On Sundays, I usually have lunch with some friends before the game at one of the fine Baltimore establishments across the street from Camden Yards. Before this season, the topic of conversation would have centered on what the Ravens and the other teams in the NFL would be doing considering the Hall of Fame game (a preseason contest) was on yesterday. The topic only came up only once that day. This has been a huge change since last season. However, we are worried about one Baltimore team: the...

There was a point several months ago, before games against Atlanta became object lessons in what the Washington Nationals have failed to master. It was opening day, when last night's game was projected to be a key matchup between the key contenders for the NL East title. On that cool April day, Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout innings and Bryce Harper hit two home runs as the Nationals started the season with a 2-0 win against the Marlins. The beginnings seemed auspicious enough and...

Bud Norris makes his second Orioles start tonight, but first on the road. If you look at Norris' stats the last two seasons, he has pitched much better at home than on the road. Here are Norris' home-road splits the last two seasons with Houston: 2012: 4-1 with 1.71 ERA in 11 home starts, 3-12 with 6.94 ERA in 18 starts on road. 2013: 4-4 with 2.92 ERA in 13 home starts, 2-5 with 5.91 ERA in eight starts on road. Among qualifying American League pitchers (1.0 IP per team game), Norris has...

It doesn't make the defeat any easier to stomach, but while the Nationals have had losses this season where the bats were nearly completely silent, at least they stuck the ball well tonight. That was something that Davey Johnson pointed out as a minor glimmer on a relatively dark night for the home team at Nats Park. "That's been happening a lot lately," Scott Hairston said. "All we can do is square it up, and it seems like that's been a pattern. A lot of lineouts and not too many...

With sweat showing through his San Diego State baseball T-shirt after the game, right-hander Stephen Strasburg spoke softly and appeared frustrated with another no-decision that turned into a loss, this one a critical opening series setback to the first place Braves. Strasburg went seven innings, tossed 112 pitches and allowed just two runs, yet his team lost 3-2 at Nationals Park. "I want to go out there and compete," Strasburg said. "I feel like I didn't let up for seven...

Another tight ballgame, another strong pitching performance, another night where the offense isn't able to deliver. Tonight's 3-2 Nationals loss feels like so many before it. The Nats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, got seven strong frames from Stephen Strasburg and then watched things slip away. Justin Upton's solo homer leading off the eighth off Tyler Clippard gave the Braves the lead, one they didn't relinquish. After the first inning, the Nationals went 0-for-9 with runners in...

The Orioles are in San Diego for a two-game series against the Padres. Two games? Seriously? Hardly seems worth the flight. Upon further view, it may be an appropriate number, since two significant events happened in Orioles history during their first-ever series in San Diego in 2007. Anyone know without looking it up? Answer to follow. Bud Norris is making his second start for the Orioles tonight. He's 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts against the Padres, with 25 strikeouts in 23...

In six of the seven innings played so far tonight, the Nationals have put the leadoff man on base. In those six innings, they've gone 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Nats have struggled again in big spots tonight, and we saw an example of that when they had a golden chance to take the lead in the seventh after Scott Hairston doubled to left leading off the inning. Jayson Werth, pinch-hitting for Stephen Strasburg, struck out. Bryce Harper lined out to right. Ian Desmond's...

Prior to borrowing Jayson Werth's bat out in Milwaukee, Adam LaRoche was in a 1-for-28 slump and had just three extra-base hits in his last 53 at-bats. Since trying out Werth's lumber during his third at-bat Saturday night against the Brewers, LaRoche is 4-for-8 with two homers and a double. That bat won't be leaving LaRoche's locker anytime soon, you can count on that. Actually, this appears to be a different, two-toned version of Werth's bat, as compared to the all-black one LaRoche...

We've covered the Biogenesis story from a couple different angles, with reactions to Gio Gonzalez being cleared of wrongdoing and 13 players being suspended for purchasing/taking performance-enhancers. Now how about a non-PED blog entry for the first time in a while? Sounds good to me. The Nationals enter this three-game set with the Braves tonight well-aware of where things stand with 51 games remaining on their schedule. They're 12 1/2 games back of Atlanta in the National League East and...