Since he last started for the Orioles, Kevin Gausman was optioned to the minor leagues, pitched an inning at Triple-A Norfolk and threw a bullpen session with Double-A Bowie. Did all of that throw Gausman off his recent form? It's a question worth asking after he gave up five runs and seven hits and was not sharp today as Tampa Bay beat the Orioles 5-2 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. Gausman pitched a scoreless first, but gave up two runs in the second, one in the fourth and two in...

In some regards, Ian Desmond is having his best season to date. With 14 homers and 46 RBIs in 77 games, the Nationals shortstop is on pace to break career highs of 25 homers (2011) and 80 RBIs (2013). But Desmond is also having perhaps his worst year in some regards. His .237 batting average and .292 on-base percentage are career lows. He also has struck out 94 times in 300 at-bats and is on pace to shatter his previous high of 145 (2013). So why is the average down? Manager Matt Williams...

The Taylor Hooton Foundation announced today that Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals has joined its new Advisory Board made up exclusively of active players from throughout Major League Baseball. The Hooton Foundation is widely acknowledged as the leader in the advocacy against appearance and performance enhancing drug use by the youth of America. The Nationals second baseman joins 12 other charter members of the "Advisory Board," which also includes Jay Bruce (Cincinnati Reds), John...

Steve Pearce walked in the first inning in Game 1 of today's doubleheader between the Orioles and Rays. Naturally, he reached base. The Lakeland, Fla., native is now 8-for-18 with three doubles, three home runs, six RBIs, six walks and five runs scored against the Rays this season. His 1.676 OPS versus the Rays leads the majors. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first after Nick Markakis led off with a single, moved to second on Alex Colome's wild pitch, took third on Adam Jones'...

CHICAGO - Tanner Roark, a native of Wilmington, Ill., will have a huge cheering section at Wrigley Field this afternoon when he makes his first career start close to home. He made one relief appearance in Chicago last season, earning the decision in the Nats' 11-6 win there on Aug. 21, 2013. But now he gets to the be the Nationals' featured pitcher in front of his friends and family. And Roark does so as one of the team's hottest starters. The right-hander has allowed three runs or...

Triple-A Norfolk infielder Jemile Weeks flew into Baltimore last night and is available to the Orioles if third baseman Manny Machado has to begin serving his suspension today. Weeks was in the Tides' clubhouse yesterday, but didn't stay for the game. Manager Buck Showalter is on high alert. He received a phone call from executive vice president Dan Duquette this morning and feared the worst. However, Machado remains on the active roster and is starting Game 1 of the doubleheader against...

The Orioles resume playing American League East games today hosting Tampa Bay for a four-game series that starts with a day-night doubleheader. This should come as good news to an Orioles team that has not lost an AL East series since April 11-13. The Orioles have won six games and split two four-game series in the division since then, going 17-8 for a .680 win percentage. The Orioles will play 10 AL East games between now and the All-Star break and they've lost just two of 11 series in the...

CHICAGO - A couple of times in the middle innings of last night's game at Wrigley Field, I felt like a popup was hit in my general direction on the far side of the first base dugout down the right field line. I looked up toward the sky to try and locate the ball to get a feel for how close it might be to me. And when I tilted my head upwards, I saw nothing. The fog that had lingered over Wrigley Field for much of the afternoon and evening had gotten thicker, and even with the lights from...

The Orioles today officially placed pitcher Bud Norris on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with a right groin strain. Reliever Evan Meek was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. "I tried to throw the bullpen on Wednesday and it definitely didn't feel as good as I wanted it to," Norris said this morning. "Was grimacing a little bit and (pitching coach Dave Wallace) made the decision to shut it down. The MRI wasn't what they wanted to see. "From doctor's orders I got yesterday...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Evan Meek from Triple-A Norfolk and placed right-hander Bud Norris on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 22, with a right groin strain. Additionally, right-hander Kevin Gausman has been recalled from the Tides and will serve as the 26th player on the roster for today's doubleheader. Meek, 31, is 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA (19.1IP, 6ER) and three saves in 17 games for the Tides. He has gone 0-2 with a 6.39 ERA (12.2IP, 9ER)...