Game 130 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
Game 130 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
If you were going to rank the games of most significance for the Nationals over the remainder of this season, tonight's series opener against the Phillies might rank at the top. That's what you get when you pair Keibert Ruiz's club debut with a Josiah Gray start. It's a nice coincidence - or is it? - that Ruiz's debut coincides with Gray's start. The two biggest names acquired at the trade deadline, both from the Dodgers in the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner blockbuster, have worked together...
Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans
Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The freedom to expand their roster by two players on Wednesday also is going to increase the Orioles' level of health. Lowering the chances of the bench running out of available bodies. Anthony Santander is playing with a sore ankle. Ramón Urías is dealing with soreness in his upper right leg and groin area. Jorge Mateo was unavailable for a few days with discomfort in his lower back. DJ Stewart had a sore knee that kept him on the bench. Pedro Severino also was restricted by a sore knee...
Westburg's slow start at Bowie and Mountcastle's home run chase
Westburg's slow start at Bowie and Mountcastle's home run chase
Steve Melewski
Orioles
BOWIE - For a player that has had one of the most productive bats on the Orioles farm this year, it is strange to see infielder Jordan Westburg with a .143 batting average right now at Double-A Bowie. But his bat has yet to take off with the Baysox. However, for this player in his first full pro season, there is no concern right now and both his manager and hitting coaches expect the hits to start coming and sooner rather than later. "He's taking some lumps, which I think is good for him,"...
Made-over Nats eager for arrival of yet another acquisition
Made-over Nats eager for arrival of yet another acquisition
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
When Keibert Ruiz joins the Nationals later today, he'll need to work the clubhouse like a D.C. politician, introducing himself to teammates who have only heard second-hand of his exploits and connecting with pitchers of all experience levels eager to forge a relationship with their new batterymate. There's not a stack of "Hello, My Name Is" cards at the clubhouse entrance, but there could be. Ruiz will become the sixth new player added to the roster from outside the organization over the...
Nationals end road trip with a thud in 9-4 defeat (updated)
Nationals end road trip with a thud in 9-4 defeat (updated)
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Nationals ended a nine-game road trip with a thud Sunday afternoon, managing just one hit against a rookie pitcher and falling 9-4 to the New York Mets to finish their 11-day trek with a 3-6 record. Nationals starter Erick Fedde pitched in trouble for much of the afternoon, but much of the traffic was of his own making. He hit two batters, yielded a home run and balked home a run. Josh Bell homered twice and Juan Soto also went deep for the Nationals, Bell taking the team lead in the...
Rays take final swings at Orioles in 12-8 win (updated)
Rays take final swings at Orioles in 12-8 win (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles won't have the Rays to kick them around anymore. Not this year, at least. The schedule for the remainder of the season doesn't include another series between the teams, with the Rays' parting shot a 12-8 victory before an announced crowd of 8,353 at Camden Yards. The three-game sweep, pretty much sealed by Joey Wendle's grand slam off Paul Fry in the seventh, left the Orioles 1-18 against the Rays and 0-9 in Baltimore. They've lost the last 12 games. This is the club's first...
Alexander Wells rejoins Orioles, today's lineups
Alexander Wells rejoins Orioles, today's lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Alexander Wells worked two innings and threw 26 pitches in last night's start at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's healthy. The Orioles are keeping him available to work in relief this week. Chris Ellis is starting on Monday in Toronto, but Wells can be a bulk guy behind him if he's added to the active roster. He's making the trip. The 26-man roster expands to 28 on Wednesday. Last night's outing was the equivalent of a side session for Wells, who hasn't allowed a run in his last three...
O's game blog: Trying to extend the quality starts streak
O's game blog: Trying to extend the quality starts streak
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It started with Keegan Akin's solid seven-inning outing on Thursday afternoon, when he allowed just three hits and one run. That started a run that is now three consecutive quality outings by O's pitchers as Matt Harvey and John Means followed Akin with strong outings of their own. Three straight quality starts is a first for the 2021 Orioles. They had had two in a row but never three until now. In this span, the three starters allowed six runs and 12 hits in 19 1/3 innings with three walks...
Nationals announce Ruiz will be promoted to majors on Monday
Nationals announce Ruiz will be promoted to majors on Monday
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Nationals aren't waiting to get a look at promising young catcher Keibert Ruiz, who will be promoted from Triple-A Rochester for Monday night's opener of a three-game home series against the Phillies, the club announced this morning. "He's playing really well down there," manager Davey Martinez said in his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "We want to get him here, get him settled, let him get some at-bats down at Rochester. (General manager Mike Rizzo) and I, we sat around and we...
Cavalli gives up five runs in brief Triple-A debut
Cavalli gives up five runs in brief Triple-A debut
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals promoted Cade Cavalli to Triple-A this week because they wanted to see how their top pitching prospect would handle more experienced hitters with a better sense of the strike zone. And in his debut Saturday night for Rochester, the young right-hander got a taste of what's still in store for him before he's ready to pitch in the big leagues. Cavalli was pulled after giving up five runs, all with two outs, in the bottom of the third during what ended up a 5-3 loss to the Syracuse...