As the Orioles try to get some wins after a stretch where they have gone just 7-15 over their past 22 games, tonight they begin a four-game series with the team with the worst record in the American League. The Twins are 36-52 and have lost five in a row. They are just 5-12 this year against the AL East, 17-28 at home and 4-7 in July. Over the weekend, they were swept by Oakland in a three-game series and allowed nine homers to the A's, including eight in the past two games. The Orioles...

As the trade season hits full throttle before the non-waiver July 31 deadline, the Orioles say they are looking for a batter that can pump life into the top of the order and improve their on-base percentage (.302), which ranks 13th in the American League. Another on-base guy would be perfect for the Orioles, but the question is: What would the Orioles have to pay to get it done? Can they make a trade without giving up blue-chip prospects Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado? Minnesota's Denard Span...

Chris Tillman has made 37 starts in the majors, but he has never won consecutive decisions. He's got a shot at it tonight at Target Field. Tillman won his first start with the Orioles this season, allowing two unearned runs in a career-high 8 1/3 innings on July 4 in Seattle. The Orioles optioned him to Double-A Bowie so he could pitch again during the All-Star break, and recalled him earlier today. Tillman threw 125 pitches in Seattle. According to the Orioles' PR staff, that's the...

Here are some of the recent numbers on the Orioles' offense: * They have been shut out three times in the last five games and five times in the past 22 games. * They have scored just 34 runs in the last 11 games, and 73 over the last 25 games, an average of 2.9 per game. * The Orioles are 3-for-31 with runners in scoring position over the last five games and are batting just .168 with RISP over the last 25 games. * The Orioles now rank 11th in the AL in batting average and runs scored and...

Steve Tolleson is starting at second base tonight while Robert Andino nurses a left shoulder injury. Andino exited yesterday's game after diving for a ground ball. X-rays were negative, and the Orioles are waiting for the results of today's MRI. Tolleson hasn't played second base in the majors since 2010 with the Athletics - four appearances, two starts. He's played 243 games at second in the minors, most recently in 2011 with Triple-A Sacramento. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J....

The Nationals will be without Ian Desmond for tonight's series finale against the Marlins. Desmond also sat out yesterday's game against the Marlins because of a sore left oblique which tightened up on him. He had played every inning for 71 straight games prior to missing yesterday's contest. With Desmond out of the lineup, the Nationals will again go with Danny Espinosa at shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi at second base. They'll face veteran right-hander Carlos Zambrano tonight at...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Chris Tillman from Double-A Bowie. Tillman won his only start with the Orioles this season, allowing two unearned runs in a career-high 8.1 innings at Seattle on July 4. He made one start for the Baysox on July 9. Tillman went 8-8 with a 3.63 ERA (89.1IP, 36ER), 30 walks and 92 strikeouts in 16 games (15 starts) for Triple-A Norfolk earlier this season. He went 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA (28.2IP, 8ER) in five June starts, recording...

Left-hander Dana Eveland has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk for the second time this year. Eveland was designated for assignment on Saturday to make room for reliever Miguel Socolovich on the 25- and 40-man rosters. He went through the same process on March 29 after the Orioles claimed infielder Zelous Wheeler off waivers from the Brewers. Coincidentally, Wheeler moved up today from Double-A Bowie to Norfolk. Eveland, acquired from the Dodgers during the winter...

Over the last three days, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg have allowed a total of two runs in 18 innings pitched. The Nationals' trio of aces is at it again. All three put up incredibly impressive first halves, and all three are coming out of the gates strong after the All-Star break. You could certainly argue this is the best trio of starting pitchers on any team in baseball. In fact, it might be hard to argue against it. And that got me thinking. If you had one game...

With each Orioles loss these days, is it possible that a reality is setting in and that reality is that this year, which started out with such promise, will not end up with the Birds in the playoffs? It hasn't been just a tough series, or week, or homestand the team has endured. But since starting the year with a record of 27-14 on May 19, the Orioles are 19-28. That is 47 games of sub-.500, losing baseball. During those 47 games, the ERA of the Orioles' starting pitchers is 5.33. That ERA...