Jake Arrieta takes the mound tonight and the knife turns. Orioles fans must cringe as Arrieta gets the assignment for the Cubs in the National League wild card game in Pittsburgh. He's 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 33 starts, with four complete games, three shutouts and a no-hitter. He's exactly what the Orioles thought he would become after drafting him in the fifth round in 2007 out of TCU. (Side note: The Orioles took right-hander Tim Bascom in the fourth round out of Central Florida because...

When the Orioles drafted right-hander Jake Arrieta in the fifth round in 2007 out of TCU, they envisioned that he would pitch one day big games for them. He'll pitch one tonight, but for the Chicago Cubs. Chicago (97-65) plays at Pittsburgh (98-64) in the National League wild card game. The winner advances to face St. Louis (100-62) in the National League Division Series. Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA) will pitch against Pittsburgh right-hander Gerrit Cole (19-8, 2.60) at 8:08 p.m. at PNC Park. On...

There is one week remaining in fall instructional league play in Viera, Fla., for the Nationals. They continue to work out and have also played a schedule against other major league instructional league teams. Rain hampered the start of the camp last week, but low Single-A Hagerstown Suns manager Patrick Anderson, who is coaching at the facility in Viera, said they are moving along well now. "We were able to get back on the field," Anderson said. "We're doing a lot of individual stuff,...

The sentimental goodbyes unfortunately continue for Nationals fans. On Monday afternoon, it was veteran right-hander Jordan Zimmermann offering his gratitude for the Natitude over the last seven years. Beloved shortstop Ian Desmond, who had already poured his heart out following Sunday's season finale, reflected further on his Nationals career in a message delivered on Twitter last night: pic.twitter.com/MIr1GunMpV -- Ian Desmond (@IDesmond20) October 7, 2015 The Montreal Expos selected...

As Colby Rasmus was rounding the bases last night following his home run for the Astros in the American League wild card game, did anyone reflect back on his negotiations with the Orioles over the winter? Rasmus came very close to signing with the Orioles, who thought they had an agreement on a one-year deal that guaranteed around $7 million. Then, agent Casey Close decided to keep looking and landed a deal with the Astros for $8 million. Close threw a better curve than anyone on the Orioles...

Until the 2013 season, the Orioles had seen one of their players lead the majors in home runs just one time in team history. Frank Robinson topped them all with 49 homers when he won the Triple Crown in 1966. Now the Orioles have had the major league home run leader for three consecutive seasons: Chris Davis with 53 home runs in 2013, Nelson Cruz with 40 in 2014 and Davis again with 47 this year. In 74 games after the All-Star break, Davis hit .293 with 28 homers, 65 RBIs, a .669 slugging...

Baseball's postseason starts with a historic twist in the National League Central: For the first time since the three-division format became reality in 1994, the three best records have come from the same division. The division-winning Cardinals won 100 games, the Pirates 98 and the Cubs 97. The only other season that teams from the same division finished with the two best records was in 2001, when Seattle won 116 and Oakland 102. Who is the scariest team in the NL postseason? We report. You...

The Houston Astros are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2005 and the New York Yankees for the first time since 2012. New York hosts Houston tonight at 8:08 p.m. in the American League wild card game. The winner advances to meet Kansas City (95-67) starting Thursday in the American League Division Series. Houston (86-76) played well at the end of the year after losing its grip on the AL West lead to finish as the second wild card team. The Astros won six of their last eight....

Orioles reliever Brian Matusz underwent a successful medical procedure yesterday on his right shoulder and has returned home to Arizona. Matusz stayed back in Baltimore and had arthroscopic surgery to repair the AC joint, allowing him to get a head start on his recovery. Ravens physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl also cleaned out about a centimeter worth of arthritic bone in the shoulder. "Everything went great and just as planned. On the road to recovery," Matusz said in a text message. "From my...

The Nationals open their search for their next manager looking for a skipper who has a good amount of experience in the job and communicates well with his players and staff. Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. just finished his 21st consecutive season as a manager in the minor leagues. Very few can match his resume as far as pure baseball experience goes - and at almost every level. In 2007, his Montgomery club won the Double-A Southern League title. In 2012, he was named Southern League...