Tate replaces Akin as tonight's starter
Tate replaces Akin as tonight's starter
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
In another unexpected twist to the Orioles' season, Dillon Tate is making a start tonight against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Rookie left-hander Keegan Akin has been scratched, with the Orioles providing more information later this afternoon. Akin could be working in a bulk role behind Tate, who's making his first major league start. Or Akin could be dealing with a physical issue. Manager Brandon Hyde will explain it during his media scrum, with the weather dictating if it's done on the...
Nats bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego (updated)
Nats bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There was the tone-setter, the three-run homer by Juan Soto in the top of the first that seemed to leave Petco Park in 1.3 seconds. There were the back-to-back, two-run singles by Josh Bell and Starlin Castro in the top of the second that kept the pressure on Padres starter Chris Paddack. And then there were the three additional runs the Nationals scored soon thereafter to extend their lead to a whopping 10 runs by the top of the fourth and ensure this would be a very good (albeit very long)...
Could Nats get both Bell and Zimmerman in lineup?
Could Nats get both Bell and Zimmerman in lineup?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
For much of the season to date, Nationals manager Davey Martinez's plan at first base was fairly simple. Josh Bell almost always started against right-handers and Ryan Zimmerman almost always started against lefties. At this point, though, with Bell on a prolonged surge at the plate and Zimmerman now slumping after an electric April and May, Martinez's decision on playing time isn't quite as clear cut. Take Tuesday night's game in San Diego, for example. The Padres were starting Ryan...
Some draft talk, minor league scores and Home Run Derby field
Some draft talk, minor league scores and Home Run Derby field
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The draft analysts that post mock drafts and try to figure out which players might get selected in which spots on Sunday night have one tough job. Those analysts sometimes look to past behavior to try and predict future actions. When it comes to the Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, they look at the past and sometimes speculate what it could mean to his 2020 O's draft. These predictions sometimes indicate and mostly speculate that he may be reluctant to take a...
Harvey still can't locate win, Orioles lose to Jays 10-2 (updated)
Harvey still can't locate win, Orioles lose to Jays 10-2 (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Matt Harvey has pitched in some tough luck this season, as Orioles manager Brandon Hyde mentions with great frequency. Tonight, he pitched in confusion. Mark it on the Matt Harvey bingo card. Umpires ruled that left fielder Ryan McKenna made a diving catch of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s sinking liner after the first two batters reached. Marcus Semien was tagged after rounding third base, the call requiring him to go back to second, and two runners stood on first. A double play? A triple play? The...
Hudson activated, bringing bullpen closer to full strength
Hudson activated, bringing bullpen closer to full strength
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
With only five days to go until the All-Star break and five more games to be played against a couple of National League West contenders, the Nationals are aggressively fortifying their pitching staff with some big names returning from injury. On Tuesday night, it was Erick Fedde and Kyle Finnegan coming off the injured list and pitching against the Padres. Tonight, it's Daniel Hudson activated off the 10-day IL, seemingly ahead of schedule. The Nationals announced the return of Hudson (and the...
Game 85 lineups: Nats at Padres
Game 85 lineups: Nats at Padres
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals have done OK at the plate through the first two games of this weekend's series in San Diego, scoring 11 total runs. (Though they did strand a bunch of runners on base late during Tuesday night's 7-4 loss.) Of greater concern has been a pitching staff that has given up 12 runs in 17 innings. Or more specifically, a rotation that has given up 11 runs in 7 2/3 innings. That's not going to cut it, and it has put quite a strain on the bullpen. So the pressure's on Patrick Corbin...
Home Run Derby another feather in eighth-rounder's cap
Home Run Derby another feather in eighth-rounder's cap
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The emergence of Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini as a quality major league hitter and run producer and a player deserving again of consideration for the All-Star Game is especially impressive when factoring how the Orioles waited until the eighth round to draft him in 2013. And how he wasn't even the first or second player from his school to be selected that year. Third baseman Eric Jagielo and right-hander Dan Slania were plucked from Notre Dame before Mancini's name was called. Jagielo...
O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces Toronto at Camden Yards
O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces Toronto at Camden Yards
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Spenser Watkins picked up a win in his first major league start and the Orioles beat Toronto 7-5 last night to open a three-game series and six-game homestand. The Orioles got two-run homers from Pedro Severino, Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins in the win. Mullins' homer was his 16th and gave him the team lead by one over Trey Mancini and by two over Ryan Mountcastle. Over his last seven games, Mullins is batting .379 (11-for-29) with a double, three homers and six RBIs. Mullins has now...
Gutierrez among Orioles reserves for tonight's game
Gutierrez among Orioles reserves for tonight's game
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The latest roster move made by the Orioles this afternoon occurred after they decided that Maikel Franco's day-to-day status was leaving them vulnerable. Franco hasn't played in a week due to a sprained right ankle and today went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday. Kelvin Gutierrez replaces him on the active roster and is on the bench for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. "Without an extra infielder ... he wasn't available in Anaheim, wasn't available...