Game Preview Orioles (46-64) at Toronto (52-57) The Orioles inconsistent offense was in down mode on Saturday in a 3-2, 10-inning loss vs. Toronto. The O's left 10 men on base and went 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position. The Orioles scored 13 runs in the first two games of their series at Detroit, then plated just five runs in the series final two games. They scored seven in Friday's win at Toronto and just two in yesterday's loss. Today they'll play the third and deciding game...

LHP Brian Matusz (1-0, 1.80) today makes his second Major League start of this season. He got the win Tuesday at Detroit. In five innings, he gave up six hits and one run with three walks and five strikeouts. Matusz threw 99 pitches. In 19 starts this year between Frederick and Bowie, the 22-year-old Matusz went 11-2, 1.91 and fanned 121 in 113 innings. He began the year at Frederick, going 4-2, 2.16 in 11 starts. Matusz made his first Double-A start on June 17th and pitched even better...

Giving up the longball continues to be a problem for the O's pitching staff. The Orioles entered play today with 138 homers allowed, the most by any staff in the American League. Brian Matusz gave up three homers today in his 2 2/3 innings outing. O's pitchers have now allowed at least one long ball in 12 of the last 13 games, giving up 23 in that stretch. Chris Tillman and Matusz have combined to allow eight homers in 25 innings so far. Meanwhile, the Orioles have hit 108 homers on the...

Brian Matusz could not follow up his winning Major League debut at Detroit with another strong outing. Matusz got rocked for three homers today as his outing lasted just 2 2/3 innings as Toronto beat the Birds, 7-3, to win the series, two games to one. Kevin Millar hit a solo homer in the second while Vernon Wells and Marco Scutaro hit two-run shots in the third off the 22-year-old left hander. Matusz allowed five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings to fall to 1-1 on the year. Brian Matusz...

Jeremy Guthrie certainly gave the Orioles a solid start tonight. After giving up 17 ER in 20 2/3 in spring games, he pitched quite well at the Trop. His pitches looked to have good movement and he seemed to mix some good changeups in as well. For now, he may have silenced a nervous fan base. He was good from the start, allowing just one hit and throwing only 37 pitches in the first three innings. He gave up three runs over the 4th and 5th frames. Too bad for him, Evan Longoria's drive...

Roy Halladay today became a career 20-game winner vs. the Orioles. In eight innings he gave up nine hits and three runs (two earned) with one walk and four strikeouts. He threw 107 pitches, 79 strikes. He is 12-5, 2.73 on the year. Halladay improved to 2-0, 3.13 in three starts on the year vs. the O's and 20-4, 2.89 in 31 games, 27 career starts vs. Baltimore covering 193 innings. Halladay won for just the second time in his last nine starts and Toronto is now 12-10 in his 22 starts in...

He never seemed to be atop anyone's top prospects list. He never blew up anyone's radar gun. But Steve Johnson just kept getting outs, impressing his coaches and just kept moving up the Minor League ladder. Just a few weeks ago, the Dodgers promoted him to Double-A Chatanooga and just days after that, Johnson got traded to the Orioles with Josh Bell for George Sherrill. Now the kid from St. Paul's School, the Baltimore native whose dad played for the Orioles and now broadcasts for the...

Game Preview Oakland (49-62) at Orioles (46-65) Home after a seven-game road trip where they went only 2 and 5, the Orioles look for more victories as they begin a seven-game homestand tonight vs. Oakland. The Orioles are 28-26 at home this year. After they play three with Oakland, the stand continues with a four-game series vs. the Los Angeles Angels. Here are the pitching matchups for the Oakland series: Mon, 7:05p - Jeremy Guthrie (7-11, 5.28) v. Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 6.31) Tues, 7:05p -...

Brian Matusz says a combination of less than stellar command, nerves and spending too much time focusing on the hitter rather than his own game, all led to his short outing on Sunday at Toronto. Matusz gave up seven hits and five runs, three homers, in just 2 2/3 innings vs. the Blue Jays. "I've learned a lot, a lot about myself. I know what my strengths are," the 22-year-old lefty said. "Yesterday, I didn't pitch to my strengths. We went over the scouting report before the game and...

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-11, 5.28) tonight will make his 23rd start of the year, his 12th at home and the 5th of his career vs. Oakland. Guthrie is coming off a decent outing, but still took the loss on Wednesday night at Detroit. In 7 1/3 innings he gave up six hits and three runs, throwing 109 pitches. In four second-half starts, Guthrie is 1-3, 5.02. The right-hander leads the AL in home runs allowed with 27. He has given up at least one homer in 17 of 22 starts and has allowed ten homers...