Over the Nationals' last 16 games, they've gotten 15 quality starts. In that 16-game span, the Nats are 8-8. I'm not trying to pile on here, I'm just saying. Stuck on a three-game losing streak, the Nats send their ace to the mound tonight, looking to avoid getting swept by the Pirates. It's a very small sample size, but Stephen Strasburg has allowed only one hit to a player currently on the Pirates' roster. That guy is Neil Walker, who is 1-for-3 with a strikeout off Strasburg....

It has been a frustrating start to the season for Orioles reserve outfielder Endy Chavez. After hitting .301 last year with Texas, he is batting just .133 in 20 games with the Orioles and now he is headed for the disabled list. Chavez will be officially put on the DL at some point today, likely after Game 1, to allow the Orioles to recall Tommy Hunter from the minors to pitch tonight's second game of the doubleheader with Texas. "They said on the MRI the oblique is fine (showing no...

Jason Hammel, who isn't making today's start because of a sore right knee, is tentatively scheduled to pitch Monday night against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Hammel could be pushed back one more day and start Tuesday. The Orioles will more strongly consider placing him on the disabled list if he remains unavailable. Manager Buck Showalter stressed that Hammel could have pitched today under different circumstances, but the club isn't taking any chances this early in the season. Endy...

It's the same as yesterday. For the Orioles: Ryan Flaherty LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

Colby Lewis is off to a fast start for the Rangers, going 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in six starts. He's walked five and struck out 31 in 39 1/3 innings. The Orioles might not recognize him in Game 1. That's because Lewis is 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in six career appearances against them, including four starts. He's allowed 32 hits, walked 10 and struck out 16 in 27 2/3 innings. He's also served up five home runs. Mark Reynolds is 3-for-6 with two homers and five RBIs...

It took place out of public and media view, but a nice thing happened this week at Camden Yards. The Texas Rangers organization took time to thank several current Orioles for helping their team win the American League championship last year and they presented several of those players with their 2011 AL championship rings. Here is the list of Orioles that were on that 2011 team: * Chris Davis had 76 at-bats * Endy Chavez made 66 starts with 256 at-bats and hit .301 for Texas in 2011 * Pedro...

What would you rather have first, the good news or the bad news? Let's start with the positive stuff, just to kick the morning off right. Making his third rehab start since suffering a left hamstring injury back in spring training, Chien-Ming Wang went seven innings yesterday for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing two runs on eight hits and earning the win. Wang walked one, struck out one and threw 89 pitches, 61 for strikes. The good news ends there. Here comes the bad. The Nationals struck...

As we are seven weeks into the 2012 season, the Orioles are flying high with a 19-11 record, and are a half-game out of first in the American League East. Baltimore's fast start has given players like Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Chris Davis some national attention. However, one name that I don't see mentioned a lot happens to be right-fielder Nick Markakis. It's almost like he has become an afterthought at this point. Now, Markakis did win a Gold Glove last season, and has always been...

I'm going to test your memories, which might seem unfair at this early hour. Remember when the Orioles were set in left field? Nolan Reimold was going to be the regular and get enough at-bats for the Orioles to properly evaluate him. Endy Chavez was going to spell him - making sure to put the E before the I - and give the club good defense. That plan has been put on hold. Reimold is on the disabled list with a herniated disk in his neck. Chavez is expected to join him today with a sore...

You'd think the Nationals caught a break when Pirates starter Erik Bedard, who entered the game with a 2.65 ERA, was pulled after just an inning-plus due to a back injury. That left the Nats eight innings to battle against Pittsburgh's bullpen. You'd think the Nats would have a decent shot at tying the game when they loaded the bases with just one out in the eighth, trailing 3-2. You'd think that if a Washington starter (Ross Detwiler, for example) allowed three runs in six innings - a...