The Orioles are one game past the season's halfway point with a 43-39 record 82 games into the 2015 season. Time to take a look back and pass out some grades on the team. Some statistics are through Saturday's games. Starting pitching: C This is one area that needs to get better over the second half of the season. On their way to 96 wins, the 2014 O's starting rotation had an ERA of 3.61 to rank fifth in the American League. Right now, that number is 4.18 and the Orioles are ninth in AL...

Manager: Bryan Price (2nd season) Record: 36-44 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 3B Todd Frazier (.285/.344/.602 with 25 HR, 54 RBIs), 1B Joey Votto (.274/.387/.478 with 14 HR, 39 RBIs), 2B Brandon Phillips (.279 with 31 RBIs), RF Jay Bruce (12 HR, 40 RBIs), RHP Johnny Cueto (5-5, with 100 strikeouts, 2.984 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (16 saves, 1.83 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-0 Pitching probables: July 6: RHP Anthony DeSclafani vs. RHP Doug Fister, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 7: RHP Johnny...

It might not have been revenge for the Nationals, but this weekend's sweep of the Giants at least helped to heal up any remaining wounds from last October's stinging postseason loss. Jordan Zimmermann frustrated San Francisco so much that Giants manager Bruce Bochy and starter Ryan Vogelsong didn't stick around for the 3-1 outcome. Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi tossed Bochy and Vogelsong in the bottom of the fifth after both argued a questionable strike zone. Meanwhile, Zimmermann proceeded...

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper was selected to his third All-Star Game as the leading vote-getter in the National League. Harper garnered well over 13.9 million votes to get the opportunity to start in the 86th All-Star Game on July 14 in Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park. The 13,964,950 votes were the third most of any player in Major League Baseball. This will be his second career start. After Sunday's 3-1 win over the Giants, Harper said he was thrilled to get voted to start this...

The Orioles continue their road trip with three games in Minnesota and at least one more roster move. Outfielder Nolan Reimold will go on paternity leave today for the birth of his daughter, and the Orioles are expected to recall infielder Ryan Flaherty to take his place. The Orioles would like to get T.J. McFarland in the bullpen as a left-handed long man, but that move will have to wait. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters yesterday in Chicago that Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia is beginning his...

Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong started the second inning by issuing back-to-back walks to Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa. Two batters later, Michael A. Taylor made Vogelsong pay with a line drive single to left, scoring Ramos for the game's first run. Fresh off his All-Star selection, Bryce Harper is 1-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann has yielded two hits with three strikeouts through three scoreless innings. Update: After recording the first two outs of...

Bryce Harper leads the National League team into the All-Star game on July 14 in Cincinnati. The 22-year-old received an NL-record 13,864,950 votes, nearly four million votes more than the Giants' Buster Posey, the next highest vote-getter. This will be Harper's second start and third overall All-Star appearance in his first four seasons. After a solid first month of the season, Harper exploded in May. He was recognized as the NL's Player of the Month after hitting .360 with 13 homers and 28...

The Orioles won't have anyone starting in the 2015 All-Star Game. They couldn't rally late in the final voting. Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson received the most votes in the American League with 14,090,188. Manny Machado finished third among third basemen with 2,609,499 after being fourth last week. The Angels' Mike Trout (14,013,021) and the Royals' Lorenzo Cain (12,399,127) and Alex Gordon (10,609,006) are the starting outfielders. Adam Jones was seventh with 6,334,939...

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper was announced Sunday night as a starter in the 2015 Major League All-Star Game. Harper earned his selection to the National League team by garnering 13,964,950 fan votes, the most votes of any player ever to appear on the National League ballot and third-most votes for any player in MLB this season. Harper, 22, entered Sunday night's game against the San Francisco Giants hitting .344 with a .470 on-base percentage and a Major League-best .719...

Nationals manager Matt Williams addressed the media before tonight's game for the first time since the team announced that right-hander Stephen Strasburg was headed to the 15-day disabled list. "He had an MRI today that shows he's got a strain in his (left) oblique," Williams said. "It's something we've got to do for his health and well-being and make sure that we get him well as quickly as possible." Williams indicated that there was no chance for Strasburg to be able to make his next...