As a 28-year-old rookie, Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph can be viewed as a late bloomer. He's proving that it's never too late to climb into a team's record book. Joseph homered in his fifth consecutive game today to set the Orioles mark for catchers. The overall record of six is shared by Chris Davis (2012) and Reggie Jackson (1976). No wonder Jackson got the big payday from the Yankees. Joseph had been tied with Ramon Hernandez (2006) and Gus Triandos (1959). Joseph launched the first...

Ubaldo Jimenez's first inning today after coming off the disabled list included two more walks and a run. Jimenez issued a leadoff walk to Matt Carpenter on his eighth pitch, struck out Kolten Wong and walked Matt Holliday. His 62 walks lead the American League despite his stay on the DL. Matt Adams flied out, but Jhonny Peralda lined a double to left field on Jimenez's 27th pitch of the inning. Carpenter scored, but Holliday was out at the plate - Delmon Young to Jonathan Schoop to Caleb...

ATLANTA - Jayson Werth has returned to the Nationals lineup one day after sitting out with shoulder and ankle ailments. Werth will bat third and play right field. Outfielder Steven Souza Jr. is still listed on the Nats' active roster one day after he crashed into the right field chain-linked fence. Tanner Roark will face Braves right-hander Aaron Harang. Bryce Harper is 4-for-8 with a double and a triple in his career against Harang. Roark is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 18 strikeouts in...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Miguel Gonzalez to Triple-A Norfolk. Jimenez, 30, was placed on the DL on July 8 with a sprained right ankle. He has gone 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA (99.2IP, 50ER) in 18 starts for the Orioles this season. Gonzalez, 30, is 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA (113.2IP, 48ER) in 20 games (19 starts) for the Orioles this season.

The Orioles made room for starter Ubaldo Jimenez on their 25-man roster today by optioning Miguel Gonzalez to Triple-A Norfolk. Gonzalez is 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) this season. In his last outing, he held the Blue Jays to one run over six innings in Toronto. Gonzalez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. However, the Orioles need a spot in their rotation for Jimenez and manager Buck Showalter wants seven relievers at his disposal. He doesn't...

Well, we know the Orioles rely a lot on the home run ball. At least they hit them often, and that is not just referring to the six they hit last night. The Orioles lead the majors with 42 games where they have hit two or more homers. They are 32-10 in those multi-homer games. They are 55-25 when they hit even one homer in a game. The Orioles now lead the majors with 144 homers. Here are the top six teams: 1. Orioles, 144 2. Toronto, 137 3. Houston, 128 4. Colorado, 127 t5. Milwaukee and...

Ubaldo Jimenez comes off the disabled list today to make his first start since July 5 in Boston. He joins an Orioles pitching staff that's registered a 2.80 ERA in 21 games since the All-Star break. Jimenez is 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 starts this season. He's 0-5 with a 10.55 ERA in five day games, which is why manager Buck Showalter slotted him to pitch the nightcap of the July 5 doubleheader at Fenway Park. Cardinals right-hander John Lackey is 14-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 26 career starts...

Nationals top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito's record stands at 8-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts for low Single-A Hagerstown. He has pitched 88 innings and struck out 99 batters. In his most recent start on Aug. 5, Giolito allowed an early home run and a total of three runs. But he finished five innings, scattering seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts. It was his fourth straight victory. The Nationals have been determined to bring Giolito along slowly as he recovers from Tommy John...

ATLANTA - Not only have the Nationals gone 0-4 at Turner Field this year and 4-10 in Atlanta dating back to the beginning of last season, but they always seem to come out of those games nursing a new batch of ailments. Last season, Stephen Strasburg twice came out of starts at Turner Field with injuries (forearm and oblique) and Bryce Harper injured his side trying to make a leaping catch at the right field wall. This year, Ryan Zimmerman broke his thumb in a game at Atlanta, Denard Span...

For an Orioles fan, does it get much better than last night? The Orioles hit six homers, routed a good team, started a homestand off big and capped the night with an amazing show linking their proud past with their promising present. It ends with the O's Hall of Famers and the current Orioles on the field together as their adoring fans cheer until they can't anymore. Perfect. That is what it was. I don't know if they'll be able to top that for a while. Maybe with something in...