The Orioles look to go two games over the .500 mark for the first time this season today when they play the second game of a four-game series this afternoon at Fenway Park. A win today would give the Orioles a four-game winning streak. In going 1-4 to start the year, O's starting pitchers worked to an ERA of 7.56. In going 7-3 over their last 10 games, O's starters have pitched to an ERA of 3.12. Pretty clear cut how important starting pitching is to the win-loss record. Chris Tillman got...

BOSTON - Steve Clevenger will start behind the plate Monday morning in the series finale against the Red Sox. Matt Wieters is catching this afternoon following a night game. "We talked about it before," said manager Buck Showalter. "We came in with the off-day and it was cool, not very taxing last night. We talked to Matt before this whole thing started and he thought he'd catch the three after the off-day." If the Orioles commit an error today, Showalter is bound to glance up at the...

Nationals center fielder Denard Span returns to the lineup today against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was activated off the seven-day disabled list after suffering a concussion in a game against the Atlanta Braves on April 11. Span played two rehab games for low Single-A Hagerstown and suffered no setbacks. "It feels good," Span said. "A couple of days in Hagerstown definitely gets my appreciation for being here up a few notches and I am ready to go. "Felt good. I didn't see many strikes....

BOSTON - Manny Machado played five innings at third base this morning in his first extended spring training game. He also received four at-bats and didn't experience any issues with his left knee or calf. Machado hit into a fielder's choice, doubled, struck out and singled. The Orioles don't have an extended game scheduled for Sunday, but they could create one for Machado. Manager Buck Showalter is hopeful that Machado will report to an affiliate next week and begin an injury rehab...

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated outfielder Denard Span from the 7-Day Disabled List and optioned outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Span, 30, rejoins the Nationals after going 2-for-4 with two RBI, three runs, three walks and a stolen base in two rehab contests with Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Before...

Two games with Single-A Hagerstown on a injury rehabilitation assignment have shown the Nationals what they needed to see. As a result, center fielder Denard Span has been activated off the seven-day concussion disabled list. He'll be in today's starting lineup against the Cardinals. Span was injured last Friday in a collision between first and second bases with Atlanta's Dan Uggla. Because of Span's history of concussion problems - he missed most of the 2011 season with the Twins after...

BOSTON - The Orioles are 16-9 at Fenway Park since the altercation between former reliever Kevin Gregg and David Ortiz on July 8, 2011. Coincidence? Probably, but it's still an interesting note. The Orioles are going for their fourth straight victory today, their longest streak since they won five in a row from July 14-22, 2013. Chris Davis is 8-for-18 with a home run against Red Sox left-hander Felix Doubront, and Nick Markakis is 6-for-13. However, Adam Jones is 2-for-19, Matt Wieters...

BOSTON - With left-hander Felix Doubront on the mound for the Red Sox this afternoon, there's a good chance that David Lough will begin the game on the bench. The Orioles are more likely to put Nelson Cruz or Delmon Young in left field, which would put Lough on the list of reserves. Lough wasn't in last night's lineup, though the Red Sox started right-hander John Lackey. Manager Buck Showalter went with the hotter hand of Young. Lough is 4-for-32 in 11 games, with a triple, two RBIs, two...

Considering the Orioles are playing without Manny Machado, Ubaldo Jimenez is 0-3 with an ERA of 7.31, J.J. Hardy missed six games, Chris Davis and Adam Jones have one homer each and the O's started 1-4, an 8-7 record looks pretty good about now. It sure does, as the Orioles have suddenly won seven of their last 10 games. They've won three in a row, outscoring the Rays and Red Sox 18-5. Meanwhile the question that fans keep asking reporters is what happens when Machado returns? Good...

BOSTON - Chris Tillman keeps beating the Red Sox and they keep working him over. Tillman was pushed to 122 pitches in five innings in an 8-4 win over the Red Sox, who lost to him for the fourth time in five decisions since the beginning of 2013. He's posted a 2.85 ERA in that span. "It was a struggle," he said. "I knew it was going to be a struggle from the get-go. It was a night where I was battling myself the whole time. Luckily, I was able to execute some pitches when I was in trouble...