BOSTON - Joel Pineiro was added to Triple-A Norfolk's roster and made his debut tonight, going six innings against Indianapolis. Pineiro, signed as a minor league free agent after being released by the Phillies, allowed one run and three hits, walked none and struck out five. He threw 75 pitches, 55 for strikes. One of the hits off Pineiro came from former Oriole Jake Fox, who's batting .385. The Orioles envision Pineiro as a long reliever, which they've been lacking. Not that the bullpen...

I honestly feel like there's a decent chance a Nationals starter throws a no-hitter this season. All five guys currently in the rotation have legit no-hit ability, and the way these guys keep one-upping each other, it almost seems like it's only a matter of time until one of them finds a zone and holds an opponent hitless. That night won't be tonight, however. Ross Detwiler held the Diamondbacks without a hit for 4 1/3 innings tonight, but Ryan Roberts' single to left ended any hopes of...

Davey Johnson was asked why he decided to write Bryce Harper's name into the third spot in tonight's lineup. His response was a simple one. "Why not?" Johnson said. The strange thing is that even though this is just Harper's fifth major league game, given the way the 19-year-old has hit lately and the way the bulk of the Nats' lineup has struggled around him, Johnson's response makes perfect sense. There's no reason for him not to move Harper up to a spot where he'll have a greater...

The Nationals' most consistent hitter, the one who leads the team in home runs, RBIs and batting average (with a minimum 20 at-bats), has been scratched from tonight's lineup. Just what this offense needed. First baseman Adam LaRoche will not start tonight due to right oblique soreness, leaving an even bigger hole in the middle of the Nats' lineup. Jayson Werth will move up to the No. 4 spot in the order, and Chad Tracy will now play first base and hit fifth. LaRoche enters today hitting...

If you live or work near Camden Yards, you now have a new dining option for days when the Orioles aren't playing at home. Beginning today, Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant is now open for both lunch and dinner. You can eat, drink and be merry on the first floor of the B&O Warehouse beginning at 11 a.m. Slide into Dempsey's - the namesake of former O's catcher, 1983 World Series MVP and current MASN broadcaster Rick Dempsey - for a midday meal, then stop back after work for another of the...

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa wants to get going at the plate. Manager Davey Johnson wants his young infielder to do so as well, and sees Espinosa making progress. Shortstop Ian Desmond said it earlier this season when asked why he likes Johnson as a manager. One of the reasons he spotlighted was how Johnson sticks with you, even when you go through a rough spell. "I could go 0-for-5 and he wouldn't pull me. I knew I was going to be in the lineup the next day," Desmond...

After Bryce Harper went 3-for-4 with two doubles last night, manager Davey Johnson suggested that Harper might be deserving of a bump in the order. Harper got quite a bump, alright. The 19-year-old will hit third tonight against the Diamondbacks, this after hitting seventh in each of the first four games of his major league career. Harper is batting .385 with five hits in 13 at-bats thus far in his big league tenure. Three of his five hits have been for extra bases. Here are the Nationals'...

BOSTON - You can point the finger in a lot of different directions when figuring all the ways that the Orioles have bolted to a 16-9 start. The club's bullpen deserves a big hand. Orioles relievers have combined to post a 1.73 ERA heading into Friday night's game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the lowest figure in the majors. They've permitted only seven earned runs in their last 53 innings, including a perfect ninth last night from closer Jim Johnson, which largely went unnoticed in...

During the offseason and into spring training, if you asked 100 Nationals fans which middle infielder they would be concerned with having to replace at some point in the 2012 season, I'd venture to guess 98 of them would have replied, "Ian Desmond." Their answer is not without basis. Desmond has had challenges both offensively and defensively as he continues to try to establish himself as a starting shortstop in the major leagues. This season, Desmond, 26, isn't really burning things...

The Orioles began a grueling part of their schedule Monday. It began with the three games they just played in New York to be followed by three games this weekend in Boston. They then return home for four with Texas, three with Tampa Bay and two more with New York. That is a stretch of 15 games against four teams that all could win 90 or more games this year and be playoff teams. Counting the Yankees' record of 12-9 at the start of the series with the Orioles, those four teams have a combined...