Manager: John Farrell, second year Record: 7-9 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Mike Napoli (.304/.400/.500, 3 HR, 9 RBIs); OF Grady Sizemore (.273/.327/.455, 2 HR, 5 RBIs); RHP Jake Peavy (0-0, 1.93 ERA, .179 BAA); RHP John Lackey (2-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 2-1, 11 runs scored, 7 runs allowed Pitching probables April 18: John Lackey vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 19: Felix Doubront vs. Bud Norris, 1:30 p.m., MASN HD April 20: Jake Peavy vs. Ubaldo Jimenez,...

After being scratched about an hour before gametime Wednesday, Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup tonight against the Cardinals. Harper missed the series finale at Miami because of quad tightness. He's back to batting second and playing left field. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is leading off and Nate McLouth is playing center field. Taylor Jordan is on the mound, looking to rebound from allowing five runs and 10 hits in five innings at Atlanta on Saturday. Adam Wainwright starts for...

In celebration of their 60th Anniversary season, the Orioles are offering fans several opportunities to share their memories of six decades of Orioles baseball and participate in year-long contests for a chance to win a variety of prizes. * #OsInstaMemories Project: A season-long endeavor, the #OsInstaMemories Project will compile Orioles-related photographs in a variety of categories, including this month's theme, "Ballpark Experience." Fans are encouraged to submit their best photo in each...

We knew it when last season ended. We knew it at the Winter Meetings. We knew it when spring training started. The key for the Orioles in 2014 would be the pitching. After a very poor start the pitching has started to come around. When the Orioles started 1-4, their team ERA was 5.86. In winning six of nine games since then, the team ERA is 2.93. The starters ERA was 7.56 during the 1-4 start and is 2.91 since then. O's record when each pitcher starts: * Chris Tillman 2-1 * Ubaldo Jimenez...

Nationals fans have heard a lot about the window of opportunity lately, how it is only open for a limited amount of time and how they need to take advantage of the opportunity while they have it. The main focus of this window is on the core of the team, and who that core is or how many players it consists of could be up for some debate, but there is evidence that the window of opportunity is a lie. That evidence exists in the form of tonight's opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals'...

Last season, the Orioles' opening day starting rotation made 112 of the team's 162 starts. That means 30 percent of the Orioles starts came from pitchers not originally in the O's rotation. In fact, 14 pitchers made starts for the Orioles in 2013. Five pitchers made 10 starts or less, four made just one start. Scott Feldman, who was acquired at the trade deadline, made 10 more starts with the Orioles than Jake Arrieta, the team's No. 4 starter at the beginning of the season. All these...

Baseball is a small world. With apologies to Kevin Bacon, call it six degrees of separation on the diamond. Nationals pinch-hitter Zach Walters crushed a slider off of Marlins reliever Mike Dunn to give the Nats their first lead of Wednesday's game. The Nationals end up winning 6-3 after trailing 3-0. Dunn and Walters attended the same high school, Cimarron Memorial High School in Las Vegas. "All I got to say is I won't be invited to the Christmas party this year," Walters told MASN's Dan...

There's one aspect of the major league schedule that you don't really think about until you're a part of it: the travel. The Nationals faced Jose Fernandez, one of the toughest pitchers in the majors, Wednesday night in Miami. They managed to come back from a three-run deficit and pick up a win, then headed out for the Miami airport after the game. The team plane landed in D.C. at 2 a.m., and buses didn't get back to the stadium until right around 3 a.m. By the time most players got settled...

Manager: Mike Matheny, third year Record: 9-6 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: C Yadier Molina (.352/.386/.574, 3 HR, 9 RBIs); 1B Matt Adams (.362/.393/.517, 7 XBH, 2 RBIs); RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP); RHP Adam Wainwright (2-1, 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 6-0, 19 runs scored, 8 runs allowed Pitching probables April 17: Adam Wainwright vs. Taylor Jordan, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 18: Michael Wacha vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD April 19: Lance Lynn vs....

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado ran the bases earlier today in Sarasota and did fine, according to a team official. Machado will be cutting the bases again on Thursday. Assuming there are no setbacks, he will be cleared to begin playing extended spring training games. Manager Buck Showalter estimated that Machado would play two or three games before going on an injury rehab assignment, which can last up to 20 days for position players. The Orioles would have to determine which...