Third baseman Mark Reynolds isn't in the lineup for today's game against the Twins at Camden Yards. Wilson Betemit is playing third. Reynolds fouled a ball off his left calf last night, but he said it's fine and he could have played. He has a bruise, but no X-rays were taken. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP

CHICAGO - We know about what Tyler Clippard, Brad Lidge and Drew Storen can bring to the back end of the Nationals' bullpen, when healthy. But when you add in quality performances from guys like Craig Stammen, Ryan Mattheus and Henry Rodriguez, who all helped the Nationals secure a 7-4 comeback win yesterday over the Cubs, you start to see that this could be a special group the Nats are working with. "We've got a pretty good bullpen," Stammen said. "You could tell by the way they made...

CHICAGO - There's not much new information to pass along just yet on Anthony Rendon, the Nationals' top pick in the 2011 draft who had to be helped off the field last night after suffering an injury during Single-A Potomac's game at Lynchburg. Rendon fell to the ground after slipping while making a turn around third base. The good news, if there is any, is that Rendon's injury apparently is to his left leg, according to reports out of Lynchburg. The 21-year-old third baseman tore...

Yes, it's only been two games and no one will confuse this Minnesota lineup with the Yankees. But the back to back solid starting pitching outings by Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter may remind you of how the O's starters started last year. In the first series of the 2011 season, the Orioles swept the Rays in Tampa Bay as Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton combined to pitch 20 innings and allow just six hits and one run in that three-game sweep. The next game was the home opener...

Anthony Rendon, the Nationals' No. 6 overall selection in June's draft, suffered an injury rounding third base in the fourth inning of high Single-A Potomac's 7-2 loss to Lynchburg at City Stadium on Saturday night. Rendon was removed from the game. According to a club source, Rendon suffered a lower leg injury. Rendon had doubled and was trying to score on a bloop single by Justin Bloxom. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time. Rendon had recovered from setbacks during his...

For Tommy Hunter, it was just a matter of doing what he is expected to do. "Starting pitchers are supposed to go deep into the game, give your team a chance to win," he said after a strong seven-plus innings as the Orioles beat Minnesota 8-2 to improve to 2-0. "Just throw strikes and let the defense play. They made some plays all night behind me," he said after giving up six hits and two unearned runs. Hunter and Jake Arrieta have combined to pitch 14 innings without allowing an earned...

Third baseman Mark Reynolds fouled a ball off his instep, which is why Ryan Flaherty replaced him at third base in the ninth inning. Showalter says Reynolds should be fine. The Orioles will go for their first sweep of the Twins in Baltimore since August 2002. Nick Markakis is 5-for-7 to start the season. "I see the things Nick plays through that a lot of people ... you really get his attention when you don't write him in there," manager Buck Showalter said. "And he's such a great...

On a night the Orioles broke out some big offense, another excellent outing by a starting pitcher set the tone for a second straight win over the Minnesota Twins. Tommy Hunter followed up Jake Arrieta's outstanding opening day performance by pitching seven-plus strong innings tonight in the Orioles' 8-2 win over Minnesota in front of 31,532 at Camden Yards. Tommy Hunter talks about his strong start in the Orioles' 8-2 win Hunter took a shutout into the eighth but left the game when...

The middle of the Orioles batting order delivered some key offense for the Orioles in their season-opening win, with Nick Markakis producing a homer and three RBIs. Tonight, the bottom of the order has contributed five hits, four runs and two RBIs between Ronny Paulino and Robert Andino. The Paulino-Andino combo has been retired just once tonight by Twins pitching. After Adam Jones' homer in the second gave the O's a 1-0 lead, Paulino and Andino both singled and scored in the third and...

It may sound like a cliche, but it's so true. The Orioles won't improve until their starting pitching does, and it's been outstanding for the first two games of the 2012 season. Yesterday, Jake Arrieta blanked the Twins on two hits over seven innings. Tonight, Tommy Hunter is blanking the Twins on four hits over six innings. It hasn't been easy for Hunter. He gave up an infield hit in the first inning, an infield hit and a clean single in the second, and a leadoff double in the fourth....