WASHINGTON - The Orioles will try to avoid a sweep today while anointing Chris Jakubauskas the stopper in this rotation - at least for a day. Brian Matusz says his left hamstring is a little sore today, as expected, but he feels much better, his mobility is good and he expects to make his next start. He'll play catch today. "It feels good," he said. "It's a little sore today, but my mobility's really good. My flexiblity's there. It's just a little sore from the cramping. We're going...

In a season filled with ups and downs, the Orioles have hit another bump in the road. This one looks like a crater. In just the last three days both Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Matusz have left starts with injuries. The club has been terrible with runners in scoring position the last week or so and every new game seems to bring another major blunder on the bases or in the field. And, then usually another injury. It is looking like the wheels are beginning to come off the cart. No one is saying...

So I decide to check Triple-A Norfolk's box score from tonight's game against Buffalo because I'm curious about Chris Tillman's outing and I really need to get a life. Here's Tillman's final line: 3 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 0 walks 3 strikeouts. 65 pitches, 38 strikes. So why did he leave the game with two outs in the fourth inning? Did someone else in the organization get hurt this week? Nope. I texted a team official, apologizing for doing so at this late hour on...

There are many factors to explain why a team goes on a roll. The big reasons usually center around timely hits, solid defense and quality pitching. Two other factors are veteran leadership and a bench that contributes. The Nationals are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, the longest streak in almost two seasons, dating to an eight-game streak in August 2009. In Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Orioles, Washington displayed one of those key ingredients in successful teams: a...

WASHINGTON - Let's start with Brian Matusz and his hamstring cramps. "It was just two pitches prior. I felt a hamstring cramp up, and it's one of those things I try to walk off, shake off. It just held up on a ball in the back of my hamstring. Not much more I could do than that, so I made the right decision to come out of the game. But it's just one of those things that happens. It was a hot day today, probably a little bit dehydrated, one of those things. But I've just got to take care...

WASHINGTON - The Orioles have lost four of five games on this road trip and are a season-high six games under .500, but at least they're not healthy. Let's review today's physical issues: Luke Scott left the game with back spasms and is day-to-day. Brian Matusz left the game with cramping in his left hamstring and is questionable to make his next start, though manager Buck Showalter seemed encouraged after today's 4-2 loss to the Nationals. Buck Showalter gives updates for several...

On a day when the Orioles had two players leave the game injured, they also scored just two runs in a 4-2 loss to the Nationals in front of 36,614 at Nats Park. Luke Scott left the game in the fourth with back spasms and starting pitcher Brian Matusz left during the Nats three-run sixth with left hamstring cramps. Both players are listed as day-to-day. The Nationals scored three times in the last of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie. Michael Morse hit a two-run homer off Matusz to right field to...

Nationals right-handed reliever Cole Kimball had two throwing sessions Saturday under the supervision of bullpen coach Jim Lett and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz to test his injured shoulder. He said the sessions went very well and his throwing shoulder showed no pain during the workouts. Kimball has been on the disabled list since June 10 with shoulder inflammation. Kimball threw two sessions and 60 feet and felt "pretty good" afterward. "There was no pain," Kimball said. "I am...

WASHINGTON - A fairly promising start for Brian Matusz, at least statistically, has ended prematurely when he walked off the field with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells in the bottom of the sixth. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the inning. Ryan Zimmerman doubled with one out and Michael Morse hit an opposite-field two-run homer to give Washington a 3-1 lead. Danny Espinosa singled and stole second base as left-hander Clay Rapada began to warm up. With a 3-1 count on Jerry Hairston...

Brian Matusz is having a good start so far today in Washington. We'll see whether that continues deep into this game, but his outing so far is very encouraging. Some fans will say it's because he is throwing harder today and his velocity seems up a tick or two from earlier starts. But with Matusz it is almost never about the velocity. It's about his excellent four-pitch assortment, commanding those pitches and keeping the hitters off balance. When he can work ahead in the count and use all...