Orioles manager Buck Showalter still won't confirm Kevin Gausman as Thursday night's starter against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. However, Gausman is on the taxi squad today, he's flying with the team to Toronto later tonight and he's going to start the series opener. The Orioles will just wait until Thursday afternoon to make the move official. They will have to remove players from the 25- and 40-man rosters. Jake Arrieta is the logical choice to be optioned back to Triple-A...

In a press briefing with reporters at Camden Yards this afternoon to talk about the call-up of Kevin Gausman, Orioles vice president Dan Duquette was also asked about infield prospect Jonathan Schoop, who is on the Triple-A Norfolk disabled list. The news doesn't sound very encouraging on Schoop. He has not played since May 12 and will see a doctor in California next week. "It sounds like he has a stress fracture of his low back," Duquette said. "He will need a period of rest, probably...

The first ball the Nationals hit out of the infield today came off the bat of their pitcher, Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez's line shot up the middle in the third inning also got the Nats in the hit column for the first time today. That's where this offense is at right now. The Nationals' 1-8 hitters are 0-for-9 with a walk and five strikeouts in the first three innings this afternoon. Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner has looked really sharp - especially in the first inning when he struck out...

Adam Jones is bothered by soreness in his groin, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter elected to use him as the designated hitter again tonight in the series finale against the New York Yankees. Jones could play center field, which is his preference, but Showalter is being careful with him. The Orioles will be playing four games on the artificial surface at Rogers Centre in Toronto beginning Thursday night. "He's not happy about it," Showalter said, "and that's a good thing." Outfielder...

Kevin Gausman got the news last night that he was headed to join the Orioles. He arrived in the Orioles clubhouse just after 3 p.m. today and later talked about his start tomorrow night when he will make his major league debut at Toronto. "Obviously, it is going to be real exciting," Gausman said. "You know, trying not to think about it too much and just keep doing what I've been doing, throwing strikes. Just try to pitch my game." So who did he first call after getting the good news...

The Orioles lineup for tonight's series finale against the New York Yankees includes Adam Jones serving as the designated hitter for the second consecutive game. Jones was bothered by a sore right leg late in Monday night's game. Chris Dickerson again will start in center field. Alexi Casilla will start at second base. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones DH Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson CF Alexi Casilla...

The Orioles swung a minor league deal this afternoon to improve their infield depth, acquiring Josh Horton from the Oakland Athletics for a player to be named later or cash. Horton, 27, is hitting .224/.246/.373 this season in 16 games at Triple-A Sacramento. He's a career .274/.349/.369 hitter in seven minor league seasons. The A's chose Horton in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina. Horton has played 386 games at shortstop, 67 at...

The Nationals will happily put a cap on their rocky 10-game West Coast road trip today when they face the Giants in the finale of this three-game set. Manager Davey Johnson has tweaked his lineup again, moving Ian Desmond into the cleanup spot and bumping Adam LaRoche down to the No. 5 hole in the order against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Tyler Moore will play left field and hit sixth today. Bumgarner is coming off the worst start of his career; he allowed nine runs his last...

One lucky Orioles fan will win a $1,000 shopping spree this summer at the Majestic Orioles Team Store at Oriole Park at Camden Yards as part of the Stock Up On Swag Sweepstakes, currently underway. The team store features an extensive selection of Orioles-related souvenirs, from clothing for the entire family to memorabilia and novelty items. Fans are encouraged to visit the Orioles Pinterest page at pinterest.com/oriolesbaseball to view numerous featured items available at the store. Entries...

In his first six starts this season, Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel pitched to an ERA of 3.79 and American League batters hit just .244 off him. In his last three starts, his ERA is 10.43 and opponents are batting .409. Hammel gave up seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings Friday against Tampa Bay. Over the past three starts, he has gone 14 2/3 innings, allowing 27 hits and 17 earned runs. What is going on with the O's opening night starter right now? For one thing, Hammel insists his struggles...