The Orioles tonight announced that they have optioned right-hander Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk. Gausman, 24, made his third start of the season for the Orioles tonight against the Minnesota Twins. In 11 games (three starts) with Baltimore this season, Gausman went 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA (27.0IP, 15ER).

The Orioles conclude their final road trip before the All-Star break this afternoon while also shaking up their roster again. First baseman Christian Walker is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and I was told a left-handed pitcher could join him. However, T.J. McFarland was in Gwinnett last night. Left-hander Cesar Cabral also is on the 40-man roster and Wesley Wright is on the 60-day disabled list while continuing his injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. Wright apparently...

The Orioles optioned right-hander Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk following tonight's 8-3 loss to the Twins at Target Field. A corresponding move wasn't announced. Gausman was charged with seven earned runs (eight total) in 3 2/3 innings, the shortest start of his major league career. He also threw two wild pitches and hit a batter. Brad Brach allowed all three inherited runners to score after Gausman left the game. As I wrote this morning, the Orioles can begin Gausman's 10-day clock...

Maybe we should have known it might not be the Orioles' night when they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings. If that didn't clue us in, an ugly four-run last of the fourth, which put Minnesota ahead 8-0, surely was convincing. Kevin Gausman allowed a career-high eight runs while pitching just 3 2/3 innings as Minnesota hammered the Orioles 8-3. It was the shortest outing of Gausman's 28 career major league starts. The Orioles fall to 43-41 and have lost...

Nationals fans haven't seen Max Scherzer pitch less than six innings this season. But Tuesday, Scherzer tossed a season-low 4 2/3 innings in a 5-0 loss to the Reds. Scherzer allowed five runs on seven hits. Reds first baseman Joey Votto did most of the damage with three hits off of Scherzer and three RBIs, highlighted by a solo homer and a run-scoring double. "I just didn't have it today," Scherzer said. "I just missed my location on a few pitches to the wrong hitters and they made me pay...

First off, greetings from the Delmarva shore, which is where I am this week! I'm taking my annual summer hiatus from the big city, if you will - so far so good, I suppose! Much like Ocean City, coastal Delaware is a place that's chock full of orange and black this time of year, and as I've walked along the boardwalks of the "Small Wonder State," I've seen lots of TVs showing Orioles games in bars and restaurants. Speaking of small wonders, we all know that small ball is a part of the...

Just to be clear, it is true that Major League Baseball's selection process for the All-Star teams is confusing. So, let's make it easy in four steps: First, the fans vote for nine starters in the American League and eight in the National League, the AL getting one more because of the designated hitter. Then, the players determine nine AL backups and eight NL backups along with eight pitchers for both teams, which includes five starters and three relievers. The third step belongs to the the...

As the Nationals celebrate 10 seasons in Washington, D.C., we reflect on some of the best moments since the franchise moved to the nation's capital. Each Wednesday for the next 10 weeks, check out Nationals Pastime for a remembrance of one of the watershed moments in Nationals history. The postseason was awaiting the Nationals when Jordan Zimmermann took the mound on the final day of the 2014 season. Washington had clinched the National League East title 13 days prior, but manager Matt...

After losing four of five and six of their last eight games, the Orioles look to get back in the win column tonight at Minnesota. The Twins won 4-2 last night on Brian Dozier's walk-off two-run homer in the 10th inning. Minnesota is 44-39 and 26-15 at home. The Orioles have lost their last four games decided by one or two runs and have scored four runs total in their last four losses. O's starting pitching, though, has been very good lately with an ERA of 1.85 and five quality starts over the...

Triple-A Norfolk first baseman Christian Walker was a healthy scratch from tonight's lineup at Gwinnett, and he could be joining the Orioles in Minnesota for Wednesday's series finale. As I wrote this morning, the Orioles could option tonight's starter, Kevin Gausman, whose next scheduled turn falls during the All-Star break. Walker could stay for one day and be optioned back to Norfolk on Thursday when outfielder Nolan Reimold comes off the paternity list. Reimold flew to Jacksonville for...