Young hitters still trying to earn prominent spots in lineup
Young hitters still trying to earn prominent spots in lineup
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The final 50 games of the Nationals' season are about evaluating young talent. Even more than that, they're about evaluating how young talent handles various situations. Like seeing if some of the club's less experienced hitters can perform in prominent parts of the lineup. We've already seen Victor Robles get an opportunity to bat leadoff again after spending most of the season at the bottom of manager Davey Martinez's batting order. The results have been mixed so far, but Robles did...
Game suspended in second inning, to be resumed Wednesday
Game suspended in second inning, to be resumed Wednesday
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Everything was going swimmingly for the Nationals in New York tonight. Until the skies opened in the second inning and left everyone at Citi Field swimming in a deluge. The Nats' series opener against the Mets ultimately had to be suspended in the top of the second inning, the visitors leading 3-1, after a long and ultimately fruitless wait for a major storm system to clear out of the region. It will be resumed from the point of suspension Wednesday at 4:10 p.m., still scheduled to complete...
Wondering how Orioles handle catching in 2022
Wondering how Orioles handle catching in 2022
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The promotion of No. 1 prospect Adley Rutschman from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk was bound to create more discussion about the wisdom of bringing him to the majors by September versus waiting until 2022. Another 100-loss season creates arguments from both sides. Either it's a good reason to delay it or the exact reason why it should be done, as if there's really nothing to lose besides more games. Rutschman ended the 2019 season with a handful of games at low Single-A Delmarva. He...
Updates on Wells, Scott, Harvey, Severino, Zimmermann and more
Updates on Wells, Scott, Harvey, Severino, Zimmermann and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are on the verge of getting back one of their high-leverage relievers for a beleaguered bullpen. Tyler Wells threw a simulated inning this afternoon and the results were positive for a team that badly needs him. No discomfort in his right wrist and the stuff was crisp. "Came off the mound feeling good," said manager Brandon Hyde. "He looked great. Fastball was there. He threw some really good curveballs and sliders and changeup. So, encouraged how he came off the mound. "We're...
Soto returns to lineup, coaches return to Nats dugout
Soto returns to lineup, coaches return to Nats dugout
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Juan Soto is back in the Nationals lineup, his right knee feeling better five days after he tweaked it running the bases. Soto, who was held out of the lineup for the Nats' entire weekend series in Atlanta, was cleared to return to full-time duties tonight for the opener of a three-game series in New York. "I talked to him; he felt pretty good," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He felt like he could play today. He went through his routine. He's...
Game 113 lineups: Nats at Mets
Game 113 lineups: Nats at Mets
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
For months, the Nationals found themselves chasing the Mets in the National League East, and because they ultimately weren't able to gain enough ground in the division race, their leaders decided it was time to undergo a mass rebuild. Since then, what's happened to the Mets? They've gone in the tank as well, losing nine of 11 and turning a four-game lead in the NL East into a 2 1/2-game deficit that now sees them trailing both the Phillies and Braves. It's too late for the Nats to take...
Wells throws off mound again (and lineups)
Wells throws off mound again (and lineups)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Rule 5 reliever Tyler Wells pitched to outfielders Ryan McKenna and DJ Stewart this afternoon at Camden Yards in a live batting practice session. The Orioles are deciding whether Wells is ready to be reinstated from the injured list. Soreness in his right wrist delayed his return after his last mound session. Wells hasn't pitched for the Orioles since July 19 due to tendinitis in the wrist. He's the closer in waiting for a bullpen that needs a trustworthy option for manager Brandon Hyde. The...
O's game blog: The series opener against Detroit, plus farm notes
O's game blog: The series opener against Detroit, plus farm notes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles homestand continues tonight as they welcome the Detroit Tigers to Oriole Park for the first of three games. They will also host Detroit on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon. The Orioles got swept three straight over the weekend by the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. They lost by scores of 10-6, 12-3 and 9-6. They scored 15 runs in the series but gave up 31 runs with more than half of them, 16, coming in the eighth inning. As the Orioles (38-72) have lost five in a...
Washington Nationals Philanthropies announces new Legacy Field at Ferebee-Hope supported by Max and Erica Scherzer
Washington Nationals Philanthropies announces new Legacy Field at Ferebee-Hope supported by Max and Erica Scherzer
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Today, Washington Nationals Philanthropies announced that development has begun on the organization's fourth Legacy Field carrying the name of a current or former Washington Nationals player. The project, supported in part through financial contributions from Max and Erica Scherzer, is located in a community hub in the Ward 8 neighborhood of Washington Highlands. It will serve as one piece of a redevelopment project that will transform the Ferebee-Hope site into a multi-use education and...
Full coaching staff set to return at last tonight in New York
Full coaching staff set to return at last tonight in New York
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As much as the Nationals roster has undergone massive changes in the last two weeks, let's not forget what happened to manager Davey Martinez's coaching staff as well. Just one day before the frenzied 36-hour stretch that saw eight veteran players traded away for 12 prospects, the Nats learned five of their big league coaches, plus four other staff members, had tested positive for COVID-19. With pitching coach Jim Hickey, bench coach Tim Bogar, first base coach Randy Knorr, third base coach...