Coming off the worst two-start stretch of his career, Chris Tillman will try to turn it around this afternoon at Houston. Tillman is 4-2 with a 4.97 ERA on the season. In his past two outings combined, he has pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing 14 hits and 14 runs. He's never allowed more over a two-start stretch. Since beginning the year with an ERA of 0.84 his first three starts, Tillman has pitched to an ERA of 6.64 over his last eight. He has pitched fewer than six innings in six of those...

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce remains the left fielder today for the Orioles and Nelson Cruz continues to serve as the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Nelson Cruz DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Chris Tillman RHP

HOUSTON - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is playing in his 1,000th career game today. He's appeared in 926 with the Orioles and 73 with the Mariners. Jones' 926 games are good for 19th on the club's all-time list. Cal Ripken Jr. is first with 3,001. Caleb Joseph's two-out walk in the eighth inning last night was the first for the Orioles since they drew three straight in the fourth inning Wednesday night against the Brewers' Yovani Gallardo. The Orioles went 21 innings and 83 plate...

Well, that didn't take long. But it could have been more. Anthony Rendon lined a 2-2 pitch from Nick Tepesch over the fence in left, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead over the Rangers in the first inning. While the Nats will gladly take offense in any shape or form, it's frustrating that the blast could have given them a 2-0 edge. Denard Span drew a leadoff walk in the first, but drew immediate attention from Tepesch, who seemed determined to keep the speedster at first base. To the tune of...

All the talk about Ryan Zimmerman playing left field is about to move from conjecture to reality. Nationals manager Matt Williams said this morning that Zimmerman's minor league rehabilitation assignment with high Single-A Potomac will continue this evening with the veteran scheduled to play in left field for five innings. The P-Nats host Salem at Pfitzner Stadium at 6:35 p.m. "The plan is he'll play five innings tonight on defense," Williams said."He had four at-bats last night DH-wise,...

The Nationals are using a similar lineup as last night, but with one exception. Jose Lobaton will get the start at catcher this afternoon in place of Wilson Ramos. Doug Fister seeks his third straight win. For the Rangers LF Shin-Soo Choo SS Elvin Andrus 1B Mitch Moreland 3B Adrian Beltre RF Alex Rios C Robinson Chirinos CF Leonys Martin 2B Rougned Odor RHP Nick Tepesch For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Nate McLouth 2B Danny...

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (right thumb fracture) got his swings in a rehab game Friday night for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals in Woodbridge, Va. The P-Nats defeated Salem 5-4 in 10 innings. Zimmerman had a RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning, finishing 0-for-3 with the RBI. He was the designated hitter. Zimmerman told reporters at Pfitzner Stadium that he believes he will play there through the weekend and then be activated for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, barring...

HOUSTON - If the Orioles are going to break out of their offensive slump, they may need more than a live chicken in the clubhouse. They may require a less predictable approach at the plate. Left-hander Brett Oberholtzer has held the Orioles to one run over 14 innings in his two career starts against them. The Astros have permitted only two runs in the first two games of the current series. "We did some research," Oberholtzer, projected as Houston's sixth starter, told reporters after last...

HOUSTON - If the 2011 Red Sox will be remembered for having chicken and beer in the clubhouse during games, perhaps the 2014 Orioles will be remembered for substituting a live chicken before games. And skip the suds. Center fielder Adam Jones suggested tonight that some changes may be in store Saturday morning in an attempt to turn around a team that's lost four in a row and sank below .500. He's trying to maintain his sense of humor, no matter how sad the results. "It's frustrating,"...

HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't pleased with the called third strike on Chris Davis that completed tonight's 2-1 loss to the Astros. He wasn't thrilled that another quality start went to waste. He wasn't bragging about an offense that's produced five runs in the last three games. Not much to smile about during a four-game losing streak that drops your team below .500. Miguel Gonzalez took a shutout into the seventh inning, but Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer took the...