O's game blog: Dean Kremer faces San Diego in Game 2

Two days ago the Orioles had a 6-0 lead and almost lost. Last night they held an early two-run lead, were tied in the ninth and lost 6-4 to the Padres in the opener of a three-game series.

The Orioles (61-42) still lead the American League East by two games over the Yankees as both clubs keep losing often lately.

The Orioles have lost four of five, nine of 13 and 11 of their past 17 games. Since June 21 they are 12-17 with a -41 run differential.

The Yankees have lost five of six games and are 2-5 since the All-Star break (the O’s are 3-4). Since June 21, New York is 9-19 with a -16 run differential.

San Diego (56-50) has a six-game winning streak after Friday’s 6-4 victory and they have outscored their opponents 34-8 in those games.

Powerful Dodgers will be big roadblock to Padres' magical season in NLDS

Powerful Dodgers will be big roadblock to Padres' magical season in NLDS
Let's start with an obvious point: Of all four Division Series, the most compelling matchup is the National League battle between the Dodgers and Padres. Storylines overflow: Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Wil Myers versus Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw and Cody Bellinger. And the series has drama for the Dodgers, who have won eight consecutive NL West titles without a World Series win. The Dodgers haven't won the World Series since 1988 and have lost two of the last three, one to the...

Padres aggressively take aim at postseason

Padres aggressively take aim at postseason
Everything has changed with the San Diego Padres. The question: Have they added enough to their roster to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006, or even the World Series for the first time since 1998, the year they were swept by the Yankees? As Monday's trade deadline approached, the Padres were by far the most active team in the market. They fixed all their weaknesses: designated hitter, catching, the bullpen and the rotation. They added DH Mitch Moreland from Boston, closer Trevor...

No Gold Gloves for Nationals

No Gold Gloves for Nationals
Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon and outfielders Juan Soto and Victor Robles did not win Gold Gloves this season, as selections were announced Sunday night by Major League Baseball on ESPN2. The voting was completed late in regular season by managers and coaches. The only stipulation was the managers and coaches could not vote for their own players. Rendon was one of three finalists at third base in the National League. He lost out to Nolan Arenado of the Rockies. Soto, who was joined by...

Pregame notes on Soto, Turner, Kieboom, more (6:30 p.m. start expected)

Pregame notes on Soto, Turner, Kieboom, more (6:30 p.m. start expected)
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Juan Soto is ready to go today against the Cardinals in the series finale after being a late scratch last night prior to game three due to back spasms. "He's in the lineup. He's good to go," Martinez said. "It's good to have him back in there. He said he didn't feel anything really. I think he just cramped up. We don't want to take a chance." Martinez said the training staff was concerned it was something worse when Soto was hurt during batting...

Rendon to injured list, Nats purchase contract of Jennings

Rendon to injured list, Nats purchase contract of Jennings
The Nationals finally had to give up on hoping Anthony Rendon could quickly get back from a left elbow injury. The Nats placed Rendon on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow contusion on Tuesday prior to their second game against the Cardinals. The team has purchased the contract of left-hander Dan Jennings from Double-A Harrisburg to add depth to the bullpen. To make room for Jennings on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-hander Austin Adams for assignment. Rendon's status is...

Padres break open close game with six-run 10th as Nats fall 8-3

Padres break open close game with six-run 10th as Nats fall 8-3
The Nationals battled back to force extra innings against the Padres on Saturday. But then it all unraveled in the 10th inning as the Nats' beleaguered bullpen was again unable to string together quick outs and San Diego rolled up six runs to turn the game inside out. The Padres downed the Nationals 8-3 in 10 innings to win the series. The Nats are a now season-low three games under .500 at 11-14 and have lost three in a row and six of their last eight. In the 10th, the Nats employed three...

Answers to questions about early surprise squads

Answers to questions about early surprise squads
The answers to questions regarding the top five surprising teams in the early going on the season: Q: What is fueling the Tigers' first-place run in the American League Central? A: Pitching and defense. "This is about throwing the ball over the plate and catching it,'' Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said to the Detroit Free Press. "But we can't get too high on this stuff. There's a long way to go.'' The Tigers get a big test starting tonight when they play Cleveland in a series they'll...

Marty Niland: The team that almost moved to Washington in 1973

Marty Niland: The team that almost moved to Washington in 1973
Imagine if the names of franchise greats inscribed on the mezzanine of Nationals Park included Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith and Willie McCovey. What if, instead of tracing its roots back to Montreal, Washington's baseball team had its origins in San Diego? It might have happened if the dreams of Washington baseball fans 45 summers ago has come true, instead of ending in one of many heartbreaks for the city. The story began on May 28, 1973 when The Washington Post greeted readers with the...

Taylor's walk-off double off center field wall lifts Nats to 2-1 win

Taylor's walk-off double off center field wall lifts Nats to 2-1 win
The game was delayed 10 minutes because of big rain storm that came through the area a couple of hours before first pitch. Although the Padres are hitting the ball hard against right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, they have only singles from Jose Pirela in the first and Raffy Lopez in the second. Left-hander Eric Lauer is off to a good start for San Diego, having not allowed a base hit to the Nationals in two frames. Bryce Harper got to second base in his first at-bat thanks to a pop-up catch error...

