Another big night from Soto ensures Gray's first win (updated)
Another big night from Soto ensures Gray's first win (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Juan Soto, unquestionably, is having a remarkable season. The Nationals, unquestionably, are not. And those two facts might just be on a collision course in a week and a half, when members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America have to decide if the latter disqualifies the former from earning their National League MVP vote. Yes, Soto has very much thrust himself into that age-old debate with his late-season surge at the plate for a team that tonight won its 63rd game, 7-5 over the...
Orioles put Urías on injured list and DFA Valdez
Orioles put Urías on injured list and DFA Valdez
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles' roster moves are official and their 28-man roster has been refreshed again. The club has recalled infielder Jahmai Jones and reliever Konner Wade from Triple-A Norfolk today, placed infielder Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with a right adductor strain and designated reliever César Valdez for assignment. Reliever Joey Krehbiel, claimed off waivers yesterday from the Rays, was optioned to Norfolk. Urías was a late scratch from the lineup yesterday, but he...
Avila gets start in hometown, chance to help Gray
Avila gets start in hometown, chance to help Gray
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Alex Avila's three starts behind the plate this month all came with Patrick Corbin on the mound, a calculated move by Nationals manager Davey Martinez in hopes the veteran catcher could get the left-hander out of a long funk. Tonight, Avila will be behind the plate again, this time tasked with helping rookie Josiah Gray turn things around after a ragged stretch. "I'm just curious to see how it all plays out," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters, adding: "The...
Orioles preparing to make multiple roster moves
Orioles preparing to make multiple roster moves
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles end their road trip tonight in Philadelphia with a few more roster moves pending. Infielders Jahmai Jones and Tyler Nevin have joined the club and could be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Manager Brandon Hyde said there's also a fresh arm available for the bullpen as a possible transaction. Hyde said, "We have a bunch of things going on right now," which includes pitcher Chris Ellis' arm fatigue, infielder Ramón Urías' sore right upper leg and Anthony Santander tweaking...
Game 152 lineups: Nats at Marlins
Game 152 lineups: Nats at Marlins
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's been a while since the Nationals last won a series. How long? How about Aug. 17-18, when they swept the Blue Jays in a two-game series in D.C. They haven't won a three-game series since July 30-Aug. 1 against the Cubs. That's a long time. Tonight, though, the Nats have a chance to end that streak if they can beat the Marlins in their series finale and follow up Tuesday night's 7-1 victory with another. It's also an opportunity for Josiah Gray to turn his season back around. The rookie...
A look ahead at Game 2 tonight in Bowie
A look ahead at Game 2 tonight in Bowie
Steve Melewski
Orioles
BOWIE - It is not a must-win like their game Sunday, when the season would have been over with a loss, but it's a pretty vital game for the Bowie Baysox tonight. They host Akron in Game 2 of the Double-A Northeast Championship Series. After losing here 5-1 last night, they would be in an 0-2 series hole with a loss tonight, and heading to Akron for the rest of the series. Game 3 is set for Friday night at 6:05 p.m. The Baysox, who tied with Akron for the most runs scored in the league in the...
O's game blog: Looking for a series win at Philadelphia
O's game blog: Looking for a series win at Philadelphia
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles will take a series victory if they win at Philadelphia tonight. They have split two games at Citizens Bank Park, winning 2-0 Monday night behind John Means and losing 3-2 in 10 innings last night. The Orioles (48-103) are 1-4 on this road trip that ends tonight. They are 25-52 on the road and 7-12 versus National League teams. In their most recent games they have lost four of the last five and nine of 11 heading into the series finale. The Orioles have been struggling to score runs,...
Nationals' problem stopping running game has resurfaced
Nationals' problem stopping running game has resurfaced
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There was a time, before July 30, when the Nationals were among the toughest teams in baseball to run on. With Yan Gomes and Alex Avila behind the plate, the Nats excelled at controlling the running game, fixing what had been a major problem area for the team the previous two seasons. Alas, Gomes is now catching in Oakland. Avila only recently returned to the active roster after a long stint on the injured list. And the club's new, young catchers haven't enjoyed anywhere close to the success...
Seeing Grayson Rodriguez's huge year through eyes of his teammates
Seeing Grayson Rodriguez's huge year through eyes of his teammates
Steve Melewski
Orioles
BOWIE - As he gets set to make a playoff start tonight for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, it is obvious that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez has had a special season. He is baseball's No. 1-ranked pitching prospect for a reason, and the stats bear that out. But his teammates in Bowie will remind you he has also been a very solid teammate, and his coaches will remind you of that too. The organization also made sure he made gains this year in things like how he scouts his opponents. During a long...
Stewart's placement on injured list latest change to outfield
Stewart's placement on injured list latest change to outfield
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
With so much turbulence striking the Orioles roster this summer, there was no reason to believe that the outfield would be unaffected. And that the depth so fiercely advertised throughout the winter and spring would protect it. DJ Stewart is done for the last two weeks of the season and primed to undergo surgery on his right knee. A procedure to correct an "osteochondral defect," which also is known as "osteochondritis dissecans," which brings no clarity. Basically, it's damage to the...