A lot went right for the Nationals over the last three days. They pitched incredibly well, allowing just four runs and 11 hits in that three-game span. They brought the bats, scoring 15 runs after putting up just four through their previous four contests. They played sound defense, for the most part. All three of those games resulted in wins. Today, it's been a different story. Ross Detwiler has allowed four runs and 10 hits over his first five innings. He had surrendered four earned runs...

Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter today, as the Oriolestry to complete a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics. Nate McLouth remains the leadoff hitter. Ryan Flaherty gets the start at second base. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Nolan Reimold DH Miguel Gonzalez RHP Down on the farm, Triple-A Norfolk's Jonathan Schoop extended his hitting streak to 10...

The Oakland Athletics activated outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the disabled list today and designated Casper Wells for assignment. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Wells, the Towson University alum, off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on April 10. The A's purchased him from the Blue Jays on April 22. Now he's out there again. The Orioles had some interest in Wells earlier this year. He's out of minor league options, which is why he keeps hitting the open market more than...

The stats sheet says when Miguel Gonzalez takes the mound, the Orioles have a pretty good chance to win. Today, he will try to pitch the O's to their first four-game sweep at Oakland since May 22-25, 1987. Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA over four starts in 2013. The Orioles are 3-1 in those starts and 7-1 in Gonzalez's last eight starts, dating to September. Gonzalez has made 19 career starts in an O's uniform and the club is 14-5 in those games for a win percentage of .737. Gonzalez was...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled catcher Luis Exposito from Triple-A Norfolk and placed catcher Taylor Teagarden on the 15-day disabled list with a dislocated left thumb. Exposito, 26, has played in 16 games for the Tides this season, batting .218/.254/.273 in 59 plate appearances. He made his major league debut last season for the Orioles and picked up his first major league hit on May 10. Teagarden, 29, has appeared in four games for the Orioles this season, going...

Mired in an 0-for-22 slump, Adam LaRoche has been dropped to sixth in the Nationals' batting order. In an attempt to get his first baseman going, manager Davey Johnson has bumped LaRoche down a spot in the lineup and moved Ian Desmond up to the five-hole. This is the first time LaRoche has hit as low as sixth in the order since April 11 of last year. Typically a slow starter (he's just a .215 career hitter in March/April), LaRoche is really off to a rough 2013, batting just .143 through 21...

The Orioles placed backup catcher Taylor Teagarden on the 15-day disabled list today with a dislocated left thumb and recalled catcher Luis Exposito from Triple-A Norfolk. Exposito, 26, is batting .218/.254/.273 in 16 games and 59 plate appearances with Norfolk. He's 1-for-15 throwing out runners attempting to steal. The Orioles also transferred catcher Luis Martinez from Double-A Bowie to Norfolk. The Orioles' game notes say Monday's starter "is expected to be LH Zach...

Veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia remains listed as today's starter for Triple-A Norfolk. If he takes the mound, he won't be taking a flight to Seattle. Left-hander Zach Britton remains the favorite to start Monday for the Orioles. He hasn't pitched in the first three games in Oakland and it's doubtful that he would be needed today in relief, considering that Tommy Hunter and T.J. McFarland are well-rested and available out of the bullpen. Hunter hasn't pitched in four days. McFarland...

A year ago today, Bryce Harper threw on a Nationals jersey for the first time. The then-19-year-old started his big league career by going 1-for-3 with a rocket of a double, tossing his helmet to the Dodger Stadium dirt as he made a violent turn around first base and sprinted for second. Since his highly-anticipated debut, Harper has played 162 games. His numbers look more like what you expect out of an eight-year veteran than a first-year player who can't legally buy a beer. Harper has hit...

Manager Davey Johnson has an early season philosophy of not riding his starters too long in games. His reasoning includes wanting the rotation to be fresher as the season goes on, the ability to get the starters ramped up as each start passes and protection for the bullpen after some shaky outings to start the season. But if the starter can pitch well enough into the late innings and keep his pitch count down, Johnson will go with you, especially if in the past the starter has shown the...