Well, we sure have an interesting pitching matchup in Seattle tonight. The Orioles' Kevin Gausman (4-3, 4.04 ERA) faces the Mariners' Felix Hernandez (11-2, 2.02 ERA). Hernandez won the 2010 American League Cy Young Award and may be on his way to another one. He leads the AL in ERA and quality starts (19). He ranks second in innings (151 1/3), strikeouts (163) and WHIP (0.90). He is third with a .197 average against and tied for third in the AL in victories. As good as King Felix has been...

The Nationals managed only a Denard Span home run in their last meeting with Reds right-hander Alfredo Simon. In the first inning Friday night, the Nationals managed an Anthony Rendon single and Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch. With one out, the Nationals had men on first and second. But Adam LaRoche struck out and Ian Desmond grounded out to second. But at least they made Simon work in that first inning. Simon, who had been a reliever for most of his career, is starting exclusively this...

The Nationals get back to work after the off-day, starting a brutal stretch where they play 17 straight days and 33 of 34. And they'll have to go through at least a good chunk of that without third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury on Wednesday. Manager Matt Williams had nothing new about the timetable for Zimmerman's return before Friday's series opener at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. "It's really early. His plan right now is...

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will be out of the starting lineup tonight for a fourth straight game with tightness and spasms in his lower back. Ryan Flaherty will replace Machado in the lineup, hitting seventh. Steve Pearce is back in the lineup after sitting out the past two games. He's playing left field and hitting second. Nick Markakis is 13-for-28 (.464) lifetime against Mariners starter Felix Hernandez. Kendrys Morales has reported to the Mariners and he's batting cleanup...

The Orioles recorded their eighth shutout of the season last night and are on pace for 13, which would be their most since 1992 (16). Since 2000, the Orioles have registered nine or more shutouts in five seasons - nine each in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and 10 each in 2004 and 2012. Adam Jones (three) and Chris Davis (one) have combined for four home runs in the last six games, pushing their total to 186 since the start of 2012. According to STATS, their 186 combined homers are the most by a pair of...

One day after the Athletics designated reliever Jim Johnson for assignment, the Orioles placed infielder Jemile Weeks on the seven-day minor league disabled list with a groin strain. The move is retroactive to yesterday. The Orioles traded Johnson to the A's in December for Weeks and a PTBNL, who turned out to be catcher David Freitas. Freitas was transferred from Norfolk to Double-A Bowie today. It's a small baseball world. The Tides activated catcher Steve Clevenger, reliever Preston...

CINCINNATI - On Wednesday, in his first at-bat back in the big leagues after taking the roster spot of the injured Ryan Zimmerman, Zach Walters dropped a pinch-hit single into center, extending the ninth inning and nearly leading to a Nationals comeback from a four-run deficit. Today, Walters is in the Nats' starting lineup, getting his first career big league start at second base. This is Walters' fourth career start overall, and they've come at four different positions - shortstop, third...

The Orioles continue to get good starting pitching on their current road trip. The latest example was Wei-Yin Chen's outstanding eight innings of scoreless ball last night. He gave up just five singles in the win over Seattle. On this trip, it seems that preparation and performance have led to results. The preparation part takes place when O's manager Buck Showalter decides which pitcher will start against which team. We've seen Showalter often match up a starter against a team he's had...

It is amazing to think about how productive the bullpen has been this season for the Nationals. Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano have been very efficient in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames. Soriano is 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA with 23 saves this season. Storen is 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings. Clippard is 6-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 42 innings. What is truly amazing is the trio's recent ability to close out games. Soriano did have one hiccup, but these numbers are nothing short...

Nationals scouting director Kris Kline was genuinely excited about getting left-hander Andrew Suarez with the Nats' second-round pick, 57th overall in this past June's amateur draft. Kline talked the pitcher up when he spoke to reporters about this year's picks after the second day's selections were completed. "We got Suarez from the University of Miami, who we love," Kline said. "Big lefty. Physical kid. Up to 97 with a plus slider and a plus changeup that commands his stuff very...