Tonight's pitching matchup at Camden Yards features two young-gun, rookie left-handers that were third-round draft picks out of high school. Zach Britton will be making his 10th major league start for the Orioles and 22-year-old Danny Duffy will be making his second big league start for Kansas City. Britton was drafted in the third round in 2006 out of Weatherford High in Texas. Duffy was drafted in Round 3 of 2007 out of Cabrillo High in California. Britton pitched 538 minor league innings...

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz said he agrees that one more start in the minors should benefit him. Matusz will start Friday night at Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles will activate him from the disabled list for the June 1 game in Seattle or give him one more start with an affiliate. "I think it is the right move," Matusz said after throwing a bullpen session today. "I went out today and threw a side and I felt really good. I felt really good out there. This is the best play. Go to Norfolk,...

There seems to be a perception that Orioles' center fielder Adam Jones is playing better this year, a season where he is batting .289 with five homers and 24 RBIs. Jones said right now, he doesn't see that he is really playing any better than last year. "I think I'm playing the same way, playing hard," he said. "The results are a little different, but I'm bringing the same to the field every single day. It's going good so far, but it can always be better." Jones is not wrong if you...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided surgery and rehab updates during today's pregame session with the media. He also provided a clearer picture of how his rotation will unfold the rest of the week. On Cesar Izturis: "Izzy had his surgery today. It went well. I'm not sure if he's back home yet, though. The plan was to release him at some point today. We think he is. They found what they thought, moved the nerve over there and six to eight weeks from what I understand. You can backdate...

After throwing out two more would-be base stealers Sunday against the Nationals, Matt Wieters now ranks second in the American League, throwing out 50 percent of runners. He has caught 14-of-28 on the season, second only to Kelly Shoppach of Tampa Bay, who is at .538 nailing 7-of-13. The AL average for a catcher is 29 percent. As team the Orioles have thrown out 42.4 percent, second in the league to Oakland. O's manager Buck Showalter knew going into the season he had a catcher with a...

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will head to Triple-A Norfolk and start Friday night's game against Columbus. Matusz's rehab assignment began at Single-A Frederick and continued at Double-A Bowie. He'll be working on an extra days' rest on Friday. Matusz could be activated on June 1 and make his 2011 debut in Seattle in the final game of the Orioles' two-city West Coast trip. It depends how he fares on Friday, when he's extended to six or seven innings and 90 pitches. The other option...

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated outfielder Rick Ankiel from the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel missed the last 19 games, after being placed on the Disabled list on May 6, retroactive to May 3, with a sore right wrist. The 31-year-old has a .302 on-base percentage with four doubles, one home run, seven RBI and 12 walks in 28 games with the Nationals....

Outfielder Rick Ankiel has been activated from the disabled list. He fills the vacancy created when first baseman Adam LaRoche was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by the Nationals with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. There had been some speculation about first baseman Chris Marrero, one of the up-and-coming infielders in the Nationals' system, potentially getting the call. Jason Benetti, play-by-play announcer for the Chiefs, said that manager Randy Knorr feels Marrero is...

Brandon Snyder is making another start at first base tonight, and Nolan Reimold is in left field. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Brandon Snyder 1B Zach Britton LHP Josh Bell went 3-for-4 with his second home run in two games in Triple-A Norfolk's 8-7 loss to Louisville. He also drove in three runs while raising his average to .274. Nick Green hit his sixth homer and...

For his involvement in some of baseball's most memorable moments and his associations with some of the game's greats, ex-Orioles outfielder Jackie Brandt's career as a baseball journeyman was anything but ordinary. As a rookie in 1956, he lockered next to Stan Musial with the St. Louis Cardinals. As a San Francisco Giant, he played in the outfield alongside Willie Mays. In Baltimore, Brooks Robinson was a teammate. Ted Williams' fabled home run in his final career at-bat in 1960 sailed...