Yes, it's a very small sample size, but so far the Orioles have better numbers batting against left-handed pitching. They are facing right-hander Vance Worley of the Twins tonight. He was their opening day starter and gave up eight hits and three runs in losing to Detroit and Justin Verlander. While the Orioles' team average is .348 with a slugging percentage of .717 against southpaws, it's not like the numbers are bad against the righties at .307 and .436. Chris Davis and Adam Jones are...

The Orioles and Blue Jays were the only American League teams without an infield hit before tonight. Now the Jays stand alone. Adam Jones took a full swing in the bottom of the first inning and sent a slow roller up the third base line with runners on second and third and only one out. Manny Machado raced home, and Nick Marakis followed him when Twins starter Vance Worley fielded the ball and fired it past first baseman Justin Morneau. Credit Jones with an RBI, his fifth this season, and...

Orioles left-hander T.J. McFarland began to warm up yesterday as starter Jake Arrieta tried to fight out of a jam in the home opener against the Minnesota Twins. He eventually sat down, another day passing without the Rule 5 pick getting into a game. McFarland is being patient, of course. No complaints will be forthcoming. He's in the majors for the first time and more than happy to wait his turn. Not that the competitive juices have stopped flowing. He's eager to make his debut. "I'm...

Chris Tillman comes off the disabled list tonight to make his first start of the season after going 9-3 with an ERA of 2.93 in 15 starts last year. He went 3-1 with an ERA of 1.80 over his last six starts. The season was a huge success for him and fans wondered if he had finally turned a corner and had gone from prospect to consistently dependable starting pitcher. In 36 starts from 2009-11, Tillman won just seven games. He won nine last year in just 15 starts. Here is another impressive...

Chris Davis is keeping the Orioles' PR staff extra-busy with his historic start to the 2013 season. Here are some facts that have been gathered and made available before tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins: * Davis has more RBIs (16) than 17 major league teams. * Has twice as many RBIs as the Marlins (8), Padres (8), Giants (8), Cubs (7), Dodgers (7) and Pirates (6). He has more RBIs than any two players in the major leagues combined. * Easily has the highest RBI total through four...

With Brian Roberts now on the disabled list, Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base tonight and batting eighth after also getting the start yesterday against Minnesota. "Any time you get a chance to play, it's exciting," Flaherty said. "Just to come out and try to help this team do what it's been doing the first few games, help this team win." Flaherty is usually a man of few words, but today he had more than a few when he was asked his reaction to Roberts suffering a ruptured tendon...

The Orioles officially removed infielder Yamaico Navarro from the 25-man roster today by optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk. The move allowed the Orioles to activate pitcher Chris Tillman from the 15-day disabled list and hand him the ball tonight. Navarro was hoping to catch a flight back to Norfolk and play in the second game of the Tides' doubleheader. The Orioles will go with a three-man bench, preferring to keep the extra bullpen arm as they prepare for next week's road trip to Boston...

It had been a pretty rough afternoon for Ian Desmond. The Nationals shortstop committed two errors in today's game against the Reds, both of which led to unearned runs. Desmond had gone 0-for-4 with a strikeout in his first four trips to the plate. He and the rest of the Nats watched as a 5-1 lead became a 5-5 tie. But Desmond redeemed himself for his early-season struggles with a clutch solo home run that was crushed into the upper deck in left, breaking an 11th-inning tie and giving the...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated right-hander Chris Tillman from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Yamaico Navarro to Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman, 24, was placed on the DL on March 28, retroactive to March 22, with a left abdominal strain. Navarro, 25, was recalled yesterday but did not play. He was acquired from Pittsburgh on November 30, 2012 in exchange for minor league right-hander...

Chris Tillman will start for the Orioles tonight in their 7:05 p.m. game against the Twins at Camden Yards. Still no word on the corresponding roster move that will restore Tillman to the 25-man roster. While we wait for that move, here's the Orioles lineup: 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 Chris Tillman RHP Update: Yamaico Navarro just walked into manager Buck Showalter's office...