Ryan Zimmerman is the only Nationals regular not in the lineup for this afternoon's game against the Marlins. Zimmerman played in each of the club's four games over the last two days, starting the first game of each doubleheader. With Zimmerman opening the day on the bench, Asdrubal Cabrera is at second with Anthony Rendon at third and Bryce Harper in left field. Williams is starting close to his full lineup as the Nats hope to get the regulars ready for the National League Division...

If you forgot that Alexi Casilla remained in the Orioles organization, he's providing a reminder today and it's anything but subtle. The Orioles are summoning Casilla from Arizona - he had permission to work out there instead of Sarasota - and he's expected to be in uniform for today's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Manager Buck Showalter is clearly upset with his infield defense - third base has become a troublesome spot - and Casilla is the ultimate utility guy. The...

It cannot be easy playing four games in two days. Heck, all I did was sit around and watch four games in two days and talk about it on TV a bit, and I'm exhausted right now. I can't imagine how the players or coaches feel after going through that physical and mental wringer. It cannot be easy, especially at this point in the season, when bodies are tired and pitchers' arms have logged dozens upon dozens of innings. Especially when there are bigger goals that still lie ahead, and the last...

The Orioles lost another game last night. Are they also losing their edge? That's the question posed to me every couple of hours, and I have no idea. I understand the logic behind resting the veterans and letting guys heal and staying away from certain relievers on certain nights to freshen up the bullpen before the Division Series. However, we can't measure how much edge is left until the playoffs start on Thursday. I do know that the defense has to improve. Maybe it happens with a more...

Right-hander Taylor Hill got his first major league start for the Nationals and almost got through five innings. But that last out in the fifth proved to be too much, and the Marlins scored five runs to take the lead for good, 7-4, on their way to a 15-7 victory over the Nationals. Hill went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs, with two walks and four strikeouts. "I definitely wasn't sharp like I obviously wanted to be," Hill said. "But that's part of it. It's part of...

When the Orioles acquired outfielder David Lough in December, it appeared that they added a speedy outfielder with an excellent glove and one that maybe was ready to help a good team at the big league level. In 2013, Lough batted .286 in 96 games for Kansas City. He finished eighth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and led all rookies in Wins Above Replacement (WAR). O's fans didn't see Lough play that well for them early in this season. But as the 2014 season is winding...

The Nationals concluded their four-game-in-two-day stretch tonight by getting pounded by the Marlins 15-7, but that means nothing. Matt Williams' ball club had already clinched home-field advantage through the National League side of the playoffs earlier today by way of their 4-0 win over Miami, so the nightcap was meaningless from a standings perspective. The Nats got in their work, got a couple regulars some at-bats to stay fresh, and emerged healthy after a really rough last 48...

When Chris Tillman gave up four runs and took the loss for the Orioles in tonight's 4-2 defeat at Toronto, a few streaks came to an end. * Tillman's run of 20 straight starts allowing three earned runs or fewer is over. He went 8-3 with a 2.21 ERA during the streak, which began June 10. * Tillman's run at a season without a road loss ended. He was 8-0 with a 4.19 ERA this year in 15 road starts. With a win or no-decision tonight, Tillman would have recorded the most road starts without a...

Right-hander Taylor Hill managed to battle his way out of a tough jam in the first inning of his initial major league start. The Marlins got a walk and two base hits in the first. Casey McGehee's RBI single got the Marlins on the board first, 1-0. Hill then induced a huge 4-6-3 double play from Garrett Jones to derail the rally. Hill's Triple-A Syracuse teammate, outfielder Michael A. Taylor, came up big for his buddy to begin the bottom of the first, slamming a double to deep center. Kevin...

Chris Davis made his debut today in the fall instructional league, reaching on an infield hit and drawing a walk in three plate appearances in a game against the Rays at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Davis flew down to Sarasota on Tuesday. He hasn't been made available to the media. Davis, who played third base today, hasn't been in the Orioles lineup since Sept. 10 in Boston. Two days later, Major League Baseball announced that Davis was suspended 25 games for a second positive test for...