Game 19 lineups: Nats at Mets
Game 19 lineups: Nats at Mets
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Despite what they might try to insist, managers are a superstitious lot. When something works one day, they tend to not want to change it up the next day. So when the Nationals scored a season-high seven runs Saturday with a new-look lineup, you shouldn't be surprised to see Davey Martinez go right back to the same lineup for today's series finale in New York. Yes, that means Josh Harrison and Yadiel Hernandez are at the top of the batting order again. And it means Josh Bell, despite his...
Orioles lineup vs. Athletics (updated)
Orioles lineup vs. Athletics (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have sent out today's lineup ahead of their roster move, with left-hander Zac Lowther joining them from the alternate training site in Bowie and veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc being designated for assignment. The transaction will be announced shortly. Update: It was just announced. Lowther is wearing No. 59 and waiting to make his major league debut. Lowther will be in the bullpen this afternoon as the Orioles try to avoid a sweep and the Athletics attempt to run their winning streak...
Where will Orioles turn for offensive jolt?
Where will Orioles turn for offensive jolt?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't offer a long-term endorsement yesterday for the current group of hitters on the roster. You don't make promises while an offense keeps stalling. Reasons are highlighted, such as players pressing to be "the guy," as Hyde said, and the expansion of the strike zone. "We just have a lot of guys that are trying to make up for the start of the year with one at-bat," Hyde said via Zoom, "and that's not how it works." Many of the roster moves this month have...
Hernandez makes most of rare start, makes case for more
Hernandez makes most of rare start, makes case for more
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Yadiel Hernandez has two stints on the Nationals roster already this season, once because of the club's end-of-spring COVID-19 outbreak and once because of Juan Soto's shoulder strain. He entered Saturday having taken 11 plate appearances in eight games, starting only one of them. So what did the 33-year-old rookie outfielder think when he learned he not only was in Saturday's lineup against the Mets, but would be batting second? "In reality, I wasn't expecting it," he said during a Zoom...
On MASN telecast, Elias talks about alternate camp (plus Lowther info)
On MASN telecast, Elias talks about alternate camp (plus Lowther info)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Break up the alternate site Orioles. They are an unbeaten club. The group of players that provide insurance for the roster of the big league team as the wait for the minor league season to start May 4 are 4-0 in games where box scores have been provided. They have scored 38 runs in winning four versus the Nationals alternate squad camp roster. The Orioles posted some information on their player development Twitter account. During the Friday broadcast on MASN, O's executive vice president and...
Rain falls before Orioles do in 7-2 loss (Lowther joining O's)
Rain falls before Orioles do in 7-2 loss (Lowther joining O's)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are recalling pitching prospect Zac Lowther from the alternate training site in Bowie, according to an industry source, and he'll be available in the bullpen for Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Athletics. Wade LeBlanc, who started tonight, will be designated for assignment to create roster space. Lowther, who turns 25 on Friday, is the No. 11 prospect in the system, according to MLBPipeline.com, and he's on the verge of making his major league debut. The Orioles...
Early offense, Ross' return to form produce blowout win (updated)
Early offense, Ross' return to form produce blowout win (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Davey Martinez sat in a portion of the visitors' clubhouse at Citi Field designated for Zoom press conferences around 1:30 p.m. today and expressed a profound desire for his Nationals to do something in particular in their upcoming game against the Mets. "I think we need to start scoring earlier in the game," the Nats manager said. "We've been scoring runs late. We need to start scoring runs early to take a little bit of pressure off our starting pitching, and see where that takes...
Akin unavailable to pitch after receiving stitches in finger
Akin unavailable to pitch after receiving stitches in finger
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles pitcher Keegan Akin lost his chance to come back to the majors for a spot start after cutting his left index finger in a kitchen accident that required stitches. Manager Brandon Hyde confirmed the injury earlier today in his Zoom call with the media. Wade LeBlanc got the assignment tonight with Akin unavailable as an option. Hyde said Akin sliced the finger after breakfast. "He's got stitches for a week to 10 days," Hyde said. "It was somebody that we would have probably considered...
O's game blog: O's try to even series against Oakland
O's game blog: O's try to even series against Oakland
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If the rain holds off, we should get a few answers to a few questions tonight. Such as, will the O's offense struggle again? And, can anyone soon beat the Oakland Athletics? The A's beat the Orioles 3-1 last night to improve to 13-7. They are 13-1 with 12 wins in a row since an 0-6 start. At the beginning of this season they were losing by scores of 8-1, 9-1 and 10-3, but their last loss was April 8 - more than two weeks ago. Oakland has outscored its opponents 74-34 during this win streak...
Cole Sulser on adjustments that led to his strong start
Cole Sulser on adjustments that led to his strong start
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When you count the growing list of Orioles bullpen pitchers that are throwing well, be sure to include right-hander Cole Sulser. He made a few minor adjustments and tweaks since last season, when he also got off to a good start, in hopes of seeing a solid season through to the end. The 31-year-old right-hander went 1-5 with a 5.56 ERA last season when his ERA dropped, hitting 8.38 over his last nine games. In 2021 his ERA is 0.00 and he's allowed just 0.789 WHIP thus far. That covers 6 1/3...