The Orioles apparently will make it through tonight without a roster move. The three-man bench remains intact. Infielder Paul Janish remains in Houston with wife Maria and their baby girl. It's a mystery whether he's going to return to Triple-A Norfolk, come to Baltimore this weekend or meet the team in Minnesota next week. "It may not be him. It may not be anybody if we and whoever decide to continue down this path with the 13-man (staff)," said manager Buck Showalter. "It may not be...

The Orioles offense has seen some ups and also some downs in recent games. Here is a look: * After an 8-3 win on April 23 in Kansas City, the Orioles scored just five runs in the last four games of a road trip to K.C. and Tampa Bay, going 1-3. Three of those runs came via a Joey Rickard homer. * Then the Orioles returned home and scored 23 runs in three games against the team with at that time the best team ERA in the majors, the Chicago White Sox. They went 2-1 * Since then, they have scored...

CHICAGO - The Nationals knew the final leg of their 10-game road trip through the Midwest was going to be the toughest, but they might not have known just how tough. The blistering-hot Cubs have taken down every opponent they've faced so far in 2016, and now they're adding the Nats to their checklist of conquests. Today's 8-6 thumping at Wrigley Field was merely the latest outcome to date. Behind four home runs off struggling ace Max Scherzer, the Cubs cruised to another victory, improving...

The tarp just came off the field at Camden Yards, and this time it's not about dumping water. The grounds crew is raking the infield while the mound and batter's box remain covered. A light rain continues to fall, however, and we're still unsure about the status of tonight's game. There's talk of a window around 7 p.m. and the Orioles are hoping to play. They've discussed various makeup scenarios if a postponement becomes necessary. "What's the saying? April showers bring May flowers?...

Just how much damage are we doing to every relationship we have, or might have, because of our use of modern technology (think cell phones)? Sherry Turkle, author of "Reclaiming Conversation," thinks the damage is extensive and serious. She is a clinical psychologist who has written previously on this matter. One senses this book is written with a greater urgency than her first (that spent time on robotics) because she sees the damage being done increasing at a rapid rate. Why are we so...

CHICAGO - There is no ballpark in America for which changes in weather have a more dramatic effect on the game than Wrigley Field. On cold nights when the wind blows in off Lake Michigan, the Friendly Confines seemingly expand into national park dimensions. But when the temperature heats up and the wind blows out, this becomes a home run hitter's haven. So when John Lackey threw his first pitch of today's game under mostly sunny skies, 73-degree temperature readings and a nice breeze blowing...

Adam Jones is batting fifth tonight as the Orioles attempt to open their series against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Rain continues to fall, but the Orioles obviously will attempt to play. Manny Machado remains at shortstop. Nolan Reimold is in left field. The Orioles haven't made a roster move at this point. They're still going with a three-man bench. The Orioles won six of seven games against the Athletics last season, including all four at home. They outscored the A's 50-23. The A's...

CHICAGO - Ben Revere awoke this morning to a text from his agent, Barry Meister, that contained a simple-yet-significant message: "Second opening day of the season!" Suffice it to say, Revere is just a bit fired up to be back in the Nationals lineup after straining his right oblique muscle on his very first swing of the season. "I'm real happy," he said. "It was kind of a bummer missing the first month of the season, with the team doing so well without you. The chemistry in that locker...

Right-hander Phillips Valdez has pitched well in his last two starts for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 24-year-old Valdez has allowed only two earned runs in his last 14 innings, giving up only seven hits and striking out 15. He struck out a career-high 11 batters on April 23 in a 5-2 win at Wilmington. Overall he is 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA. But in three of his starts, he has given up a combined three earned runs in 14 innings. Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart said the...

Fans heading to Orioles games against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday and Sunday should be aware that the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) has announced that two lanes of northbound I-95 near MD 100 in Howard County will be temporarily closed, effective Friday, May 6, beginning at 10:00 p.m. until approximately noon on Sunday, May 8. All motorists on northbound I-95 are advised to consider traveling on US 1 (Washington Boulevard), MD 295 (Baltimore...