Believe it or not, Jordan Zimmermann has only one win at Nationals Park since last year's All-Star break. One win. In 11 starts. This despite posting a 3.13 ERA during those 11 outings at home. Zimmermann's last home win came on Aug. 18, 2011. In his eight home starts since, he has an 0-4 record and has received 10 runs of offensive support while in the game. Despite all the talk about the Nationals' two All-Star starters (Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez), Zimmermann currently leads...

The Orioles' current slide is nothing that a four-game winning streak couldn't fix. It's just that right now, the Orioles don't look capable of winning four in a row. The O's have lost six of their last seven games and have been outscored 58-25 during that stretch. They have looked every bit as bad as that run differential would indicate. Here is something pretty amazing: From May 20-June 1, the Orioles lost nine of 11 games. Currently they have lost 10 of 13 games. That is a record of...

You've heard of bad losses. Last night's loss was a bad one. It makes a fist and punches you in the gut. It takes up two parking spaces. It uses up all the hot water. It raises gas prices. It hides the remote control. It brings 20 items into the express lane. It sits behind you in the theater and won't stop talking. It hires Lindsay Lohan to babysit your kids. Yeah, the kind of loss so bad, it should be put on timeout. The Orioles led the Mariners 3-1 in the seventh inning. They had...

The Orioles had just three hits tonight, but for a while it looked like they had enough runs to get a win in Seattle. Then the Mariners took advantage of a late O's miscue on defense to score five runs over their last two innings and beat the Orioles 6-3. Chris Davis hit his second homer in the last three games, a three-run shot in the fourth, and that gave the O's a 3-1 edge, which held up until the bottom of the seventh. With a man on first and none out in the seventh, Chone Figgins...

Jason Hammel tied his career high by allowing eight runs in his final start before the All-Star selections were announced. Bad timing. Hammel is one of five finalists for the Final Vote, joining fellow pitchers Jonathan Broxton, Yu Darvish, Ernesto Frieri and Jake Peavy. Tonight, he's held the Mariners to one run through six innings. Good timing. Hammel has given up five hits, including John Jaso's gift double in the sixth, walked none and struck out seven. He's clinging to a 3-1 lead...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter, during his pregame session with reporters in Seattle, indicated that Chris Tillman could start Wednesday against the Mariners instead of Thursday against the Angels. Executive vice president Dan Duquette told me earlier today that Tillman was scratched from his start in Triple-A Norfolk in case he was needed to pitch against the Angels, but Jake Arrieta could be pushed back a day. That seems to be the plan. It might be a good idea to reintroduce Tillman to...

After a 328 day absence, it appears that Chris Tillman is returning to the Orioles rotation Thursday. While Tillman's 2010 and 2011 seasons have been difficult and trying, in 2012 he has turned back the clock to 2009. In 2009, the 21-year old phenom dominated the International League for nearly four months (only Braves 22-year old hurler Tommy Hanson was better). That was the last bit of real success Tillman has had until this season. I was present at a few of those Norfolk Tides games...

Being selected to the All-Star Game is an honor, regardless how a player gets there. Bryce Harper wasn't voted in as a starter or selected as a reserve by his peers or the manager of the National League All-Star team, Tony LaRussa. He will, however, have a shot to participate in the Midsummer Classic thanks to the All-Star Game Final Vote. The Nationals' 19-year-old outfielder is up against Chipper Jones, Michael Bourn, David Freese and Aaron Hill for the final spot on the NL roster. Fans...

Robert Andino is starting at second base and batting leadoff tonight for the Orioles as they begin a three-game series in Seattle. Brian Roberts is taking a seat on the bench. Jim Thome is serving as the designated hitter again after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts yesterday in his debut. Wilson Betemit has moved up to third in the order for the first time this season. He has 17 hits in his last 36 at-bats. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Wilson Betemit 3B Adam Jones CF...

A couple of pregame notes as the Orioles begin a seven-game road trip with a three-game series tonight in Seattle. The road trip will take them to the All-Star break. * Steve Johnson was officially added to the roster this afternoon. He is 3-5 with an ERA of 2.73 in 14 games in nine starts at Triple-A Norfolk. His last four appearances came out of the bullpen. In those four games he pitched 12 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits while walking seven and striking out 20. Johnson has...