As the Orioles get ready to begin the third and final leg of their 10-game road trip, their bats once again need to heat up. In the final series before the All-Star Game, the Orioles scored six runs in three games against New York. They then scored 14 runs in Oakland and just 10 in Anaheim. The Orioles have seven hits or less in 10 of their last 11 games. The team average is .205 and they've scored 36 runs in those games. They've scored three or fewer runs six times in that stretch. Now...

The Orioles announced today that they acquired infielder/outfielder Jimmy Paredes from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. If the name sounds familiar, it's because the Orioles claimed Paredes off waivers from the Marlins on Feb. 15, and the Royals selected him off waivers two days later. He never made it to major league camp. Paredes, 25, batted .305/.332/.457 with five home runs and 36 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Omaha this season. The...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder/outfielder Jimmy Paredes from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations. Paredes has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Paredes, 25, batted .305/.332/.457 (82-269) with five home runs and 36 RBI in 65 games for Triple-A Omaha this season. The switch-hitter was 17-for-18 in stolen bases for the Storm Chasers and has recorded 183 stolen bases in eight minor league seasons. In 127 major league games with Houston...

Manager: Bryan Price, first year Record: 51-50 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: 3B Todd Frazier (.283/.344/.488, 17 doubles, 20 HR, 54 RBIs, 15 SB); C Devin Mesoraco (.288/.359/.572, 15 doubles, 16 HR, 46 RBIs); RHP Johnny Cueto (10-6, 2.18 ERA, 0.92 WHIP); RHP Alfredo Simon (12-4, 2.74 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 10 runs scored, 13 runs allowed Pitching probables July 25: Alfredo Simon vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 26: Johnny Cueto vs. Gio Gonzalez, 4 p.m., MASN...

In no way was it planned. The two men barely knew each other, having only had a brief conversation in the weight room after Monday night's game. Aaron Barrett had struck out Brandon Barnes that night, leaving the bases loaded with Rockies. And yesterday afternoon, those two squared off again, before the series finale between the Nationals and Rockies had even started. The contest: an on-field stand-off, to see which player could remain on the field in front of his respective dugout the...

One main reason the Nationals have been able to get on a roll since late June has been their ability to compile extra-base hits on offense. The Nationals have gone 11-6 in July and 14-6 since June 28. The offense has averaged 5.24 runs per game in the past 17 games, totaling 89 runs. The Nats are enjoying a stretch of 23 consecutive games with at least one double dating to June 25. Third baseman Anthony Rendon has done a nice job of compiling extra base hits himself during the team's...

Manager: Lloyd McClendon, first year Record: 53-48 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Robinson Cano (.332/.389/.455, 23 doubles, 7 HR, 57 RBIs); 3B Kyle Seager (.277/.346/.486, 23 doubles, 16 HR, 66 RBIs); RHP Felix Hernandez (11-2, 2.02 ERA, 0.90 WHIP); RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (8-4, 2.95 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2013): 4-2, 35 runs scored, 29 runs allowed Pitching probables July 24: Hisashi Iwakuma vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 10 p.m., MASN HD July 25: Felix Hernandez vs. Kevin Gausman, 10...

The national anthem had been sung. Most of the players had left the field. Coors Field was ready for baseball to begin. Or was it? After pregame, two players remained on the field: Brandon Barnes of the Rockies and the Nats' Aaron Barrett. Stuck in a standoff, they both refused to move from their places on the field. Before Denard Span stepped in the box, the dueling players were helped out by their teammates and were brought sunscreen, water and more. Hilarity ensued, but more...

If Nationals fans were polled on which area of the team needed to improve during the stretch run, most of them would say the offense. It would come as a surprising fact to those fans that the Nationals are third in the National League in runs per game at 4.24, but their answer isn't the least bit surprising. With the strike in 1994, baseball lost a good many fans, and in 1998, the home run chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire brought in new fans. Those fans that watched baseball in the...

While Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz and even Steve Pearce have deservedly been credited with leading the Orioles' march to the top of the American League East, it's important to recognize the role that J.J. Hardy has played this season. If you glance quickly at the power numbers, Hardy's season may appear to be a disappointment. The Orioles shortstop has hit four home runs this year and is on pace to finish 2014 with seven. Hardy has averaged 25 homers a season since joining the O's in 2011,...