Orioles reliever Troy Patton is eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 27, but that's no longer a realistic target date. Patton said in a text message tonight that it's been a little slower to get the swelling out of his sprained right ankle than he anticipated. He still hasn't been cleared to run or throw while rehabbing at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, and he just got into the pool for the first time today. Manager Buck Showalter has wanted a second left-hander in the...

Back in spring training, Ian Desmond was being interviewed during a game that was airing on MASN, and reporters were down in the clubhouse as Desmond was talking on air. The Nationals shortstop was asked about his tendency to swing at the first pitch of an at-bat, to which he replied, "Yeah, I'm just up there ready to party." That phrase can certainly apply to Desmond's first-inning at-bat tonight. With the Nats already up 2-1, and with Desmond stuck in an 0-for-11 stretch since coming...

During the dark days of 2009, with the Nationals mired in first place in the Bryce Harper draft sweepstakes, I looked to the minor leagues for solace. I decided to attend a Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) trip to Woodbridge, Va., to watch the Single-A Potomac Nationals, at that time the defending Carolina League champions. Excitement ran high as recent draftees, including Drew Storen, had just joined the team. Seeing potential future stars numbed the pain I felt watching the big...

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed that 2012 first-round pick Lucas Giolito will be heading to Los Angeles to see renowned orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum after suffering a setback in his return from an elbow injury. Giolito appeared in a game with the Gulf Coast League Nationals last Tuesday, his first outing in the Nats organization, allowing one run and two hits over two innings. After the outing, however, Giolito complained of some soreness in his throwing elbow. He was examined...

The Orioles continue to confound some critics, who can't understand a 66-55 record with a -44 run differential. There are 10 AL clubs with a better run differential but only three with a better record. The amazing 42-18 record in games decided by one and two runs helps explain away some of that. Most of that actually. We can cherry pick a few series and see this at work. Like the one the Orioles just played. They lost by two, then won by one and two runs for a 2-1 record and run differential...

The Nationals' selections for participation in the Arizona Fall League will be decided in about one week, according to a club source. The Nationals will partially stock the Salt River Rafters, alongside the Rockies, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks and White Sox. AFL play begins Oct. 9. As reported last week, with the new guidelines for roster allocation in place this season, each team can send two low Single-A players, two high Single-A players and three players from Double-A and up. No details...

J.J. Hardy isn't in the Orioles' lineup tonight. He's due for a rest, and as I pointed out earlier, he's 2-for-27 lifetime against Rangers starter Ryan Dempster. Robert Andino is starting at second base and Omar Quintanilla has shifted to shortstop. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Robert Andino 2B Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla SS Manny Machado 3B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis Andrus...

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...