I guess it's still about the pitching. After a 4-0 start, some were wondering when Derrek Lee and Vlad Guerrero would drive in some runs. Tonight, they have combined for three RBI, but the Orioles trail Detroit 6-3 in the seventh. Lee hit his first O's homer, an impressive two-run shot over the right field scoreboard on the first pitch from Justin Verlander in the fourth. Through three, the Tigers' right hander was looking like he had no-hit stuff. He retired the first nine batters on just...

With the rosters at Single-A Hagerstown, Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg all announced as of this week, conspicuously not listed was the Nationals' 2010 second-round pick, pitcher Sammy Solis. But not to worry, there is nothing wrong with Solis, and he has pitched well in spring training. The Nats' left-handed pitching prospect says he expects to remain in Viera, Florida, for about two more weeks as he works in extended spring training. Solis suffered a quad injury while running...

If the Orioles plan on going undefeated this season, they'll need to tighten up the pitching and defense. At least the offense woke up. Justin Verlander retired the first 10 batters before Nick Markakis walked and Derrek Lee homered to right field. Lee's first homer and RBIs sliced the Tigers' lead to 4-2. Manager Buck Showalter said earlier today that "somebody's going to pay" because it looked like Lee's bat was coming around. I guess the Tigers were that somebody. Brad Bergesen...

I'm still not a huge fan of Twitter, though I know it's necessary in this day and age and it's slowly winning me over, but it's become a convenient tool for tracking Jeremy Guthrie's health. Guthrie just, yes, tweeted the following: "Just got cleared to play short distance catch today by team Dr...yeeaa! Will take things slowly this week and see how body reacts." My question is, how slowly? He's tentatively scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Rangers at Camden Yards, but he'll...

Orioles minor league pitcher Jesse Beal, who was slated to begin the year in the Frederick Keys rotation, will miss the start of the minor league season. Beal, who went 7-6, 3.86 last summer at Single-A Delmarva, has a right shoulder impingement. There is no definite timetable yet for when he will be back on the mound, but he is expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the season. Meanwhile, Parker Bridwell, the O's ninth-round pick in 2010, remains in extended spring training, but...

Tonight's lineup doesn't include Luke Scott, but his groin injury has improved enough that he's available to pinch-hit if needed. Scott hasn't played since leaving Saturday night's game for a pinch-runner. "Luke feels a lot better today," Showalter said. "I feel like he's getting close. I could probably use him to pinch-hit tonight. It's something I didn't feel real comfortable with the day before yesterday. He's gone out and run some with Richie (Bancells). Came in yesterday for...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter listed Jeremy Guthrie as "very tentative" for Sunday's start against the Rangers at Camden Yards. Guthrie was released from the hospital earlier today after being treated for a form of pneumonia. Brad Bergesen is taking Guthrie's turn on the mound tonight. "I'm not sure if he's going to show up at the park or not," Showalter said of Guthrie, who tossed eight scoreless innings in Friday night's season-opener against the Rays. "Dr. (William) Goldiner,...

It would not be an upset as big as say Super Bowl III when the Jets beat the Colts, but I would guess it would be maybe a mild upset to see an Orioles win tonight. After all, Brad Bergesen had an uneven spring and hasn't pitched in a while and Orioles' hitters will be facing one of the AL's best in Justin Verlander. The 28-year-old righty, who has 37 wins the past two seasons, won his only start against Baltimore last year. He allowed just two runs on five hits over eight innings last...

Here is tonight's Orioles lineup for the 7:05 p.m. game against the Detroit Tigers: For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Tigers: Jackson CF Rymes 2B Ordonez RF Cabrera 1B Martinez DH Boesch LF Peralta SS Avila C Inge 3B Verlander RHP

If you don't know Warning Track Power already, I suspect you soon will. Or at least you'll be humming their new, upbeat orange-and-black anthem. The Baltimore-based band, which released an Orioles-inspired song, "How Bout Dem O's," in 2009 is back with an equally catchy tune to kick off the 2011 baseball season. Here's "Oh Oh Orioles." There's a lot to like about this song, from the backyard-and-basement locales (complete with Bawlmer-style rowhomes) and the historically accurate...