The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk. Britton, 25, has gone 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA (13.2IP, 3ER) in three starts with the Tides this season. The left-hander is 16-14 with a 4.74 ERA (214.2IP, 113ER) in 40 games (39 starts) in the major leagues since 2011. With this move, the Orioles' 25-man roster is now full.

The Orioles confirmed that they have recalled left-hander Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk. He's available in the bullpen tonight. Nate McLouth is back in the leadoff spot tonight, which comes as no surprise. Over his last five games, McLouth is batting .462 (6-for-13) with six walks and six runs scored. In the leadoff spot, McLouth is batting .321 (17-53) with 11 walks. McLouth is second in the American League in walks by a leadoff hitter behind Oakland's Coco Crisp (14), but Crisp has...

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo decided to call up top prospect Anthony Rendon on Saturday night to replace Ryan Zimmerman, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury. Zimmerman attended batting practice and was stretching, but is not hitting yet. Manager Davey Johnson said Zimmerman is still a "couple days behind" Wilson Ramos in their recoveries from injuries, but is still on track to return when the 15 days expire. Rizzo said Rendon will "most likely"...

Given the way Adam LaRoche has been struggling at the plate lately, Davey Johnson knew LaRoche would be taking early batting practice today to try and find a groove. Johnson was curious how LaRoche's cage session would go, so he popped out to the field this afternoon to watch his first baseman take some cuts. Only problem was, LaRoche wasn't in the group rotating into the cage. The Nationals had so many players getting in early BP that LaRoche, mired in an 0-for-11 slump with eight...

It has not been the fastest start for Potomac Nationals first baseman Kevin Keyes. But Wednesday's home run at Carolina may change that. His first home run of the season, and 42nd of his minor league career, was a mammoth blast at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. that smashed a light bulb on the outfield light tower. Here is the description from Potomac Nationals Web site: "Keyes' majestic, Ruthian blast was a high-arching drive that collided with a band of bulbs on the left field...

The Oakland Athletics have already posted their lineup for tonight's series opener against the Orioles. For the Athletics Coco Crisp CF John Jaso C Seth Smith DH Jed Lowrie SS Brandon Moss 1B Chris Young LF Josh Reddick RF Josh Donaldson 3B Eric Sogard 2B Jarrod Parker RHP Reddick batted .343 with two homers and seven RBIs in eight games against the Orioles last season. The A's haven't lose a season series to the Orioles since 1998. The Orioles have lost 34 of their last 45 games in...

The Orioles begin a four-game series tonight and 11-game road trip against the Oakland A's. The A's have a 13-9 record while the Orioles are 12-9. But while Oakland has lost five of its last six games in series against Tampa Bay and Boston, Oakland has gone 6-0 against the Houston Astros who are in their first season in the American League. Later this year it could be that the Orioles will be battling with Oakland for a wild-card berth. This season the A's will play Houston 19 times and...

In desperate search of some more offense, Davey Johnson has inserted Steve Lombardozzi into today's Nationals lineup and moved Jayson Werth into the cleanup spot. Lombardozzi, who is off to a really strong start to 2013, batting .345 in 29 at-bats, will play third base and hit second in the new-look Nats batting order. Werth will hit fourth, with Adam LaRoche moving down to fifth in the lineup. Danny Espinosa, batting .155 on the season, remains in the lineup, batting seventh. Rookie...

Zach Britton is still listed as tonight's starter for Triple-A Norfolk. If he isn't a late scratch, he won't be starting for the Orioles on Monday. Update: Zach Clark (UMBC) is now listed as Norfolk's starter tonight instead of Britton. Feel free to speculate. The assumption here is that Britton will be in the Orioles' bullpen the next few nights and will start Monday if he isn't used in relief for an extended stretch. Update II: Britton is definitely in Oakland and he will take Josh...

On Sunday, Jake Arrieta started on the mound for the Orioles. One would have thought after a successful spring training, he would finally figure it out after several seasons in the majors. From the looks of things, he still may not have. After his performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arrieta was again optioned to Triple-A Norfolk for seemingly the umpteenth time in the last couple of seasons. Sitting in the stands Sunday, I wondered how a guy who looks like your prototypical power...