Regardless of how he performs, whether he's thrown seven scoreless innings or gotten lit up by the opposition, Dan Haren will always stand up after a game and give a brutally honest assessment of his start. Unfortunately for Haren, he's had as many rough outings to assess this season as he's had stellar ones. Haren went just four innings in tonight's 10-1 Nationals loss to the Mets, allowing five runs on seven hits. Three of those seven hits were home runs. In his 12 outings this season,...

One highlight in a 10-1 loss to the Mets was the major league debut for left-handed reliever Ian Krol. After allowing a double to lead off the sixth inning, Krol struck out the side. The three hitters he struck out? Daniel Murphy, David Wright and Lucas Duda - the heart of the Mets order. The three combined for five hits, five runs, two doubles and a home run in the game. Just not against Krol. "I was just trying to go out there and throw strikes," Krol said. "A little different with the...

The Orioles pitching staff tonight allowed six home runs over the game's first four innings. Houston didn't hit any more after the early barrage but that was more than enough for the Astros to post a 11-7 win over the Orioles. O's starter Freddy Garcia pitched eight innings of shutout, three-hit ball last Thursday against Washington. Tonight he gave up seven hits, six runs and four homers in three-plus innings. Garcia, who had an ERA of 1.89 over his last three starts, falls to 2-3 with an...

Freddy Garcia threw eight scoreless innings in his last start against the Nationals. Tonight, he's served up three home runs in two innings and trails the Astros 5-1. Garcia is like a box of chocolates. Never know what you're going to get. Against the Astros, he's sort of like that jelly candy that you bite into and want to spit out. Remember those? Jason Castro and Carlos Pena hit two-run shots off Garcia in the first inning, and Marwin Gonzalez - don't pretend that you've never heard...

Dan Haren entered tonight having allowed 12 home runs this season, tying him for the seventh-most surrendered by any pitcher in the majors. After three innings of work, Haren now finds himself tied for the big league lead in homers allowed. The veteran right-hander has served up three longballs in as many innings tonight, including two to former National Marlon Byrd, and the Nats trail the Mets 5-1. At this point in his career, Haren lives and dies by his command. Working in the upper-80s to...

Amid all the negative injury news coming out involving Nationals players lately, there are some positive updates to pass along, as well. Wilson Ramos told me today he will head down to the Nats' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., tonight to continue his rehab as he works back from a left hamstring strain. Ramos will spend around a week in Viera, where he'll take part in a host of baseball activities, including running, hitting and blocking pitches behind home plate. Ramos could take part...

Left-hander Danny Rosenbaum and right-hander Ross Ohlendorf are two solid candidates to take Stephen Strasburg's Saturday start. Strasburg will be placed on the disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to June . He would be eligible to come off the list June 16. The Nationals said they will call up a starter for Saturday, and could even add a reliever for the next three days, but that would mean the reliever would not be available until at least Thursday. The 25-year-old Rosenbaum is a former...

The list of Nationals to hit the disabled list is growing. Stephen Strasburg will be placed on the DL with a strained lat muscle, Nats manager Davey Johnson said today. Strasburg had originally been scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, but those plans were scrapped. Strasburg merely played catch, but he didn't feel completely right, so the Nats will shut him down for now and place him on the DL retroactive to June 1. "He was examined by a doctor and there's still some tenderness...

With Nick Markakis away from the team for the next two games, Steve Pearce is starting in right field tonight against the Houston Astros. J.J. Hardy moves up to third in the order, as manager Buck Showalter breaks out his right-handed lineup. Danny Valencia is serving as the designated hitter, and Alexi Casilla is starting at second base. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Danny Valencia DH Steve Pearce RF Alexi...

A win tonight in Houston would put the Orioles nine games over .500 for the first time this season. It also would improve their series record to 13-5-2. Once again, they will be facing an Astros pitcher who is new to them - left-hander Dallas Keuchel, 25, who's making his sixth start among 12 appearances. Keuchel is 2-2 with a 5.10 ERA in 47 2/3 innings, with 59 hits, 17 walks and 30 strikeouts. He has a 5.17 ERA as a starter and a 4.96 ERA as a reliever. Keuchel hasn't allowed an earned...