Bell, Schwarber and Harrison activated, Lucroy designated
Bell, Schwarber and Harrison activated, Lucroy designated
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals activated Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison from the COVID-19-related injured list and will have all three veterans available for tonight's series opener in St. Louis. Bell, Schwarber and Harrison were cleared to return today after completing their league- and city-mandated protocols. All had been quarantined since mid-to-late last week after either testing positive for COVID-19 or being deemed close contacts to someone else who did. Manager Davey Martinez hasn't...
Orioles lineup vs. Mariners
Orioles lineup vs. Mariners
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
DJ Stewart remains in left field tonight as the Orioles begin a four-game series against the Mariners. Maikel Franco is batting cleanup against left-hander Justus Sheffield. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter and batting sixth behind catcher Pedro Severino. Ramón Urías is the second baseman and Freddy Galvis stays in the lineup at shortstop after coming out early yesterday. Dean Kremer lasted only three innings in his first start in New York, allowing three runs and five hits with...
Despite delay, Hand encouraged by Nationals debut
Despite delay, Hand encouraged by Nationals debut
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When Brad Hand signed with the Nationals and envisioned his first appearance with his new club, the veteran reliever probably pictured himself trotting in from the bullpen at Nationals Park in the season's opening series against the Mets, looking to close out a one-run game. But pitching the eighth inning with his team trailing by three runs at Dodger Stadium, in the sixth game of the season? Uh, something would've needed to go terribly wrong for that scenario to play out. Something indeed...
Mullins making most of latest opportunity with Orioles
Mullins making most of latest opportunity with Orioles
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The four-game series against the Mariners that begins tonight at Camden Yards features three opposing left-handed starters, which won't influence whether Cedric Mullins stays in the lineup. Those days appear to be in the past. The novelty of Mullins batting left-handed against southpaws is now viewed as the proper approach from a player who's easily been the most impressive in the lineup to begin the 2021 season. Ignore the lowered bar. He's earned the distinction. Mullins is 6-for-11 with a...
Piggyback pitching will come to the O's farm this year
Piggyback pitching will come to the O's farm this year
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the Orioles' minor league seasons begin next month, we could see rosters filled with starting pitchers and starting pitcher candidates. Piggyback pitching is coming to the O's farm this year. No, this doesn't have anything to do with anyone lugging around someone else on their back. We've seen it before, where a pitcher will piggyback in a minor league game. It essentially means splitting up the game between two starting pitcher candidates, one that starts the game and one that picks...
Scherzer great, lineup not great as Nats shut out again (updated)
Scherzer great, lineup not great as Nats shut out again (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
One week into a season that didn't start when they expected and didn't include the roster they expected, the Nationals have established a fairly common daily narrative. And not an uplifting one. The typical game has played out like this: An impressive outing by the starter is squandered by a lack of offense (especially a lack of power), with some shaky fundamentals and maybe a late home run served up by the bullpen thrown in for good measure. That formula added up to a 3-0 loss to the Dodgers...
Orioles surrender six homers, get swept (updated)
Orioles surrender six homers, get swept (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can keep talking about the bad at-bats and tough luck that run through his lineups, or he can just lean on the dugout railing and make mental notes as examples play out in front of him. There isn't much that Hyde can do to silence the effects of a screaming line drive today from Maikel Franco in the second inning that produced a double play and another layer of frustration. Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers making a backhanded grab - the glove somehow staying...
Jorge López struggles again as O's get swept
Jorge López struggles again as O's get swept
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It was a series that began amid a lot of hope for the Orioles. They were coming home for the first time this season off a thrilling, 11-inning win Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. They were facing a Boston team they swept three straight last weekend, winning 11-3 in the final game. But the results this time were very, very different. The Red Sox have not lost since the Orioles left Fenway Park. They scored four in the third inning and five in the fifth today to build a midgame 10-1 lead, and...
Three players could be in St. Louis, but Lester needs more time
Three players could be in St. Louis, but Lester needs more time
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals are hoping their four remaining quarantined players will be cleared by Monday, and there's a chance Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison could be with the club for the start of their three-game series in St. Louis, though Jon Lester is going to need more time to build his arm back up before he pitches in a big league game. "Until we have clearance, I don't know anything yet," manager Davey Martinez said today at Dodger Stadium during his pregame Zoom session with...
Game 6 lineups: Nats at Dodgers
Game 6 lineups: Nats at Dodgers
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's hard to call a ballgame on April 11 a "must-win," but here we are. The Nationals, having dropped four in a row since their walk-off win on opening day, kind of really need to find a way to emerge from Los Angeles with a victory this afternoon. Not that it would doom their season, but another loss to complete a sweep would leave them 1-5 and needing to win two of three in St. Louis just to come home 3-6. That's not a situation Davey Martinez and Co. want to find themselves in. The good...