From walk-offs to diving plays and more, the Orioles have made their 52 first-half wins exciting to watch. Without further ado, let's relive some of our favorite plays from the Birds' first half of the season. Nick Markakis made a great diving catch, then threw to second to complete the double play. Your browser does not support iframes. Chris Davis smashed three home runs in the Orioles' 9-2 victory over the Pirates.Your browser does not support iframes. Nelson Cruz launched a...

Baseball is back! After a brief hiatus, the Nationals will kick off their second half of the season at home. While we're technically past the halfway point of the season, the All-Star break seems like a natural time to evaluate the first halves of teams' seasons. The Nats sit in a first-place tie with the Braves in the National League East with a 51-42 record. Before the Brewers-Nationals series kicks off tonight, let's take a look back at what national writers are saying about the Nats...

Although teams have technically played more than half of their games, the All-Star festivities serve as a clean break in the season, offering a time for players, managers, front offices, spectators and national writers to evaluate teams' seasons so far. And for the O's, all seems well when looking at their record. The Orioles, who in the offseason were projected to sit toward the bottom of the tough American League East, are in first place and have a four-game lead over the second-place Blue...

The Nationals were looking for a strong outing from Stephen Strasburg during the finale of the last series they played with the Milwaukee Brewers during Washington's trip to Miller Park in late June. The previous night's 16-inning marathon left the Nats bullpen depleted, but they'd outlasted the Brewers and set themselves up with an opportunity for a three-game sweep of the National League Central's first-place team. Strasburg was in the midst of a rough stretch of starts, however, in which...

Baseball's intermission is over. The second act of the 2014 season is about to get under way. Before we dim the house lights and take in the rest of the show, let's be clear about one thing: Orioles fans don't need to apologize for the team's success. The Orioles have their share of critics despite leading the American League East at the All-Star break for the first time since 1997. I was reminded of that reality by a fellow baseball fan this week when he commented of the O's first-place...

Boy, that break seemed to go quickly. Four days off in the middle of the season is always welcome. Heck, I know I needed it, and all I do is put on a suit and talk about baseball on television and do some writing for this here Web site. I can't imagine how needed the break was for the players who are going through all the physical rigors every day or the coaches who are putting in all the prep work and grinding it out with their guys in the clubhouse. But now we're all back at it, ready to...

Manager: Ron Roenicke, fourth year Record: 53-43 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: CF Carlos Gomez (.304/.370/.510, 24 doubles, 14 HR, 48 RBIs); C Jonathan Lucroy (.315/.385/.494, 32 doubles, 9 HR, 44 RBIs); RF Ryan Braun (.298/.348/.515, 19 doubles, 11 HR, 52 RBIs); RHP Kyle Lohse (9-4, 3.26 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 1-2, 11 runs scored, 9 runs allowed Pitching probables July 18: Kyle Lohse vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD July 19: Matt Garza vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN...

Manager: Bob Melvin, fourth year Record: 59-36 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 1B Brandon Moss (.268/.349/.530, 17 doubles, 21 HR, 66 RBIs); 3B Josh Donaldson (.238/.317/.449, 20 HR, 65 RBIs, 61 R); RHP Jeff Samardzija (3-8, 2.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP); RHP Sonny Gray (10-3, 2.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 2-1, 18 runs scored, 10 runs allowed Pitching probables July 18: Jeff Samardzija vs. Chris Tillman, 10 p.m., MASN2 HD July 19: Jason Hammel vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 9 p.m., MASN2 HD July 20:...

Miguel Gonzalez made his start tonight at Triple-A Norfolk and threw 88 pitches in six innings. Gonzalez, optioned by the Orioles so he could get some work during the All-Star break, allowed three runs and five hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out one, gave up a home run and threw two wild pitches. As I've written previously, Gonzalez will be recalled and start the June 22 game in Anaheim. The Orioles will have a five-man rotation until Ubaldo Jimenez comes off the disabled list....

It's back to baseball tonight for the Orioles, who begin a 10-game West Coast trip against the Athletics. Should Manny Machado expect a warm reception from Oakland fans? Probably not. But they may want to go easy on him. He's been a beast since his confrontation with Josh Donaldson and the bat-tossing incident. The only cool-down period came during his five-game suspension. Machado has reached base safely in 16 straight games since June 22 (.410/.455/.721), which is tied for his career-best...