The National League rules seem to suit the Orioles just fine. Zach Britton had an RBI double Friday night in Washington. Chris Jakubauskas tormented the Nationals with two hits yesterday. And Jake Arrieta blooped a run-scoring single into right field in the first inning tonight to give the Orioles a 5-0 lead over the Pirates. Arrieta was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout before tonight. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate against Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton. Robert Andino's...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed earlier today that Jeremy Guthrie will start tomorrow night against the Pirates. Jason Berken would have taken the ball in Guthrie's absence. Guthrie left his last start in Toronto because of a strained muscle in his upper back. An MRI didn't reveal anything more serious and he threw a bullpen session yesterday in Washington. Buck Showalter confirms Jeremy Guthrie will pitch Tuesday Also, Showalter told reporters that Brian Matusz could be pushed...

The Orioles have lost two World Series against the Pirates, in 1971 and 1979. Tomorrow night, before Game Two of their series with the Orioles, the Pirates will celebrate the 40th anniversary of that 1971 team. The Orioles won the first two games, by scores of 5-3 and 11-3 at home, but then lost three straight in Pittsburgh. When that series returned to Baltimore, the O's Game Six win was followed by a 2-1 Game Seven loss with Steve Blass besting Mike Cuellar. The Orioles and Pirates will...

Luke Scott told reporters in Pittsburgh that his back feels better, but Felix Pie gets the start tonight in left field. Also, the Sun's Jeff Zrebiec tweeted that Brian Matusz expects to start Friday night against the Reds at Camden Yards. He says the hamstring is 100 percent. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Pirates: Jose Tabata LF Josh Harrison 3B Andrew...

Bryan Holland, Director of Communications for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns, told MASNsports.com that Nationals top prospect

Matt Hobgood took the mound today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles and made quick work of the GCL Twins, retiring the side in order in the first inning on three ground balls. Ryan Berry, a ninth-round pick out of Rice in 2009, replaced him in the second. Hobgood, 20, had been rehabbing a strained rotator cuff at extended spring training. Today marked his return to affiliated game action. Afterward, he tweeted the following on @Matt_Hobgood48: "Feels great to be back in games again. Arm was...

Jake Arrieta makes his 16th start tonight, and his first against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's only faced one Pirate in his career - and yes, that sounds a little strange. First baseman Lyle Overbay is 0-for-3 against him. Arrieta leads the Orioles with 11 quality starts by definition. And I use "by definition" to avoid any debates over just how good he threw in some of those games. We're talking three earned runs or fewer over six innings or more. Four of his six outings on the road have...

I've always found it a little strange to see baseball players out of uniform. We're so accustomed to watching them take the field on a daily basis, recognizable only by their last name and corresponding number on the back of their jersey. In fact, if you're fortunate enough to bump into a player on the street or outside of the ballpark, it can sometimes take a minute to realize who you've just seen. So as players, coaches and members of the Washington Nationals organization dressed up in...

With the Basic Agreement expiring at the end of the season, players and team owners are thinking about realignment. The reason this is being discussed is that both sides want more equity within division races. The thought is that it is unfair for six teams in the National League Central to compete for a title while the American League West has four teams. Realignment ideas range from blowing up both leagues as we know them and creating new divisions to moving one NL team to the AL. For...

As long as I have been an Orioles fan, I have always had one name in my mind: Frank Robinson. For me growing up, Frank Robinson was an iconic symbol unlike any other. I always tell everyone Cal Ripken Jr. was my favorite all-time Oriole growing up, but Frank was my all-time favorite ballplayer. Honestly, due to my age, I really didn't see him play at all - well, except on videotape. Really, the only link to his legend for me as a fan was hearing stories about him from other fans that had...