If the Nationals win tonight and get their way to the National League Championship Series, Jordan Zimmermann will get the ball for Game 1. Nats manager Davey Johnson said today that Zimmermann would be his guy to open the NLCS on Sunday, this after working a perfect inning of relief yesterday and striking out all three hitters he faced. Like Zimmermann yesterday, Edwin Jackson will be available in relief tonight because it's his throw day. Unlike Zimmermann yesterday, however, Jackson will...

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has not been able to get on track in the National League Division Series against tough St. Louis pitching. He has gone 1-for-18 in four games with a double in Game 2. He has struck out six times. Harper is a perfectionist and focuses more and more when he struggles. Manager Davey Johnson said before Game 5 that may not be the best strategy. "With Bryce, when he doesn't do something spectacular, he tries harder," Johnson said. "And trying harder is not...

NEW YORK - Nine up, nine down for Jason Hammel. Nine up, nine down for CC Sabathia before Nate McLouth singled leading off the top of the fourth inning. McLouth's eight postseason hits tie Derek Jeter for the most among American League players. He's been quite a McPest to the Yankees. McLouth stole second with two outs, but Chris Davis flied to center. These teams are a combined 2-for-29 with runners in scoring position in the last three games including today. Should the Orioles win...

Tonight's live blog: Welcome to the final live blog of this series. Yes, it's Game 5 and the winner will go to the American League Championship Series. The Orioles have been there nine times, but not since 1997. As always, check back here throughout the game for the latest news, notes and reader comments. Keep them coming all game long. It's Hammel against CC: Jason Hammel is 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA in four starts this year against New York. But his ERA was 4.91 the first two times he faced...

NEW YORK - Just in case the Orioles advance to the American League Championship Series, they've made arrangements for left-hander Zach Britton and infielder Wilson Betemit to join them in New York this afternoon as potential additions to their playoff roster. Britton and Betemit would fly with them to Detroit, though their inclusions on the ALCS roster haven't been decided. It's just easier to have them with the team now than to make flight arrangements later, with Game 1 scheduled for...

A few Nationals players said after Wednesday's Game 3 loss that if they could just force a Game 5, they felt like they had the advantage. Gio Gonzalez, a 21-game winner this season who posted a 1.35 ERA in his final six regular season starts, would take the mound for the Nats in that Game 5 with a chance to pitch them to the National League Championship Series. Well, here it is. The Nats did what they needed to do last night to force a game today to decide the National League Division...

NEW YORK - Lew Ford will serve as the Orioles' designated hitter today for Game 5 of the American League Division Series. Jim Thome is on the bench. Robert Andino gets the start at second base, as manager Buck Showalter continues to platoon him with Ryan Flaherty. Alex Rodriguez has been benched by Yankees manager Joe Girardi. He's 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the Division Series and has been lifted for a pinch-hitter the past two nights. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy...

Wouldn't it be fitting that during a season where the Orioles were scrutinized (some would say overly so) for their run differential, that they win this series with fewer runs scored than the Yankees. That is quite possible as the series score right now is New York 13, Baltimore 9. Yes, the O's are in the negative again. Ask them if they care. Here is the stat that some don't know or care to look at. The Orioles played their best baseball late in the year. They went 38-20 from Aug. 1 to...

The Orioles and Yankees are headed to a decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series on the heels of a 13-inning 2-1 win by the Birds on Thursday night in the Bronx. Here's a round-up of what local, national and out-of-town media are saying about Game 4 and what lies ahead tonight. * Albert Chen of SI.com says what fans in Baltimore have known for weeks and months: Orioles magic is still alive. * Newsday's David Lennon writes about how Yankees skipper Joe Girardi coped privately...

Before yesterday's must-win Game 4, reliever Michael Gonzalez, one of the Nationals' veteran leaders, walked past Jayson Werth and asked him how he was feeling. "I said, 'I feel like I want to play tomorrow,' " Werth said. "And we get that chance." They sure do. The Nationals will play a Game 5 tonight in prime time, a decisive game that will send either them or the Cardinals home for the winter. The Nats wouldn't be in this spot today if not for one of their best-played games of...