What do you say about a 35-year-old right-hander who had not pitched in the majors since 2017, throws mostly changeups, was the Mexican League Pitcher of the Year last season, and now has an ERA of 0.00 in 10 1/3 innings and five outings with the Orioles? You say you're happy he's on their team and it was good fortune and apparently a great move to sign him as a minor league free agent Jan. 9. In his latest strong outing for the Orioles, right-hander César Valdez pitched three scoreless...

Max Scherzer expended a lot to get through five innings today against the toughest lineup he's faced in 2020. Though the Nationals ace had some of the best pure stuff he's had all season, the Braves wore him down (like they've done to so many opposing pitchers) and left him with a pitch count of 104 as he walked off the mound at the end of the fifth. And once his team scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, Davey Martinez could've made the decision to pull Scherzer and...

Left-hander John Means was able to follow righty Dean Kremer and throw another strong game for the Orioles on the mound this afternoon. But again, the offense was producing little. The Orioles would need to get at least something going with the bats to pull this game out and avoid a four-game sweep by the Yankees. But they could not do it. Gleyber Torres pinch-hit in the New York eighth with two on and two outs and doubled off Tanner Scott. That broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Yankees a 3-1 win...

The Nationals and Davey Martinez have been in active discussions about a new contract, and general manager Mike Rizzo is "optimistic" a deal will be struck to keep his World Series-winning manager with the organization beyond the 2021 season. "We've been in conversations with his representation, and I feel optimistic that we will get something done," Rizzo said today during a Zoom session with reporters before the Nats' series finale against the Braves. "It's something that I want to...

The Orioles are prepared to activate Austin Hays from the injured list early this week, increasing their options in the outfield and perhaps giving a slumping offense a needed jolt. Hays hasn't played since Aug. 14 due to a non-displaced fracture in his left ribcage. He's been active lately in simulated games at the alternate camp site in Bowie and took batting practice yesterday at Camden Yards. "He has been taking at-bats and I can see him being activated here in the next couple days,"...

After losses by 6-0, 10-1 and 2-1 in 10 innings, the Orioles need a win today against the Yankees in New York or they will be swept four straight. They have been swept in a series four times this season and once before in a four-game series. That was at home against Miami in early August. In the first three games of that series, the Orioles scored just one run. In the first three games of this series, they have scored just two. They are batting .119 (10-for-84) this weekend with games of two,...

The Orioles will try to avoid a four-game sweep today at Yankee Stadium with Ryan Mountcastle again batting third and left-hander John Means on the mound for his eighth start of the season. José Iglesias is the designated hitter again and Pat Valaika is getting the start at shortstop. DJ Stewart is batting sixth against Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ. For the Orioles Hanser Alberto 2B José Iglesias DH Ryan Mountcastle LF Pedro Severino C Renato Núñez 1B DJ Stewart RF Pat Valaika SS...

When the 2020 regular season ends two weeks from today - How crazy is that? - and we try to find answers for what went wrong for the Nationals, it might be easy to point out the heartbreakers they lost to the Braves as especially low points. To be sure, there have been some really tough losses in there, a couple of blown saves by Daniel Hudson and a couple more one-run losses this week. And yet, if they can win this afternoon behind Max Scherzer, the Nationals will have split the season series...

The Nationals fell 2-1 to the Braves Saturday night, but Patrick Corbin pitched a solid seven innings, allowing only two runs, and Kyle McGowin arrived and put up two shutout frames. Atlanta's offense generated nine hits on the night. But only one of those was an extra-base hit, a double by Adam Duvall in the fourth. He came around to score on a bloop single by Ozzie Albies that lifted the Braves to a 2-0 lead. The Braves have hit a ton of homers the last few weeks. Limiting that club to eight...

The Nationals offense could not get going until late, and a furious rally attempt fell just short as the Braves eked out a 2-1 nail-biter Saturday night at Nats Park. Left-hander Patrick Corbin was very good and gave the Nationals a chance to win. Unfortunately, his counterpart was better. Right-hander Ian Anderson fired seven shutout innings, allowing only one hit and striking out nine as the Braves held off the Nats. In the end, RBI singles by Marcell Ozuna and Ozzie Albies were all the...