On June 2, Brian Matusz tossed 7 1/3 innings and pitched the Orioles to an important win on the road against Tampa Bay. But over his last three starts, he has pitched a total of 12 1/3 innings, allowing 11 earned runs for an ERA of 8.03. After those outings, where he lasted just two innings, 5 2/3 and 4 2/3, losing all three games, he will try to pitch the Orioles past the Los Angeles Angels here tonight in the opener of a two-game series. Matusz took the loss against the Angels on April 20,...

Right fielder Destin Hood has recovered from his wrist injury and returns to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators' lineup. Hood completed his rehab assignment with the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays, going 3-for-17 (.176) with a double, two walks and seven strikeouts. Hood was hitting .220 in 41 games with the Senators, but injured his wrist and had a bout with the flu that slowed his season. He has just one homer, but had 19 RBIs and five stolen bases before the time off. But his...

After a stay on the disabled list since May 11, Matt Lindstrom could be back on the Orioles' active roster officially at some point today. He has pitched four times in the minors on an injury-rehab assignment and is back in the Orioles' clubhouse today waiting to find out if he's getting activated in time for tonight's game. "I'm in here being evaluated by the doctor and training staff, just to make sure everything's good," Lindstrom said. "I don't know anything other than that....

Mark Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter tonight against Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson. Robert Andino gets another start at third base, with Wilson Betemit moving across the diamond to first. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds DH Wilson Betemit 1B Steve Pearce RF Steve Tolleson LF Robert Andino 3B Brian Matusz LHP The Orioles reached agreement today with outfielder Lucas Herbst, chosen in the 26th round of the First-Year...

There has been some talk recently about Chris Tillman. Could the 24-year-old right-hander help the Orioles' rotation if he gets the call to Baltimore? Tillman has given up just one earned run over 11 1/3 innings in his past two starts. Over his last six starts, he is 4-2 with an ERA of 2.19 and opposing batters are hitting just .175 off him in those starts. Tillman's next Triple-A start is set for tomorrow night. Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin recently talked with me about Tillman on...

Now that the Chicago White Sox have acquired a third baseman, Kevin Youkilis, the question is whether the Orioles will do the same. The Orioles would be a stronger contender if they had a stabilizing third baseman instead of a revolving door at the hot corner. Wilson Betemit is a fill-in player who can hit, but he's not a regular third baseman. Mark Reynolds is better defensively at first base. Manager Buck Showalter says Chris Davis could be an above-average third baseman, but it's too late...

The Nationals may still have the second-best record in the National League at 41-30, but the team is currently in a tailspin. The Nats have lost seven of their past 10 contests and have been outscored 25-34 in that span. The club will be the first to admit it: Their offense is struggling and the team, as a whole, is suffering. Earlier in the year, the team was able to get by game-to-game with one-run victories, but it seems the luck has run out as the edged-out wins just aren't happening....

Remember that six-game winning streak the Nationals compiled by sweeping the Red Sox and Blue Jays on the road? Since then, the Nats have won just three of 10 games. In those 10 games, they've scored an average of 2.5 runs per contest. And that includes a game where they played 14 innings. When your offense is performing that poorly, it doesn't matter how good your guys on the mound are. Your pitching staff can put up a 3.09 ERA in those 10 games, as Washington's has, and you can still...

Chris Davis may be a little light on hits recently, but his sense of humor remains strong. After talking with a few reporters Sunday about his recent batting slump he said, "Hey, thanks, guys for bringing all this up." He joked that he has pitching to fall back on if he needs it. Don't take any of this to mean Davis is not taking his slump seriously or not working hard to get out of it. He is, but he's also trying to keep an even keel and knows hitters go through hot and cold streaks. He...

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg looked pretty good again Monday, but allowed three runs in the 4-2 loss to the Rockies in Denver. A loss by Strasburg is as rare as oxygen at the higher elevations of the Mile High City. It was his first setback since May 15. Fresh off of striking out the side in the fifth and his team clinging to a 2-1 advantage, Colorado put together three hits and benefited from a hit batter to start a rally that would end up winning the game. Following a Dexter Fowler...