We're almost three months into the season, so you might not think the new Nationals skipper is very new anymore. But how well do you know Matt Williams? We'll be getting to know just what the manager is all about with his "Ask Matt" blog all season long. This week, we sent Dan Kolko to Williams' office to ask the hard-hitting question: Would you rather? Would you rather only chew bubble gum or sunflower seeds? Would you rather have Jayson Werth's facial hair or Adam Laroche's? Would...

Worn fingernails, mood swings and high blood pressure - Welcome to the life of an Orioles fan. A frustrating season has continued to fray the nerves of us fans this past week or so, after our team failed to take advantage of eight consecutive quality starts by winning just four games. Those that follow me on Twitter (@DC_TBLDaily) will know I speak my mind and immediately after Monday night's painful loss to the Rays, I said there won't be any holding back in this week's blog post. I'm...

Over Ian Desmond's first 20 games played this season, he made a whopping eight errors in just 66 chances. His fielding percentage three weeks into the season was .879, and Desmond admitted at the time that he was getting frustrated by all the miscues, even saying that stretch was comparable to other "dark places defensively" that he'd been in earlier in his career. "The errors in the past have made me who I am today," Desmond said at the time. "These are going to make me a better man,...

Here is a pretty impressive stat: In Zach Britton's last five saves, he has needed just 42 total pitches to get those 15 outs. Talk about a lack of drama in the ninth inning. Orioles fans could get used to that. We can't expect Britton to keep doing it this efficiently, but in those outings he needed, in order, eight, eight, 10, 10 and six pitches to get those saves. He is 8-for-9 in save chances this season. He is pounding that two-seamer and getting grounder after grounder. He got three...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles wrap up their series with the Rays this afternoon before enjoying an off-day in New York. The schedule actually favors them for a change. No 4 a.m. arrival. And, you know, an entire day and night in the Big Apple before another big series against a division rival. Time to unwind, fellas. Kevin Gausman makes his second career start and third appearance against the Rays. He allowed seven runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings in a June 8, 2013 loss at...

The Nationals had only one extra base hit against the Cardinals over the weekend. They lost all three games and managed three total runs. On Tuesday, the Nationals edged the Astros 6-5 thanks in a pair of doubles each from Ryan Zimmerman, and Anthony Rendon. The duo combined to go 4-for-8 with two runs, four doubles, a walk and five RBIs. Astros starter Dallas Keuchel (8-4) arrived in D.C. with an 8-3 record and was 6-0 on the road. He had won six of his last seven decisions. Rendon said...

After closing out their 10-game road trip on a four-game losing streak, the Nationals got back in the win column tonight, jumping out to a 6-1 lead over the Astros and hanging on for a 6-5 victory. Anthony Rendon had two doubles and drove in three, Ryan Zimmerman had two doubles and drove in two, and Tanner Roark picks up his sixth win of the season after allowing one run over five innings. The right-hander didn't have his best stuff, and he threw 95 pitches in those five frames, but he...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a pretty good idea tonight that Chris Davis' fly ball to left field in the third inning bounced off the foul pole. He could tell by the sound it made inside the mostly empty dome - unless it was left fielder David DeJesus slamming into the wall. The sound turned out to be the one Showalter wanted all along, Davis' grand slam keying a 7-5 victory over the Rays. "I'm not sure if that was him or DeJesus," Showalter said. "I was glad...

When Chris Davis homered in the third inning tonight, it was not one of those majestic 400-plus foot homers that carry well into the stands. But it sure was a welcome sight for Davis and O's fans, no matter how far it traveled. Davis hit his third career grand slam in that five-run third as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 7-5 to improve to 36-34 and even this series at a win each. With Toronto losing to New York, the O's moved within four games of first place in the American League East. Davis'...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had to choose tonight whether to use Steve Pearce or Delmon Young as the designated hitter. Young was 2-for-21 against Rays left-hander Erik Bedard. Decision made. Pearce walked twice against Bedard and hit a two-run homer off Brad Boxberger in the top of the seventh to increase the Orioles' lead to 7-4. Pearce has five home runs this season to go with a .310 average. He looks pretty good in that second slot in the order. Caleb Joseph led...