Brian Matusz has a shutout through four innings. He's allowed five hits, which means he's scattered them. Matusz's six strikeouts match his total over his last three starts. He fanned Travis Hafner to open the fourth on a knee-buckling curveball, and Jhonny Peralta swung through a 92 mph fastball. The Orioles aren't giving him much support. The game's only run came on Ty Wigginton's 414-foot homer. Down on the farm, St. Paul's grad Steve Johnson is pitching for Double-A Bowie against...

Ty Wigginton hit 11 home runs in 410 at-bats last season. He just belted No. 11 this year in his 116th at-bat. I don't want to jinx the guy, but I like his chances of surpassing last year's total. Wigginton gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second inning by crushing a 78 mph changeup from Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot. Wigginton swung at the first pitch and launched it 414 feet to left field. Adam Jones has the other hit off Talbot, a single in the first inning. He was cut down trying...

Welcome to MASN's live thread for tonight's Nationals-Rockies game. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the game, and whether you're just watching the game on TV or following online, you can participate by commenting in this thread. Or, if you're on Twitter, you can tag tweets with #masnnats, and they'll be included in the chat. Nats vs. Rockies 5/15 in-game thread

The O's bullpen has been pitching much better lately with an ERA of 1.65 over the last 12 games. Several pitchers are throwing well out of the pen right now. A list that includes first-year Oriole Will Ohman. Turns out he is more than a funny guy. He is also turning out to be more than a left-handed specialist. In fact this year, lefties bat .231 vs. Ohman and right-handers hit .200 vs. him. "The one difficulty with carrying that label (of lefty specialist) is the splits are so glaring...

As good as Brian Matusz has been for most of this year, there is one trend when he pitches that needs some improving on his part. With each succeeding plate appearance during the game, opponent batters hit Matusz better according to stats posted at baseball-reference.com That can and does happen to many pitchers, but it is something worth noting about Matusz and Dave Trembley has taken note of it, too. "I think his curveball could get better. He relies on his changeup a lot. If he...

When I posted earlier that Rhyne Hughes hit outdoors before batting practice, you probably thought, "Good idea." Hughes isn't in the lineup tonight against a right-hander, which tells you how much he's struggling. He's 5-for-31 with one RBI and 14 strikeouts in his last 10 games, lowering his average to .213 after a scorching start with the Orioles. Welcome to The Show. What is manager Dave Trembley seeing from Hughes? "Swinging and missing too much," he replied. Fortunately, he...

Brian Roberts played catch yesterday. He played catch and took ground balls today. That qualifies as baby steps, but at least he's moving forward. "I am encouraged," manager Dave Trembley said. "He's felt better, but he's got a ways to go yet." Trembley expects Roberts to start hitting off a tee as the next step. Reliever Mike Gonzalez had a side session in Sarasota today (say that three times fast). He threw 30 pitches. That's the first time he's stepped on a mound since...

Brian Roberts played catch with third base coach Juan Samuel while a few Orioles - including Rhyne Hughes, Adam Jones and Luke Scott - took early batting practice. Now he's fielding ground balls. That counts as baseball-related activities. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Indians: Cabrera SS Grudzielanek 2B Choo RF Kearns LF Hafner...

Nolan Reimold, starting in left field today for Triple-A Norfolk, is 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The Tides trail Buffalo, 4-0, in the bottom of the eighth inning. Michael Aubrey is 1-for-3 as the designated hitter, leaving his average at .256. Rhyne Hughes might want to keep an eye on him. Jake Arrieta allowed four runs and five hits over six innings, with four walks and three strikeouts. He surrendered two home runs. Arrieta threw 98 pitches, 57 for strikes. Dennis Sarfate has thrown 1 2/3...

Livan Hernandez and Ubaldo Jimenez did not disappoint, dueling into the late innings, as the Colorado Rockies blew open a close game with three runs in the eighth Saturday afternoon, downing the Washington Nationals 6-2 in the first game of a doubleheader from Coors Field in Denver. Unfortunately for the Nats, most will remember Brian Bruney's struggles in the Rockies last at bat. Ian Stewart's RBI double off of Bruney, followed by Clint Barmes 2-run single, turned a tight 3-2 Colorado lead...