You know all the numbers by now: How the Orioles have made themselves a player in the wild card race, how they've made August baseball in Baltimore relevant on a national scale, how clubs managed by Buck Showalter historically show a significant improvement in his second full season at the helm. But the improvement in the Orioles' numbers aren't solely in the win-loss column. This season roughly 62,000 viewers are watching Orioles broadcasts on MASN versus the 44,000 viewers-per-game...

I guess it's fitting that for a series which could play a major role in determining the National League East champion, we'll get three pretty strong pitching matchups. Tonight, Jordan Zimmermann (9-7, 2.38 ERA) and veteran Braves right-hander Tim Hudson (12-4, 3.59 ERA) will kick things off. Zimmermann hasn't faced the Braves yet this season, but he's 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in three career starts against the boys from Atlanta. It's a small sample size, but only one of seven Braves hitters...

Ryan Dempster will make his fourth start with the Rangers tonight, and only his second career start against the Orioles, who begin a three-game series in Arlington. Dempster has surrendered eight earned runs in two of his three starts since the Cubs traded him, and he's sporting an 8.31 ERA in the American League. He's served up five home runs in 17 1/3 innings. In his only game against the Orioles, Dempster allowed one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who...

Will this finally be the year for the Double-A Bowie Baysox? The Baysox have been close to a playoff berth in recent seasons only to fall just short. Like last year, for instance. The Baysox were in first place as late as Aug. 12 and were in position for a playoff berth until the final series when they were passed by Richmond after losing eight of their final 12 games. On the final day of the season, Richmond hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning to take a 2-1 lead over Altoona...

A key match-up in the Braves series is the running game. The Nationals must focus on monitoring the progress of Braves speedsters Michael Bourn and Jason Heyward. The two have combined to steal 50 bases. Bourn has stolen 33 bases this season, which ranks No. 1 in the National League and No. 3 overall in the majors. He has been caught stealing only eight times (an 80.4 percent success rate). So basically, four out of every five times Bourn takes off, he is safe and in scoring...

Do the Mets really have to leave town? Is there any way they can hang around a bit longer? Can someone divert their train back to D.C. and have them play a few more games at Nats Park? If Davey Johnson promises not to have Johan Santana cover the gold patch on his glove, is the lefty willing to throw a few more times against the Nats? With just three games between these two teams still to be played, the season series between the Nationals and Mets has been dominated by the best team in...

Watching Bryce Harper come alive yesterday afternoon and make the difference in a 5-2 win over the Mets, one that pushed the Nationals' lead on the Braves to five games, was heartening. Nothing could be better than to see the Nationals' best 19-year-old get hot down the stretch. But just as important may have been the performance of Craig Stammen and Tyler Clippard. Both pitchers have had hiccups over the past month. Two of the Washington 2012 bullpen stalwarts shut down the Mets in the...

The Detroit Tigers recently went through a stretch of 17 home games that spanned the end of the first half and start of the second going 16-1. They entered the Orioles series with a 16-3 record in their last 19 home games. But the Orioles went to Comerica Park, lost the first game of that series, but came back to win the next two. In the road trip before that, the Orioles went 2-1 both at New York and on the road vs. Tampa Bay. That is three straight road series wins against AL contending...

A road trip that was supposed to crush the Orioles has produced two wins in the first three games. Reminds me of the trip to New York and Tampa Bay that was supposed to crush them. This just in: The bullpen is still really, really good. It's the No. 1 reason why the Orioles would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Jim Johnson would get my vote for Most Valuable Oriole if I had to submit my ballot today, but I'd still like to make an exception and just give it to the entire...

Brian Matusz made his second relief appearance tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and he lasted one inning against Charlotte before Tides manager Ron Johnson went back to his bullpen. Matusz replaced starter Jason Berken with two outs in the seventh and was charged with two runs and two hits, with two walks, one strikeout, one wild pitch and one balk. He stranded two inherited runners in the seventh, but Zach Phillips replaced him with two outs in the eighth. Matusz made his relief debut on...