Nats' four-man rotation creates crowded bullpen
Nats' four-man rotation creates crowded bullpen
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals are proceeding for now with a four-man rotation, taking advantage of three scheduled off-days in the span of a week. But they're still keeping their current No. 5 starter, plus another starting prospect, on the pitching staff as relievers for this weekend's series against the Mets. With Erick Fedde, Joe Ross and Patrick Corbin scheduled to start the next three days at Citi Field, then an off-day Monday, there was no need to use a fifth starter. Max Scherzer will take the mound...
César Valdez on his success and chance to close for Orioles
César Valdez on his success and chance to close for Orioles
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In his second season with the Orioles, 36-year-old right-hander César Valdez is still confounding American League hitters. And he's doing it in the ninth inning. And not with a 98 mph fastball, but rather a changeup that averages 78 mph. He is the opposite of a flamethrower and he uses his changeup 82 percent of the time. It's been so good that he is off to a 2-0 start with four saves and an ERA of 0.96 in eight games. He's allowed seven hits and one walk over 9 1/3 innings with 10...
Updating rotation plans and more
Updating rotation plans and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are pushing back John Means to Sunday afternoon against the Athletics and waiting until later tonight to choose Saturday's starter. The options are a bullpen game or recalling a pitcher from the alternate training site in Bowie. "Just going to give John an extra day," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. Means will get a full week with his most recent outing Sunday against the Rangers. Normal rest would have put him on the mound tonight, but the Orioles had two...
Game 17 lineups: Nats at Mets
Game 17 lineups: Nats at Mets
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The 2021 season was supposed to begin with a three-game showdown between the Nationals and Mets, but of course that entire series in D.C. was postponed following the Nats' COVID-19 outbreak. So the first of 19 meetings between the division rivals takes place tonight at Citi Field in the opener of a three-game weekend series. Just as they would've on opening day, the Nationals will have to go up against Jacob deGrom tonight. It's never an easy challenge facing arguably the best pitcher in...
Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Austin Hays in the right fielder tonight, DJ Stewart is in left and Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter as the Orioles begin their homestand against the Athletics. Trey Mancini is the first baseman and Maikel Franco is in the cleanup spot. Ramón Urías gets the start at second base. Jorge López retired the first 11 Rangers batters with seven strikeouts in his last start. He's allowed seven runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 career innings against the Athletics. Oakland left-hander Cole...
Orioles partner with Maryland Department of Health to offer free, voluntary COVID-19 testing during home games
Orioles partner with Maryland Department of Health to offer free, voluntary COVID-19 testing during home games
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced a partnership that will bring free COVID-19 testing to the fans of Birdland during home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Beginning today, fans can receive a complimentary PCR test at the ballpark's COVID-19 testing site, located along Lower Level Concourse outside Section 26. Fans will also have the opportunity learn about COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the site. "We know from public health experts that the...
Orioles name Adrienne Roberson as new public address announcer
Orioles name Adrienne Roberson as new public address announcer
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced that Adrienne Roberson has been named the club's new public address announcer, the first female voice in franchise history. She is the fourth active female PA announcer in Major League Baseball, joining Renel Brooks-Moon (San Francisco Giants), Marysol Castro (New York Mets), and Amelia Schimmel (Oakland Athletics). "This is a dream come true, and I am honored to be the next voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards," said Roberson. "To be able to cultivate my...
Bullpen proving to be Nats' most reliable unit early in season
Bullpen proving to be Nats' most reliable unit early in season
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's been a while since the Nationals opened a season with a reliable bullpen. How long? Try five years. Way back in 2016, if anyone can remember ancient history, Dusty Baker's relief corps enjoyed a dominant April. That group ended the season's opening month with a 2.53 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, led by Jonathan Papelbon's eight saves, Shawn Kelley's 0.00 ERA and contributions from the likes of Blake Treinen, Matt Belisle, Oliver Pérez and Yusmeiro Petit. Yeah, things have changed just a bit...
More on the offense as O's await red-hot Athletics
More on the offense as O's await red-hot Athletics
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If we use the stat OPS - on-base plus slugging - the 2020 Orioles look a lot better than the 2021 club. And it's not very close. Counting all batters - qualifiers and non-qualifiers - the 2020 Orioles had six players with an OPS of .800 or better and two at .900 plus. And another player at .791. This year's club has just two players at .800 or above through 18 games and just four players on the entire club at .704 or above. Yep, only four players at .704 or above. Yikes. Last year's club had...
Wondering how rotation works through the weekend
Wondering how rotation works through the weekend
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are back to work tonight, moving past multiple breaks in the schedule this week and beginning a stretch of seven games in a row at home and six straight on the West Coast. A pause in the middle would have made more sense, but the Orioles play when they're told. The weekend starters are unsettled. Jorge López goes tonight, but the Orioles are TBD for the next two games. Dean Kremer was optioned, but left-hander John Means should be starting Saturday on an extra days' rest. Matt...