You don't see this too often. The Red Sox have five left-handed batters in their starting lineup tonight versus Orioles' southpaw starter Zach Britton. Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Carl Crawford all will come to bat against Britton from that side as Boston looks for its ninth win over the last 10 games. The Sox' 8-1 record is the best in the majors since April 16. Those five Boston batters have a combined average coming into tonight of .228 versus...

We're just two weeks into the season, but online ballots for the 82nd All-Star Game are already available. Fans can only vote 25 times between now and June 30, but paper ballots will also be available at Nationals Park for 23 home games. Just how many ballots do you think you can fill out during those 23 home games? And, more importantly, who do you think deserves to head to Arizona this July to represent the Nationals?

Brian Matusz will throw a bullpen session Thursday, though manager Buck Showalter is hesitant to call it a conventional one because the left-hander might not use maximum effort. Matusz will throw 30-35 pitches from the rubber, and he won't be limited to fastballs. He'll be allowed to "spin" some balls, according to pitching coach Mark Connor. Matusz is still expected to report to the minor league complex in Sarasota this weekend. Chris Jakubauskas will throw another bullpen session...

With a batting average of at least .293 and OPS of at least .801 the last four years, it is a little strange to see Nick Markakis currently batting .208 with an OPS of .591. But he will take those numbers over 20 games and 77 at-bats into the Boston series that starts tonight here at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter said you can't take it for granted when a slumping player says "my numbers will be there in the end," but even Showalter said when it comes to Markakis, that will be true....

Jake Arrieta can't erase his start on April 9 against Texas from his record, but if he could, his ERA would be 2.63 over his other four starts versus Detroit, New York., Minnesota and New York. Arrieta has produced four quality starts in those four outings, giving up just seven earned runs and 20 hits over 24 innings. He feels he has gotten his 2011 season off to a good start. "I just think that every step of the way throughout my career I've been able to make adjustments and find a way to...

While fans must be enjoying the good starting pitching they have seen from some of the young Orioles starters, you may not know these guys are pretty solid people, as well. Pitchers Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta and Jeremy Guthrie recently paid a visit to the kids at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. They did this because they really wanted to and not so someone like me would write it about. They did it to help some kids who face real challenges right now and not because someone from the Orioles...

If Orioles manager Buck Showalter is considering major or minor changes to his lineup, he isn't going to publicize it. "I wouldn't tip my hand if I was," he said. "They certainly don't need to see it and read it and whatever. I trust them, but they understand that at some point we're going to have to be a little better. But to hand it on one person... "We've had periods where we've done well offensively, and we will again. I hope it starts tonight, but I'm certainly not going to be...

The look on Brian Matusz's face earlier today made it obvious that he felt good throwing in the outfield and from the front of the bullpen mound. He was grinning and eager to talk about the sessions. He also gave teammate Chris Tillman an enthusiastic fist bump before heading back inside the clubhouse. Matusz and Tillman did some long-tossing from 120 feet. Matusz threw 15-20 light pitches in the bullpen before returning to his locker. "I felt really good. I felt good health-wise and I felt...

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy didn't report any discomfort after swinging a bat yesterday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. Hardy increased the intensity of his activities today, which included running and throwing. Hardy eventually will go on an injury rehab assignment. The initial plan called for him to play at least two games in the minors. Brian Matusz (strained left intercostal) threw from a slight incline on the lower portion of the...

The Orioles are sending out their regular lineup again tonight against the Red Sox. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Zach Britton LHP For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Youkilis 3B Ortiz DH Lowrie SS Drew RF Crawford LF Varitek C Buchholz RHP Also, Brian Matusz played catch in the outfield and did some throwing in the bullpen, though it's impossible to...