To say the least, the Orioles offense is humming along pretty well through 10 games. Last night, the Orioles scored nine or more runs for the third time in the last five games. In the five games of the road trip, they have scored 34 runs and that includes two games where they scored five total. They have hit 12 homers in that span. With an American League-leading 20 homers through 10 games, it is easy to do the math and project 324 homers over a full season. The major league record for a season...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Nationals have now won six in a row and are off to their best start in franchise history at 8-1 following Friday's 9-1 series-opening win over the Phillies. The previous best starts were 7-2 by the 1974 Montreal Expos and the 1951 Washington Senators. Tonight's second game of the weekend series features right-hander Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.15 ERA) facing right-hander Aaron Nola (0-1, 3.21 ERA). It is Scherzer's third start of the season and seventh all-time against the...

Let's take a quick look at the Orioles' minor league teams so far. It's very early obviously, but right now none of the O's teams at Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, Single-A Frederick or Single-A Delmarva have a winning record. Norfolk is 2-6 and has scored just 24 runs with a 5.70 team ERA. Bowie is 1-7 with a 6.17 team ERA. Both the Keys and Shorebirds are 4-5. However, some of the O's better hitting prospects have gotten off to good starts. At Bowie, first baseman Trey Mancini is...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles have released veteran right-hander Todd Redmond from his Triple-A contract, according to a tweet from the Norfolk Tides. Redmond's next turn in the rotation on Wednesday is now listed as TBA. Right-hander Terry Doyle has moved up from Double-A Bowie and is starting tonight against Gwinnett. Redmond, 30, allowed 15 runs and 18 hits in two starts covering only five innings with the Tides. He surrendered six runs and 12 hits in 9 2/3 innings in spring training...

PHILADELPHIA - Max Scherzer is a student of the game. And that means more than just throwing the ball over the plate. When you think of Scherzer, many gravitate to the pair of no-hitters he threw last season or the Cy Young Award he won in 2013. But one of the big assets that some may fail to realize is his ability to derail an opponent's running game. Against the Atlanta Braves during Monday's start, Scherzer was able to catch speedster Mallex Smith attempting to steal second base with the...

FREDERICK - The Single-A Frederick Keys have long been a team that draws well at the gate. But last night's attendance produced a big crowd even for the Keys, as 5,712 came to Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. They came to see two Orioles pitch on injury rehab assignments. The Keys lost 4-0 to Lynchburg, but the fans got to see right-hander Kevin Gausman and left-hander Brian Matusz pitch. It was the largest April crowd in Frederick in four years, except for when Manny Machado played here in...

ARLINGTON, Texas - As he headed back to the dugout during Thursday night's game against the Rangers, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy must have been walking with a slight limp or appeared to be in some discomfort. He wasn't aware of it until I told him that numerous fans on Twitter and the blog wondered whether he was hurting again. Hardy missed two games with stiffness in his left calf, but the leg feels fine. He offered up confirmation yesterday at his locker, and an amusing smile when told why...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles had lost two games in a row and were down four runs tonight in the top of the seventh inning. It looked bad. It soon bordered on ridiculous, and in a very good way. Four home runs hit in a nine-run seventh, with Mark Trumbo launching two of them. Jonathan Schoop hit his second homer of the night in the eighth and the Orioles went from critical to cruising, beating the Rangers 11-5 at Globe Life Park. Trumbo is the first player in club history to homer twice in the...

PHILADELPHIA - Not too many times do you see the starting pitcher bat in the first inning. Even more unusual is the opportunity to see that starter contribute in that first chance with a double. The Nationals scored five runs on six hits in the first inning in their 9-1 shellacking of the Phillies on Friday night. Joe Ross went 7 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and yielding no runs with two walks and five strikeouts his first matchup with the Phillies. The scariest moment for Ross was in...

PHILADELPHIA - So much for the pitching carrying the offense. The Nationals scored five runs in the first inning and Joe Ross pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 9-1 throttling of the Phillies on Friday night. Michael A. Taylor and Bryce Harper homered, and Jayson Werth collected two doubles and three RBIs, as the Nationals pounded out 16 hits and nine runs, both season highs. The Nationals also had a season-high seven extra-base hits. The 8-1 start is the best in franchise history. "This is...