Hitless in his last two games, Jimmy Paredes singled tonight in the bottom of the first inning. He's got to pump up that average. It actually dipped to .336. Paredes is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter, with Steve Pearce playing second base. Chris Tillman made it through the first inning tonight on only 10 pitches despite a leadoff single by Houston's George Springer. Jose Altuve grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Preston Tucker struck out looking. Tillman issued a leadoff walk...

The battery on Steve Clevenger's cell phone picked a bad time to run out of juice. Clevenger said he slept through five calls from Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson, who wanted to pass along news that the Orioles were calling him up. Pitcher Steve Johnson was next on the call list and he woke up Clevenger. Clevenger has finally returned to the majors after being optioned on April 7 to make room for first baseman Chris Davis, who was reinstated from the suspended list. "I'm excited," he...

BOWIE, Md. - Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy was pitching well; he had just thrown his first outing of the year of four innings, and now he is dealing with another potential injury issue. Bundy will have an MRI on his right shoulder tomorrow, but he doesn't believe this will turn out to be a serious issue. He was on the comeback trail from his Tommy John surgery of June 2013 and was making excellent progress this year. In his last start for Double-A Bowie, Thursday at Trenton, he...

The Orioles are hoping that catcher Ryan Lavarnway, designated for assignment earlier today, will remain in the organization and join Triple-A Norfolk's roster. However, executive vice president Dan Duquette will gauge outside interest over the next few days. Lavarnway can refuse an outright assignment and become a free agent if he clears waivers. Steve Clevenger was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and figures to stay with the club until Matt Wieters comes off the 60-day disabled list. Wieters...

After a bit of an unusual start to the season, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has returned to his normal self to help lead the Nationals to victories in each of his last five starts. Zimmermann has pitched at least six innings and not allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last five outings. Zimmermann hasn't fared so well at Wrigley Field where he is winless in three career starts with a 6.27 ERA, though the last start came back in 2013. The Nats will get their first look at Cubs...

Well, the Orioles are not exactly setting the world on fire with their win-loss record, but they keep gaining ground slowly but surely. Since May 11, the Orioles are over .500 at 7-6. In that stretch, they have gone from 5 1/2 games out of first place to two games beginning play tonight. This is the closest they've been to first since they were two out on April 29. On the mound tonight Chris Tillman (2-5, 6.10 ERA) pitches against Scott Feldman (3-4, 5.17 ERA). Tillman has not recorded a win...

The Orioles don't have any leaders in the American League All-Star balloting as Major League Baseball provides the first update. Adam Jones, a four-time participant, ranks fourth among outfielders behind Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain, Los Angeles' Mike Trout and Kansas City's Alex Gordon. Jones has received 981,926 votes. Gordon has 991, 606. Detroit's Yoenis Cespedes is fifth with 668,059 votes. Manny Machado, an All-Star selection in 2013, is fourth among third baseman with 266,746 votes,...

The Orioles have recalled catcher Steve Clevenger from Triple-A Norfolk and designated Ryan Lavarnway for assignment. As I wrote this morning, Clevenger was hitting .352/.413/.451 (32-for-91) with three doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs in 27 games with Norfolk this season. He played in 35 games with the Orioles in 2014, batting .225/.289/.337 (20-for-89) with eight doubles, a triple and eight RBI. Over 118 career major league games, Clevenger has posted a .210/.270/.295 slash line with a...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled catcher Steve Clevenger from Triple-A Norfolk and designated catcher Ryan Lavarnway for assignment. Clevenger, 29, hit .352/.413/.451 (32-91) with three doubles, two home runs, and 14 RBI in 27 games with Triple-A Norfolk this season. He played in 35 games with the Orioles in 2014, batting .225/.289/.337 (20-89) with eight doubles, a triple, and eight RBI. Over 118 career Major League games, Clevenger has posted a .210/.270/.295 slash line...

Manager: Bryan Price (2nd season) Record: 19-27 Last 10 games: 1-9 Who to watch: 2B Brandon Phillips (.297, 18 RBIS), 1B Joey Votto (.275, 7 HR, 21 RBIs), 3B Todd Frazier (14 HR, 28 RBIs), CF Billy Hamilton (18 SB), RHP Johnny Cueto (3-4, 3.03 ERA), RHP Aroldis Chapman (7 saves, 34 Ks in 20 1/3 innings) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-3 in 2014) Pitching probables: May 29: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Anthony DeSclafani, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 May 30: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Raisel...