In 2008, Nate McLouth hit .276 with 26 homers, 94 RBIs and an .853 OPS for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a National League All-Star, won a Gold Glove and led the NL with 46 doubles. This year, it wasn't going nearly as well for him. He was batting just .140 for the Pirates with 18 strikeouts in 57 at-bats when he was designated for assignment on May 25 and released a few days later. He would then get picked up by the Orioles and sent to Triple-A Norfolk. Now, a couple of months after being...

Could someone please remind me whether the Orioles need a starting pitcher? I'm confused again. The rotation and bullpen combined for 28 consecutive scoreless innings before the Mariners pushed across a run in the eighth inning last night against Chris Tillman. The Orioles have allowed three runs in their last four games. The starters have posted a 1.00 ERA. You'll notice that I stopped at four games. This incredible stretch of pitching began two days after Zach Britton took the mound at...

This Orioles team has been chocked full of surprises. From Chris Davis earning the win after a wild 17 innings at Fenway Park to scoring 11 unanswered runs in the Bronx and climbing out of a five-run hole to beat the Bombers. Recently in Baltimore, a new pleasant surprise has emerged and he goes by the name, "Miguel Gonzalez." As Orioles fans, we are so used to spot starters burning out our beloved bullpen and costing our favorite team wins. We became accustomed to the likes of Chris...

Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez possesses unique talent. A left-handed power pitcher in a division full of rivals who struggle against southpaws, his performance and joie de vivre plays a vital role in the Nationals' stirring success so far this season. That's important, because Washington traded four top prospects to get the two-time All Star. Gonzalez, with his wide smile, otherworldly curveball and 13 victories, has been a good addition for Nationals teammates and fans alike. He should be...

It sure wasn't pretty. No, it wasn't that. The Nationals played an Astros team last night that now is 4-31 (yes, 4-31!) in its last 35 games. They outhit the Astros 14-6, but scored just one more run than their hosts. Washington relievers combined to allow nine baserunners over 5 2/3 innings. The Nats gave up four more stolen bases without catching a runner trying to steal, yet they had one of their own runners picked off first base. They blew a three-run lead, then failed get a guy in...

Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson recently spent some time at Triple-A Norfolk where he got to work with pitcher Jake Arrieta for the first time. Peterson was able to show Arrieta his biomechanical analysis results from earlier in the year and begin to work on some things to try and get the right-hander back on track after he went 3-9 with a 6.13 ERA in 18 Orioles starts. "When we sat with Jake and reviewed his analysis, Jake was very inquisitive about things that he saw...

Mark Reynolds doubled twice tonight and drove in a run, giving him multiple extra-base hits in the same game for only the second time since June 14 against the Pirates and the third time since May 5 against the Red Sox. Those doubles were part of a 3-for-3 night that lifted his average to .212. "I'm not relieved," Reynolds said. "I've been working my butt off with Pres (hitting coach Jim Presley) in the cage. Early BP. Just trying to figure this thing out. "It's nice to see some...

The Orioles improved to 16-11 in two-run games tonight, 26-2 when their starter goes seven innings or more and 51-28 when they hit a home run. They're also pretty good when Chris Tillman is dealing. Tillman won his fourth consecutive start and improved to 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA. "It's an ongoing proving ground. He knows that," said manager Buck Showalter. "I've said many times, his make-up and mentality will be an asset for him. He's good, especially the second time you see a team, when...

Chris Tillman extended his career-long winning streak to four games tonight, holding the Mariners to one run over 7 1/3 innings and walking only one batter in a 3-1 victory at Camden Yards. "I think fastball command was a little better tonight. Not as good as I was early on when I first got here, but it was better tonight. My changeup and curveball kind of carried me through the game," Tillman said. "It feels good. I feel like I put a lot of work in in the offseason and carried it into the...

Through 5 1/2 innings tonight, the Nationals' 3-5 hitters have combined to go 6-for-10 with four RBIs. This is what happens when you finally have your big guns healthy and producing. The Nats have a 4-1 lead over the Astros so far tonight. Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Adam LaRoche and Jayson Werth have smacked around Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, and Edwin Jackson has thrown four scoreless frames after allowing a run in the first. Jackson also has gotten in the hit column himself,...