It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez has made it through the sixth inning tonight against the Astros at Camden Yards. One more out and he will reach a season high in innings. Left-hander Troy Patton began to warm in the bullpen in the sixth inning as the Astros put runners on second and third with one out. Gonzalez retired the next two batters on a pop-up and grounder and made it back to the dugout with his pitch count at 83. Gonzalez has allowed two runs...

In a perfect world, the Nationals would have Bryce Harper in left and Adam LaRoche at first tonight in Oakland. Instead, Zach Walters gets his first start of the season at a position he has never played in the major leagues, and only once patrolled in 465 minor league contests. Walters will man left field for the Nats tonight rather than shortstop or third base, where he has played exclusively in the majors over the last two seasons. "We just have a need, especially against Sonny (Gray) with...

Adam LaRoche's strained quad could very well land the Nationals first baseman on the disabled list after all. Nothing has been decided, but LaRoche had an MRI done Saturday after the quad tightened again during Friday night's game, and the Nats will have to decide whether to continue to let him work through it or rehab it to full health. LaRoche served as the team's designated hitter Friday, but is out of the lineup tonight because of what he felt in the series opener at Oakland. "It...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter returned from his son Nathan's graduation today at TCU and is in his customary position along the dugout railing. Showalter had a good view of Nick Markakis' leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning that extended the right fielder's hitting streak to 17 games, the longest active in the majors. Markakis lined the fourth pitch from Astros starter Collin McHugh, an 89 mph fastball, into right-center field. Seven of Markakis' hits during the streak have...

OAKLAND - Adam LaRoche will get to rest his injured quad entirely tonight, as manager Matt Williams has given the veteran first baseman the night off one game after putting him at designated hitter. Williams had said he expected LaRoche to be at first for tonight's game with Athletics ace Sonny Gray on the mound. The Nationals manager is likely to share why LaRoche is out of the lineup during his pregame meeting with the media. With LaRoche out, Kevin Frandsen starts at first for the second...

BOWIE, Md. - Chris Davis arrived in Bowie a little after 4 p.m. today. There was no on-field batting practice, so he took some swings in the cage and took a few ground balls on the field. Now it's almost time for him to play a rehab game at 6:35 p.m., one that could soon lead him back to the lineup in Baltimore. Davis has been on the disabled list since April 27 with a left oblique strain. Will this will be a one-night appearance in Bowie? He's able to come off the DL on Sunday. "I don't...

First baseman Chris Davis showered, dressed and headed to Prince George's Stadium this afternoon, where he's scheduled to play first base for a minimum of seven innings with the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Davis might have to serve as the designated hitter if heavy rain causes sloppy conditions. It wouldn't prevent the Orioles from possibly activating him on Sunday, but they'd prefer that he play in the field to further test his left oblique. "From what I've heard, at Bowie the field surface...

Matt Wieters continues to serve as the Orioles' designated hitter for tonight's game against the Astros at Camden Yards. Nothing interesting or different about the lineup. It looks familiar. The tarp is on the field. It rained earlier and more is on the way. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Nelson Cruz LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH J.J. Hardy SS Steve Clevenger C Steve Pearce 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP Down on the farm, Single-A Frederick pitcher Matt...

OAKLAND - OK, so Doug Fister's first start as a National didn't go as he had hoped. Pitching for his new team, trying to make a positive first impression, with some California-area friends and family members in attendance, Fister allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, and made a throwing error that led to a first-inning run. Again, not exactly how Fister would have drawn it up. But there are a few factors that fans should consider when looking at Fister's Nationals debut. One,...

BOWIE, Md. - The last time Chris Davis played in Double-A Bowie, he batted third and played third base. It was Sept. 5, 2011. Davis had been in the Orioles organization for just weeks and the Orioles were still weeks away from ruining Boston's season on the final day of the year. So, yeah, it's been a while. Tonight's Baysox lineup is out and, as expected, Davis will bat second and play at first base. He is wearing No. 24. The last time he played at Bowie, Davis was on the major league...