Eaton reports he is "healthy", plus updates on Zimmerman and Murphy

Eaton reports he is "healthy", plus updates on Zimmerman and Murphy
I checked in with Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton, who is rehabbing his ankle surgery. Last week he was sporting a cast on his left ankle that went all the way up to his knee. Today he rolled down his ankle sock to show no tape and just the scar from his surgery. No swelling. Eaton said he is continuing rehab from the surgery and is getting back into baseball-related activities. "We do different things every day," Eaton said. "You throw, you run too. You just ramp it up and get her going....

Opposite dugout: Padres have to pick it up at plate to have a prayer

Opposite dugout: Padres have to pick it up at plate to have a prayer
Manager: Andy Green (3rd season) Record: 20-28 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.268/.366/.482, 16 doubles), 3B Christian Villanueva (12 HR, 26 RBIs), LF Franchy Cordero (5 SB, 6 HR), RF Travis Jankowski (.359/.438/.469), RHP Tyson Ross (3.35 ERA), LHP Brad Hand (14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: (1-2) Pitching probables: May 21: LHP Robbie Erlin (1-2) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-0), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 22: LHP Eric Lauer (1-2) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay...

Opposite dugout: Padres once again scuffling in NL West

Opposite dugout: Padres once again scuffling in NL West
Manager: Andy Green (3rd season) Record: 13-22 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.297 with 5 HR, 12 RBIs), 3B Christian Villanueva (.265 with 9 HR, 20 RBIs), LF Jose Pirela (.250 with 35 hits, 11 RBIs), RHP Tyson Ross (2-2, 3.28 ERA); LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 3:13 ERA), LHP Brad Hand (8 saves, 2.70 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 7: RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-3) vs. RHP Tyson Ross (2-2), 10:10 p.m., MASNMay 8: RHP Jeremy...

Opposite dugout: Padres progressing through their rebuild

Opposite dugout: Padres progressing through their rebuild
Manager: Andy Green Record: 54-66 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Wil Myers (24 HR, 59 RBIs), LF Jose Pirela (.293/.344/.520), 2B Yangervis Solarte (.271/.347/.426), LHP Brad Hand (2.19 ERA, 10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: Aug. 17: RHP Edwin Jackson vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin, 10:10 p.m., MASNAug. 18: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Luis Perdomo, 10:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 19: TBA vs. LHP Travis Wood, 8:40 p.m., MASN2Aug. 20: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. TBA, 4:40 p.m., MASN2 Inside...

Ross falls back into early-season struggles, Treinen's foot bruised

Ross falls back into early-season struggles, Treinen's foot bruised
Against the Padres on Sunday, Joe Ross was unable to build off his last start. This was the same scenario that hurt him to begin the season. On April 19, he had a good start against the Braves. He followed that with two tough starts against Colorado and the Mets in which he allowed a combined 10 runs over 8 2/3 innings. After working on his mechanics at Triple-A Syracuse and building his velocity back up, Ross returned to D.C. and had a very solid effort in a 10-1 win over Seattle on May 23. In...

Padres take early lead against Ross (Nats lose 5-3)

Padres take early lead against Ross (Nats lose 5-3)
Ryan Schimpf hit a home run on Friday night for the Padres' lone tally against Max Scherzer. It was their only run in the first two games of the three-game weekend set. On Sunday, in the rain-delayed start of the series finale between the Nats and the Padres, Schimpf connected on a two-run shot in the top of the first off Joe Ross to lift San Diego to an early 2-0 lead. Trea Turner laced a single up the middle to begin the bottom of the first against San Diego right-hander Jhoulys Chacin....

Game 49 lineups: Padres at Nats (game underway)

Game 49 lineups: Padres at Nats (game underway)
Right-hander Joe Ross today looks to complete the three-game sweep against the Padres, the team that traded him to the Nationals in December 2014. The 24-year-old Ross will look to continue a trend where Nats starters Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg dominated San Diego on Friday and Saturday, respectively. In the last six games, Nats starters have allowed six earned runs in 43 2/3 innings for a 1.24 ERA. In that span, they have struck out 61 and walked only eight. The Padres have not scored...

Turner hopes mechanical adjustment helps to get his groove back

Turner hopes mechanical adjustment helps to get his groove back
With Adam Eaton out for the season, the pressure on the top of the order to get on base and create offense almost completely falls on talented shortstop Trea Turner. However, Turner has recently been going after first pitches too often, and opposing pitchers started throwing him more off-speed stuff. His numbers began to wane. His average had dropped to .236 on May 18 after an 0-for-5 against the Pirates. Since then, Turner has accumulated eight hits in his last seven games. His average is up...

Speier expects business as usual subbing for Baker (Nats win 5-1)

Speier expects business as usual subbing for Baker (Nats win 5-1)
Chris Speier is substituting for Dusty Baker as acting manager for this series against the Padres. Baker is back in California to attend his son Darren's graduation from high school and will rejoin the team Monday in San Francisco. Speier's job when Baker is here is as bench coach. The Nationals have added co-field coordinator Jeff Garber to assist on the bench for this weekend. Speier said during pregame that his bench coach responsibilities will not change and he will not delegate those...

Stammen calls return to Nats Park with Padres "exciting"

Stammen calls return to Nats Park with Padres "exciting"
The Nationals welcome the San Diego Padres to D.C. for a weekend series starting tonight. It is the first time Craig Stammen has returned to Nats Park since he elected free agency in late 2015. "It was exciting," Stammen said of his return today. "It's exciting to go a city where you are familiar with everything there and you can tell the bus driver where to go and all that kind of stuff. It's fun to be back. I didn't know if I'd ever get back, but it's fun to be back." I spoke to him...