Don't look now, but the Orioles' pitching has taken a turn for the better. This stat may have snuck up quietly on us, but over the 13 games since Aug. 3, the O's team ERA is 2.58. They just gave up 10 runs to Boston in a three-game series and six of those came last night. The Sox are third in the AL in runs and average 4.9 per game. The 13-game run, during which the Orioles are 9-4, has lowered their team ERA on the year from 4.25 to 4.06. That now ranks eighth in the AL. A similar...

As soon as Steve Johnson returned to the mound for the ninth inning last night, I figured he no longer was a candidate to make Saturday night's start in Detroit, unless he recorded three outs on three pitches or learned how to throw a knuckleball. Johnson was listed as Saturday's starter earlier in the day, but manager Buck Showalter couched it by saying the plans could change if the St. Paul's grad had to work in relief. Talk about a cruel tease. Johnson remained in the bullpen through...

Dan Daniels, the voice of the Washington Senators from 1961-68, passed away after complications from a fall at his Bethesda home on Aug. 13. He was 90 years old. Daniels worked as a television and radio sportscaster in Washington for 22 years, providing play-by-play coverage of the Redskins, Maryland and Navy in addition to calling Senators games. He is survived by three sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Nationals right-handed prospect Alex Meyer toes the rubber in his sixth start tonight for high Single-A Potomac at Salem. Meyer has gone 2-1 with a 0.93 ERA in five outings so far for the P-Nats, striking out 26 while allowing just 17 hits and three walks in 29 innings. Recently, I got the chance to sit down with Meyer and see how his first season has played out, especially his recent promotion to Potomac from low Single-A Hagerstown. "It has been a transition period," Meyer said. "I...

Will Ian Desmond make his grand return to the Nationals tonight as the team opens a series against the Mets? We'll have to see. As you know, Desmond took part in a simulated game yesterday, and if he feels good today, the All-Star shortstop could find his name back in the lineup tonight after missing 25 games with a left oblique injury. Chien-Ming Wang resumed his rehab from a right hip strain yesterday, starting for Double-A Harrisburg in the Senators' game against Akron. Wang got stuck...

The Nationals are returning home this weekend as conquering heroes. Not only have they completed one of the best road trips in team history at 8-2 and amassed the best road record in the majors, they have been passing key tests that they failed earlier in the season, showing how they have grown and matured as a team. Remember back in late April when the Nats hit the West Coast for the first time? After taking two in San Diego, they stumbled in the series finale against the Padres before...

Manny Machado hit his first two major league home runs against the Kansas City Royals' Luke Hochevar on Aug. 10, becoming the youngest Orioles player to record a multi-homer game. That honor previously belonged to one John Wesley "Boog" Powell who, like Machado, got his first two major league home runs in the same game. Powell's first four career home runs came as part of multi-homer games, and they were all two-run shots. Powell homered twice against the Twins on May 2, 1962. He followed...

For most of the 2012 season, one that has mostly not been a good one for him, the assumption has been that Mark Reynolds would likely not return to the Orioles for the 2013 season. But after Reynolds' recent hot streak at the plate, is there a chance that could change? Can Reynolds still play his way into the Orioles' plans for next season? The Orioles hold a team option on his contract, but it would cost them $11 million for next year and that seems very unlikely to get picked up. But if...

The Red Sox broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the sixth inning last night when rookie Manny Machado couldn't field Dustin Pedroia's slow bouncer with runners on second and third and two outs. Machado charged the ball, but didn't come up with it. Not an easy play, but one that had to be made. "They got lucky," said reliever Luis Ayala, who took the loss. "Ground ball. Tough play, but it was a key for the game. "We got lucky, too. We got a nice play with Machado, too. It's part of the...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters after tonight's 6-3 loss to the Red Sox that Steve Johnson was still "somewhat of an option" to start Saturday in Detroit. However, I doubt that it's going to happen after Johnson threw 28 pitches tonight. We'll see. "There's still that potential he can pitch there," Showalter said. "He hadn't pitched in seven days. We didn't want to pitch anyone else. We were down to our last guy. I was trying to stay away from Steve if I could. We're...