Orioles manager Buck Showalter went against the left-right percentages and decided to start Jim Thome against veteran southpaw Andy Pettitte. Showalter considered starting Thome against left-hander CC Sabathia last night, but used Lew Ford as his designated hitter. "Tough not playing him last night," Showalter said. "He's got his shin guards and his batting gloves on about three-fourths of that game last night. He had a good lather going. "It gives us a chance to be a little more...

ST. LOUIS - The first two innings of this game have been an exact replica of the first two innings yesterday. Only this time, it's the Cardinals with the wild left-handed starter with a pitch count over 50 and the Nationals missing the chance to put their opponent in a big early hole. Jordan Zimmermann got the Nats on the board in the second inning today, dropping a single into right field off Jamie Garcia after Zimmermann had faked a bunt and pulled the bat back. Ian Desmond, who was on...

Matt Wieters admitted today, he was not sure what he would see or feel when he walked into the Orioles clubhouse last night. How would the team react after such a difficult ninth inning? Was the clubhouse the same as it had been all year? "It actually was," Wieters said at a press conference this afternoon at Camden Yards. "I haven't experienced a playoff loss before, so you don't really know what to expect when you get back in the clubhouse but everybody was (like), 'It's one game,'...

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will face Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia today, something that might have spelled bad news for Adam LaRoche in the past. Traditionally a significantly better hitter against right-handed pitching, the left-handed hitting LaRoche has really improved against lefties this season. Not only did he hit .268 against lefties this season, but he also had 11 home runs and an .825 OPS off southpaws in 188 plate appearances. When you factor in the sample size, those are...

Think the O's can slide past the Yankees in the American League Division Series? Excited about the prospect of an American League Championship Series date with the Tigers or Athletics? Then plan to be at a computer Tuesday at 10 a.m. when tickets to potential Games 3, 4 and 5 in Baltimore will go on sale to the general public exclusively online at www.orioles.com/postseason. The Orioles warn that ticket availability is expected to be limited and tickets could sell out quickly. The allotment...

The Orioles today announced that American League Championship Series tickets for potential Games 3, 4 and 5 in Baltimore (labeled as Home Games 1, 2 and 3, respectively) will go on sale to the general public tomorrow, Tuesday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m. exclusively online at www.orioles.com/postseason. Ticket availability is expected to be limited and tickets may sell out quickly. Season Plan Holders have already had an opportunity to purchase tickets as part of the postseason invoicing process...

ST. LOUIS - Jordan Zimmermann isn't going to try and trick himself into believing he's been in a spot like this before. He pitched collegiately at the University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point, a Division III school, and while he threw in the 2007 College World Series in front of about 5,000 fans, he's aware today's start in Game 2 of the National League Division Series is a far different animal. "I don't think there is anything close to this," he said. That might be the case, but no one...

Jim Thome is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter tonight in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Manager Buck Showalter has been sitting Thome against left-handers, but not tonight. Chris Davis remains in right field. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Jim Thome DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP NOTE: Game 3 of the ALDS in New York is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, but...

Andy Pettitte is facing the Orioles tonight. Hold on, this might be an old notebook. Nope, it's the one I've used this summer. Pettitte is starting Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Does this mean Roger Clemens goes in Game 3? The Orioles haven't faced Pettitte since he decided to make a comeback this season. The only player who's had an at-bat against him is Omar Quintanilla, while he was playing for the Mets, but he's not on the Division Series roster. Pettitte is 27-6...

ST. LOUIS - Danny Espinosa battled a bone bruise in his left shoulder down the stretch this season, an injury that really put him in a rut at the plate. The Nationals' second baseman got a cortisone shot on Sept. 17, and it helped him turn things around for a stretch, as he hit .400 over his next seven games. Over his final nine regular season contests, however, Espinosa's struggles returned. He batted just .103 with 12 strikeouts in 29 at-bats, and then went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts...