If there is one thing some Orioles fans seem to crave, it is respect from national analysts. For those of you that fit into that category, you got what you want earlier this week on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight," when the analysts spent several minutes talking up the Orioles and their postseason chances. Jayson Stark was first. "All I hear is they can't win the World Series, they can't do this or that. They've got a plus-64 run differential since the start of August," Stark said. "This is...

We now know what plans the Nationals have for Ryan Zimmerman. Manager Matt Williams told reporters before Saturday's game at Citi Field that Zimmerman, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 23 with a right hamstring strain, will report to Viera, Fla., on Monday for a workout with the team's fall instructional league squad. After Monday's workout, Zimmerman will begin a carefully monitored progression in instructional league games. He will play three innings in his first game,...

The Nationals were able to fight through the rain and get to Zack Wheeler in the second inning. After a walk to Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper blasted a two-run homer to the second deck in right field at Citi Field for a 2-0 Nationals lead. It was Harper's 13th homer of the season. Before the blast, Harper was 1-for-11 with six strikeouts against Wheeler, who came into tonight's game with a 7-1 record since July 1. Doug Fister allowed just one hit in the first two frames. He is 3-0 in three starts...

O's starter Miguel Gonzalez gave up runs in just one inning today, but that was enough to beat him. Gonzalez allowed three runs in the second inning as the New York Yankees beat the Orioles 3-2 at Camden Yards. Catcher Caleb Joseph talked about Gonzalez's outing. "I thought he did a really good job of, you know, kind of keeping us engaged in the game and keeping us in it the whole time," Joseph said. "Things didn't go well for him that one inning, but he really did a good job of putting...

The Orioles' magic number holds at five after today's 3-2 loss to the Yankees before a sellout crowd of 44,261 at Camden Yards. Miguel Gonzalez allowed runs in one of his six innings. The Yankees scored three times in the second and never trailed. "I've got to tell you, in a lot of ways that's one of the more impressive outings of the year from him, because he wasn't carrying much," said manager Buck Showalter. "He may not admit it. But I think that's the difference in major league...

This time, there was no comeback or walk-off win and the O's magic number remains at five. Shane Greene held the Orioles to two runs over 5 1/3 innings as the Yankees won 3-2 in front of 44,231 at Camden Yards. It was the eighth sellout of the year. Greene, now 5-3 with an ERA of 3.56, fanned nine. In two starts against the Orioles, he's allowed two runs with 18 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings. After an amazing run that saw O's starting pitchers allow just two runs over 32 1/3 innings the...

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister has feasted on the Mets during his career, going 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA in three career starts against them. At Citi Field, he's 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA. In September/October (the two months are grouped together as one for statistical purposes, just March/April are), Fister has 16 victories in his career. That's his most for any month. He's got 11 wins apiece in July and August). * First baseman Adam LaRoche has sizzled in September, leading the National League in...

It's rainy and cool at Citi Field, where the Nationals are scheduled to play the third of four games this evening against the Mets. Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on MASN HD. According to Weather Bug, there's a 40 percent change of precipitation at 7 p.m. in Flushing, N.Y., which rises to 60 percent at 8 p.m. and drops to 50 percent by 9 p.m. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid-60s, but the rain should be gone by 10 p.m. So there's a window. A late one, but a window...

The Orioles trail the Yankees 3-1 after three innings, and Nick Markakis continues to leave his mark in the team's record book. Markakis has singled twice today, leaving him 37 hits behind Boog Powell for fifth place on the Orioles' all-time list. I'm still counting. I'm also going somewhere else with this blog entry. Stay with me. Markakis has registered 50 multi-hit games for the sixth time in his career to tie Eddie Murray's franchise record (1978-80, 1982-84). Markakis ranks...

Miguel Gonzalez allowed his first run in his last three starts today when Brian McCann homered with one out in the second inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. McCann drove the sixth pitch from Gonzalez, an 82 mph changeup, onto the flag court in right field. Gonzalez permitted three runs in the inning, a highly unusual occurrence over a full game. He walked Mark Teixeira and allowed a double to Chris Young and RBI single to former Orioles farmhand Antoan Richardson for a 2-0 lead, and the...