KANSAS CITY - The Orioles will try to avoid their first six-game losing streak tonight as their series against the Royals continues at Kauffman Stadium. Paul Janish is starting at shortstop tonight after having his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk, becoming the 1,002nd player to appear in a game for the Orioles. Steve Pearce is in left field against Royals left-hander Danny Duffy. Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and Ryan Flaherty took early batting practice today. Miguel Gonzalez is seven...

It only took 123 games, but it finally appears the Nationals will play with their entire projected opening day lineup when they take on the Padres tonight. Center fielder Denard Span has been reinstated from the disabled list after back spasms sidelined him on July 7. Span missed the first 12 games of the season after undergoing core muscle surgery in early March. It was his second abdominal procedure of the offseason after experiencing hernia surgery in mid-December. Lingering effects from...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of infielder Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk and placed catcher Steve Clevenger on the paternity list. Janish, 32, batted .235/.313/.272 (71-302) with seven doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, and 29 runs scored in 95 games with the Tides this season and led International League shortstops with a .990 fielding percentage (four errors, 407 total chances). In 431 career Major League games, Janish has hit .214/.284/.288 with 55 doubles,...

The Nationals get Denard Span back in the leadoff spot tonight for the first time since 31-year-old went on the disabled on July 7 with back spasms. When Span starts, the Nats are 35-24 this year. He is batting .304 with five homers, 15 doubles, 22 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Yunel Escobar also returns to the lineup after missing the past two games with hyperextended neck. Escobar suffered the injury while trying to make a catch in foul territory in the first inning of Friday's loss to the...

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles selected the contract of shortstop Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk today and placed catcher Steve Clevenger on the paternity list. Clevenger is expected to rejoin the club Friday in Arlington. In the meantime, his wife Tiffany gave birth today to Peyton Lee Clevenger at 1:09 p.m. Peyton is 6 pounds, 13 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Mother and baby are doing well. The Pride of Pigtown must be bursting with pride. The Orioles summoned Janish as shortstop insurance while...

With about two weeks remaining in the minor league regular season, the Orioles' top two affiliates continue to lead their divisions and close in on playoff berths. Triple-A Norfolk is 73-56 and leading its division by three games over Gwinnett with 15 to play. But the Tides and Gwinnett have eight games remaining against each other and begin a four-game series on Thursday at Gwinnett. Norfolk has not made the International League playoffs since becoming the Orioles' top affiliate in 2007. The...

Think back to about a month ago, July 29, 2015. The Nationals enjoyed a two-game lead in the National League East. They won 7-2 in Miami and made a road trip up to New York. In the first game of that series, Wilmer Flores, who everyone thought was about to be traded, hit a walk-off single to win the game, and the lead was cut to one going into a start against reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom. The Nats lost the next game, too, and the Mets were suddenly tied for first. On...

Caleb Joseph has already demonstrated that he's an effective defensive catcher. He was very good in part-time duty last year, displaying a strong, accurate arm and very good pitch-framing abilities. In 78 games in 2014, Joseph finished with a Defensive Runs Saved total of +8 and threw out 40 percent of baserunners. In 76 games this year, he's dropped to +4 and 32 percent, respectively, though the DRS total is still top 20 among all major league catchers. Joseph also again ranks well in...

It doesn't appear that the New York Mets will make it easy for the Washington Nationals to catch them. The Mets extended their lead in the National League East to 5 1/2 games after bashing a club-record eight home runs in a 16-7 win in Philadelphia last night. The Mets, who welcomed David Wright back from the disabled list, play three more against the Phillies this week while the Nats open a series with the Padres in D.C. The Nats, coming off back-to-back win over the Brewers, haven't won...

This time of the year is a personal favorite for Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop. It reminds him of a special time. He played on a team that won the Little League World Series, which is taking place now in Williamsport, Pa. Schoop and the kids from the tiny island nation of Curacao played in the LLWS not once, but twice. They had a strong showing in 2003. They won the championship in 2004. Schoop began that game batting third and playing shortstop, and went 2-for-3 with an RBI. He ended...