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...

Maybe Adam Jones can get back into the lineup tomorrow night. He's missing again in Game 2. Jones was a defensive replacement in Game 1. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Craig Tatum C Brian Matusz LHP For the Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury CF Marco Scutaro SS Adrian Gonzalez 1B Dustin Pedroia 2B David Ortiz DH Jed Lowrie 3B Conor Jackson LF Jason Varitek C Darnell McDonald...

Brian Matusz will be back on the mound tonight in the evening portion of the doubleheader at Fenway Park. Matusz has not pitched in two weeks since he gave up five runs in just 1 1/3 innings against the Yankees. He said yesterday at Camden Yards that he feels like he has made some progress in his recent side sessions, working with pitching coach Rick Adair. "I feel like I've definitely made strides in terms of going out there and getting a good feel in the bullpen and working," Matusz...

Robert Andino, Nolan Reimold and J.J. Hardy homered as the Orioles beat the Red Sox 6-5 in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park. The struggling Sox saw their lead for the wild card berth over idle Tampa fall to a game and a half. Boston has lost 10 of its last 12 games and is 4-14 in September. Matt Angle's two-run double in the third gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead and gave Angle his first career multi-RBI game. Jim Hunter asks Buck Showalter to give his thoughts on the O's 6-5...

Manager Buck Showalter played the matchup game in the eighth inning with the Orioles clinging to a 6-5 lead. He won. Now, the Orioles will try to do the same. Clay Rapada faced David Ortiz to open the bottom of the eighth and retired him on one pitch, which resulted in a liner to short. Left-handed hitters are 4-for-43 against Rapada this season and 5-for-62 over the past two seasons. Right-handers are batting .692 this year, so Showalter brought in Pedro Strop to face pinch hitter Ryan...