Chris Dickerson continues to take batting practice, and he did some throwing yesterday as the final test on his left shoulder. Assuming that he passed, it might be a good idea to put him in today's lineup for the series finale against the Blue Jays that wraps up the season's first half. Dickerson is 6-for-10 lifetime against Toronto right-hander Josh Johnson, which is one reason. And Nolan Reimold is 6-for-27 with a home run and 11 strikeouts since coming off the disabled list, which is...

Over the last five years, the Orioles have sent eight players to the All-Star Futures Game, which will be played today at 2 p.m. at Citi Field in New York. It has become a prestigious event featuring some of the top young prospects in the sport in a game pitting the U.S against the world. The Orioles are one of six major league organizations that will have three players on the field today (nine have just one) in Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia, Venezuelan pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and first...

Bryce Harper has been ejected in the top of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. After getting called out on strikes for the second time tonight, Harper threw up his hands and gave Wendelstedt a piece of his mind. Wendelstedt was less than pleased with the display, and tossed Harper from the game. This is the second time this season that Harper has been ejected, and the third time in his career. Harper was also tossed in Miami last...

You cannot predict baseball. Try as hard as you might, you just can't. Stephen Strasburg entered last night's game with a 2.45 ERA. He allowed seven runs over just two innings in a loss to the Marlins. Dan Haren entered tonight with a 6.00 ERA. He's thrown four scoreless innings against the Marlins, with six strikeouts. Haren has looked really sharp thus far tonight, allowing just two measly singles and a walk and pitching out of the only real jam he's been in - when Jeff Mathis reached...

After his latest difficult outing, Jason Hammel spent about three minutes berating his own performance and talking about trying to fix it for the second half of the season. Hammel gave up six runs and 10 hits over six innings today as Toronto beat the Orioles 7-3. He is now 7-6 with an ERA of 5.24. "Unacceptable," Hammel said. "Far too many baserunners. Getting behind hitters. Fastball-hitting club that I'm feeding fastballs. It's easy to hit when you know what is coming. I'm not...

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel called his start today "unacceptable" and challenged himself to get better. His manager was much kinder. Hammel was charged with six runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings in the Orioles' 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays at sold-out Camden Yards. "I thought there were some hard-hit balls," Showalter said. "You've got that one inning - a couple infield hits, a broken bat. He gave us a chance for the most part. We just didn't do a whole lot offensively. "We knew...

For Jason Hammel, the search to find consistency and the form he showed the Orioles during the 2012 season continues. Hammel took a 3-2 lead to the sixth today, but gave up two runs that inning and was knocked from the game during Toronto's three-run seventh as the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 7-3 at Camden Yards. The game attracted a crowd of 46,150 and that was the fifth sellout of the season at Camden Yards. Hammel went six-plus innings, allowing 10 hits and six runs (all earned) along...

Jason Hammel will head into the All-Star break still searching for his first win since May 27. He's also got to be searching for some answers. Hammel's record remains above .500 - currently 7-5 as we head to the bottom of the seventh - and he's gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. However, he can't get that elusive victory and he can't lower his ERA, which is up to 5.24. Hammel left today's game with no outs in the seventh after hitting No. 9 batter Emilio...

The Orioles may want to walk Edwin Encarnacion. Or trade for him. Encarnacion hit his seventh home run in 12 games against the Orioles this season, and his 14th over the past two years. That's the most by any player against a single team in that span, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Blue Jays almost hit for the cycle against Jason Hammel in the first inning. Jose Reyes doubled, Encarnacion homered and Adam Lind singled. Hammel was only four batters into his start. Encarnacion's...

Today's game is a sellout. Tickets remain for Sunday's series finale, which also closes the first half. Yes, it's considered the first half despite the fact that Orioles are playing their 95th game today. The Orioles are only the third team in major league history to have four players with at least 105 hits at the All-Star break: Manny Machado (127), Adam Jones (114), Nick Markakis (107) and Chris Davis (105). The 1954 Cardinals had Red Schoendienst (119), Wally Moon (114), Ray Jablonski...