Opposite dugout: First-place Cardinals bring baseball's hottest pitching staff into D.C.

Opposite dugout: First-place Cardinals bring baseball's hottest pitching staff into D.C.
Manager: Mike Matheny, fourth year Record: 8-3 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 3B Matt Carpenter (.400/.449/.689, 7 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 10 R); LF Matt Holliday (.361/.467/.389, 6 RBIs); RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP); RHP Lance Lynn (1-1, 1.64 ERA, 0.909 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2014): 5-2, 25 runs scored, 12 runs allowed Pitching probables April 21: RHP Lance Lynn vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN April 22: RHP John Lackey vs. RHP Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN April 23:...

Opposite dugout: Inconsistent offense, iffy pitching drop Blue Jays below .500

Opposite dugout: Inconsistent offense, iffy pitching drop Blue Jays below .500
Manager: John Gibbons, third year Record: 6-7 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Devon Travis (.356/.408/.644, 4 doubles, 3 HR, 12 RBIs, 9 R); 3B Josh Donaldson (.314/.368/.549, 3 doubles, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 10 R); LHP Mark Buehrle (2-0, 3.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP); RHP Roberto Osuna (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.750 WHIP, 8 IP) Season series vs. O's: 2-1, 23 runs scored, 19 runs allowed Pitching probables April 21: LHP Mark Buehrle vs. RHP Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN2 April 22: RHP Aaron Sanchez vs. RHP Ubaldo...

Opposite dugout: Red Sox look to stay hot at plate, get rotation on track with O's in town

Opposite dugout: Red Sox look to stay hot at plate, get rotation on track with O's in town
Manager: John Farrell, third year Record: 6-3 Last 10 games: 6-3 Who to watch: LF Hanley Ramirez (.278/.341/.611, 4 HR, 9 RBIs); 2B Dustin Pedroia (.300/.383/.575, 2 doubles, 3 HR, 6 RBIs); RHP Joe Kelly (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.429 WHIP); RHP Rick Porcello (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 0.929 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2014): 8-11, 62 runs scored, 85 runs allowed Pitching probablesApril 17: RHP Joe Kelly vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, 7 p.m., MASN April 18: RHP Clay Buchholz vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 4 p.m., MASN2 April...

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to halt skid, continue success vs. Nats

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to halt skid, continue success vs. Nats
Manager: Ryne Sandberg, third year Record: 3-6 Last 10 games: 3-6 Who to watch: 3B Cody Asche (.500/.571/.667, 1 HR, 2 RBIs); 2B Chase Utley (.167/.229/.367, 2 HR, 7 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 3.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP); RHP Aaron Harang (1-1, 0.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 10 runs scored, 7 runs allowed Pitching probables April 16: LHP Cole Hamels vs. RHP Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN April 17: RHP Sean O'Sullivan vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7 p.m., MASN2 April 18: RHP Aaron Harang vs....

Opposite dugout: Yankees hope rotation can catch up to solid bats, bullpen

Opposite dugout: Yankees hope rotation can catch up to solid bats, bullpen
Manager: Joe Girardi, eighth year Record: 2-4 Last 10 games: 2-4 Who to watch: DH Alex Rodriguez (.300/.417/.550, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBIs); 1B Mark Teixeira (.222/.375/.611, 2 HR, 3 RBIs); RHP Michael Pineda (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP); LHP CC Sabathia (0-1, 6.35 ERA, 1.412 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2014): 6-13, 57 runs scored, 91 runs allowed Pitching probables April 13: RHP Michael Pineda vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN2 April 14: LHP CC Sabathia vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2...

Opposite dugout: Well-rounded Red Sox welcome Nats to Fenway for home opener

Opposite dugout: Well-rounded Red Sox welcome Nats to Fenway for home opener
Manager: John Farrell, third year Record: 4-2 Last 10 games: 4-2 Who to watch: LF Hanley Ramirez (.320/.333/.680, 3 HR, 7 RBIs); SS Xander Bogaerts (.407/.467/.519, 2 XBH, 2 SB, 6 RBIs); RHP Rick Porcello (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.333 WHIP); RHP Justin Masterson (1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.833 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2014): DNP since 2012 Pitching probables April 13: RHP Rick Porcello vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 3 p.m., MASN April 14: RHP Justin Masterson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 6 p.m., MASN April 15:...

