Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 36-35 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Evan Gattis (.294/.346/.588, 16 HR, 38 RBIs); LF Justin Upton (.278/.351/.510, 14 HR, 13 doubles, 37 RBIs); RHP Julio Teheran (6-4, 2.31 ERA, 0.93 WHIP); RHP Gavin Floyd (1-2, 2.98 ERA) Season series vs. Nats: 5-1, 32 runs scored, 16 runs allowed Pitching probables June 19: Gavin Floyd vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 20: Mike Minor vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD June 21: Julio Teheran vs....

Some thoughts and observations as we settle in for an O's off-day before their series this weekend at Yankee Stadium: Kevin Gausman's innings: Because the Orioles used Gausman out of the bullpen last season at the major league level, he ended the year with just 129 2/3 innings between the minors and majors. So that means he is probably slated to pitch around 175 innings this year. That is why the Orioles were limiting Gausman's innings so much early in the year at Triple-A when he went over...

If you happened to miss last night's Nationals win over the Astros, and didn't see right fielder Jayson Werth's tag-avoiding, pop-up-short-of-the-bag slide into second base, I highly suggest you check this out: Your browser does not support iframes. Werth said he knew he was going to be out as he went into his slide, so he switched into self-preservation mode. Somehow, it worked. "I think I've tried that a few different times, and I've never been successful at that," Werth said with a...

Coming into this two-game series with the Astros, the Nationals were 9-1 against Houston since the start of the 2012 season. We can make now that 11-1. The Nats swept this two-game set, tonight earning a 6-5 win in a bit of a back-and-forth ballgame. In Gio Gonzalez's first start back off the disabled list, the Nats took a 2-0 lead after three, but the Astros came back with four runs in the fourth off Gonzalez. The left-hander allowed those four runs over five innings, walking three, striking...

The Nationals' advance scouting saw that Astros starter Scott Feldman was slow to the plate. They felt they could run on Astros catcher Jason Castro. The strategy worked, playing a key part in the Nationals scoring two early runs. They lost that lead, but eventually ended up beating the Astros 6-5, going 5-for-5 in stolen bases, all off Feldman. But Denard Span said after the game that stealing five bases was not the crux of the overall game plan. "I don't think collectively as a team we...

Zach Britton entered Wednesday's game in the ninth inning, attempting to hold a 2-0 lead over the Rays and secure a series win for Orioles. Tampa Bay's 3-4-5 hitters (Evan Longoria, James Loney and Ben Zobrist) were due up. It's never easy in the American League East, even against the lowly Rays. In the blink of an eye, Joe Angel had pronounced that the Orioles were indeed in the win column after Britton struck out Longoria and Zobrist, and forced Loney to ground out to first base. Twelve...

We're off and running at Nationals Park, and the Nationals have a 1-0 lead after the opening inning. And when I say running, I mean running - to the tune of three stolen bases in the first inning. Denard Span got the first, although it took a video replay challenge by manager Matt Williams to make it official, and Anthony Rendon swiped a pair. Span led off by drawing a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on Rendon's single. Rendon swiped second when Jayson Werth struck out, and...

The Orioles are off today, but manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette will continue to discuss the composition of the 25-man roster. Question: How long can the Orioles go with a six-man bullpen? Answer: As long as the rotation allows it. Showalter keeps reminding reporters that the club won't stay with six relievers. He made it work yesterday - well, Kevin Gausman made it work by gutting out six scoreless innings and Tommy Hunter made it work by retiring all six...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman has allowed two runs over 19 innings in three starts since being recalled by the Orioles for the second time this season. Caleb Joseph has been behind the plate for all three starts. Nice comfort zone. "It's like a friendship, working partners, and when you get to catch somebody for two, three, four years, you kind of know how they tick and know their patterns versus the game reports," Joseph said following the Orioles' 2-0 win over the Rays. "You...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter earned his 1,200th career win today, which meant nothing to him. He was more interested in his club taking two of three from the Rays at Tropicana Field. "How many losses?" Showalter asked. "You know what that means? You get an opportunity for 1,200 more if you've got good players. "It means I'm old. It means I'm old." Showalter was ready to argue plate umpire Pat Hoberg's strike zone in the first inning and get himself tossed....