Soto makes 2020 debut tonight, Strasburg to throw sim game

Soto makes 2020 debut tonight, Strasburg to throw sim game
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Juan Soto will return to the lineup tonight for the final game of the two-game set against the Mets. The skipper was assured that Soto was ready to go. He will play left field and bat in the cleanup spot against Mets starter Rick Porcello. "I talked to him last night," Martinez said on the pregame Zoom video call. "He did everything yesterday and he felt good. He said he is ready. He took a bunch of swings yesterday. I know he ran, he did some outfield...

Lefty Zac Lowther made strong Bowie debut, plus O's notes

Lefty Zac Lowther made strong Bowie debut, plus O's notes
After a standout 2018 season that ended with him being named the Orioles' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year, lefty Zac Lowther moved up to Double-A Bowie this year. His first start went as many of his 2018 starts did. He threw five scoreless innings on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Lowther is scheduled to make his second start for Bowie this afternoon. In 23 games last summer between Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick, the 22-year-old Lowther went 8-4 with a 2.18 ERA and...

How Porcello beat out Verlander for AL Cy Young Award

How Porcello beat out Verlander for AL Cy Young Award
The American League Cy Young Award talk should be about Orioles closer Zach Britton and his perfect 47-for-47 save season winning the hardware. Instead, it was about starting pitchers making comebacks in one of the closest races in Cy Young history. Boston's Rick Porcello, who had nine wins and a 4.92 ERA for the Red Sox in 2015, won the award by five points over Detroit's Justin Verlander, who re-established his elite status after two rocky seasons of injury, ineffectiveness and a declining...