Chris Davis is back in the homer column. After going seven games without one, Davis connected off Dustin McGowan in the top of the first tonight in Toronto as the Orioles took a 1-0 lead. Of course he hit one against the Blue Jays. Both of his homers this year have come against Blue Jays pitching. Davis has hit 18 homers in 40 games against Toronto since the start of the 2012 season. Davis had just one hit over his last 16 at-bats and four over his last 27 until he smashed a 2-2 slider out...

Something has got to change. If the Nationals have any aspirations of winning the National League East or making an appearance in the postseason, they must play better defense. That means cleaner innings. That means making the play you are supposed to make and not trying to do too much. Shortstop Ian Desmond has had too many errors to begin this season. He would be the first to admit that. But he has also said a few times after games when he had committed an on-field miscue that maybe next time...

The Orioles will attempt to even their series against the Blue Jays tonight at Rogers Centre, where they've gone 8-12 in their last 20 games. Limiting the number of three-run homers surrendered would be a smart strategy. Before last night, the Orioles hadn't allowed nine runs or more in a game with all of them scoring on homers since Aug. 29, 2005 against the Athletics, according to Elias. The Orioles lost 10-5 in 12 innings, with Mark Ellis and Dan Johnson hitting three-run homers, and Jay...

Adam LaRoche is back in the Nationals lineup for tonight's series finale against the Angels after sitting out Tuesday in part because of a sore quad. Jose Lobaton is also back behind the plate after getting yesterday off. Tonight's contest sets up to be the most notable pitching matchup of the series with Nats left-hander Gio Gonzalez taking on Angels right-hander Jered Weaver. Gonzalez is off to a tremendous start, going 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA over his first four starts. Weaver has struggled...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy's hamstring has healed and he's back in the Orioles' lineup for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Matt Wieters is behind the plate tonight after missing last night's game with a sore right forearm. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base and Ryan Flaherty is starting at third. Steve Lombardozzi goes to the bench. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan...

When fans in Frederick County see the Frederick Keys van motoring around the area, they can see a picture of Manny Machado on one side of the van from when he played with the Keys in 2011. Friday night in Frederick they'll get to see the real thing. Machado will play with the Keys on Friday night, and perhaps stay longer, as he begins a rehab assignment. Frederick general manager Dave Ziedelis said Manny Mania for the Keys started not long after yesterday's announcement that Machado was...

Do the Orioles retain interest in free agent reliever Joel Hanrahan? Well, they're checking his medical records again, according to an industry source. They also reviewed his records during the winter. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has declined comment when asked whether the club scouted Hanrahan, 32, last Thursday while he threw at the University of Tampa. Approximately 20 teams were represented. Duquette refuses to talk about specific free agents. Hanrahan, a two-time...

Auctions for World Series plate numbers 1966, 1970 and 1983 begin Wednesday at noon. The Orioles today announced a series of Orioles license plate online auctions through www.orioles.com/plates in honor of the club's 60th anniversary. Fans will have the opportunity to commemorate a birthday, anniversary, or their favorite Orioles season with these plates, which feature the popular cartoon bird logo. Beginning today until April 30, Maryland residents can visit www.orioles.com/plates to bid...

There's been a lot of going on at Nationals Park this week with the Los Angeles Angels in town. Fans in attendance at Tuesday night's game witnessed history as Angels first baseman Albert Pujols slugged his 499th and 500th career home runs. The three-game series, which concludes this evening, also marked the first time young guns Mike Trout and Bryce Harper's ballclubs have faced each other. But all of that aside, what's been most notable from a Nationals perspective is that this team is...

Through the first 21 games of the season, the Nationals have been outscored 44-12 in the first two innings of ballgames. They've allowed at least three runs in the first inning six times. They've allowed at least three runs in the second inning five times. All of that in just 21 games. Tough to come back from those type of early deficits. Now, as we've discussed, the Nats have shown a propensity for battling back late in ballgames. They don't give up, and they scrap. That's all good...