In case you didn't notice, Ryan Flaherty has become a triples machine in Houston. Flaherty has tripled in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He's going for three in a row tonight. Before the Astros series, Flaherty had collected a grand total of two triples in 283 major league games. Flaherty is the first Oriole to triple in consecutive games since Felix Pie on Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2010. Tonight's starter, Miguel Gonzalez, is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA in six starts when logging eight...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired minor league right-hander Joe Gunkel from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Alejandro De Aza and cash considerations. Gunkel, 23, owns a career record of 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 54 appearances (20 starts) over three minor league seasons while fanning 178 over 165.0 innings. He combined to go 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA (13 ER/40.1 IP) between Single-A (Advanced) Salem and Double-A Portland while striking out 44 batters. The Hershey,...

On Friday night, the Orioles posted a 2-1, walk-off win over Tampa Bay to improve their record to 23-24. They had won four of six games and were 8-5 over the last 13 to move within one game of first place in the American League East. Were the Orioles starting to make their move? Since then, they have lost four in a row and three games in the standings. Tonight, as they play the third game of a four-game series at Houston, they are 23-28, 4 1/2 games out of first place and now just 1/2-game out...

The Orioles announced this afternoon that they traded outfielder Alejandro De Aza and cash to the Red Sox for minor league right-hander Joe Gunkel. Gunkel, 23, is 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 54 appearances (20 starts) over three minor league seasons. He's struck out 178 batters over 165 innings. Gunkel was a combined 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He's a former 18th-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of West...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles' lineup for the third consecutive day due to soreness in his left side. Ryan Flaherty remains at shortstop in Hardy's absence. Steve Clevenger is behind the plate, Steve Pearce is starting at second base and Jimmy Paredes has dropped to eighth in the order. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B David Lough LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young RF Steve Clevenger C Steve Pearce 2B Jimmy Paredes DH Ryan Flaherty SS Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Astros...

Behind a 5-1 record and a 1.67 ERA in May, Nationals starter Max Scherzer was named the National League Pitcher of the Month. Scherzer lost his first start of the month before winning his final five in a row. He allowed just eight earned runs while striking out 56 and walking only eight in 43 innings. In four of Scherzer's six outings, the right-hander struck out 10 or more batters, including a season-high 13 on May 27. Scherzer is 6-4 on the season with a 1.85 ERA, third best in the majors....

Following six dominant starts in the month of May, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was named the National League Pitcher of the Month on Wednesday. Major League Baseball made the announcement. Scherzer went 5-1 with a 1.67 ERA during the month of May - the best record and lowest ERA among National League starters who threw at least 40.0 innings last month. Throwing at least seven innings in each of his six May starts, Scherzer tied a Nationals record (2005-present) with eight consecutive...

After busting out with an offensive assault throughout May, Bryce Harper was rewarded as the National League Player of the Month. The announcement was more a formality after Harper was earlier named Player of the Week in the NL in back-to-back weeks. Over 26 games in May, Harper's binge included 13 homers, four doubles, a triple, 28 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He batted .360 with a .884 slugging percentage, the eighth-best mark in baseball history for the month. Harper didn't crush his first...

On the heels of a record-setting May that thrust him into the major league lead in multiple offensive statistical categories, Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper was named the National League Player of the Month on Wednesday. Major League Baseball made the announcement. Currently leading the major leagues in home runs (T1st, 18), walks (45), slugging percentage (.718), OPS (1.188) and at-bats per home run (9.44), Harper also ranks tied for second in MLB in RBI (44), second in on-base...

Taylor Jordan will get his first start of the season tonight, and the right-hander will look to lead the Nationals to a series win over the Blue Jays after a split in yesterday's doubleheader. He made his season debut Friday, coming in for Stephen Strasburg who exited after an inning plus a batter with neck tightness. Jordan was solid through his first four innings of relief, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning, giving up three earned runs. Strasburg is currently on the 15-day disabled...