Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, in an 0-for-15 slump, has been lowered to seventh in the order tonight. Steve Pearce will bat second. Obviously, Machado is continuing to appeal his five-game suspension. There was talk that he might drop it today. Adam Jones returns to center field after serving as the designated hitter in the last two games. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is making his 10th career start against the Red Sox, having gone 3-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 49 2/3 innings. He's 1-1 with a...

Major League Baseball, Target, and People recently announced the 90 finalists in the "Target Presents People All-Star Teachers" campaign, which celebrates remarkable current and retired teachers who make an impact on the lives of their students and communities. The three finalists for the Baltimore Orioles are Brian Raska, Dr. Catherine Thorson and Thomas Arentz. Fans are encouraged to visit www.AllStarTeachers.com to vote on their favorite stories through June 29. One winner from each of...

Miguel Gonzalez will report to the Double-A Bowie Baysox today and take the mound for their 6:35 p.m. game against New Hampshire at Prince George's Stadium. Gonzalez, on the disabled list with a strained right oblique, played catch yesterday at Camden Yards and was cleared to begin his injury rehab assignment. Gonzalez is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday, but Chris Tillman is listed as the starter for the series finale against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Yesterday,...

With the Nationals out of town, this gives folks like me who don't travel to cover the team a little break of sorts. For me, I find Nats road trips to be a time for reflection. That includes thinking about the team's work on the field, but also other things like the discontinuation of A-ha's "Take On Me" being played after the seventh-inning stretch. Reports of this change in musical selections occurred over the weekend in May when the Mets were in town. Just over six weeks into the...

As the Orioles continue to experience troubles on the mound, a series of injuries last week to both Johan Santana, who was nearing a comeback, and Miguel Gonzalez has thrown up a number of possibilities with the starting rotation going forward. Having been inconsistent all season, the planned addition of Santana was hoped to add an element of consistency and reliability to a shaky group of starters. However, his season-ending Achilles injury, suffered while retrieving a batted ball during an...

SAN FRANCISCO - Yesterday afternoon, Jayson Werth received a text message from a longtime friend of his, someone who played baseball in college and knows the game well. The friend had been watching the Nationals lately, had seen them rattle off a bunch of wins, and had noticed the Nats go into San Francisco and dominate the Giants - the team with the best record in baseball - on Monday night. "He said we looked like the 2012 Nats," Werth said last night, after the Nationals won their ninth...

SAN FRANCISCO - Not only did the Nationals come away with a 2-1 win in a tremendous ballgame tonight at AT&T Park, they also got the best news possible on catcher Wilson Ramos, who left tonight's game in the ninth inning with right hamstring tightness. Ramos said after the game that he doesn't think the injury is anything serious, this after twice landing on the disabled list last season with left hamstring strains. "It's not bad," an upbeat Ramos said. "Just felt something in my...

Johan Santana won't throw a pitch in a game for the Orioles this year, but that doesn't mean he has not had a positive impact on the organization. Santana tore his left Achilles tendon Friday during his final extended spring training start in Sarasota. It could end the career of the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Santana was hit on the left gluteus by a line drive, and his Achilles tore as he stumbled while chasing the ball. He was about to join an O's minor league affiliate and probably...

Chris Davis didn't attempt to lay down a bunt last night. He's not undergoing a complete makeover of his hitting philosophy. Davis is still in the business of driving in runs. His first career bunt single Monday night wasn't a sign that he's going to receive the bunt sign from third base coach Bobby Dickerson each time he steps to the plate. Davis took a few questions yesterday about Manny Machado's suspension before a reporter brought up his bunt. Davis smiled and responded as if it...

After not making it through the second inning in two of his last four starts, Chris Tillman took a step forward tonight. The O's right-hander struggled at times early, but gave up just one run and seven hits over six innings, and took the loss as Boston beat the Orioles 1-0 at Camden Yards. "Little better," Tillman said. "I was able to get into a rhythm there later. Early struggles, still better, but it got better late in the game. Made some bad pitches early, but worked my way out of...