Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year and the Orioles will have to get past him today to win their series against the Washington Nationals. Wei-Yin Chen (4-4, 2.82 ERA) faces Scherzer (9-7, 2.12 ERA) this afternoon at Camden Yards in the game to decide this three-game series. Scherzer had a rare poor start in his most recent outing on Tuesday when he allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 2/3 against Cincinnati. But over 17 starts this year,...

Not much news coming out of today's pregame media session with Orioles manager Buck Showalter. If you've been following along, you know that left-hander Wesley Wright's injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk ends later today. He could re-join the Orioles or extend the assignment for a second time. Wright followed up his most impressive outing with a dud last night, allowing four runs and five hits, walking two and hitting a Charlotte batter in 1 2/3 innings. He's 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in...

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams will send his ace Max Scherzer to the mound this afternoon in hopes of winning the team's final series before heading into the All-Star break. Scherzer is looking to rebound from his worst start of the year after surrendering five runs over only 4 2/3 innings in the Nationals' 5-0 loss to the Reds last Tuesday night. Scherzer is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in six career regular season starts against Baltimore. However, the Orioles did plate five runs,...

The All-Star break is here, and for rabid baseball fans, it's kind of like going through withdrawal. No Orioles box score to pore over in the morning, no game to plan your evening around. Sure, there's the Home Run Derby tonight and the All-Star Game tomorrow in Cincinnati, but it's not the same thing as rooting for the home team. You might need something to satisfy your baseball fix. If you're in or near Baltimore, this might be a good time to visit one of Charm City's treasures, the Babe...

Chris Davis stopped inside manager Buck Showalter's office this morning, said he felt fine and is included in today's final lineup before the All-Star break. Davis was a late scratch yesterday with the stomach flu, but he's batting cleanup today and starting in right field. The Orioles' average with runners in scoring position is down to .290, though they still rank third in the majors. The Orioles are 19-13 in day games this season and 17-12 in the last game of a series. For the Orioles...

BALTIMORE - Most would expect to hear that Bryce Harper enjoys hitting in Camden Yards - especially with its short porch in right field and homer-welcoming dimensions - but the young slugger's feelings couldn't be more opposite. "I don't," Harper said after last night's 7-4 Nationals win. "I really don't. I can't stand it, actually. I can't see very well, so hopefully in the daytime (on Sunday) I see it better. I feel like it's a little dark." Harper is only 5-for-26 with 10...

With all the injuries, especially to the outfielders, the importance of solid play from center fielder Michael A. Taylor cannot be ignored. Taylor had four hits and three RBIs in the first two games of the Orioles series. In his last 15 games, he is hitting .273 (15-for-55) with a homer and seven RBIs. His strikeout total is high, especially for a leadoff man, but he continues to battle in each at-bat, making the pitcher work, which is what the other eight in the order need from that spot. He...

BALTIMORE - Jordan Zimmermann battled through a tough five innings on Saturday night before Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to make an early call to the bullpen. "He struggled a little bit with command and left some balls middle of the plate," Williams said. "He got to 95 (pitches) at that point and he's had a pretty strenuous first half, as well, and we're behind at that point, so we got him out." The Nationals surged back in the top of the sixth behind a solo homer from Bryce...

If the Orioles want to avoid being a .500 team at the All-Star break, all they need to do this afternoon is win a game that's started by the Nationals' Max Scherzer. What's the big deal? The Orioles couldn't avoid Scherzer, who's posted a 2.12 ERA and 0.803 WHIP in 17 starts and 123 1/3 innings. He's thrown a no-hitter, he's thrown a one-hitter, he's been covered in enough chocolate syrup to be mistaken for a 215 pound sundae. Scherzer has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his...

In recent years the Orioles have sent players like Manny Machado, Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey, Christian Walker, Henry Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez to the All-Star Futures Game, a showcase for the sport's best prospects. Today, 22-year-old right-hander Zach Davies is on the U.S. team that will take on the World team at 3 p.m. in Cincinnati. He is scheduled to be the eighth pitcher used by the U.S squad. Davies is the Orioles' No. 6 prospect, according to Baseball America. In 16 Triple-A Norfolk...