The non-waiver trade deadline is Wednesday, and so far, general managers are saying that there are more buyers than sellers and that's driving up the price for contenders wanting to add players. "It looks like now our help is going to have to come from within the organization," says Pirates general manager Neal Huntington. "The market is tough right now." Trade speculation is tough to nail, here's how it is taking shape: * The Pirates, trying to break 20 consecutive seasons of losing,...

Manny Machado's average has dipped below .300 for the first time since April 27 after going hitless in his first three at-bats today. It's down to .298 after he lined to Boston shortstop Stephen Drew to strand two runners in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Orioles' third baseman is 3-for-27 in his last seven games, though he's homered twice, and 9-for-57 in his last 14. And he's still looking for his first double since July 6. Machado slammed his bat to the ground after lining to...

The Nationals watched the Mets put up an 11-spot here at Nats Park two days ago. They've countered that with eight runs and nine hits through the first three innings today. The Nats exploded in the second and third innings, leading 3-0 after two and then 8-0 after three. Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond and Denard Span all reached base in front of Wilson Ramos in the third (with Desmond's single bringing in Zimmerman), and Ramos then cleared the bases with a grand slam into the...

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz heard lots of boos as he stepped to the plate in the top of the first inning today, defenders of phones everywhere still taking umbrage with the damage he inflicted in the visiting dugout last night. They must have been disconnected, or he completely ignored them. Ortiz singled up the middle with two outs to keep a rally alive, and Mike Napoli followed with an RBI double to give Boston a 1-0 lead. Jason Hammel has allowed 14 runs in the first this...

Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty was taken to the hospital before the start of today's game, a team spokesman confirmed. McCatty, 59, was not feeling well and will not be present for today's series finale against the Mets. The Nationals are not releasing any more information at this time and say they will provide an update on McCatty's health later. McCatty is in his fifth season as the Nationals' pitching coach. This is his 18th season as a professional pitching coach, following a...

If you go by the results starting last season, the days of Jon Lester taking the mound and Boston expecting to beat the Orioles may be over. Since the start of 2012, Lester has started four times against the Orioles, and the O's are 4-0 in those games. Lester has an ERA of 5.25 in the four games, pitching 24 innings and allowing 30 hits with seven walks and 18 strikeouts. He was 14-0 over his first 18 career starts against the Orioles, but is 0-2 over the last four. The O's have a .309...

LJ Hoes was chosen as the Orioles' extra position player over other candidates at Triple-a Norfolk this weekend because, as manager Buck Showalter put it, "Like always, he was our best option as a right-handed hitting outfielder. Or really, period." In other words, the position really didn't matter. Hoes, 23, was most deserving of the call-up. Hoes, a third-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of St. John's High School in D.C., was batting .304/.406/.403 with 25 doubles, a...

The Nationals have won two in a row, so why tamper with success? Today's lineup for the finale of a four-game series against the Mets is the same one, minus the starting pitcher, the Nats trotted out last night. The only change is right-hander Taylor Jordan, who's still in search of his first major league victory. Jordan will get a break, with David Wright not in today's Mets lineup. Now, onto today's lineups ... For the Mets: LF Eric Young Jr. 3B Josh Satin 2B Daniel Murphy RF Marlon...

Right-hander Taylor Jordan deserves a win today. He has been solid in every start so far in the majors, but has an 0-3 record. This will be his sixth start of his major league career. Nationals general Mike Rizzo was asked if Jordan would be on the same 160-inning limit that Stephen Strasburg was in his recovery from Tommy John. "We have parameters in mind for Taylor Jordan," Rizzo said. "When we feel he is done pitching, we will shut him down." Rizzo also said Jordan will get the...

When LJ Hoes joined the Orioles last September after being called up, it was more a reward for a good season. He didn't play much, appearing in just two games getting one at-bat. But he returned to the Orioles today and this time he's here with a bigger role. Officially recalled this morning from Triple-A Norfolk, Hoes was inserted right into today's lineup and will play left field and bat eighth against Boston's Jon Lester. "Totally different from last year. Last year I was up here to...