The Orioles are in a stretch where they play 16 consecutive games against American League East opponents. Tonight is the fourth game of that stretch that will see them open the year with 19 of 22 against the AL East. They will face Toronto six times over the next 13 games, starting with tonight's homestand-opening contest at Camden Yards. One of the many reasons it was good to see the team break out of its seven-game offensive funk was simply the fact that the schedule is so division-heavy...

With the bullpen thin, the Nationals needed a strong outing from their starter Thursday, and Stephen Strasburg came through. Strasburg held the Marlins to one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out 12 and walking one. That kept the Nats up 2-1 until they put up a five-spot in the eighth inning to pull away for a sweep-clinching 7-1 victory. It also made it so manager Matt Williams could get through the game with the few relievers he had fully available. Jerry Blevins tossed one...

Shortstop Ian Desmond was able to put the game away with a grand slam in the eighth inning Thursday as the Nationals beat the Marlins 7-1 to sweep the three-game set. "I had been scuffling all day," Desmond said. "I knew that going in, they had been putting some quality at bats off of us late in the games. They made it interesting yesterday, back and forth. "Just really wanted to get one there. Kind of been a little bit sped up. Constantly trying to make adjustments the last few days and...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed a single to begin the game by Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich, who promptly stole second and went to third on an error by Nate McLouth. Yelich tried to come home when Derek Dietrich hit a comebacker that Strasburg fielded. He threw home and got Yelich in a rundown to record the first out of the inning. The Marlins did not go on to score. That was the only hit the Marlins were able to register in the first three innings. Strasburg retired eight...

Manager Matt Williams said Thursday that right-hander Tanner Roark is available out of the bullpen if Stephen Strasburg can't make it through six innings against the Marlins today in the series finale. "Well, if we have to, we have the ability to go to Tanner (Roark), if we have to," Williams said. "We hope that that is not the case. If we do, he would be available potentially for us long, if it gets to that. The best-laid plans are if that doesn't happen. "I think (Rafael) Soriano is...

The first impressions of expanded replay are that it will be overall inconsequential. In most cases, a manager's challenge will either be denied by the replay command center in New York or will have little outcome on the game. But there are exceptions. Nobody knows better than Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who in one game used his challenge early only to see a blown call cost his team a run later in the game, when he was out of challenges. After the Mets' Juan Lagares was called out trying...

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 5-4 Last 10 games: 5-4 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.419/.514/.677, 2 HR, 5 RBIs); LF Justin Upton (.264/.324/.441, 2 HR, 3 RBIs); RHP Julio Teheran (1-1, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP); RHP Aaron Harang (1-1, 0.71 ERA, 0.71 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 9 runs scored, 5 runs allowed Pitching probables April 11: Julio Teheran vs. Tanner Roark, 7:30 p.m., MASN HD April 12: Alex Wood vs. Taylor Jordan, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 13: Aaron Harang vs. Gio...

Manager: John Gibbons, second year Record: 5-5 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Jose Bautista (.233/.452/.667, 4 HR, 6 RBIs); LF Melky Cabrera (.333/.333/.644, 4 HR, 5 RBIs); LHP Mark Buehrle (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 14 IP, 14 K, 2 BB); RHP Sergio Santos (3 saves, 2.70 ERA) Season series vs. O's (2013): 9-10, 97 runs scored, 94 runs allowed Pitching probables April 11: Dustin McGowan vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD April 12: Drew Hutchison vs. Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD April 13: Mark Buehrle...

NEW YORK - I found a few more items from my notebook that I wanted to pass along today in lieu of posting a lineup or pregame notes and quotes. There's no game. I spent about an hour at the warehouse this morning after picking up my car at the BWI Rail Station around 10 a.m., and the only activity at Camden Yards involved the grounds crew working on the bullpen mounds. Ubaldo Jimenez will start Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays, giving him an extra day's rest. Chris Tillman starts...

The Nationals lineup for today's 4:05 p.m. finale of a three-game series against the Marlins has a slightly different look to it. Denard Span, who is hitting .241 through the first eight games and in a 2-for-17 slump, is taking a seat. He'll be replaced by Nate McLouth, who will lead off and play center field. Because it's a day game after a night game - and a getaway game before the Nats head to Atlanta for a weekend series - catcher Jose Lobaton isn't starting. Instead, backup Sandy Leon...