Zach Britton has had a tumultuous rookie year with the Orioles. He expected to begin this season in the minors until an unfortunate injury to Brian Matusz caused Britton to make his debut at the major league level a night later. In that debut, he went six innings of three-hit, one-run ball against the Rays to allow the O's to sweep Tampa Bay in the first series of the season. From there, he went 5-2 over 7 starts with a 2.93 ERA. Pretty good for a rookie. At this point, everyone was talking...

By homering in each of the last two games, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters now has hit a career-high 13 homers on the year. Wieters hit nine in 2009 and 11 last year. Wieters has homers in back-to-back games for the first time all season. Plus, he has now hit three homers over his last seven games after going 21 games without one. Here is another interesting note about Wieters' hitting this year: He is batting much better this season when he bats right-handed, thus facing lefty...

If we can believe Facebook, Jake Fox is replacing Blake Davis on the 25-man roster. Here's what he posted on his page: "I got the call today. I am headed back to be an Oriole in the morning. I have mixed feelings about going back because I was really looking forward to playing for team USA. Going back to the big leagues takes away my eligibility from playing in the world cup and pan am games. I am excited to be back in the big leagues, but disappointed I will miss the opportunity to...

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned infielder Blake Davis to Triple-A Norfolk. Davis has batted .254 (15-59) in 25 games for the Orioles this season. A corresponding roster move will be announced at a later time.

The Orioles got five innings out of Zach Britton tonight. Now it's up to the bullpen. Britton allowed one run and six hits, with four walks and four strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches, 57 for strikes. That's a lot of baserunners and pitches over five innings, but he was a master at damage control. We'll find out later whether Britton's pitch count was the deciding factor in manager Buck Showalter removing him from the game, or if there's a health issue. Chris Jakubauskas tossed a perfect...

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had another positive rehab start in Hagerstown, improving on last Wednesday's five-run outing, with six strikeouts, allowing just two singles and one earned run in three innings of work at Municipal Stadium. Strasburg sat between 95 and 97 mph and topped out at 98 mph during his 60-pitch, 40-strike performance, notching six punchouts of the nine outs, two of those looking. He admitted that he still gets pumped up for every start and...

Since his first full season in 2006, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has shown a real knack of hitting walk-off home runs. His latest walk-off happened Friday evening. The Phillies and the Nationals were tied 4-4 and the bases were loaded with Nats when Zimmerman hit a two-out grand slam off Ryan Madson. For Zimmerman, it was his second career walk-off grand slam and his eighth career walk-off home run. The 26-year-old Zimmerman, who is in his sixth full season with the Nats, has hit...

Ryan Adams was officially recalled today and immediately placed in the starting lineup at second base. Adams didn't waste any time making sure he got noticed. His single into center field in the top of the third inning gave the Orioles a short-lived 1-0 lead against Twins right-hander Carl Pavano. The Twins scored the tying run in the bottom half of the inning against left-hander Zach Britton, who officially came off the disabled list today. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in...

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg went three innings, allowed two hits, two runs, one earned and struck out six in his fourth overall rehab start, third with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Strasburg hit 98 mph and sat around 95 to 97 mph, firing 60 pitches, 40 for strikes. He struck out six Hickory hitters, two of them looking. He fell behind a few hitters in the first inning, and walked one. Hickory scored a run in the first and third frames. He had his best inning in...

The Orioles today announced that they have activated left-handed pitcher Zach Britton from the 15-day disabled list. Britton will make tonight's start against the Minnesota Twins. The club has also recalled infielder Ryan Adams from Triple-A Norfolk and placed right-handed pitcher Jason Berken on the 15-day DL with a right forearm strain. Britton is 6-9 with a 4.66 ERA (110.0IP, 57 ER) in 20 starts for the Orioles this year. Adams batted .217 (5-23) in nine games with the Orioles earlier this...