Adam Jones is starting in center field tonight and Mark Reynolds is back at first base. The lineup looks fairly normal again. Jones hasn't started since Sept. 9 because of a sprained right thumb. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Nolan Reimold LF Rick VandenHurk RHP VandenHurk hasn't pitched since Sept. 10 in Toronto, when he allowed three runs and three hits, including two...

Checking in with some stats and notes before the Orioles and Red Sox meet in Game 3 of their series tonight. * Over his last six games, Chris Davis is 9-for-24 (.375) with a homer and four RBIs. Over his last 10 games, Davis is batting .395 (15-for-38) with six doubles, a homer, seven RBIs and five multi-hit games. * Vlad Guerrero is batting .406 (13-for-32) during an eight-game batting streak. Over his past 14 games, Guerrero is 25-for-58 for an average of .431 with five doubles, one triple,...

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg may not have to wrap his season up with Friday's scheduled start against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Many believed that might be Strasburg's final start of the 2011 season. But according to MASN television announcer Bob Carpenter during Tuesday's Game 1 of the Phillies series, Strasburg could get the call in the Nationals' final game of the season Sept. 28 at Florida. Carpenter said he talked to general manager Mike Rizzo prior to...

The Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus from the 15-day disabled list before their scheduled doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Mattheus said Saturday his simulated game went well. He threw 25 pitches to a pair of hitters and said he expected to get in back in a regulation game very soon. That could happen earlier than might have been expected, as Mattheus will be available today. Mattheus has been out since Aug. 26 with a right shoulder strain....

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...