Last October, CC Sabathia might have been the difference between the Orioles winning or losing their five-game American League Division Series with the Yankees. Now the lefty is struggling and that has to be a strange sight to New York's AL East foes. Sabathia is 11-11 with an ERA of 4.81 in 27 starts this season. But over his last seven starts since the All-Star break, Sabathia is 2-3 with a 7.30 ERA. He has allowed five runs or more in four of those seven outings with a batting average...

Unfortunately for Tanner Roark, his two dominant scoreless innings of work last night will prevent him from making his first major league start on Sunday. Nationals manager Davey Johnson had thoughts about tabbing Roark as his starter for Sunday against the Mets, pushing Ross Ohlendorf to the bullpen, but with the 'pen being pretty worn down lately, Roark was needed to close out yesterday's 9-0 Nats win by delivering two innings of relief. As a result, Ohlendorf will stay in the rotation...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't certain whether Michael Morse will join the team Saturday or Sunday. Showalter spoke to Morse earlier today after the Orioles acquired him from the Mariners for Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Xavier Avery. Morse will go directly from Houston to New York. "He and Jessica are trying to round up their life and head this way shortly," Showalter said. "He's a professional hitter with some pedigree of success. Big, strong hitter that can play...

NEW YORK - Michael Morse won't join the Orioles for tonight's game against the Yankees, and he may not get here before Sunday. There's a convenience factor to having Morse arrive on Sunday. Rosters can expand and the Orioles wouldn't have to make room for him. Update: Upon further review, Morse has to be placed on the 25-man roster by 11:59 p.m. Saturday to be eligible for the playoffs. A corresponding move, however brief, will be required. Reporters will meet shortly with manager Buck...

NEW YORK - The Orioles have dropped six of their last 11 series. They get another chance beginning tonight at Yankee Stadium. Since the start of 2012 , the Orioles have gone 16-14 against the Yankees during the regular season. Taylor Teagarden is starting behind the plate tonight because the Orioles have a day game on Saturday and Matt Wieters is 7-for-40 lifetime against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia. Alexi Casilla is starting at second base because he's 16-for-30 vs....

After finishing off a three-game sweep over the Marlins, who occupy the cellar in the National League East, the Nationals welcome the fourth-place Mets to town. Then it's off to Philadelphia for three against the third-place Phillies. The tour of mediocre division opponents continues. The Mets come to D.C. having lost 11 of their last 17. They'll send right-hander Dillon Gee to the mound tonight, a guy who has had plenty of success against the Nats recently. Gee has gone 3-1 with a 2.10...

NEW YORK - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette isn't certain whether Michael Morse will join the club in New York tonight or later in the series that concludes on Sunday. "We're working on that now," Duquette said. "We're working on the logistics." The Orioles acquired Morse from the Mariners this afternoon for Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Xavier Avery. The Orioles were awarded the waiver claim on Morse two days ago. "Morse has a big, physical presence and has some power,...

The final weekend of the minor league regular season has arrived and Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie and short-season Single-A Aberdeen still have playoff hopes with a few days left. Bowie faces an interesting scenario. The Baysox need to finish second and are four games behind second-place Erie as they begin a five-game series at Erie with a doubleheader tonight. If Bowie sweeps the five-game series, the Baysox will make the playoffs, but anything short of that will end their year on...

The Orioles have struggled against left-handed pitching. Michael Morse has a power bat from the right side and thus today's trade makes plenty of sense. It will truly work out for the Orioles if Morse can get his recently ice-cold bat going. Morse is batting .226 this season in 76 games with Seattle. He has 13 homers and 27 RBIs, but he is batting just .158 with an OPS of .489 and two homers over 76 at-bats since the All-Star break. Over his last nine games, Morse is 3-for-32 with just one...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired outfielder Michael Morse from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league outfielder Xavier Avery. Morse, 31, is a career .284/.338/.479 hitter with 83 homers and 272 RBI in 561 major league games with the Mariners and Washington Nationals. In his major league career, Morse has batted .293/.349/.495 against left-handed pitching. Morse will wear number 38. Avery, 23, saw action in 32 games for the Orioles in 2012, batting...