Game 123 lineups: Nats at Brewers
Game 123 lineups: Nats at Brewers
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals' winning streak ended Saturday in Milwaukee, but they've still got a chance to win the weekend series if they can bounce back in this afternoon's finale. All things considered, that's not a bad position to be in. They're going to need to get some quality innings out of Sean Nolin, who gets the start as Joe Ross' replacement for now. Nolin, the 31-year-old journeyman left-hander, made one other start for the Nats 10 days ago in New York and gave up four runs on eight hits in...
O's game blog: Looking to break the streak against Atlanta
O's game blog: Looking to break the streak against Atlanta
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles need a win today at home against Atlanta to avoid another three-game sweep and to snap a 17-game losing streak. First-place Atlanta has taken the first two games in this series by 3-0 and 5-4 scores. The Orioles hit four solo homers last night. Before this, the last time they hit four in a game was actually their last win: Aug. 2 against New York at Yankee Stadium. Last night Anthony Santander connected for his first two homers of the year batting right-handed. He hit his 11th from...
Orioles and Braves lineups (updated)
Orioles and Braves lineups (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will try to snap a 17-game losing streak this afternoon and avoid their 16th sweep of the season while closing out their series against the Braves. DJ Stewart, who's receiving treatment for a sore knee, is in left field today. Ramón Urías is the third baseman and Jorge Mateo is playing second base. Anthony Santander is in right field and batting cleanup. John Means is making his first career start against the Braves. His ERA is a season-high 3.44 after he allowed four earned...
The challenge of trying to stay upbeat during a losing streak
The challenge of trying to stay upbeat during a losing streak
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As the Orioles' losing streak reached 16 Friday night, the team was remaining upbeat pregame in the clubhouse and keeping their energy and work ethic up amid mounting losses. Media is not allowed back in big league clubhouses yet, so we'll take manager Brandon Hyde's word for it. But that was the experience I had in 2019. The Orioles were losing games, but maintaining a positive attitude then as they are now, which cannot be easy to do. "I give our guys a ton of credit," Hyde said before...
Thoughts on decision to put López in bullpen
Thoughts on decision to put López in bullpen
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles don't know who's starting Wednesday night against the Angels. Their game notes this morning are likely to list the spot as TBD or TBA. Has to be determined before it can be announced. No matter who's inserted into the rotation, they did the right thing by shifting Jorge López to the bullpen. Anyone watching his last start could see that he isn't right. His velocity was down and he just appeared to be flinging the ball to the plate. López insisted that he wasn't hurt,...
One-run game, but skid extended as Braves beat O's (updated)
One-run game, but skid extended as Braves beat O's (updated)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Coming into this contest against the Atlanta Braves, the Orioles had not played a game decided by one run since they beat Detroit 4-3 on July 30. During a long losing streak, they had lost every game by two or more runs. Mid-game tonight they were locked in a tight game, but would it still be that way at the finish? It would remain close, and after leading by one early in the game and trailing by one in the fifth, the Orioles went to the ninth down 5-3. Anthony Santander's second homer of the...
Four things to watch over last 40 games
Four things to watch over last 40 games
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
The Nationals have 40 games remaining in the 2021 season, starting with this afternoon's series finale in Milwaukee. It's hard to believe that we're already this close to the end of the baseball season. Fall is right around the corner. On this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast," Amy Jennings and I set goals for a handful of Nationals players to reach before season's end. I wanted to expand on a couple of those goals and bring up some new ones as things to look out for over...
Bullpen breaks late as Nats' winning streak is snapped (updated)
Bullpen breaks late as Nats' winning streak is snapped (updated)
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
It was only a matter of time. The Nationals bullpen flirted with danger too often this afternoon against the Brewers and it finally cost them in the eighth inning of a 9-6 loss. Looking for their first four-game winning streak since June 27-30, the Nationals couldn't get pitchers to make pitches when they needed them the most. After a strong showing by starter Paolo Espino, the bullpen arms gave the Brewers two leads in the second half of the game, struggling to protect their own lead or to...
O's game blog: Harvey against Smyly at Camden Yards
O's game blog: Harvey against Smyly at Camden Yards
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The latest shot to end a long losing streak is tonight for the Orioles. They host the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a three-game series and it's part of the larger nine-game homestand that runs through next weekend. Lefty Max Fried threw a gem as Atlanta blanked the Orioles 3-0 on Friday night. He allowed just four hits - three singles and a double - and no Oriole advanced past second base. Fried improved to 11-7 with an ERA of 3.49, throwing 90 pitches, 66 for strikes. Over his last...
Orioles moving struggling Jorge López to bullpen
Orioles moving struggling Jorge López to bullpen
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In a few days, the Orioles rotation will undergo a change. That is because struggling right-hander Jorge López is moving to the bullpen, in a role to be determined, as of tonight when the Orioles host Atlanta at Camden Yards. López is 3-14 with a 6.35 ERA in 25 starts, covering 113 1/3 innings. On Aug 2 and Aug. 8, he threw two strong starts, allowing a combined three runs and five hits in 12 innings against the Yankees and Rays. But then he gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings versus...