Pepperdine pitcher Matt Bywater, who was drafted in round seven by the Orioles, said he still could sign with the team, although it hasn't happened yet. "We are still in negotiations," Bywater, a 21-year-old lefty said this afternoon from his home in Thousand Oaks, California. "It's not a done deal on either side." When asked if he is still open to coming to terms with the club he said "completely open." I asked Bywater if the sides were close or far apart in their...

Updating my previous entry on Jason Berken, his MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Baltimore. He's been receiving treatment on his right shoulder for most of the season, but the discomfort behind the shoulder apparently has gotten worse. Manager Buck Showalter watched video of Berken and noticed that the reliever's mechanics have changed and his pitches aren't as crisp. Berken isn't following through on his delivery and appears to be aiming the ball. The issue isn't a drop in...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in St. Petersburg that reliever Jason Berken will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder. Berken has been struggling throughout the second half after leading American League relievers in innings pitched. He'll be shut down until the Orioles obtain the results of the MRI. Berken gave up an unearned run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning in Thursday's appearance. He's allowed 10 earned runs (12 total) in his last 10 outings. That's all I've...

You'll notice some changes: Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Jake Fox 3B Cesar Izturis SS Craig Tatum C Jake Arrieta RHP

Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan will play for the Potomac Nationals today in a rehab start. Morgan is on the disabled list with inflammation in his right hip. In 103 games with the Nationals in 2010, Morgan has hit .261 with 20 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Will Flemming with the P-Nats reports Morgan is expected to play five innings in center field. Harrisburg Senators starter Tanner Roark, acquired from the Texas Rangers last month as part of the trade for Cristian Guzman, earned his first...

The Orioles are facing another pitcher who might not be familiar to a lot of fans. You know how that usually ends. Tampa Bay's Jeremy Hellickson is making his third major league start today. He's a fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft who's 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA. He's allowed two runs and six hits in 14 innings, with two walks and 13 strikeouts. Baseball America rated him as the 18th-best prospect in baseball going into the 2010 season. He started for Team USA in the Futures Game. He throws...

Nationals right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock was solid in a rehab start Saturday night in Potomac against Myrtle Beach, going four innings, scattering four hits, allowing one run with no walks and season-high seven strikeouts. Mock was throwing every pitch for strikes and even tried his sinker for the first time this season. Mock says he got "very good late movement on it. I was encouraged." He says he was getting strikeouts with his fastball and curve. "I was walking off the field and...

Here is the reason to watch and/or listen to today's Orioles-Tampa game. The contest features a matchup of the two of the best, young pitching prospects in the game. It's Jake Arrieta for Baltimore and Jeremy Hellickson for Tampa. Let's start with Hellickson. Entering this season, Baseball America ranked the 23-year-old righty as Tampa's number 2 prospect and number 18 in all of baseball. In their recent mid-season rating of the top 25 prospects in baseball at the mid-point he was...

Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler will go back to Florida on Wednesday or Thursday to continue to rehab his sore right hip. Detwiler says the hip "feels pretty good, a little better every day." He will continue to work with the physical therapist next week in D.C. before heading back to Florida. Detwiler says he will throw simulated games at the Viera facility for about one week. He is eligible to come off the disabled list August 21. Detwiler last pitched August 5 in Phoenix,...

Jim Johnson's injury rehab assignment moved to Single-A Frederick tonight. He allowed four straight hits to Winston-Salem in the eighth inning, but only one run. Johnson faced six batters, but he threw only 11 pitches. Pretty strange. I'm told that his fastball sat in the low 90s. Winston-Salem entered the game leading the Carolina League with a .289 average. Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Zach Britton struck out nine Charlotte batters over eight innings. He allowed one run and five hits,...