Opposite dugout: Phillies in rebuilding mode as they meet Nats for first time in '15

Opposite dugout: Phillies in rebuilding mode as they meet Nats for first time in '15
Manager: Ryne Sandberg, third year Record: 1-2 Last 10 games: 1-2 Who to watch: C Carlos Ruiz (.375/.583/.375, 0 XBH, 0 RBIs); RF Jeff Francoeur (.222/.222/.556, 1 HR, 3 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 7.20 ERA, 1.60 WHIP); RHP Jerome Williams (4-2, 2.83 ERA, 1.134 WHIP in 2014) Season series vs. Nats (2014): 10-9, 70 runs scored, 84 runs allowed Pitching probables April 10: RHP Jerome Williams vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 April 11: LHP Cole Hamels vs. RHP Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN2 April...

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays bring mix of potent bats, solid pitching to first meeting with O's

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays bring mix of potent bats, solid pitching to first meeting with O's
Manager: John Gibbons, third year Record: 2-1 Last 10 games: 2-1 Who to watch: DH Edwin Encarnacion (.417/.417/.917, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 R); 3B Josh Donaldson (.182/.250/.182, 0 HR, 0 RBIs); LHP Mark Buehrle (13-10, 3.39 ERA, 1.356 WHIP in 2014); RHP Drew Hutchison (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.833 WHIP in 2014) Season series vs. O's (2014): 8-11, 70 runs scored, 74 runs allowed Pitching probables April 10: LHP Mark Buehrle vs. RHP Bud Norris, 3 p.m., MASN April 11: RHP Aaron Sanchez vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, 7...

Opposite dugout: Upstart Mets hoping arms lead club to improved campaign

Opposite dugout: Upstart Mets hoping arms lead club to improved campaign
Manager: Terry Collins, fifth year 2014 record: 79-83 Who to watch (2014 stats): 1B Lucas Duda (.253/.349/.481, 30 HR, 92 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.289/.332/.403, 37 doubles, 9 HR, 57 RBIs); RHP Jacob deGrom (9-6, 2.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP); RHP Matt Harvey (DNP, Tommy John surgery) Season series vs. Nats (2014): 4-15, 52 runs scored, 95 runs allowed Pitching probables April 6: RHP Bartolo Colon vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 4 p.m., MASN April 8: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2...

Opposite dugout: New era begins for dinged-up Rays against O's

Opposite dugout: New era begins for dinged-up Rays against O's
Manager: Kevin Cash, first year 2014 record: 77-85 Who to watch (2014 stats): 3B Evan Longoria (.253/.320/.404, 22 HR, 91 RBIs); 1B James Loney (.290/.336/.380, 36 XBH, 69 RBIs); OF Kevin Kiermaier (.263/.315/.450, 10 HR, 35 RBIs); RHP Chris Archer (10-9, 3.33 ERA, 1.279 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2014): 7-12, 62 runs scored, 80 runs allowed Pitching probables April 6: RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 3 p.m., MASN2 April 7: RHP Nathan Karns vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN April 8:...

O's team with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for 2015 "Go Green" Day, green cap auction

O's team with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for 2015 "Go Green" Day, green cap auction
St. Patrick's Day won't be the only reason to deck out in green if you're visiting Ed Smith Stadium when the Orioles play the Twins on March 17. The Orioles announced today that Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will be their partner for "Go Green" Day that day at the park in Sarasota, Fla. Selby Gardens, a world-renowned botanical research center and leader in environmental education, will benefit from an online auction of specially designed green O's caps autographed by players. The caps...

MASN's Mike Bordick recalls O's 1999 exhibition in Cuba

MASN's Mike Bordick recalls O's 1999 exhibition in Cuba
When President Barack Obama announced plans to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba in December, news broke less than two months later that the Orioles are among the teams interested in playing an exhibition game there this spring. This might all sound familiar for a reason. Sixteen years ago, after the United States lifted travel restrictions to Cuba, the Orioles played a home-and-home exhibition series with the Cuban national team, becoming the first major league team to play a game in the...

Yost, Cain on Royals taking 2-0 lead in ALCS

Yost, Cain on Royals taking 2-0 lead in ALCS
While the Royals didn't predict it, they didn't rule out the notion of leaving Camden Yards with a two games to none lead in the American League Championship Series with three games in front of their home fans waiting. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain had a ton to do with the latest victory, going 4-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and two spectacular catches - one of which robbed J.J. Hardy of extra bases to start the sixth. Along with showing his impressive range and glove, Cain is batting .750 with two...

