This isn't the way left-hander Joe Saunders imagined that his Orioles debut would unfold. Four of the first five White Sox reached base against Saunders, who allowed four runs and four hits in the first inning. Chicago loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, and Alex Rios stroked a two-run double. Alexei Ramirez looped a two-out, two-run single into right field before catcher Tyler Flowers struck out on Saunders' 31st pitch. In his last three starts, including two with the...

A lot of times before a game, Matt Wieters will watch video of a pitcher to see what he can expect in batting against the pitcher that night. Today, the Orioles catcher watched tape of Joe Saunders because he will catch him for the first time tonight as Saunders makes his Orioles debut against Chicago. "I did (watch video of Saunders)," Wieters said. "I think maybe I have three at-bats off him, so you can't get a good read off that. So I just went back to watch his last game or two to get...

With a win tonight, the Orioles would move to within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Yankees in the American League East. The Blue Jays posted an 8-5 victory in the Bronx earlier today. Also, the Orioles would be 15 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 1997 season, when they posted a 98-64 record and reached the American League Championship Series for the second consecutive year. The Orioles are 16-8 in August, their most wins in any month this season. They won 15 games in...

It's been more than 30 years since the 1979 World Series, a slice of Orioles history that represents both the best and worst for Kiko Garcia, the shortstop on the team that lost a three games to one series lead to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now 58, Garcia recently made his first trip to Baltimore since the final game at Memorial Stadium in 1991, and got his first in-person look at Camden Yards. Speaking following the Orioles Advocates Hall of Fame Luncheon last week, where he feted former...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated today that the Orioles will send pitcher Dylan Bundy to the fall instructional league once Double-A Bowie's season ends, which apparently will keep the organization's top prospect from making his major league debut in 2012. Bundy, 19, has long been rumored as a September call-up at the latest, with the possibility of him working in relief or getting a start. He's 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 23 combined starts with three affiliates, with 67 hits, 28 walks...

After Buck Showalter's pregame comments today about sending Dylan Bundy to instructional league when that starts on September 12, it now appears that Bundy will not get a September call-up to Baltimore. I think the organization is making the exact right call. While Bundy is 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA at three levels this year, it is amazing enough for him to have advanced three levels and be ending this season in Double-A at age 19. You just don't see many 19-year-old pitchers reaching the...

Davey Johnson has his regulars back and healthy, so he'll run them out there. The Nationals were held scoreless yesterday and managed just five hits, but Johnson will keep his lineup the same for tonight's game against the Marlins. The Nats will take their hacks against 21-year-old right-hander Jacob Turner, making his second start for the Marlins since coming over from the Tigers in the Anibal Sanchez trade. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam...

Nationals top infield prospect Anthony Rendon will get to extend his season against the best competition in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters. Rendon joins Jason Martinson, Brian Goodwin and one other yet to be named infielder from the Nationals organization. Pitchers selected from the Nationals are Paul Demny, Ryan Perry, Christian Garcia and one other pitcher to be named. Martinson will be the taxi squad participant, eligible to play Wednesdays and Saturdays. Mark...

The Orioles' lineup tonight leans to the left, with Nate McLouth batting third, Chris Davis serving as the designated hitter and Omar Quintanilla playing second base. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Manny Machado 3B Joe Saunders LHP Seven Orioles farmhands are included on the Mesa Solar Sox roster in the Arizona Fall League: Pitchers Michael Belfiore, Chris Petrini, Clay...

One more game, then it's home sweet home. Who knew a little five-game road trip could seem so long? The plane ride back to D.C. after tonight's game will seem a heck of a lot shorter if the Nationals can pick up a win tonight. The 25 guys in the clubhouse would like nothing more than to snap this skid and walk into Nats Park tomorrow with a clean slate, of sorts. A win tonight would give them that. The Nats have an 11-game homestand to look forward to after this road trip to forget. Four...