The Washington Nationals today reinstated right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus from the 15-Day disabled list. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Mattheus missed the last 22 games after being placed on the DL on Aug. 26 with a right shoulder strain. The 27-year-old is 2-2 with six holds and a 2.40 ERA in 32 relief appearances this season with Washington.

A couple of random thoughts while pondering another poor night for Brian Matusz. Hard to believe what we saw from him this time last year and contrast that with how he is pitching now. * Chris Davis has some impressive power. He has hit some balls to left field lately that really show his strength. A scout mentioned to me how impressed he is with Davis' power potential. As it stands now, I can clearly see Davis as an everyday player on next year's team. I hope his recent DL trip due to his...

With the 2011 season winding down, the Nationals find themselves in a battle with the Mets and the Marlins for third place in the National League East. Most Major League Baseball fans would not be too excited if their favorite team was seven games under .500, but Nationals fans have a lot to be happy about with the 2011 team. At the beginning of the season, I told anyone who would listen that a successful season for the 2011 Nats would be placing higher than the Mets in the standings....

The Orioles have been playing like a playoff team lately, winning back-to-back series for the first time since May 21-26, which included taking two of three from Washington and sweeping Kansas City in a three-game set. Not only is that a major feat in itself for this team, but these consecutive series wins came against two teams vying for a postseason berth: the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels. This past week has been pretty impressive in Baltimore and it seems like it's going to...

Should we believe that Jim Johnson is going to make a start before the 2011 season comes to a merciful end? It's not necessary. The Orioles can decide over the winter that Johnson belongs in the rotation. They can put him on a starter's schedule in spring training. They can change their minds at any time and return him to the bullpen. It's not like he'll be stretched out so far that he can't snap back to a short-relief role. He's not a rubber band. Johnson hasn't been formally named...

Two weeks later, it didn't get any better for Brian Matusz. Making his first start since he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings on September 5 against the Yankees, tonight Matusz gave up six runs in 1 2/3 as Boston beat the Orioles 18-9 to gain a split of the day-night doubleheader. That was a season-high in runs allowed by Orioles' pitchers, who twice this year had given up 17 in a game. Buck Showalter talks with Jim Hunter about the O's 18-9 loss to the Red Sox The win, just the fourth...

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz might not pitch again this season, which would deny him the chance to lower his ERA and avoid a most dubious distinction. According to STATSPASS, Matusz's 10.68 ERA is the highest in major league history for any pitcher with at least 10 starts. I'm providing the Top 10 below. I'm only including the number of starts, not relief appearances. Keep in mind that his record hasn't been updated. He's facing another loss unless the Orioles rally tonight. They...

I certainly was not aware of this stat, but Boston pitcher John Lackey entered tonight's start against the Orioles with 15 straight quality starts against the Birds since August 3, 2005. That is the longest run ever against the Orioles. The good news is the O's ended the run tonight. The bad news is Lackey has a 11-5 lead after the third inning. He can still be the winning pitcher in this game. He had allowed more then three earned runs just once in 18 career starts against the Orioles,...

I predicted in spring training that left-hander Brian Matusz would emerge as the staff ace. Then I thought the Orioles would keep in at Triple-A Norfolk for an extended period, but they recalled him. Then I thought they would continue to send him to the mound every five days, but they pulled him from the rotation after his Sept. 5 start in New York. Then I thought they would keep him in the bullpen for the rest of the season, but they gave him the start tonight in Game 2 of a doubleheader in...

No lead is safe at Fenway Park, but the Orioles are bold enough to try. They jumped on right-hander John Lackey for three runs in the top of the first inning, bringing more angst to Red Sox Nation. Matt Angle singled and stole his eighth base. J.J. Hardy walked, and Angle sprinted home on Nick Markakis' single. That's 1-0. Vladimir Guerrero lined a sacrifice fly to right field - if you can line a fly ball. I've never heard of a sacrifice line drive. That's 2-0. Chris Davis drove in...