CHICAGO - The way the Nationals are hitting as a whole right now, sometimes it feels like Juan Soto gets overlooked. It's hard to give everyone proper due when so many are contributing at the plate, especially a prominent free-agent-to-be like Anthony Rendon. Make no mistake, though: Soto has played a significant role in the Nationals' offensive onslaught of the last week and a half. Over his last 13 games, the young slugger is batting a cool .346 with eight homers, 12 RBIs, 10 walks and a...

Hunter Harvey didn't warm in the bullpen last night, the Orioles falling behind by seven runs in the second inning and a high-leverage situation nowhere to be found. Dillon Tate got the call behind starter Ty Blach and responded with three scoreless innings. His first appearance in the majors without allowing a run. Last night marked only his fourth game, but he had permitted seven runs in six innings prior to the Orioles optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk. Tate returned yesterday with Shawn...

Orioles right-hander Mychal Givens and his Givens Back Foundation today hosted students from the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys and the Orioles RBI program, who got free back-to-school haircuts and dinner at Oriole Park. Each student also got a backpack and a ticket to the Orioles' game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Givens and his wife, Tiffani, launched the Givens Back Foundation with the mission of enhancing the lives of inner city youth through sports. The Baltimore Collegiate School...

As he stood outside the clubhouse for his pregame media scrum, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde talked about the importance of left-hander Ty Blach providing length tonight. Of the need to protect a "beat up" bullpen. Hyde has one fewer reliever with a four-man bench, and he used three last night following the rain delay. He's being careful with Hunter Harvey. He didn't issue a challenge to Blach. More like a plea. "It's a little dicey," Hyde said. "I'm going to keep him out there as long...

Sometimes when you get down by a touchdown early, there is plenty of time to get back in the game. But the Orioles couldn't do it tonight in a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Lefty Ty Blach, making his third start for Baltimore, gave up six hits and sevens runs in the second inning and the Orioles couldn't dig out of the big early hole. The Orioles (42-87) are 2-3 on this homestand and have lost 10 of 12 and 15 of their last 18 games. After winning a series against Kansas City, the best they...

After last night's rain-delayed loss by the Orioles to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Birds host the Rays tonight in the second game of this four-game series, which continues through the weekend. The Orioles (41-87) are 2-2 so far on this seven-game homestand, which began Monday. They have lost nine of their last 11 and 14 of 17 games and are 20-45 at home. O's starters have recorded just three quality starts in the past 25 games with a 7.30 ERA in that span. The O's Hanser Alberto ranks fourth in...

The Orioles have subtracted 11 individuals from their scouting department and front office, with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias confirming the number but offering little in the way of names. Elias said Brady Anderson remains in the organization in an advisory role, primarily with strength and conditioning. The executive title was removed in spring training. Kent Qualls remains as director of minor league operations and Elias is retaining assistant director of amateur...

Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart said one thing he cannot do the rest of this season is try to make up for lost time. He's had two stints on the injured list with a right ankle injury and concussion since he made his O's debut this year on May 28. That first call-up followed his torrid May for Triple-A Norfolk. He hit .457/.518/.886 in 20 games. But about a week later with the Orioles he was injured and didn't get another big league at-bat for about two months. Now he's trying to recapture his...

CHICAGO - They played (in the rain) in Pittsburgh last night, then flew to Chicago and put their heads on their hotel pillows around 3 a.m. Eastern time. Seven hours later, they began filing into Wrigley Field for the opener of a weekend series against one of the best home teams in the majors. The Nationals had every right to complain about the disadvantageous scheduling. Their veterans had every right to sit out this afternoon's game. Nobody would have faulted them had they sleepwalked...

For the third straight year, Orioles players and broadcasters will join the rest of Major League Baseball in donning special Players' Weekend jereys. All 30 teams will wear all black or all white, with the Orioles opting for the head-to-toe black unis. Players' Weekend, held from Aug. 23-25, will also allow players to wear customized cleats, batting gloves and BP T-shirts to show off their styles and personalities. But the fun doesn't stop with the on-field looks. Five Orioles have also...