Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler gets the start today in the final game of the series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Detwiler pitched seven scoreless innings Wednesday afternoon for the Harrisburg Senators. Detwiler thinks it will actually help him having only four days rest. "I think it will be better. It is close to my bullpen day so I think I will be better because my location is finer. "I felt good after my seven inning game Wednesday. Normally, I ride the bike for 15 to 20...

X-rays taken on catcher Craig Tatum's right hand came back negative. He's dealing with a bruise, but nothing more serious at the moment. The club will check on him tomorrow before deciding whether he needs to go on the disabled list. If he does, Matt Wieters will take his place on the 25-man roster. Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters that the swelling has gone down in Tatum's hand.

Catcher Craig Tatum left the game in the seventh inning after taking a foul tip off his right hand. Jake Fox has replaced him with two outs and Jason Berken on the mound. Berken's pitch glanced off Jason Repko's bat and caught Tatum in the hand. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells rushed onto the field, and Tatum accompanied him into the clubhouse. Matt Wieters comes off the disabled list tomorrow and the Orioles need to decide whether to eliminate Tatum or Fox from the 25-man roster....

Well, this was a better outing for lefty Brian Matusz. Not good, but better. After giving up 10 ER in just 4 2/3 over his past two starts, tonight he gave up six hits and three runs over five innings. Matusz's velocity seemed to be up over his last outing and he hit 91 and 92 on the gun, more Matusz- like. But his control abandoned him at the start as he walked three of the first four hitters to load the bases. But he gave up just one run that inning and did a very good job of minimizing...

In case you were wondering, Luke Scott hasn't cooled off. Twins center fielder Denard Span robbed him of a home run in the second inning, but Scott wouldn't be denied in the fourth. He drove a fastball over the right field fence after Nick Markakis was hit by a pitch, giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Scott gave Adam Jones another hug on the on-deck circle before reaching the dugout. He did the same thing last night. Scott is 10-for-22 with four homers since coming off the disabled...

In his first outing in a game since June 20 for Norfolk vs. Toledo, right-hander Brandon Erbe allowed two runs in the third inning at Ripken Stadium tonight for Aberdeen vs. Hudson Valley. Erbe, who has been out since then with right shoulder soreness, pitched scoreless ball in the first and second innings. He gave up just one hit and the two runs over three innings with two walks and one strikeout. Erbe hit the first batter of the game and then retired the next six. His fastball was...

I finally remembered to approach Luke Scott at his locker this afternoon and check whether he still keeps a journal of his at-bats against each pitcher. We haven't seen him scribbling in it this season. So what gives? "I still have it, but I don't do it as much now because I've been in the league for a while and a lot of this stuff, I already know," he said. "I have a good plan now. I've got my notes on these guys." So there you have it. He still keeps the journal, but he doesn't...

Since Brian Matusz shut down the Boston Red Sox on just two hits over seven scoreless innings on the fourth of July, he has made back-to-back starts where he lasted just three and 1 2/3 innings. He has given up 10 ER over 4 2/3 in those two starts as his ERA jumped from 4.56 to 5.21. I'm still firmly on the Matusz bandwagon, in fact I couldn't even find the edge to jump off if I wanted to, I am so firmly on that bandwagon. Having said that, it would silence some of the doubters a bit if he...

Right-handed pitcher Collin Balester got the call back to the big leagues this weekend - for one game tonight. He joined the Nationals in Milwaukee Saturday. The 24-year-old Balester has made the transition this season from starter to reliever and he told me he has embraced the change completely. "It is all about attitude coming out of the bullpen. You have to let it all go. When you get the call out of the pen, you have to be ready to pitch. I come out firing, ready to go right...

Norfolk Tides pitcher Brandon Erbe, who made four injury rehab starts for the Aberdeen IronBirds last year, will be back at Ripken Stadium tonight, beginning another injury rehab assignment. He'll be joined by Norfolk and former O's reliever Kam Mickolio. Erbe has been on the DL since June 25 and has not pitched since June 20 due to right shoulder soreness. He is 0-10, 5.73 in 14 Triple-A starts this year. Mickolio, who pitched in three O's games back in April, hasn't pitched since June...