I've said numerous times on Birds Watcher that the birth of the current Orioles came on Sept. 28, 2011, when the O's beat Boston on the final day of the season. We all know the story: Robert Andino's RBI double, combined with Evan Longoria's walk-off homer, knocked Boston out of the playoffs that year. The Orioles followed that up with an impromptu playoff birth in 2012, and withstanding this past weekend's series in Tampa, the Orioles are in the hunt again this year. In fact, going into...

Through 4 1/2 innings, the Nationals have had two runners thrown out on the bases, including one that was cut down at home. They've made two more errors, as Anthony Rendon dropped a pop-up that would have been the third out of the third inning and Ryan Zimmerman unleashed his 11th error - 10 of which have been of the throwing variety - in the fifth. Still, despite their repeated miscues, the Nats lead 2-0 as they come to bat in the fifth. A large reason for that is Jordan Zimmermann, who...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore introduced his 91 mph fastball to Manny Machado's right knee in the first inning today, sending the Orioles' third baseman sprawling to the dirt. Shortstop J.J. Hardy let everyone know that Machado's knee was fine. Hardy doubled over the head of Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings, and Machado scored all the way from first base to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Hardy scored on Adam Jones' double, which continued an early theme to this...

Left-hander Ross Detwiler's injury rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac went well Saturday in Woodbridge, Va. Detwiler went 3 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing one earned run with no walks and four strikeouts. He tossed 60 pitches, 38 for strikes. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the rehab was a positive step for Detwiler. "Yeah, he felt good during the start and after the start," Rizzo said. "We'll see how he feels today and if all checks out today, he...

Among yesterday's draft picks by the Orioles were two high school pitchers that may be tough to sign. The Orioles like the duo, however, and may even be willing to go over their allocated draft pool money to get them. They are Daniel Ayers, a left-handed pitcher from Columbus, Ind., who was drafted in Round 25, and right-hander Robert Tyler from Cordele, Ga., taken in Round 28. Ayers was taken with the draft's 759th overall selection but was ranked as the nation's 177th-best player by...

Because of a major electrical malfunction in the production truck at Tropicana Field at St. Peterburg, Fla., you might notice a few changes on today's Orioles-Rays broadcast on MASN. While we're working to correct the problem, it's possible we may start today's game by utilizing the FOX feed from SunSports, the Rays network. That means you'll be seeing game coverage with Rays-related graphics on-screen. We're endeavoring to get our broadcast team of play-by-play man Jim Hunter and color...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Steve Johnson had an MRI yesterday that showed only a slight strain of his left oblique. Johnson has a three-centimeter tear, which qualifies as a strain. Dylan Bundy will begin his throwing progression on Monday with 25 tosses from 60 feet. He hasn't pitched since spring training because tightness in his right forearm. Jair Jurrjens threw from 90 feet today without experiencing any discomfort in his thumb, though he didn't attempt any breaking...

Having called up Chris Marrero from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the temporary 26th spot on their roster for today's doubleheader, the Nationals will need to drop a player by tomorrow to get back down to the 25-man roster limit. They're not giving any indication yet of who will be sent down, however. "We'll make that decision after the two games today, but the rules allow us to bring a 26th man up," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "And we felt it was the thing to do." The Nats already...

With his right foot still bothering him after he fouled a ball off it in the 10th inning of yesterday's loss to the Twins, Denard Span will not play in the first game of today's doubleheader. Span will get his foot checked out by team medical personnel, and manager Davey Johnson told his center fielder that he'll need him for Game 2 of the doubleheader. Assuming Span is feeling OK later today, he'll try and play through the soreness in that foot. In Game 1, however, it'll be Jeff...

The Washington Nationals today recalled first baseman/outfielder Chris Marrero from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Marrero batted .306 (64-for-209) with nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 44 RBI, 14 walks and 26 runs scored in 55 games this season with Syracuse. His RBI total ranks fourth in the International League. The 24-year-old appeared in 31 games with...