Gordon, Yost on Royals' big night in ALCS Game 1 win

Gordon, Yost on Royals' big night in ALCS Game 1 win
Alex Gordon did it all to help the Royals get an upper hand in the American League Championship Series. The 30-year-old outfielder put together a monster performance in his first career ALCS contest, using both his bat and his glove to lead the Royals to an 8-6 Game 1 win over the Orioles in 10 innings. Gordon went 3-for-4 with a bases-loaded double, a 10th-inning homer and four RBIs, while adding a diving catch in the third. Kansas City manager Ned Yost was thrilled to see Gordon come...

Opposite dugout: Royals ride pitching, speed, defense into ALCS

Opposite dugout: Royals ride pitching, speed, defense into ALCS
Manager: Ned Yost, fifth year Record: 89-73 ALDS result: 3-0 over Angels Postseason stats: 1B Eric Hosmer (.500/.632/1.143, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 R); 3B Mike Moustakas (.286/.333/.714, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); LHP Jason Vargas (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP); RHP James Shields (1-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 4-3, 26 runs scored, 18 runs allowed Pitching probables Game 1, Oct. 10: James Shields vs. Chris Tillman, 8 p.m., TBS Game 2, Oct. 11: Yordano Ventura vs. Wei-Yin Chen/Bud Norris, 4 p.m.,...

Ausmus on sweep: "You feel like you let the fans down and you feel like you let the organization down"

Ausmus on sweep: "You feel like you let the fans down and you feel like you let the organization down"
The Tigers won 90 games to take the American League Central and were seeking their fourth straight appearance in the AL Championship Series. So to call being swept in the AL Division Series a letdown doesn't quite capture what first-year manager Brad Ausmus was feeling after Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles. "It's disappointing. You feel like you let the fans down and you feel like you let the organization down. You feel like you let the Ilitches down," Ausmus told reporters at Comerica...

Ausmus after Game 2 loss: "If we have a lead in the eighth inning Sunday, we're going to have to find somebody"

Ausmus after Game 2 loss: "If we have a lead in the eighth inning Sunday, we're going to have to find somebody"
After again watching his bullpen let the Orioles post a big eighth inning to cement a Division Series win, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus didn't know how he'd handle a lead going forward with his club one game away from being eliminated. For the second straight game, Joba Chamberlain and Joakim Soria simply couldn't record outs. Handed a three-run lead in the eighth, the late-inning duo combined to surrender four runs on three hits and a walk in their combined one inning of work. In Game 1 a...

Opposite dugout: Streaky Giants bring postseason experience to NLDS vs. Nats

Opposite dugout: Streaky Giants bring postseason experience to NLDS vs. Nats
Manager: Bruce Bochy, eighth year Regular season record: 88-74 Last 10 games: 5-5, including NL wild card win Who to watch: C Buster Posey (.311/.364/.490, 28 doubles, 22 HR, 89 RBIs); RF Hunter Pence (.277/.332/.445, 29 doubles, 10 triples, 20 HR, 74 RBIs, 106 R); RHP Jake Peavy (6-4, 2.17 ERA, 1.04 WHIP); RHP Tim Hudson (9-13, 3.57 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-5, 30 runs scored, 41 runs allowed Pitching probables Game 1, Oct. 3: Jake Peavy vs. Stephen Strasburg, 3 p.m., FS1 Game...

Ausmus discusses Tigers' end of 12-3 loss in ALDS Game 1

Ausmus discusses Tigers' end of 12-3 loss in ALDS Game 1
Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus' first postseason game as a manager didn't quite go the way he hoped. A tight contest turned into a rout when few miscues in the eighth contributed to an eight-run inning for the Orioles, who handed Detroit a 12-3 loss in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. In the top of the eighth with the dangerous heart of the Tigers' order due up, Torii Hunter lined into a double play when Ian Kinsler ran on his own, making it easy work for J.J. Hardy after a...

Opposite dugout: Tigers bring power arms, power bats into ALDS

Opposite dugout: Tigers bring power arms, power bats into ALDS
Manager: Brad Ausmus, first year Record: 90-72 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.313/.371/.524, 52 doubles, 25 HR, 109 RBIs, 101 R); DH Victor Martinez (.335/.409/.565, 33 doubles, 32 HR, 103 RBIs); RHP Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA, 1.18 WHIP); LHP David Price (15-12, 3.26 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 5-1, 33 runs scored, 20 runs allowed Pitching probables Game 1, Oct. 2: Max Scherzer vs. Chris Tillman, 5:30 p.m., TBS Game 2, Oct. 3: Justin Verlander vs. TBA, 12...