The non-waiver trade deadline is three weeks away, but it's never too soon to open up the discussion. The Orioles are in the market for pitching - a starter and a reliever. I've heard that a late-inning bullpen arm is especially high on the list, someone who can assist in a set-up role. Maybe handle some of the closing duties if Zach Britton is unavailable. The interesting part to me is how the Orioles would create room in the rotation and bullpen. Talking to folks in the organization, the...

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth had a double and a home run in a 6-2 victory over the Orioles on Wednesday night. His homer was one of three solo shots by the Nationals in support of Doug Fister, who improved to 52-52 in his career, the first time he has been at the .500 mark since 2010. "Warm night, balls flying, small ball park, good to give Doug some run support and he's great to play defense behind," Werth said. "He works fast. To give him some runs and let him do his thing. It was...

BALTIMORE - Even though the Nationals were eight games over .500 and tied for first place in their division coming into tonight's action, their power potential really hasn't been realized to this point. A large part of that is due to injuries, certainly. But there haven't been many games this season where the Nats slugged their way to a win. They did to an extent tonight, crushing three home runs and taking the first of two games at Camden Yards by a 6-2 final. Wilson Ramos, Ian Desmond and...

Bud Norris was trying to find the form he had before he went on the disabled list tonight. But it never quite came around for him as he gave up five runs in four-plus innings in a 6-2 loss to Washington. "Couple of weeks off like that, yes, definitely was different," Norris said. "But I just wanted to go out there and compete. That is a good team over there. With all the 1-2, 0-2 mistakes I made, they hit them. "I have to get a little bit finer and make those corrections. But it was good...

The Orioles failed to extend their lead over the Blue Jays in the American League East, keeping it at 2 1/2 games following tonight's 6-2 loss to the Nationals at Camden Yards. The Nats hit three home runs, including two off Orioles starter Bud Norris, making his first start since coming off the disabled list. Norris was charged with five runs, tying his season-high, in four-plus innings. "Arm strength was good, stuff was good. Just paid for the mistakes he made," manager Buck Showalter...

Bud Norris returned from the disabled list tonight, but not with the stuff or the results he had before his DL trip. Norris allowed five runs tonight to tie his season-high as Washington hit three homers and beat the Orioles 6-2 at Camden Yards. The Orioles fall to 49-41 with their second loss in nine games. Their American League East lead stays at 2 1/2 games as second-place Toronto lost this afternoon. Manny Machado's bat stayed hot in the loss. He went 3-for-4 with a pair of singles and...

The only way to cool down Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is with a long shower. Machado has followed up his five-hit night in D.C. with a single and home run, his solo shot in the fourth cutting Washington's lead to 4-2. Machado is 11-for-19 in four games since coming off his suspension. He's collected seven hits in his last eight at-bats. Since June 1, Machado is batting .309 in 31 games, including eight doubles, seven home runs and 15 RBIs. Orioles manager Buck Showalter batted...

One way to quickly forget a long rain delay that lead to a postponement and to forget an 8-2 11-inning loss is striking early in the first game back against the same opponent. The Nationals jumped on Orioles starter Bud Norris in the top of the first. After a groundout, Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth hit successive doubles to make it 1-0 Nationals. Adam LaRoche followed with a solid single to right and Werth slid under the Caleb Joseph tag at home to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Update: In...

The Orioles-Nationals game that was postponed last night in D.C. has been rescheduled for Aug. 4 at 7:05 p.m. The Nats confirmed the time in a tweet. The Orioles will board a flight to Toronto after the game. I've talked to a few people in the organization who say there's no interest in catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who's been designated for assignment by the Red Sox. Bud Norris is back on the mound for the Orioles tonight after coming off the disabled list yesterday. He hasn't pitched...

Nationals manager Matt Williams said in his pregame meeting with the media that the Nationals decided to push right-hander Tanner Roark back to the final game before the All-Star break because they can use him out of the bullpen over the next couple of days. "Tanner's got resiliency. We can use him out of the bullpen If need be," Williams said. "That's another factor. So if we get into a game where we need him, he's available today, tomorrow. He's done it before. All of those things come...