The Nationals, now 14-4, own the best record in the National League, just a half-game behind the Texas Rangers for the best record in all of baseball. Heady stuff. Of course, a .778 winning percentage is impossible to keep up, but the Nats have taken strong advantage of a weak early schedule to race out to a good start. The pitching has, of course, been the big story. Dominant starters, shutdown relievers, two closers (for now). But the team - and the fans - got a shock this week with Ryan...

So the Orioles are off to an 11-7 start and they have won six of their last nine games. They have been impressive in pulling out some close ones, going 8-2 in games decided by two runs or less. If the Orioles can go 2-2 in the final four games of this homestand they will enter play Monday with a record of 13-9. That would give them a cushion of being four games over .500 going into a brutally tough stretch. Starting Monday, they play three games in New York, followed by three at Boston, then...

Here's what we know about Jason Berken: The Orioles called him up from Triple-A Norfolk yesterday to take second baseman Robert Andino's spot on the 25-man roster. Andino will miss at least two games after going on paternity leave. Here's what we don't know about Jason Berken: How long he's going to stay with the Orioles. Berken has no idea. He's just been told to be ready if he's needed. He'll be the long man if left-hander Brian Matusz makes an early exit tonight. Manager Buck...

Each start from Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel brings the same questions about the differences between then and now, what's made him better, what he's doing differently, how much confidence he's gained. He's going to have to start mixing his answers like he does his pitches. "I continue to work hard, pay attention to the league," he said after tonight's 3-0 victory over Toronto. "I'm still learning a new league and see what everybody else is doing. Apply my game where it applies....

The Orioles have claimed consecutive series wins over the Blue Jays for the first time since May 25-27 and July 10-12, 2009. Jason Hammel is 4-0 in seven career starts against the Jays, and his teams have won all seven games. The Orioles have won all four games that Hammel has started this season. He blanked the Jays on four hits over seven innings tonight, with one walk and seven strikeouts. "Hammel was good," manager Buck Showalter said. "The two-seamer and the four-seamer. He's got a...

The Orioles have now won their last three games without scoring many runs. They have scored a total of eight runs in the wins over Los Angeles and Toronto. Jason Hammel pitched seven shutout innings tonight as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 3-0 for their first shutout of the year. The Orioles have allowed just three runs over the last three games. The Orioles improved to 11-7 on the year, going four games over the .500 mark for the first time in 2012. Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis backed...

Jordan Zimmermann allowed a run? Boy, this rotation is getting soft. The Nationals' scoreless innings streak from their starters ended at 26 tonight when Zimmermann allowed a run in the fifth inning, but that was about all the Padres could muster off Nats pitching today, with the exception of a tack-on run in the ninth. Backed by six strong innings from Zimmermann, the Nats beat the Padres 7-2, moving to 14-4 on the season. Washington now has tied the Rangers for the best record in...

Jason Hammel gave up a leadoff single to Edwin Encarnacion in the top of the seventh inning, which constituted trouble on this night. Then he retired the next three batters, which made this a typical night for Hammel. Hammel blanked the Blue Jays over seven innings, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out seven. He threw 105 pitches, 65 for strikes, before Matt Lindstrom replaced him in the eighth. Hammel's ERA is down to 1.73. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his...

The Orioles are leading, 2-0, in the bottom of the fifth, and there's a lot to like about this game. Adam Jones made another hard slide into second base, this time in the fourth inning while trying to break up a double play on Matt Wieters grounder after his leadoff walk. Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar took exception to the slide, gesturing to second base umpire Todd Tichenor and barking at Jones. Jones appeared to return the volley. He wasn't backing down. Both runs have scored on...

If Jordan Zimmermann isn't going to get much run support from the eight guys above him in the order, he might as well get the job done himself. Zimmermann smacked an RBI single to center in the second inning, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead over the Padres. The righty is actually a pretty good hitter, and now has six career RBIs. His base knock brought in Rick Ankiel, who doubled in Adam LaRoche earlier in the second inning. This is Zimmermann's first outing in his last right times to the...