and the series. This week, the Nationals lost the first game against the Mets at Nationals Park 7-1 and then rebounded last night with a 7-4 victory, highlighted by five homers and 11 strikeouts from Stephen Strasburg. This will be Tanner Roark's first meeting with the Mets...

When an outfielder on a ballclub has made eight starts in the team's 43 games, what role would you think he has? Would you think he was a right-handed hitting platoon outfielder who only started against left-handed pitchers? Would you think he was a fourth outfielder whose primary use was as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement late in games? I would assume one of the two, but neither is the case with the Orioles. In this situation, this is left-handed hitting left fielder Hyun Soo...

HOUSTON - Well, if you want to say the Orioles' offense is inconsistent, you will not get too many arguments right now. The Orioles have been held to just seven runs and have struck out 40 times the last three games. Over 13 innings of last night's 3-2 loss to Houston, they struck out 19 times. From the ninth inning on, they struck out 12 times. So 12 of their last 15 outs came via a strikeout. Their last six outs came that way. It was one really bad game for the offense. But that is all it...

HOUSTON - The Orioles struck out 19 times tonight in a 13-inning, 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros. They have now struck out 40 times the last three games while scoring just seven runs. After the game, outfielder Adam Jones said the team is frustrated and he knows the Orioles fans are too. For now they just have to turn the page and try to get the second game of this series tomorrow night. "We are really good at that (moving on to the next game)," Jones said. "Obviously it's frustrating....

The Nationals' offense has made some strides in the last few weeks now that Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon and Ben Revere have started hitting. Unfortunately, Danny Espinosa has yet to get on track, and it's time to consider making a move there. Espinosa's hit a paltry .203/.305/.287 this season, and it's bad even if you dismiss his early performance as a slow start. Going back to April 29, he has hit .224/.302/.353, which is the best sample you can get leading up to today. This may be...

Before the Orioles continue their series tonight against the Astros, now one game out of first place in the American League East, they'll pay close attention to Yovani Gallardo's second bullpen session that will be followed by Saturday's simulated game in Cleveland. Gallardo is nearing an injury rehab assignment that figures to consist of only one or two starts before he's activated from the disabled list and the Orioles must make room for him in the rotation. If I'm anyone not named Chris...

Last night's game looked awfully familiar for the Nationals. Stephen Strasburg dominated. Matt Harvey did not. The end result was a lopsided victory, something we saw only five days earlier when the same two pitchers matched up in New York. Here are some other notable things that happened that perhaps didn't draw the big headlines... * The Nationals bullpen delivered big again in a big spot. Though this turned into a lopsided affair, the outcome still was very much in doubt in the top of the...

The bottom of the fourth had arrived at Nationals Park, the home team was trailing 1-0 and the cheers from the sizeable pockets of Mets fans was far more noticeable than anything that could be heard from those dressed in red. And yet ... It was the first truly warm evening of the season on South Capitol Street (first pitch temperature: 83 degrees), the Nationals were making solid contact despite nothing to show for it on the scoreboard and Matt Harvey was on the mound for New York. If ever...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg continued Tuesday night on the most consistent stretch of his career, winning for the eighth time this season in a 7-4 victory over the National League East rival Mets. The Nationals have now won 14 straight games that Strasburg has started. On Tuesday, he crafted 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs with two walks and 11 strikeouts. The biggest statistic is the run Strasburg is on. He is 8-0 this season, a career-best start. He has picked up from where...

Chris Tillman continues to bounce back from his disappointing 2015 season. Tillman turned in his seventh consecutive quality start tonight in Houston. Astros right-hander Doug Fister came within an out of doing the same. Tillman allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings, one swing from Luis Valbuena in the fifth accounting for all the scoring. During his streak of quality starts, Tillman has allowed 10 runs over 46 1/3 innings. His ERA remains at 2.61 for the season, exactly where it...