For the first time since May 28 in Toronto, Xavier Avery will be back in the Orioles lineup tonight. He'll bat second and play left field. "It's always a surprise (to get called up) because you never know what can happen. It's a big surprise," Avery said of returning to the Orioles. He was with the Orioles from May 13-28, batting .217 in 15 games. He hit .313 his first eight games but went just 3-for-28 over his last seven before being optioned back to the Tides. "I didn't get a...

Right-hander Ryan Perry gets his second professional start tonight as Double-A Harrisburg plays host to Altoona. Perry went three innings in his first start and was very solid. If Perry can have some "easy" innings tonight, as Senators pitching coach Paul Menhart termed them, he will likely be extended to four innings. Harrisburg right fielder Destin Hood returns to the lineup after getting a day off this week. Hood hit the ball well in his first game back, but the Nationals want to monitor...

Left-hander Dana Eveland will make Saturday's start against the Indians at Camden Yards. Eveland's name appeared among the starters on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse, and manager Buck Showalter confirmed the assignment while meeting with reporters. Eveland has posted a 3.00 ERA in 11 games, with 23 hits allowed, 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in 27 innings. In his only start on May 11, he allowed three runs and five hits, and walked six batters, in six innings against the...

As I mentioned earlier, Edwin Jackson hasn't been treated so well at Coors Field over the course of his career. Jackson entered today having allowed 21 earned runs over 12 innings at the Rockies' home park, good for a 15.75 ERA. Those numbers have gotten worse early in today's ballgame. Significantly worse. Jackson received a rude welcome by Rockies hitters, who touched him up for five first-inning runs on six hits. The Nationals' starter didn't truly retire a single one of the first...

Washington Nationals Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team players Saul Bosquez and Matt Kinsey along with three-time All-Star and ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe, who is a Kansas City native, will join the star-studded roster for the 2012 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game on ESPN. Chris Rose and Kevin Millar, hosts of MLB Network's "Intentional Talk," will join the game as the in-park announcers for fans at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, July 8th. Bosquez, US Army, Operation...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled outfielder Xavier Avery from Triple-A Norfolk and placed infielder Nick Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a right wrist sprain. Avery batted .217/.299/.317 in a 15-game stint with the Orioles earlier this season. He batted .268/.372/.411 with 16 stolen bases, 18 extra-base hits, 36 walks and 39 runs scored in 59 games for the Tides. Johnson is batting .207/.324/.391 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 38 games for the Orioles this...

The Orioles apparently have summoned outfielder Xavier Avery from Triple-A Norfolk because he's been spotted at Camden Yards. Since Avery can't be in two places at once, he's assumed that he's here in case first baseman Nick Johnson goes on the disabled list with a sore right wrist. Avery makes sense because the Orioles would be replacing one left-handed hitter with another, and Avery is on the 40-man roster. Also, Avery has hit .333 (14-for-42) with eight walks, five stolen bases and 11...

Facing yet another left-handed starting pitcher, Davey Johnson's lineup looks much the same as it has the last three days. Adam LaRoche returns to the lineup today after a day off, as does Jesus Flores. Tyler Moore remains in there in left field, hitting seventh. This will be the fourth straight lefty starter the Rockies will send to the mound this series. Today's Colorado starter is Josh Outman, who has struggled in 13 games (five starts) this season, going 0-3 with an 8.64 ERA. How does...

Or, reeling in a home run and a reliever. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was robbed of a home run last night on an incredible leaping catch by Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who scaled the fence - again, I went there - and made one of the finest plays ever witnessed at Camden Yards. Maybe it's No. 1. I'll leave that debate to everyone else. "For sure, that's probably the best play I've seen against me," Hardy said. "Maybe the best I've seen against anyone else, too. Pretty good." ...

Right now, despite the Orioles doing relatively well so far this season, it has been apparent that there's been an issue with the starting pitching outside of Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen. On Tuesday night, southpaw Brian Matusz struggled on the mound again in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up five runs in five innings, plus gave up a career-high 13 hits. Matusz's season has been filled with some ups and downs, but fans have to start wondering if the bright young pitcher we...