MIAMI - The Nationals' longest winning streak of the season is five games. That's it, just five games. They haven't ripped off any type of magical 10-game stretch yet this season. They haven't caught fire and instantly shot themselves up the National League standings within a brief span. So how do the Nationals currently sit atop the NL East and own the best winning percentage among all National League teams? Here's how: Since May 30, the Nats are 12-1-2 in series with at least two games...

A few days after Ken Singleton arrived for his first Orioles spring training in 1975, manager Earl Weaver called him into his office and told him that was going to lead off. In 1973 for the Expos, Singleton had 23 home runs and 103 RBIs, but Weaver also knew that Singleton led the National League with a .425 on-base percentage, which put Weaver ahead of his time for appreciating that statistic. "On-base percentage was not thought of like it is today,'' Singleton says. "I led the league on...

The Nationals have done well on long road trips that commenced after June 1. It's another mark of a team with depth, timely hitting and quality pitching. Following Sunday's 4-2 win at Cincinnati, the Nationals have now won or tied the first two series of multi-city road trips three times since the beginning of June. From June 6 through 15, they traveled to San Diego (2-1), San Francisco (3-1) and St. Louis (0-3). They won five of the first seven games in that extended trip before the three...

Aside from President Obama's golf scores, the most closely held secrets in Washington these days are how long Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury will keep him sidelined and whether the Nationals will make a trade to replace Zimmerman's potent bat if his absence is a long one. General manager Mike Rizzo has said publicly that he likes the current roster, and that he has confidence that Danny Espinosa, Kevin Frandsen and recent call-up Zach Walters will collectively fill the void. Perhaps he's...

There's previously been some doubt surrounding the Orioles' ability to hang with the upper class of the American League. After a 6-4 road trip against the three best teams in the AL West, there's no longer any doubt that they have that ability. The O's have carried the third-best record in the AL since the end of May and the pitching of late has been spectacular. Everyone on the outside looks at the Orioles and sees an offensive juggernaut that lacks the arms to succeed in October, but if...

Manager: Mike Redmond, second year Record: 51-53 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Giancarlo Stanton (.292/.391/.536, 24 doubles, 23 HR, 69 RBIs, 66 R); CF Marcell Ozuna (.270/.318/.456, 15 doubles, 16 HR, 55 RBIs); 3B Casey McGehee (.310/.376/.383, 24 XBH, 59 RBIs); RHP Henderson Alvarez (7-5, 2.62 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 3-5, 35 runs scored, 46 runs allowed Pitching probables July 28: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 29: Henderson Alvarez vs....

For the Orioles, maybe it was a playoff primer. Playing three good teams on the road and seeing good pitching just about every night, they went 6-4 and added two games to .500 on their record. It was impressive and it was the latest evidence that the Orioles are very much a strong contender to win the American League East. While that hasn't happened yet and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, the O's showed well against playoff-caliber competition. The team is playing .627 ball over the...

Seconds after Zach Britton struck out Logan Morrison yesterday to secure the Orioles' 3-2, 10-inning victory in Seattle, the MASN cameras captured manager Buck Showalter putting a little extra effort into his handshakes in the dugout. Showalter gave first base coach Wayne Kirby a slap on the back. He smiled as he watched his players filter into the visiting clubhouse at Safeco Field. This one seemed to bring a slightly different reaction. This one felt really good. The Orioles went 6-4 on a...

The Orioles will place left-hander T.J. McFarland on the bereavement list Monday and call up a pitcher from the minors. Manager Buck Showalter told MASN's Jim Hunter on "O's Xtra" that McFarland's grandmother passed away. A player must remain on the bereavement list for three days. McFarland earned the win today in Seattle by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, striking out the first two Seattle batters that he faced. He's 4-2 with a 3.07 ERA this season. McFarland also worked 2 2/3...

They didn't score many runs. They didn't take advantage of many scoring chances. But in the end the Orioles scratched out a win today and end their 10-game West Coast road trip with an impressive 6-4 record. Manny Machado's sac fly in the top of the 10th today snapped a 2-2 tie as the Orioles beat the Mariners 3-2 at Safeco Field to take three of four in the series. The Orioles began the trip leading the American League East by four games. Now at 58-46, they are heading home three games...