Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 53-59 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.261/.358/.508, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 61 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.296/.341/.429, 31 doubles, 9 HR, 45 RBIs, 65 R); RHP Jacob deGrom (6-5, 2.77 ERA, 1.22 WHIP); LHP Jon Niese (5-7, 3.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 1-5, 20 runs scored, 35 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 5: Zack Wheeler vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 6: Jon Niese vs. Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 7: Jacob...

The Nationals recalled Steven Souza Jr. from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to replace Nate McLouth on the active roster, as the struggling veteran outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. Souza's return to the bigs was met with giddy anticipation from a segment of the Nationals' fanbase that scours the minor leagues to boast about seeing the "next big thing" before they reach the big leagues. Souza has completely torn up the International League this...

As a writer for a fairly large blog, we do tend to get a decent amount of criticism regarding our analysis. Criticism is good because it challenges our process. We are fairly confident that we have a decent handle on these deals based on a couple of our review pieces on our thoughts on the trades from 2012 and 2013. When the Andrew Miller was traded Eduardo Rodriguez, we discussed it in length at Camden Depot, which faintly mirrored our thoughts on the Francisco Rodriguez deal from the previous...

Manager: John Gibbons, second year Record: 60-53 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF Jose Bautista (.293/.412/.515, 21 doubles, 21 HR, 64 RBIs, 69 R); LF Melky Cabrera (.309/.359/.475, 28 doubles, 14 HR, 55 RBIs, 70 R); 3B Juan Francisco (.241/.312/.510, 13 doubles, 16 HR, 42 RBIs); LHP Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.11 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 5-5, 48 runs scored, 38 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 5: Mark Buehrle vs. Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 6: Drew Hutchison vs. Wei-Yin...

Going into last night's game, the Orioles were 10-6 since the All-Star break. They had achieved that record against a tough schedule, while last in the American League in batting average, and 12th in runs scored since the break. They had achieved that record mostly behind a pitching staff that ranked third in the league with an ERA of 2.78 since the All-Star Game. That strong pitching continues a pretty remarkable trend for the 2014 Orioles. They have lowered the team ERA every month of this...

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark got to the seventh inning again. Previously he had finished five straight seventh innings and won four of those decisions. On Monday, he couldn't get through that frame as the Orioles scored three times and went on to earn a 7-3 comeback win. "Ball's up, elevated, wasn't hitting my spots," Roark said. "Like I've told you guys many times before, balls up and not hitting your spots, then you get hit hard, and that's what happens." Before Roark took...

By collecting one hit last night, a single into right field in the eighth inning, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis raised his average one point to .195. Davis hasn't been above .200 since July 26. He's 1-for-11 this month after batting .167 in July and .175 in June. The Orioles didn't get into Toronto until early this morning, but Davis should feel invigorated. He's a career .303/.382/.660 hitter in 69 games against the Blue Jays, and .347/.441/.703 in 28 games at Rogers Centre. Davis'...

WASHINGTON - The Orioles head to Toronto late tonight with a four-game lead over the Blue Jays in the American League East following tonight's 7-3 win over the Nationals. Sleep fast. And be ready to play. Here's a batch of post-game quotes from Nationals Park: Manager Buck Showalter On Kevin Gausman, who picked up the win after allowing three runs in six innings: "It was a challenge for him. To be able to keep your team engaged in it when he's not in command. He had good stuff and...

The Nationals held a 3-2 lead through six until the dormant-of-late Orioles offense awoke and put five unanswered runs on the board, leading to a 7-3 win for the visitors. Tanner Roark pitched pretty well until the O's pounced on some pitches up in the zone in the seventh, and after Roark departed, Baltimore only kept on coming. The O's out-hit the Nats 14-8, and 10 of the Baltimore hits came in the seventh inning or later. Wilson Ramos homered for the Nats, while Denard Span went 2-for-4...

The offense came to life. Kevin Gausman battled his way through six innings. The Orioles came from behind to win. The O's scored three runs in the top of the seventh tonight and added two more in the eighth to rally for a 7-3 win over Washington with a 14-hit attack in front of 42,181 at Nats Park. The Orioles improved to a season-high 15 games over .500 at 63-48. They gained a half-game on idle Toronto and moved four games ahead of the Blue Jays heading into their key series that begins in...