Not that we necessarily needed proof, but last weekend's series against the Blue Jays served as a stark reminder to O's fans (and possibly to the Orioles themselves) that the American League East is very, very strong. Strong enough, indeed, that the O's could finish solidly above .500 - win, say, 90 games - and still miss the playoffs. What to do? Truthfully, a case can be made for making a hard push. For cobbling together some kind of trade package and swinging for a win-now move. I have...

On Monday night, Zach Britton took a two-hitter and two-run lead into the sixth and didn't make it through the inning. Last night, Cleveland's Justin Masterson took a three-hitter and two-run lead to the seventh inning but couldn't make it through that frame. Two pitchers seemingly rolling along and then - boom - they give up the lead and lose the game. Masterson rolled into the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead and the Orioles looked well on their way to a fifth loss in a row. Then Chris...

Since July 29, 2012, the Orioles have posted the best winning percentage in baseball at .604, making them the only team above .600. They're tied with Oakland for the most wins with 83. And yet, there's just no pleasing some fans. Seriously though ... Jim Johnson picked up his 27th save last night despite allowing a hit and walking two batters in the ninth. He's totaled 78 saves since the start of the 2012 season, 14 more than runner-up Fernando Rodney's 64. Johnson is making $6.5...

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper went 1-for-1 with a double, walk and run scored in the high Single-A Potomac Nationals' 7-5 win over Myrtle Beach. It was Harper's first rehab game and first professional game since May 26 when he was placed on the disabled list with bursitis in his left knee. Harper did not have to make any plays in the outfield. One ground-rule double went over his head. However, a team source at the game said he was able to show a burst of speed before the ball hopped...

The Nationals held on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 on Tuesday in the first game of their three-game series at Nationals Park. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs for his first win since May 5. Manager Davey Johnson said the 90-degree game-time temperature might have taxed his starter a bit, but Gonzalez did a nice job fighting through. "Gio was fine (on) a pretty hot night," Johnson said. "He pitched good. He was still throwing pretty good when I...

He was an unlikely homer hitter, but Alexi Casilla put one big swing on the ball in the last of the seventh tonight for the Orioles. His three-run homer broke the 3-3 tie and sent the team to a 6-3 win over Cleveland. Casilla asked to use an interpreter for the postgame interview and O's coach Einar Diaz helped out. "I felt great after I hit the home run," Casilla said. "After we lost four games in a row, the team had it coming. Wanted to do something for the team. "I struck out twice...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter had to choose between Alexi Casilla and Ryan Flaherty as his starting second baseman tonight against Indians right-hander Justin Masterson. It's the same choice every night, but there were strong arguments on both sides. Flaherty has a six-game hitting streak. Casilla has lots of success against Masterson. Showalter chose Casilla, whose tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh inning was the decisive blow in a 6-3 victory. So, why Casilla? "A lot of...

They needed that. Held without a single baserunner through four innings tonight by Cleveland's Justin Masterson and trailing 3-1 as they headed to the bottom of the seventh, the O's offense rose up to produce a big inning that ended their four-game losing streak. The five-run seventh lifted the Orioles past Cleveland 6-3 at Camden Yards as Chris Tillman went seven innings to improve to 9-2. Masterson took a three-hitter into the seventh, but hit Adam Jones with the innings's first pitch...

Adam Jones separated Justin Masterson from perfection tonight, lining a single into center field leading off the bottom of the fifth inning. The shutout also disappeared. Maybe it melted in this heat. Chris Davis singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Matt Wieters struck out - he's still scuffling as the No. 6 hitter in the lineup - and J.J. Hardy grounded into a force at second as Jones raced home. Indians 3, Orioles 0 Davis slid hard into the bag to prevent a throw that may...

Here is a stat that hammers home the point that Orioles starting pitchers have not gone deep enough into games this season: The O's are facing Cleveland's Justin Masterson tonight. He has gone seven innings or more eight times this year. The entire O's rotation has gone seven or more nine times. Masterson has done that in 16 starts and the O's staff in 77 starts. Masterson has two complete games and the O's have none. Masterson could prove tough to hit tonight as he has all year. He is...