The Orioles announced that they officially released infielder Wilson Betemit, who was designated for assignment on Sept. 16. Alexi Casilla remains with the team, but he may not play again this season. Casilla underwent a CT scan yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla., after slamming his head into right fielder Nick Markakis' leg while diving for a shallow fly ball. The Orioles held their bus in case Casilla was cleared to fly back to Baltimore. Casilla sat at his locker this afternoon and took...

Without Manny Machado available, it is Ryan Flaherty who gets the start at third base tonight for the Orioles. "It's nice to be in there, but under the circumstances, losing one of the most promising players in the game and one of the best teammates I've had, that is not fun to see," Flaherty said. "I feel comfortable over there. I'll do some early work and I feel good there. The throws are different, but defense is defense." Flaherty becomes the first player, other than Machado, to...

Even the most optimistic Orioles player or fan knows the club's odds of making the playoffs are an extreme long shot at this point. "We just have to win six straight and hope all the other teams lose six straight," Adam Jones said. "I don't know what the odds of that are. But there are no sad faces in here. "Our fans are frustrated that the last week played out the way it has. We haven't played the best baseball, we haven't hit. I know they are frustrated, but it's better than...

It certainly wasn't a speech about the end of his Orioles career, but when asked today if he has wondered if he does have a future with the club, Brian Roberts admitted he may not. His contract ends after this season and Roberts is embracing his time remaining with the team, even if that turns out to be just six more games. "Sure, we all think about our future and what that might hold, but I don't have any idea at this point," Roberts said. "I'm just trying to enjoy every day that I've...

The Orioles are waiting for team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens to read the MRI on Manny Machado's left knee. The club should have an update on the third baseman's condition after batting practice. It sounds as though the news is better than anticipated. Showalter confirmed that Machado won't play again in the final six games, but he added, "I feel very confident that Manny will be playing for us early in the year next year, but it won't be this year. And I feel confident of that...

ST. LOUIS - Prior to yesterday's game, Davey Johnson said that even if his team was to be eliminated from the playoff picture, he still planned on "putting my best foot forward" by starting his regular players down the stretch. Johnson is a man of his word. The Nationals skipper is running out his normal starting lineup today in game two of this three-game set against the Cardinals. Johnson talked last night, after the Nats had been eliminated, about wanting to deliver some payback to the...

ST. LOUIS - It was a pretty innocuous question, but one that drew an interesting answer. After the Nationals were eliminated from postseason contention last night, Bryce Harper was asked how much he thinks back to the early part of the season and what could have been different when the Nats struggled to gain momentum and put together any extended period of strong play. "I wasn't there for a month," Harper replied. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I'm a game-changer or...

While the Orioles await the results of the MRI on Manny Machado's left knee, Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base tonight against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. This is the first lineup without Machado since the Orioles selected his contract on Aug. 9, 2012. Nate McLouth is batting second tonight. Dan Johnson will make his first start for the Orioles as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Brian Roberts 2B Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Nick Markakis...

Still no word on Manny Machado's MRI, which took place early this afternoon. The Orioles are expected to make an announcement later today. That's all I've got at the moment. The only certainty is that Machado won't play again in 2013. I wrote this morning that Danny Valencia and Ryan Flaherty are two candidates to replace Machado at third base, and Jonathan Schoop has played the position in the minors. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't used Schoop while his club's been in a pennant race,...

High Single-A Potomac Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor again made positive strides this season, improving his approach and refining his defense to post impressive numbers for the Carolina League's Northern Division champions. Potomac hitting coach Mark Harris told me early in the season that Taylor had calmed down his approach at the plate and had focused on one thing while up at-bat, and that helped him get into a consistent rhythm. Taylor hit .263 in 133 games, with 41 doubles, six...