When the Red Sox got rained out at home last night against Tampa Bay, it meant that their scheduled starter for that game, John Lackey, would be pushed back to open the series tonight in Baltimore. The Orioles, who have scored just six runs over the last three games, going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position, have their work cut out tonight. Lackey is 7-7 with a 2.95 ERA over 17 starts. He ranks eighth in the AL in ERA and is 10th in opponents' OBP (.291) and WHIP (1.16). Lackey...

Bryce Harper's ailing left knee has knocked him out of the Nationals' starting lineup for the nightcap of today's doubleheader against the Mets. Harper banged the left knee when diving to make a catch on a Daniel Murphy sinking liner in the fifth inning of this afternoon's 11-0 Nationals loss. He was removed for a pinch-runner in the eighth inning. This is the second time in four days that Harper has been out of the Nats' lineup because of left knee issues. He'll miss out on facing...

As Davey Johnson entered the press conference room following this afternoon's 11-0 drubbing at the hands of the Mets, he managed half a smile. "Do we have to talk about it?" Johnson asked reporters. Unfortunately for Johnson, yes, he did. The first question Johnson received was in reference to Drew Storen, who Johnson had said pregame would likely be unavailable for both games because of a bout of the flu. Johnson ended up using Storen with one out in the top of the ninth when the game...

The Orioles acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez on Tuesday and he made his O's debut last night in Kansas City. Rodriguez has 304 career saves, the third-most among active players and 21st-most all-time. He said he has not been told about any specific role he'll have out of the O's bullpen. "No, just be ready," Rodriguez said. "Not here to take anyone's job, just take some pressure off the bullpen. Whatever is possible to help the Orioles, I'll be ready to do it." No doubt one...

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann thought he was pitching better than his line indicated. Zimmermann (12-6) lasted 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with three walks, eight strikeouts and two home runs - his third straight loss. The two sliders that Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy unloaded upon were the ones remembered from this loss, at least early on, before it got real ugly in an 11-0 rout. In the first, Murphy hit a slider off the second-level advertising banner above section...

The Orioles have won 14 of their last 19 games against the Red Sox, and 24 of their last 34. Infielder Jonathan Schoop has been activated from the minor league disabled list and rejoined Triple-A Norfolk for tonight's game at Rochester. He homered twice and drove in seven runs last night at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. To make room for Schoop, the Orioles released infielder Brandon Wood, who batted .215/.250/.309 with nine doubles, a triple, two home runs and 23 RBIs in 48 games after...

Henry Urrutia had a one-word answer when asked what his first few days in the major leagues have been like. "Emotional," he said through O's minor league coach Ramon Sambo, who has been with him to interpret and has been helping him since spring training as the former Cuban outfielder adapts to life on and off the field in the United States. In the last year, Urrutia has been through a lot to finally get to travel to the U.S., to play in the minors and to finally make his way into the...

Though the offense scuffled over the last three games in Kansas City, Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't make any drastic changes or do any tweaking with his lineup for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Chris Davis continues to bat fifth while searching for his first home run since the All-Star break. Matt Wieters is hitting sixth, J.J. Hardy seventh, Henry Urrutia eighth and Brian Roberts ninth. Been there, done that. Urrutia is making his Camden Yards...

Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce started his injury-rehab assignment today with the Gulf Coast Orioles. Pearce, leading off and playing left field, went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also committed a fielding error. Pearce hasn't played since June 19 in Detroit. He was batting .235/.311/.383 with three doubles, three homers and nine RBIs in 28 games before going on the disabled list with left wrist tendinitis. He had seven walks and 20 strikeouts in 81 at-bats. Pearce underwent an MRA on his left...

Welcome to Nationals Park on a partly sunny Friday afternoon. The first game of the day/night doubleheader features right-hander Jordan Zimmermann against the Mets right-hander Jenrry Mejia. The first game was rescheduled from the June 6 rainout here at Nationals Park. Mejia comes off the 60-day disabled list to make his first appearance of the season. He is the 26th man on the Mets roster today, and has battled elbow tendon inflammation since March 22. He was 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in six minor...