Patrick Dorrian got sought-after power surge to help Bowie to playoffs
Patrick Dorrian got sought-after power surge to help Bowie to playoffs
Steve Melewski
Orioles
BOWIE - He is a rarity at Double-A Bowie. He has been with that team all year, from start to finish, and will be a key cog in their lineup tonight as the Double-A Northeast Championship Series begins with Bowie hosting Akron in a best-of-five series for the league championship. Patrick Dorrian, 25, has had a strong year on the Orioles farm. One that can fly under the radar when your name is among the organization's home run leaders with players like Adley Rutschman and Kyle Stowers. Stowers...
Late mistakes cost Nationals in 10-inning loss (updated)
Late mistakes cost Nationals in 10-inning loss (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There is little sense at this point judging a Nationals-Marlins game on the performance of the two clubs after five or six innings. As much as they've faced each other in the last month, everyone should understand by now every game is going to be decided late, either by the bullpens or by some other manner of back-and-forth chaos. So it was again tonight in Miami, where the two teams at the bottom of the National League East standings engaged in another high-scoring affair that went right down...
John Means was outstanding as O's beat Phillies (updated)
John Means was outstanding as O's beat Phillies (updated)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
At times tonight, Orioles ace lefty John Means looked like the 2021 early season version. The Means who had an ERA of 1.21 after his first eight starts. That is always big for the Orioles and Means was tonight. He threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings - his fifth start this year allowing no runs - as the Orioles blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 to start a three-game road series. The Orioles (48-102) won for just the second time in 10 games and put a damaging loss on the Phillies record....
This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The 2021 season is down to a dozen games, and egging on the Orioles to keep playing won't do you any good. They'll be scrambling to make their flights home or to get back to Baltimore. Perhaps they'll also get some satisfaction from influencing a couple of pennant races. The schedule has set them up for it. They left Boston on Sunday afternoon and flew into Philadelphia, facing another team desperate for wins that can get it into the playoffs. A four-game series against the Rangers won't...
O's game blog: Series begins at Philadelphia
O's game blog: Series begins at Philadelphia
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If the Orioles thought playing an interleague series this late in the season would provide an opponent just playing out the string - well, that was not an accurate thought. Tonight, the Orioles begin a three-game series at Philadelphia and the Phillies desperately need wins. Philadelphia (76-73) began play Sunday just one game behind Atlanta for the National League East lead. But they lost 3-2 to the Mets while the Braves (77-70) blanked San Francisco 3-0. So the Phillies begin this series two...
Bell's work in outfield creates more playing time for Zimmerman
Bell's work in outfield creates more playing time for Zimmerman
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Josh Bell starts in left field for the Nationals tonight, and while this is not a new development, it is notable that manager Davey Martinez felt comfortable enough in his slugging first baseman's ability to handle himself out there that he was willing to do this for a game inside spacious loanDepot Park. The Marlins' home stadium features one of the largest outfields in baseball, so this is perhaps not as easy an assignment for Bell as it was the three previous times he started in left field...
Notes on Mullins, upcoming starters, playing spoiler and more
Notes on Mullins, upcoming starters, playing spoiler and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins is just getting a rest day, according to manager Brandon Hyde. He isn't injured and he isn't necessarily staying on the bench for tonight's series opener in Philadelphia. "After a busy weekend, it's a good day to give him a rest and he'll be ready for a pinch-hit or coming into the game," Hyde said. Mullins is one home run short of joining the 30/30 club and being the lone member with the Orioles. Mullins is trying to become the first center fielder,...
Game 150 lineups: Nats at Marlins
Game 150 lineups: Nats at Marlins
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
If you feel like you've seen the Nationals and Marlins play each other enough already this season, well, join the club. Alas, there are three games remaining on the head-to-head schedule between these two division foes and those will be taking place over the next three nights. When they wrap things up Wednesday night, the Nats will have faced the Marlins 19 times for the season, but nine times over the previous month. That's a lot. And the result of this series in Miami could go a long way...
Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener in Philadelphia excludes Cedric Mullins, Trey Mancini and Ramón Urías. Mancini had his first multi-RBI game yesterday since July 11 against the White Sox, but he's dealing with a sore oblique. Urías has been in and out of the lineup with to a sore right leg. National League rules prevent Mancini from serving as the designated hitter. Austin Hays, with seven RBIs in his last five games and 18 in his last 15, is leading off and playing...
Dramatic NL batting race has all kinds of D.C. connections
Dramatic NL batting race has all kinds of D.C. connections
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As much as he wishes he could, Juan Soto can't help but notice his batting average when he steps to the plate. And even if he manages to avoid it, he can't help but hear about it from others. "You try to keep your mind away from it," the Nationals right fielder said in a Zoom session with reporters Sunday. "You decide to come out and play, have fun. But there's always comments. The comments are always going to come to you. Everybody, all my teammates, are just pushing me and wishing me...