Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is in a groove at the right time for the Nationals. He is also pitching at a time of year he wasn't afforded the luxury of enjoying two seasons ago because he was shut down after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Now the National League will have to contend with Strasburg in the postseason. Strasburg went six innings Saturday without giving the Marlins a run, allowing just two hits and striking out seven as the Nationals won 5-1. "Oh yeah, 98, 97, 98, 98,...

Stephen Strasburg will go into the playoffs riding quite a hot streak. He's not unlike his ballclub as a whole, in that regard. Strasburg threw six scoreless innings today, allowing just two hits, walking a batter and striking out seven in picking up his 14th win of the season in the Nationals' 5-1 victory over the Marlins. This gives Strasburg 20 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three starts, and he now has a 1.13 ERA over his last six outings. Is that good? Asdrubal Cabrera...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is home for his final regular season start prior to the National League Division Series commencing Friday. He went 2-0 on the Nationals' recent road swing. In the bottom of the first, Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos reached with base hits. Asdrubal Cabrera reached first on a fielder's choice, moving Harper to third. Strasburg brought Harper home with a sacrifice bunt to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Update: Denard Span has two singles in the game and 58...

Alexi Casilla was a career .500 hitter against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ as he stepped to the plate today at Rogers Centre for his first at-bat with the Orioles in 2014. No wonder they added him to the expanded roster. It all makes sense. OK, it was one hit in two at-bats. A small sample size. Casilla joined the Orioles due to concerns over the poor defense at third base. It's not his natural position, but someone else may as well try to handle the hot corner without getting burned....

Since returning to the Nationals after suffering a right hamstring tear on July 22, Ryan Zimmerman has been a much-valued presence in the lineup and off the bench. The veteran offers versatility as he can play third base and left field, where he has made all three of his starts since his return. In his six games since his return, Zimmerman has posted a slash line of .286/.333/.429 over 14 at-bats. "The challenges are his leg and I think that's presenting itself nicely," Matt Williams...

With postseason baseball on the horizon, diehard Orioles fans are gearing up to watch the Birds host the first two games of the American League Division Series. Oriole Park at Camden Yards will be flooded with orange and black, and among the many fans will be nearly 1,400 at-risk children watching the games from Sections 96 and 98! The Orioles are inviting the children to experience the magic of postseason baseball through a program called the OriolesREACH Knothole Gang. Groups participating...

The Orioles have designated reliever Preston Guilmet for assignment to make room for infielder Alexi Casilla on the 40-man roster. Casilla's contract was purchased today from Triple-A Norfolk and he's starting at third base today. Casilla, who's wearing No. 1, played 34 games at second base and 21 at shortstop with the Tides. He didn't appear at third base this year. Guilmet, 27, posted a 5.23 ERA in 10 games for the Orioles this season, allowing six earned runs in 10 1/3 innings. He...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of infielder Alexi Casilla from Triple-A Norfolk. Casilla, 30, batted .264/.315/.320 in 56 games for Triple-A Norfolk this season, stealing nine bases in 11 attempts while primarily playing second base (34 games) and shortstop (21 games). Casilla will wear #1. To make room for Casilla on the 40-man roster, right-hander Preston Guilmet has been designated for assignment. Guilmet, 27, pitched to a 5.23 ERA (10.1IP, 6ER) in 10...

Alexi Casilla is leading off and playing third base today in his return to the Orioles. He didn't play third at Triple-A Norfolk this season and is making just his third start at third in the majors. Christian Walker is playing first base. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base. Steve Pearce is in right field. Nick Markakis is on the bench. Wei-Yin Chen could become the first Orioles left-hander to win 17 or more games in a season since Jeff Ballard won 18 games in 1989. Chen has lost...

The Orioles lead the American League East by 12 games with two to play, so they are going to become the first team to win the division by double digits since the 2006 Yankees won by 10 games. The Orioles have the best record in baseball since June 30 (53-26, .671) and are the 20th club in team history to win 90 games games. Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen (16-5, 3.56 ERA) is having a good September and he'd like to wrap it up with a good outing today at Toronto. In four starts this month, Chen...