Infielder Jimmy Paredes is making his Orioles debut tonight, but not as manager Buck Showalter planned it. Paredes has replaced Steve Pearce, who left the game with a strained right abdominal muscle. Paredes was on deck to bat for Pearce as Nick Markakis struck out to end the bottom of the third. He went to third base, with Chris Davis shifting across the diamond. Can only speculate what happened to Pearce, whose 11-game hitting streak came to an end. Pearce backed against the railing in...

Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez hasn't fallen into the trap of laboring in the early innings tonight, keeping the Twins scoreless through the second. Gonzalez threw 12 pitches in the top of the first and stranded Brian Dozier, who singled with one out. He struck out Joe Mauer. The right-hander retired the Twins in order in the second, striking out Oswaldo Arcia. Nelson Cruz struck out leading off the bottom of the second. Cruz entered the night batting .256 and leading the majors with 34...

It is important for the left side of the Nationals bullpen to regain some consistency as the September stretch run soon commences. Left-hander Jerry Blevins has hit a couple of rough spots. In his last 10 appearances, Blevins is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA. He has allowed eight earned runs in the past 10 2/3 innings. Blevins has a 2.31 ERA versus left-handed batters and an 8.31 ERA against right-handed hitters. Left-hander Ross Detwiler is 1-0 with a 5.84 ERA in his last 10 games. He also has allowed...

After taking three of four from Tampa Bay, this long Orioles' homestand continues here tonight as the Orioles begin a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles lost two of three May 2-4 at Target Field and were outscored 11-6. Twins pitchers posted an ERA of 2.00 in that series. Minnesota is approaching a milestone home run in the history of its franchise. The Twins (since 1961)/Senators (since 1901) franchise has hit 9,999 home runs, needing one to reach 10,000 and become...

Miguel Gonzalez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts heading into tonight's game against the Twins. However, he's picked up only two wins in his last nine outings. Gonzalez has worked into the seventh inning in 13 of his 20 starts. Manager Buck Showalter will take that kind of length tonight, knowing he's got a red-hot bullpen to close out the game. This next part should come with a jinx alert. Avert your eyes if you're a believer. The Orioles' relievers...

SEATTLE - The Nationals will get to utilize the designated hitter for the next three days, and Jayson Werth will handle that role tonight. Werth will be in his normal No. 3 spot in the batting order, but will not roam right field here at Safeco Field. Nate Schierholtz will play right, getting his first start as a National. As I wrote earlier, we'll get a very strong pitching matchup tonight: Jordan Zimmermann (9-5, 2.93 ERA) will square off against Mariners righty Felix Hernandez (13-4, 2.07...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter, responding today to his daily question about the rotation, confirmed that Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman remain scheduled to start Sunday and Monday, respectively, against the Twins at Camden Yards. It's not etched in stone, but it's printed on the game notes. Showalter repeated that he's focused on tonight's game. He's left himself some wiggle room if he decides to make a change, but Chen and Gausman remain the listed starters. Catcher Matt Wieters...

The Orioles' Nelson Cruz said there is a lot to like about his situation with the team. A free agent at the end of this season, the major league's home run leader said that the Orioles have approached him about a possible contract extension. Cruz signed a one-year deal for $8 million, which has turned into a bargain for the Orioles, on Feb. 24. He is batting .256 with 34 homers, 88 RBIs, a .510 slugging percentage and an .834 OPS. "Just means they are interested," Cruz said this...

With a month left in the season, here's a look at what's going on with National League contenders. Atlanta: The Braves aren't out of the division race yet, but their best chance to make the playoffs is the Wild Card route. They know how to beat the Nationals, but they are not consistent enough against the rest of the league to win the NL East. Seven- and eight-game losing streaks have hurt them. The biggest problem is struggling to average four runs a game. Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward,...

Delmon Young is in left field and Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter tonight, as the Orioles open a four-game series against the Twins at Camden Yards. Miguel Gonzalez is 2-3 with a 3.66 ERA in eight home starts this season. He lost to the Twins in his only career start on May 4 after surrendering three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. Twins rookie Trevor May is 0-3 with an 8.79 ERA this season. He hasn't allowed a home run in 14 1/3 innings. Right-handers are batting .425...