In his next-to-last start with the Orioles on against the White Sox, he surrendered six runs and eight hits, and walked three batters, in only 2 2/3 innings. Tillman didn't pitch for the Orioles again - beyond spring training - until making today's start against the Mariners at Safeco Field. I try not to place too much emphasis on one appearance or a game in early July, but this is a fairly big one for Tillman, who is trying to establish himself in the majors and jump off the shuttle to...

Following today's game, Davey Johnson found his team 15 games above .500, matching their season-high. That gave him plenty to smile about while meeting with reporters. But Johnson isn't satisfied yet. Not by a longshot. His team is now 47-32 on the season, but he's already picked out his next goal - 20 games above .500. "I like to go by fives," Johnson said. "We got to 15 before and we dropped back. I like to progress. The next number I like to get is 20 games over. I always go by...

Remember that scene in "When Harry Met Sally," when Meg Ryan is slapping the table and the random lady nearby turns to the waitress and says, "I'll have what she's having"? The rest of the league wants whatever the Nationals have been having over their last eight games. Was that a bit of a reach? OK, my bad. Since last Tuesday, the Nats have averaged 8.6 runs per game, which is remarkable, given they hadn't scored eight runs in any of their 25 contests prior to this streak...

Xavier Avery is leading off again today, as the Orioles attempt to win back-to-back games before heading to Anaheim. Chris Tillman is making his first start for the Orioles this season, and he'll have Matt Wieters behind the plate in a day game following a night game. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Jim Thome DH Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki RF Michael...

Unlike some fans and analysts, I am not a huge believer that a high strikeout rate is generally a predictor that a pitcher will do well. But I do put some importance on it and it stands to reason that a pitcher with a lot of strikeouts must have something going for him. If you look at Chris Tillman's strikeout rates at Triple-A Norfolk this year, he is ringing up the Ks at his best rate since 2009 when he had an ERA of 2.70 for the Tides. Tillman averaged 9.2 strikeouts for every nine...

For whatever reason, Edwin Jackson stinks it up in the first inning nearly every time he takes the mound. Then, almost without fail, he gets into a groove and dominates the rest of the way out. That pattern has held true today, as Jackson gave up three Giants runs in the first inning, putting the Nationals in an early 3-0 hole. He has settled into a groove since then, however, facing just one over the minimum from innings 2-4. Jackson now has 9.56 ERA in the first inning this season, and a...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Chris Tillman from Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman has gone 8-8 with a 3.63 ERA (89.1IP, 36ER), 30 walks and 92 strikeouts in 16 games (15 starts) for the Tides. He went 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA (28.2IP, 8ER) in five June starts, recording seven or more strikeouts in four of those outings. He will wear jersey number 30.

Of all the positives to come out of last night's dominating win over the National League West-leading Giants - and there were many to choose from - the thing that Davey Johnson was most pleased with was the performance of his second baseman. Danny Espinosa went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI last night, with all three hits coming from the left side, a troublesome side of the plate for Espinosa this season. "I was really pleased to see Espinosa," Johnson said last night. "He's been...

Don't look now, but after last night's games, the Orioles no longer lead the major leagues in bullpen ERA. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have 'pen ERAs of 2.70 and the Orioles' mark went up to 2.71. That still ranks first in the American League. The Orioles bullpen has now given up runs in eight straight games; before this, five in a row was the longest stretch of the year. Over those eight games, the 'pen ERA is 5.81, raising the season number from 2.30 to that current 2.71. The Orioles...

The Nationals will wear their normal red hats for this afternoon's 11:05 a.m. start, with a patriotic twist: The curly W will be camouflage. Trust me when I say that the special July 4 hats look pretty sweet. Happy Fourth of July to everyone out there. Hope your BBQs are fun, the fireworks shine brightly tonight and we get some good baseball this morning, even if it's far too early for me to be at the stadium. I'll be hitting up the press box coffee machine quite a few times over the...