The Orioles need a win this afternoon at Tropicana Field to avoid being swept by the Rays and to avoid extending a road losing streak to six games. The streak began when the Orioles were swept at Wrigley Field. The Orioles have scored just six runs during the five-game streak, and they have been outscored outscored 19-6 in the five games. In this stretch, the Orioles have just 26 hits, three homers and a .168 team batting average. They have just 13 hits in 64 at-bats (.203) the last two days...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles need a win today to avoid being swept in consecutive road series for the first time since July 4-10, 2011 in Texas and Boston. The Orioles have lost five straight road games for the first time since losing seven in a row Sept. 13, 2013 to April 5, 2014. They've been held to two runs or fewer in their last five road games, their longest streak since May 28-June 2, 2010, according to STATS. They haven't been held to two runs or fewer in six straight road...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are looking to avoid the sweep vs. the Rays this afternoon, but the starting lineup doesn't include Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy. Jones and Markakis say they're just using the opportunity to rest, both of them welcoming the idea to get off the turf at Tropicana Field. Likewise, Hardy, who experienced back spasms Friday night, said he doesn't want to take any chances on the turf. Manager Buck Showalter expects all three to be in the lineup...

The Nationals will try salvage the series against the Phillies this afternoon and end a two-game losing streak. Left-handers Gio Gonzalez and Cole Hamels will square off on the mound. With Hamels starting, Bryce Harper is out of the lineup and Scott Hairston is starting in his place. Hairston is a .392 hitter with five doubles, five home runs and nine RBIs in his career against Hamels. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF...

So where does Kevin Gausman fit in on a potential Orioles playoff roster? There seems to be a feeling that Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez would be the top four starters, in some order, should the O's advance to a playoff series. That may prove true. But Gausman made a strong case for his inclusion in that rotation yesterday. He pitched well for the start before that also. He needs to string a few more good outings together this month to continue to state his...

Right-hander Tanner Roark certainly did not what that to happen again. He pitched pretty well, but faced an opposing pitcher who recently has had the Nationals' number. On Aug. 25, Roark allowed two earned runs in a 3-2 loss to A.J. Burnett and the Phillies. Burnett struck out 12 batters in that game. On Saturday, Roark surrendered three earned runs and again lost to Burnett, this time 3-1. Burnett allowed the Nationals' only one run. Despite the loss, his second straight to the Phillies,...

A.J. Burnett kept his successful streak against the Nationals going, and the Phillies kept on rolling. Burnett allowed just one run over seven innings in the Phillies' 3-1 win this afternoon, giving him just his third win since June 20. All three of those wins have come against the Nats. The Phillies, meanwhile, earned their fifth series win in their last six sets. The last-place Phils have surprisingly gotten hot recently, winning series over the Mariners, Cardinals, Braves and now two sets...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nick Hundley was behind the plate for the Orioles yesterday after Caleb Joseph started Friday night's series opener against the Rays. He had two hits, missing a home run by inches, but the walk-off passed ball defined his day. Baseball, like life itself, isn't always fair. We could flip a coin to decide today's starter, though manager Buck Showalter may have more sophisticated methods. It won't be Matt Wieters, of course, since he's recovering from...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have lost back-to-back games for the first time since being swept at Wrigley Field. They've dropped their last five road games. Today brought a first, however. A walk-off passed ball. Nick Hundley missed Andrew Miller's fastball and Yunel Escobar raced home with the winning run. The Rays are assured of winning the series following today's 3-2 victory over the Orioles at Tropicana Field, a game that featured quality starts from both teams and some costly...

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark allowed two earned runs in a tough 3-2 loss to right-hander A.J. Burnett and the Phillies on Aug. 25. In their rematch Saturday, it took the Phillies only three innings before they connected for two earned runs. With one out in the third, Burnett singled. With two outs, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley singled to load the bases. Ryan Howard smacked a base hit through the infield, scoring two runs, and the Phillies led 2-0. The Nationals enjoyed only a single...