So what has happened to the Orioles offense? After their 3-1 loss Friday night to the Los Angeles Angels, the Orioles have scored three runs or less in seven of their last 13 games, going 5-8. On May 1, the Orioles began a home series on the road against Tampa Bay. At that point they led the major leagues, averaging 5.6 runs per game. They had scored six runs or more in 10 of their first 20 games. That has happened just twice in the last 13 games. O's offense this season: April: .286 average,...

SAN DIEGO - The first five batters reached base tonight against Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne, leading to four runs in the first for the Nationals. Three straight singles from Denard Span, Yunel Escobar and Jayson Werth loaded the bases for Bryce Harper's broken bat RBI flare to right field. Harper has now driven in 32 runs, one behind major league leader Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins. The Nationals claimed the next run when Despaigne walked Ryan Zimmerman to score Escobar. Wilson...

The Orioles saw their starter give up just five hits and two runs in seven innings tonight. But it didn't lead to a win. Jered Weaver allowed just three hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 3-1 at Camden Yards, dropping the O's record to 15-18. "He's the same guy he's been for a number of years," Chris Davis said. "He moves the ball around and throws a lot of strikes. Tough guy to face, man. "He's a guy that if you go up there and try to get...

Bud Norris has been scratched from Saturday's game due to an illness, and Ubaldo Jimenez will start in his place. The Orioles believe that Norris has bronchitis. He's currently on medication and remains an option for Sunday's series finale against the Angels. Norris is 1-4 with a 9.88 ERA in six starts. However, he's 4-0 with a 0.43 ERA in six career starts against the Angels. "Bud came in after everyone was on the field and found out whether he was contagious. We'll see where he fits on...

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are no strangers to adversity this year. Infielder Anthony Rendon has yet to take the field because of a left knee sprain, and veterans Denard Span and Jayson Werth both have missed time after having the start of their year's delayed due to offseason surgeries. But other than right-hander Casey Janssen's shoulder tendinitis and rookie reliever Felipe River's stomach ulcer, no pitcher had spent any time on the 15-day disabled list until starter Doug Fister found his...

Heading into his start last Friday night, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jered Weaver had an ERA of 6.29 through his first six starts of this year. But whatever he found in his most recent start, a six-hit shutout of Houston, carried into tonight as Weaver pitched the Angels to a 3-1 win over the Orioles in front of 35,470 in the series opener at Camden Yards. Weaver went 7 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts to improve to 2-4 and lowering his...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse and placed right-handed pitcher Doug Fister on the 15-day Disabled List with right forearm tightness on Friday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cole, 23, entered the 2015 season ranked as the Nationals' No. 6 prospect, and the No. 91 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America. The hard-throwing right-hander, who was added to the...

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen struck out Mike Trout on a slider in the first inning tonight, then served up a home run to Albert Pujols on a 92 mph fastball. The game wasn't scoreless for long. Chen threw 14 of his 18 pitches for strikes. He got too much of the plate with Pujols, who's now 2-for-6 with two home runs against him. Jimmy Paredes walked in the bottom of the first, continuing his knack for getting on base. Paredes is making his 19th start tonight as the designated hitter, a...

SAN DIEGO - A day after being rocked for two homers and seven runs in just two innings, Nationals starter Doug Fister is heading to the 15-day disabled list with right forearm tightness. The Nats have recalled right-hander A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Fister's spot in the rotation. Fister is 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in seven starts this year. The 31-year old has surrendered five homers in 39 2/3 innings so far. He spent the first month of last season on the DL dealing with a right lat...

If it isn't an injury, it's an illness. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2015 Baltimore Orioles. Bud Norris could miss Saturday's start against the Angels after becoming sick again last night. "Bud, I think he was out to dinner last night and he had a recurrence of the sickness," said manager Buck Showalter. "He's going to come in here after everybody goes on the field. Pretty good chance it's contagious, so just to see the doctor. His start tomorrow might be in jeopardy." Open dates on the...