MIAMI - The Orioles will send right-hander Miguel Gonzalez to the mound for today's finale of a three-game series against the Marlins. The right-hander is 5-2 with a 3.24 ERA and his five victories lead the staff. He's worked at least six innings in five of his eight starts, and has pitched seven or more innings three times in his last four outings.David Lough gets the start in left field, Everth Cabrera starts in place of J.J. Hardy at shortstop and Ryan Lavarnway will be behind the...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk. In a corresponding move, the Orioles have selected the contract of right-hander Chaz Roe from Triple-A Norfolk. Additionally, left-hander Wesley Wright has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list. McFarland, 25, was recalled on May 8 and has made five relief appearances while fanning eight over 5 innings. Roe, 28, has gone 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA (6 ER/24 2/3 IP) with 22 strikeouts over 17...

MIAMI - The Orioles were expected to add a bullpen arm for today's series finale against the Marlins, and right-hander Chaz Roe has arrived in the visiting clubhouse. There's a No. 65 jersey in his locker stall, but the Orioles haven't announced a roster move to add Roe to the 25-man roster. Roe, signed as a free agent in December, is 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA and two saves in 17 games at Triple-A Norfolk. He spent much of last year at Miami's Triple-A New Orleans affiliate, posting a 3-3 record...

The Nationals go for an eighth consecutive series win today against the Phillies. It figures to be a tall test though as Philadelphia starts 6-foot-7 righty Aaron Harang. Harang owns the majors' fifth-best ERA at 1.82, allowing just 12 runs in 59 1/3 innings this season. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has left stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard off his lineup card with left-hander Gio Gonzalez throwing for the Nats today. Gonzalez has been inconsistent throughout his first nine starts. In his...

There weren't many bright spots for the Nationals yesterday in the 8-1 drubbing by the Phillies. But if you're stretching for positives, look toward Ian Desmond's eighth-inning RBI double that not only prevented a shutout but also extended the shortstop's hitting streak to eight games. On Friday, Desmond drove in the eventual game-winning run with another double high off the center field wall. The two games prior to that, Desmond hit solo homers to center in the first inning to answer early...

Right fielder Caleb Ramsey had two hits including a home run, but Double-A Harrisburg could not hold a lead in a 4-3 loss to New Britain. Ramsey went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and cranked his first homer of the season. He had two of the three hits for Harrisburg. Starter Joe Ross allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, but Gilberto Mendez and Brian Dupra came on to pitch 3 2/3 scoreless innings the rest of the way, allowing no hits and striking out four batters. Ross had six strikeouts and no...

The Orioles pitching staff has a team ERA of 3.17 in May. Kansas City has a team ERA of 3.16 this year to rank first in the American League.This month, all the O's good pitching has gotten them is a record of 9-11.The offense is not performing nearly well enough this month and now the Orioles have scored just 3.4 runs per game in May. The frustration of the fans was bubbling over for some after last night's 1-0 loss in 13 innings. The O's were shut out by a team that had lost eight in a row...

MIAMI - The Orioles were discussing late last night whether to rush a pitcher from Triple-A Norfolk to Marlins Park for today's series finale. They're fortunate that Oliver Drake ate up three innings in his major league debut, but he doesn't figure to be available for the next few days. And who knows what's happening to Brian Matusz, who was ejected for having a sticky substance on his right arm and could be facing a suspension? Marlins manager Dan Jennings probably should avoid swinging by...

MIAMI - The Orioles lost a game tonight in 13 innings. They tried their hardest not to collectively lose their cool after returning to the clubhouse. It's obvious that the team is incensed that Marlins manager Dan Jennings asked umpires to check reliever Brian Matusz's right arm with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning of a scoreless game. Matusz was ejected for having an illegal substance on his arm and could be facing a suspension. Matusz declined to talk about it, saying he would...

Nothing has changed in the National League East: The Nationals are the best team in the division and they're playing that way. After falling as many as eight games behind the Mets in the NL East with a 7-13 start, the Nationals have returned to first place, where they are expected to stay. And they are in first place even though three of their best players are on the disabled list and their elite pitching staff isn't firing on all cylinders. The Mets, the team that made headlines with a good...