The Orioles are playing two games today and adding two players to their roster. Let's hear it for symmetry. Kevin Gausman will come off the taxi squad, be officially recalled and start Game 1 against the Rays. It's just a question of whether he's the 26th player or Bud Norris' replacement. Either way, the Orioles also are expected to recall reliever Evan Meek, since he flew into Baltimore last night. How would the equation have changed if third baseman Manny Machado had to begin serving...

We're through three innings in Chicago and the Cubs and Nationals have managed just four hits. Maybe it's because they can barely see the ball crossing the plate. In a city known for its extreme weather, a dense fog has planted itself in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, leaving conditions increasingly tough to battle. Still, with less than full visibility, both teams have had little trouble making plays in the field, but haven't found much success at the plate. Both Cubs starter...

When David Lough charged down the line for the winning run on Wednesday night, it not only gave the Orioles an important victory, but it provided them with their first series win all year against an American League Central opponent. Until they took two of three from Chicago, the Orioles had lost four and tied two series this year against the Central. In order, they went 1-2 at Detroit, 1-2 against Kansas City, 1-2 at Minnesota, 0-3 at home against Detroit, 2-2 at Kansas City and 2-2 against...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Right-hander Dylan Bundy tonight will make his third, and likely last, start for short-season Single-A Aberdeen as the IronBirds host Hudson Valley here at Ripken Stadium. Bundy will be pitching tonight on the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews last June 27. In two Aberdeen starts, Bundy has pitched 10 innings, allowing seven hits and one run with one walk and 15 strikeouts. He has given up a .194 average against and opposing...

The third time's the charm. At least, that's what Wilson Ramos is hoping. After missing the team's last 14 games with a strained right hamstring - his second significant absence this season due to injury - the Nationals catcher was activated earlier today, and is ready to put a stop-and-start beginning to the 2014 season behind him. "Yeah, it feels good," Ramos said of his health. "Those games in the minor leagues helped me a lot to be here and healthy and those games helped me to see...

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been added to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators roster as he continues to rehab from thumb ligament surgery. Harrisburg plays at Akron tonight. Harper's brother Bryan Harper is a left-handed reliever for the Senators. So Bryce is reunited with his brother at least for the weekend on a professional team. Harper has gone 3-for-4 in two games with high Single-A Potomac, hitting a three-run homer in the second contest. After that game, Harper did not confirm...

CHICAGO - As expected, catcher Wilson Ramos has been activated off the disabled list today, with catcher Sandy Leon being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Ramos on the 25-man roster. Ramos, who missed the last 14 games with a strained right hamstring, played four games on a rehab assignment, split between Double-A Harrisburg and high Single-A Potomac. In those games, Ramos went 7-for-16 (.438) with a double, two homers and nine RBIs. In 24 games with the Nationals this season,...

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated catcher Wilson Ramos from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned catcher Sandy Leon to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ramos, who rejoins the Nationals after missing 14 games with a strained right hamstring, completed a four-game rehab assignment this week with Double-A Harrisburg (two games) and Single-A Potomac...

The Orioles today announced that jazz singer Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. will perform the National Anthem and God Bless America Sunday at Oriole Park as the Orioles host the Tampa Bay Rays. Murphy, 39, was the winner of season six of NBC's America's Got Talent television program in 2011, and is a native of Logan County, West Virginia. His first album, That's Life, was released on November 11, 2011 and debuted at #1 in the Jazz category on the Billboard 200 list and #34 on the overall Billboard...

An MRI taken this morning on Bud Norris' groin revealed a strain on the right side that most likely will force the Orioles into making a roster move. Norris doesn't figure to be available for his next start, which can be pushed back to Tuesday. In that scenario, the Orioles will place him on the 15-day disabled list. The move would be retroactive to Sunday, making Norris eligible to return on July 7 when the Orioles begin a two-game road series against the Nationals. "It looks like he has a...