Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 58-56 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: C Evan Gattis (.279/.337/.522, 13 doubles, 17 HR, 43 RBIs); LF Justin Upton (.281/.350/.496, 27 doubles, 19 HR, 64 RBIs); RHP Ervin Santana (10-6, 3.59 ERA, 1.25 WHIP); LHP Alex Wood (7-9, 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 7-3, 42 runs scored, 27 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 8: Ervin Santana vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7:30 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 9: Aaron Harang vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN2...

The last time Denard Span failed to reach base in a game, the 30-year-old Washington Nationals center fielder went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 7-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. That was on June 28th. Since then, the second-year Nats outfielder has reached base in 33 straight games, lifting his line on the year from .268/.313/.392 to .300/.356/.400 in the process. In the second of those 33 games, Span went 0-for-3 with a walk to get the streak started. 12 games in an 0-for-3,...

The Nationals are playing better baseball on both sides of the ball compared to the last time they faced off against the Braves. Especially when you consider the games in early April when Atlanta set the tone, winning five of the first six meetings between the clubs. Atlanta is in their worst spiral of the season, losers of eight straight. On July 28, the Braves were 58-48 and had won three in a row. They trailed the Nationals by 1/2 game and the D.C. squad was still trying to figure out...

Manager: Mike Matheny, third year Record: 61-52 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Matt Adams (.313/.332/.500, 25 doubles, 12 HR, 49 RBIs); LF Matt Holliday (.265/.365/.419, 26 doubles, 12 HR, 58 RBIs); RHP Lance Lynn (11-8, 2.89 ERA, 1.28 WHIP); RHP John Lackey (12-7, 3.55 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2013): Did not play Pitching probables Aug. 8: Justin Masterson vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 9: John Lackey vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 4 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 10: Lance Lynn vs....

We may have gotten a look at the Orioles future game plan for October last night. That is, if the club is fortunate enough to make the postseason. With a very strong back end of the bullpen, the O's can turn a contest into a six-inning game. Turn over the lead late to Andrew Miller, Darren O'Day and Zach Britton and you can win some games. That trio was outstanding in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings last night at Toronto. Miller fanned two and has struck out six in 3 2/3 scoreless...

We're going to have fireworks and a laser show tonight at Camden Yards. Finally, it's time to celebrate the umpires making the right call after a review. Manager Buck Showalter says the Orioles lead the majors in calls that "stand," meaning there supposedly isn't enough evidence to overturn them. And he's not bragging about it. As for tonight's game, the Orioles will wear uniforms from 1954 as part of their 60th anniversary celebration. Chris Tillman may want to throw it back if he...

Caleb Joseph homered again to tie an Orioles club record and Miguel Gonzalez pitched a solid six innings to get the win tonight as the Orioles edged Toronto 2-1 at Rogers Centre. The Orioles took two of three in the series between the two top teams in the American League East. They leave town leading Toronto by five games. The Orioles also kept intact their record of not losing an AL East road series. They have won seven and tied one in 2014, going 17-8. This was the Orioles' ninth...

Apparently, Caleb Joseph is tired of being recognized only for his ability to throw out runners. Joseph hit another home run tonight, his two-run shot in the fourth inning off Toronto starter J.A. Happ giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead at Rogers Centre. Happ threw three consecutive 93 mph fastballs to Joseph, who cranked his seventh home run of the season. Joseph has homered in four consecutive games that he's played to tie the franchise record for catchers shared by Ramon Hernandez (June...

Chris Davis doubled with one out in the second inning tonight, pulling a 79 mph curveball from Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ past first baseman Juan Francisco. Davis didn't score, but he's now 4-for-11 with two home runs, three RBIs, two walks and three runs in his last four games. Happ threw three consecutive curveballs to Davis. Manny Machado was hit on the left foot by a Happ pitch in the top of the first inning. Miguel Gonzalez hit Melky Cabrera on the right elbow in the bottom of...

The Orioles' pitching staff will undergo some sort of adjustment before Saturday afternoon's game against the Cardinals at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Toronto that Ubaldo Jimenez will come off the disabled list and start Saturday, which will necessitate a corresponding roster move. Jimenez has been on the disabled list with an ankle injury. He made two starts on a rehab assignment, but he hasn't pitched for the Orioles since Game 2 of a July 5 doubleheader in...