It sure is nice to have a pitcher who can take the mound with his team stuck on a three-game losing streak and promptly strike out 13, allowing just one earned run over six innings. That's what aces are for. Stephen Strasburg picked the Nationals up last night, putting together yet another quality start - his seventh in as many outings this season - and helping to snap the Nats' three-game skid. The 23-year-old right-hander has made many a team look silly so far in his young career, but he...

What a week for home runs in Baltimore. Josh Hamilton became only the 16th player to hit four home runs in a game Tuesday. Two days later, the Orioles established an American League record by homering in the team's first three at-bats of a doubleheader against the Rangers. Ryan Flaherty, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis did the early yard work for the Birds. Overall, the O's hit five home runs in a game for the first time since June 30, 2010, against Oakland. That's two short of the club record...

It's obvious that the Nationals won't fix their offensive struggles overnight. Michael Morse is still weeks away with a strained lat muscle. Jayson Werth's absence with a broken wrist has left a huge hole in the middle of the lineup. Bryce Harper has been very good so far, but he's not Superman, and Ryan Zimmerman is working his way back into form after missing 14 games with a shoulder injury. That means manager Davey Johnson is going to have to make use of the tools he has to maximize...

For years, they competed in the American League East. They competed for fourth place with the loser gaining the right to finish in the AL East cellar. But in an attempt to turn the AL East standings upside down, the Orioles host Tampa Bay this weekend at Camden Yards with first place on the line. The clubs are tied for the division lead with identical 20-12 records heading into an important three-game series. In a so far reversal of many years of fortunes, New York is in fourth place and...

Before the season, the Nationals focused on acquiring a starting center fielder. Some talks centered around Los Angeles Angels outfielder Peter Bourjos. With injuries to the Nationals outfielders, especially to starting right fielder Jayson Werth, this FOXSports.com report indicates those talks may be heating up. The 25-year old Bourjos has seen his playing time dwindle ever since the Angels called up prospect Mike Trout. Bourjos is batting .192 through 21 games this season, but hit .271 with...

The Orioles didn't hit a home run in Game 2 last night, the first time they failed to clear the fences since April 30 at New York. They hit 20 homers in their previous eight games and were 6-2 in that span. No need to worry that the Orioles will deprive you of a roster move today. Dana Eveland is here to make tonight's start against the Rays, as the Orioles return to the safe confines of the American League East. Someone has to vacate the 25-man roster, and someone has to vacate the 40-man...

Tommy Hunter started Game 2 tonight and allowed four runs and five hits in six innings. Matt Lindstrom relieved him and allowed three runs (two earned) and three hits in one inning. "I felt real good. I was down in the zone. It was a lot better than what it was the last start," Hunter said. "It's a good lineup. Of course, it does help when the ball lands in a spot the only place it could land on the entire field and he (Mike Napoli) ends up getting a triple on it with no outs. That was...

Manager Buck Showalter asked reporters whether they saw enough baseball today. We've seen enough to last a lifetime, considering how many innings this team has played since it arrived in Boston last week. Tommy Hunter gave the Orioles six innings and 91 pitches while working on three days' rest. "Tommy made a lot of quality pitches down, which you have to do with that club, and he kept us in that ballgame," Showalter said. "Had a changeup that he's trying to throw off the plate away...

The Texas Rangers came up with two runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead, and three more in the seventh, to pull away tonight to beat the Orioles 7-3 and gain a split of the doubleheader at Camden Yards. The Orioles won the opener 6-5 in a game where they hit three homers to start the game and five on the day. In the second game, Mike Napoli's RBI triple tied the game 3-3 in the fifth, and then he scored the go-ahead run on an Elvis Andrus RBI single. Earlier, Josh Hamilton hit a...

I have a feeling most pitchers enjoy facing the Pirates. They've scored by far the fewest runs in the majors and are hitting just .227 as a team. Any pitcher would love to go against that group. Stephen Strasburg really, really loves to face Pittsburgh. Strasburg has struck out seven straight Bucs hitters, and has faced the minimum as we go to the fourth inning. Dating back to his last start against the Pirates - which just happened to be his dazzling major league debut - Strasburg has...