The first inning proved to be a problem for Gio Gonzalez for the second straight start. Gonzalez allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while needing 37 pitches, 21 for strikes, to get through the first frame today against the Mets. So down 3-0, the Nationals will need to come from behind yet again if they'll make it two wins in a row over New York. On Sunday, Gonzalez had his worst performance of the season, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Most of the damage came...

The Orioles are breaking out their right-handed lineup tonight against Royals left-hander Danny Duffy. Jonathan Schoop starts at second base and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Nelson Cruz is in left field and Delmon Young is serving as the designated hitter. Brian Graham, serving as bench coach tonight, is wearing No. 43 if you're into that sort of thing. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF J.J. Hardy SS Delmon Young DH Jonathan...

Bench coach John Russell will manage the Orioles tonight in Kansas City while Buck Showalter attends his daughter Allie's graduation from law school at Southern Methodist University. Director of player development Brian Graham will serve as bench coach. Graham will coach third base Tuesday in Pittsburgh while Bobby Dickerson attends his daughter Ashley's graduation. Adam Jones is batting .469/.514/.938 against left-handed pitching this season, leading the majors in average, slugging and OPS...

After emerging as one of the early positives for the Nationals this season, Danny Espinosa just hasn't been the same hitter. Since Espinosa's average reached a season-high .346 on April 14, he is batting .188 in his last 28 games. But he does have all six of his homers and all but one of his 10 RBIs during that slump. The second baseman has struggled even worse lately, batting .125 (8-for-64) with a .136 on-base percentage, 26 strikeouts and no walks over his last 18 games. Half of...

When Adam LaRoche went to stretch his strained right quad on Friday, the soreness that had been such a hindrance was gone. And that progress has the Nationals first baseman hoping that when he's eligible to come off the disabled list on May 25, he'll be able to do so. "They were optimistic early on with the 15 days, saying, 'Hey, it could very well be gone or obviously it might not be,' " LaRoche said Saturday at Nationals Park. "They acted like there was a really good chance with...

At a time when the Orioles are not scoring many runs, they are now doing a better job of preventing them. This comes as good news since it's clear that how the O's starting pitching especially does will have a lot to say about how this season goes. After Chris Tillman's shutout last night, the O's team ERA moved under 4.00 for the season at 3.94. That is now seventh-best in the American League and ahead of the league average of 4.02. The O's team ERA has been under 4.00 after just nine...

Gio Gonzalez looks to get back on track this afternoon against the New York Mets. In his last start on Sunday against the Athletics, Gonzalez lasted just 4 1/3 innings, gave up nine hits, seven earned runs and walked three. Gonzalez earned his first win this year against the Mets on April 2 in the Nationals' second game of the season. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth C Wilson Ramos SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 1B Tyler Moore LF Nate McLouth LHP Gio...

Bud Norris hopes history repeats itself tonight in Kansas City, but only to a point. In his only career appearance against the Royals on May 21, 2013, Norris tossed six scoreless innings before the Astros bullpen blew a 3-0 lead. Norris is making his fifth road start tonight for the Orioles. He's 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA away from home. In his last outing, Norris was working on a quality start until Detroit's Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Norris hit Torii Hunter, the...

Mets starter Jon Niese went into yesterday's outing with a 1.67 ERA in 32 1/3 career innings at Nationals Park, with 33 strikeouts and two walks. Those numbers might've inspired some confidence in the 27-year-old starter. Niese got rocked for five runs on eight hits in just four innings, however, thus continuing a recent trend of Nationals hitters demolishing left-handed pitching. After last night's win, the Nats are hitting .286 with a .339 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage...

Are the Orioles slumping or surging? I can't keep it straight. The rotation is a concern because the starters aren't working deep enough in games, except for Chris Tillman tossing a nine-inning shutout last night in a 4-0 victory over the Royals. The offense is ice cold, except for Chris Davis homering last night, Nelson Cruz producing two more RBIs and the Orioles actually scoring in three different innings. This is a hard team to figure out. Zach Britton still appears to be the closer,...