The Orioles currently have one of the game's best relief corps. The bullpen's 1.96 ERA and 10 saves are tops in baseball. Take a moment to let that sink in. The team that for the past decade or more has been synonymous with late-inning meltdowns (think Mother's Day Massacre) and historic failings (think 30-3) has one of the game's finest late-inning outfits. Earlier in the week, fellow guest blogger Heath Bintliff of Dempsey's Army proclaimed, "For the first time in years, I am loving...

It's pretty simple, really: It's incredibly difficult to win at a consistent level when you score three or fewer runs a game. And in that regard, the Nationals have been pushing their luck so far. Through the season's first 19 games, the Nats' hitters have been spoiled. They've played 11 games in which they scored three or fewer runs and somehow found a way to win eight of them. They won a game 1-0. They were victorious in three separate games in which they managed just two runs....

Baseball can be a hard game to explain sometimes. Consider the 2012 Baltimore Orioles. They lead the American League with 22 errors. They are batting just .213 as a team with runners in scoring position. Their homer leader from last season hasn't hit even one yet. Their starting shortstop is batting .178. They had to use their second and third closers in their most recent series. One of their hottest hitters, Nolan Reimold, has missed seven games. They are tied for ninth in the league in runs...

The Oakland Athletics are here for a three-game series that begins tonight, and Jake Arrieta gets first crack at them. Arrieta has made one career start against Oakland, taking the loss after allowing three earned runs (four total) and six hits in seven innings. Oakland's Brandon McCarthy is winless in three decisions this year despite a 3.38 ERA. He's 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Orioles, with 36 hits, 14 walks and 16 strikeouts in 29 innings....

If the Nationals scored seven runs yesterday, does that mean they've used up their offensive allotment for the next three days? The Nats have managed just two hits tonight off Padres starter Edinson Volquez, and have yet to touch home plate as we go to the seventh inning. Wilson Ramos and Adam LaRoche are the only two Nationals hitters to have registered a tally in the hit column. Both guys reached scoring position with two outs (Ramos in the third inning, LaRoche in the fourth), but Ian...

After the latest Orioles win was over, Adam Jones was happy to see the Orioles get a sweep of Toronto, but wished that Brian Matusz could have been rewarded for a good outing with his first win since last June 6. "I just wish we could have gotten him a W," Jones said. "Starters get the wins and losses and relievers get the holds and saves. That is how I personally like it. But we won as a team and he understands that. He threw six, very, very good innings and I'm very proud of what I saw...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter passed along some good news on Jim Johnson and some words of encouragement regarding first baseman Nick Johnson. First, the closer, who remains hospitalized but is apparently close to being sent home. Buck Showalter speaks with the media following the Orioles' 5-2 win over the Blue Jays "We're looking forward to getting J.J. back, and the hope is that he gets out tomorrow morning if he keeps his food down," Showalter said. "I know he ate tonight and has a...

Adam Jones picked a good time for his sixth homer of the season and Chris Davis did as well for his third of the year. Jones' drive to left leading off the last of the eighth just made it into the left field seats to break a 2-2 tie and propel the Orioles to a 5-2 win over Toronto tonight and a three-game sweep in front of 13,725 at Camden Yards. Two batters after Jones' homer, Davis hit a two-run shot to right for a three-run lead. It was his second homer in two nights and third of the...

The Nationals have officially begun negotiations with Lee County and the city of Fort Myers that could lead to the team moving its spring training facility as early as 2014.

Let's recap what happened in the sixth inning - the good, the bad and the ugly. Brian Matusz lost his shutout with two outs in the top half when first baseman Nick Johnson failed to backhand Eric Thames' bouncer along the line. Johnson, known for his defense and on-base percentage, whiffed on the ball as two runs scored. Thames was given a triple. Johnson was given an earful by fans already agitated by his failures at the plate. A single and walk put Matusz in hot water, but Edwin...