When the Washington Nationals realigned their starting rotation going into back-to-back doubleheaders with the New York Mets and Miami Marlins, it worked out so that Stephen Strasburg would go in the next-to-last game of the year and Jordan Zimmermann would pitch in the 162nd game of the season. Manager Matt Williams explained to reporters that the decision gave Zimmermann a little extra rest after he suffered a bruised shoulder on a liner back to the mound during his last outing. Moving him...

When you think of great postseason moments, which ones come to mind? Chances are there are a fair number of home runs in the mix. Carlton Fisk. Kirk Gibson. Kirby Puckett. Joe Carter. David Freese. Playoff home runs are tailor-made for highlight reels. They tell quick, dramatic stories that often come to define a game and even a series. As the Orioles approach the 2014 playoffs, I've spent time wondering about the postseason moments that await. My daydreaming about the good things that could...

Manager: John Gibbons, second year Record: 81-78 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: RF Jose Bautista (.290/.409/.534, 27 doubles, 35 HR, 103 RBIs, 101 R); 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.269/.357/.555, 27 doubles, 34 HR, 98 RBIs); RHP R.A. Dickey (14-12, 3.78 ERA, 1.24 WHIP); LHP J.A. Happ (10-11, 4.27 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 6-10, 62 runs scored, 69 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 26: Drew Hutchison vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Sept. 27: J.A. Happ vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 4 p.m.,...

When Cal Ripken Jr. decided to end the streak, the Yankees cheered Ripken from their dugout at Camden Yards. Last night the Orioles cheered Derek Jeter from their dugout at Yankee Stadium. Did the baseball world go full circle on us there? The Orioles had five hits last night and four were homers. It was the first game they lost all year when hitting three or more homers and they're now 26-1. Until that loss last night, the Orioles were 35-1 since July 19 when scoring four runs or more....

NEW YORK - As soon as Manny Machado underwent surgery on his right knee last month, the Orioles figured to miss his defense at third base more than his production at the plate. Platinum gloves are hard to replace. Chris Davis was an adequate substitute for Machado, but he's down in Sarasota while serving his 25-game suspension. The Orioles need to stabilize the position as they approach the Division Series. Orioles third basemen have committed five errors in the last seven games - two each...

NEW YORK - So much for that 100 percent chance of rain tonight. And Derek Jeter not getting another at-bat as the game moved into the ninth inning. Just when you think you've got it figured out... The Angels' magic number for clinching home field throughout the playoffs is down to one following the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Yankees. Jeter got his final at-bat in the bottom of the ninth and made the most of it with a single to right field off Evan Meek that scored pinch-runner Antoan...

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez was authoritative on the mound Thursday, demanding the ball and delivering a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in a 3-0 shutout of the Mets. "I've had some fun outings this year, but definitely more aggressive this time in the strike zone," Gonzalez said. "That's a lot of credit to the catcher Willy (Wilson Ramos), we were on the same game plan. We just wanted to attack these guys, especially early in the game....

A long day ends with a win, one that trims the Nationals' magic number to clinch the best record in the National League to one. Gio Gonzalez threw seven stellar, scoreless innings, striking out a career-high 12, leading the Nats to a 3-0 win over the Mets. Anthony Rendon went 2-for-3 with an RBI and the Nats did enough to get to Zack Wheeler the second time through the order, putting up three runs in the fourth. That was all they needed. Here's Matt Williams after the win: On Gonzalez...

Even two dramatic homers in the ninth inning tonight could not stop a storybook ending for Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees. In his final home game, Jeter's RBI single in the last of the ninth gave the Yankees a 6-5 walk-off win over the Orioles. After it ended, the O's players stayed and watched the Yankees on-field celebration, applauding Jeter in a show of respect for the Yankee captain. Down 5-2 in the top of the ninth, the O's stunned the crowd and tied the game when Adam Jones...

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez is dealing better than a blackjack dealer at the Bellagio in Game 2 of a split doubleheader between the Nationals and Mets at Nationals Park. He has struck out seven of the first nine batters he has faced, including six straight. The Mets have one base hit from Daniel Murphy that was quickly wiped out by an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. Zack Wheeler is matching him with five strikeouts and one Anthony Rendon single allowed through three innings. No score heading...