ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are breaking out a familiar lineup tonight against Rays right-hander James Shields. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Manny Machado 3B Miguel Gonzalez RHP The Orioles are still listing Wednesday night's starter as TBA. With a win tonight, Gonzalez would have a victory against every American League East team in his rookie season. According to...

I can remember back at the end of last year's baseball Winter Meetings. The Los Angeles Angels were hailed as smart and aggressive, and given the mantel as 2012 American League favorites. They spent nearly $320 million on Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. New general manager Jerry Dipoto and owner Arte Moreno really wanted to win. Their fans loved that duo. Why didn't Dipoto come here, some O's fans wondered. The Angels had a press conference that was basically a pep rally to introduce...

There was one quote from last night's celebration that I didn't get around to dropping into any of my earlier entries, but wanted to make sure to pass along before the night fades away. The quote comes from Bryce Harper, who was asked about Stephen Strasburg's role in getting the Nationals to the NL East title despite last taking the mound for the team on Sept. 7. "He frickin' pitched his butt off this year," Harper said. "It really sucked that he had to be shut down, but it's OK....

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez is the only confirmed starter for the Orioles the rest of the week. He's taking the mound tonight. When it comes to revealing his other starters, manager Buck Showalter is taking the fifth. I've broken down the possible scenarios, including Chris Tillman starting on Wednesday in a must-win situation. Confirmation should come later today. Showalter dropped Dylan Bundy's name on reporters yesterday, a sly grin spreading across his face. He decided to...

Now that the Nationals have become the new champions of the National League East, they have a chance to finish with the best record in the league. They are tied with Cincinnati for that position, and if they finish with the best record, they'll have home-field advantage if they make it to the National League Championship Series. If they tie, the Nationals have the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series. And the best record means they'll start the Division Series on Sunday, and...

To those born after 1971, this is how it was supposed to be in Washington all along. Enjoy it to the fullest. To those who remember the Senators, the sadness of September 30, 1971 is now gone. Forever. Let it go. Let peace wash over you. Rest in peace, Robert E. Short and all those who allowed the National Pastime to depart the nation's capital. The Washington Nationals are the 2012 National League East Division Champions. Say it again and again until joy fills your heart. No one, no...

If Hollywood was smart - six "Fast and the Furious" movies are strong evidence to the contrary - there would be a movie about the Orioles' season out by Opening Day 2013. This season is the perfect script and in a lot of ways, like most O's fans, I feel like I'm playing a minor character in it. Like when my brother-in-law and sister-in-law helped me purchase postseason tickets just days before giving birth to their first child. Or when my dad and I were on MASN reaching for Nate...

Nothing is decided for the Orioles with two games to go. They fell back into second place last night, but they could still win the AL East outright over the next two days or tie the Yankees. They also could wind up the No. 5 seed in the AL and have to play a road wild card game. They are not as fortunate as Detroit. While 92 wins hasn't even guaranteed the Orioles a home game at this point, the Tigers clinched their division with 87 wins last night and now can relax over the last two...

As the Nationals sprayed champagne, beer, Gatorade, orange juice, water, baby powder, shaving cream and any other substance they could find last night, there was plenty of great stuff going on. On the MASN broadcast, Gio Gonzalez called principal owner Mark Lerner, whose foot is in a boot after recent surgery, "the pimp with the limp." While on the field, Ryan Mattheus sprinted over to Teddy, the giant racing president, and dumped a beer all over him. Wilson Ramos - surgically repaired...

Shortly after Gio Gonzalez dumped a beer on the head of the Nationals' managing principal owner Ted Lerner, his son, Mark Lerner, stood on the field with players celebrating all around him, talking about what the NL East title meant to the organization after years of losing. "When Commissioner (Bud) Selig gave us the team, it was a big decision on his part," Lerner said. "First of all, our family wants to thank him for having the trust that we could do it the right way, and I hope he's...