ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles will attempt tonight to complete a sweep of the Rays before heading home and stressing over the forecast for Friday's opener. It's not promising. Miguel Gonzalez is 4-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 11 starts against the Rays and 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts at Tropicana Field. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi is 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA in five games against the Orioles. Odorizzi posted a 2.62 ERA at home last season and a 6.32 ERA on the road, the largest discrepancy in...

Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor was in a pressure-packed situation late Monday afternoon. Not only was the 23-year-old starting in his first opening day game of his major league career, but manager Matt Williams had him placed at the top of the order. "I was really excited," said Taylor. "I wasn't too nervous. I felt pretty comfortable out there. It was exciting. The stadium was loud, the fans were up. It was nice." Taylor dug in the box staring out at 18-year veteran Bartolo...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The agent for catcher Steve Clevenger suggests that the Orioles should let the Baltimore native seek a major league job with another organization rather than fight for at-bats at Triple-A Norfolk. Clevenger was optioned yesterday to create room for first baseman Chris Davis on the 25-man roster. He left Tropicana Field without speaking to reporters and headed to Norfolk. The Orioles included Clevenger on the roster submitted Sunday at the 3 p.m. deadline, but they brought...

So last night, Kevin Gausman took the role and morphed into Kevin Gasman. He threw smoke and was clocked at 100 mph on the MASN radar gun and 101 mph on the Tropicana Field stadium gun. He was rested and ready, and it showed. He did make one bad pitch, and it went over the wall for a two-run homer, but the velocity was impressive. Triple digits, yikes. Well, while we all wait (especially some fans nervous about this) for Gausman to enter the rotation at some point, let's not forget he how much...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles won't go 162-0 this season, but they're keeping the dream alive. Zach Britton struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve a 6-5 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field and assure a series victory. Kevin Gausman allowed two runs and one hit in 2 1/3 innings, with two walks and four strikeouts, to earn the win. Darren O'Day retired all four batters he faced and Britton blew away the Rays. "We feel like if our starters give us six innings,...

After two innings, it looked like it could be a laugher. But a nailbiter broke out instead. Staked to an early six-run lead tonight, Wei-Yin Chen could not pitch deep enough to get the win. But the Orioles did, holding off the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 to begin 2015 at 2-0. The Orioles got off to a stunning start, leading 3-0 four batters into the game and 4-0 after the top of the first. Alejandro De Aza led off with a single and Steve Pearce followed with a single. A Travis Snider single made it a...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman threw 12 pitches in the fifth inning tonight after relieving starter Wei-Yin Chen. Most of them left a vapor trail. Gausman's fastball was clocked twice at 101 mph on the Tropicana Field radar gun during Evan Longoria's at-bat. He routinely hit 99 mph, including the only pitch thrown to Desmond Jennings, who popped up to shortstop Everth Cabrera to leave the bases loaded. The Orioles continue to lead the Rays 6-3. Gausman continues to intrigue. We're fond...

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, have set their roster for 2015 and it includes several players worth watching. Tony Gwynn Jr., Ian Stewart and Kila Ka'aihue are among the former major league position players on the club while top prospect A.J. Cole will pitch for the Chiefs. Here's the full roster: Pitchers (13)Bruce Billings A.J. ColeManny DelcarmenEric FornataroMatt GraceTaylor HillTaylor JordanMitch LivelyRich HillRafael MartinScott McGregor Evan MeekFelipe...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough, on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, participated in baseball activities today and the Orioles hope he can get three or four at-bats Wednesday in an intrasquad game. Infielder Jimmy Paredes, on the disabled list with a lower back strain, may take some dry swings on Wednesday. He's eligible to be activated on April 16, five days after Lough, who may not be ready. I reported earlier that J.J. Hardy took ground balls at shortstop before...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough was scratched from today's intrasquad game in Sarasota, raising doubts that he's going to be ready to come off the disabled list on Saturday. Lough has been slowed by a hamstring injury. He also had back spasms earlier in camp. Shortstop J.J. Hardy will report to Single-A Frederick sometime after Monday next week to begin an injury-rehab assignment. "He's not going to make the 11th, but we're hoping it's not too far behind that," Orioles...