The Orioles will release their 2015 schedule later this month. That's the way it usually happens. I wrote a few days ago that there will be a week-long series in New York, with games against the Yankees and Mets divided by an off-day. Just like Chicago last month, but the train runs underground. I'm destined to get confused, with my incredibly poor sense of direction. But it's been years since I rode the roller coaster at Coney Island, so ... I've unearthed a few more scheduling nuggets...

Miguel Gonzalez was asked if his four-hit shutout over the Cincinnati Reds tonight was the best outing of his career. "Sure, we'll call that the best," he said. "Caleb (Joseph) did a great job back there, changing speeds and working up and down, in and out. That was fun. Fun to be a part of it. "It's an awesome feeling. Overall, we played a great game. Put up some runs early. That helps. Our defense was great today. Early in the game, they were swinging first and second pitch. I think...

The magic number is 16. Should I stop here or keep going? Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he had four relievers that he didn't want to use tonight. Turns out, he never had to tap into his bullpen. Miguel Gonzalez posted his first career complete game and shutout, and the second by an Oriole this season. Chris Tillman blanked the Royals on May 16. "I don't want to say he deserves it, but Miggy is such a team guy, he's such a professional, and that was a professional outing," Showalter...

If this was a preview of what we can expect in the postseason should the Dodgers and Nationals meet, well, sign me up. The Nats' 8-5 victory in 14 innings had more twists and turns than Mulholland Drive. Based on the run-on reactions I saw on Twitter, fans were alternately emboldened with the hope that the Nats could pull off miracle after miracle or perilously close to running out of optimism over and over. It took 5 hours, 34 minutes and required the Nationals to use 26 players, both team...

Jonathan Schoop blasted another homer into the Reds bullpen. Chris Davis smashed one out to left. Miguel Gonzalez was rolling on the mound. Just another night on this current homestand for the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles blanked the Reds 6-0 tonight to record their 81st victory and to improve to 8-2 on the homestand that ends Thursday night. Gonzalez pitched a four-hit shutout to improve to 8-7 with an ERA of 3.38. It was the Orioles' first complete-game shutout since Chris Tillman...

The Orioles got into the Reds bullpen early tonight. It's another Jonathan Schoop home run ball. For the second time in two nights, the rookie second baseman has homered into the visiting 'pen at Camden Yards. He crushed a 90 mph fastball from Dylan Axelrod to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the third. Axelrod had retired the first eight Orioles, striking out three, before Schoop ambushed him. Schoop has homered in back-to-back games for the second time in his career. It also happened Aug....

The Orioles last had a lead of at least 10 games atop the American League East on Sept. 22, 1979. With a win and a New York Yankees loss last night, their current lead grew to 9 1/2 games, the largest since Sept. 6, 1997. Since June 30, the Orioles own the best record in the majors at 38-18 (.679). Their magic number to clinch the AL East is 17. So, yeah, it's getting close to celebration time now, but no one with the Orioles - from the clubhouse to the manager's office - is getting too far...

Not much news to report this afternoon from Camden Yards. Adam Jones is serving as the designated hitter, just as Nick Markakis did last night. It's a chance to "rest" the regulars. Jones had an ice pack wrapped on his left knee today. A night removed from center field may be beneficial. "He gets a lot of things treated," said manager Buck Showalter. Jones is 5-for-11 with a home run in three games as the DH this season. "I didn't ask him," Showalter said. "If I ask him, I know...

Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Miller last pitched on Monday night. He went two-thirds of an inning, throwing seven pitches against Minnesota. On his last pitch, he felt something in his left hamstring. He was apparently not available to pitch last night, but he said whatever it is that bothered him is no longer a concern. "I think I just barely tweaked it, grabbed it a little bit on the last pitch," Miller said this afternoon. "Not really too concerned with it. All in all, feel better...

Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann looked workmanlike in his 1-2-3 dispatch of the Dodgers in the first inning Wednesday from Chavez Ravine. Zimmermann has a career 5.61 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers, so he would certainly like to change that and give the Nationals their fourth win in the past six games. The Dodgers rookie Carlos Frias did well in the first inning. In the second, Bryce Harper reached on an infield single and Tyler Moore, starting at first base for Adam LaRoche...