Game 76 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
Game 76 lineups: Nats vs. Mets
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
And so begins the closing stretch of the first half of the 2021 season, a stretch that will test the Nationals unlike any that have come before. Fourteen games in 14 days, all against contending teams. It begins tonight with a one-off against the Mets, another makeup from the season-opening series that was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The great mystery for the last 24 hours has been the identity of the Nats' starting pitcher tonight. This should've been Erick Fedde's game, but...
After winning trip, Nats face daunting stretch to close first half
After winning trip, Nats face daunting stretch to close first half
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Here's what the Nationals accomplished over the last two weeks: By winning 11 of 14 games, they climbed their way out of a significant hole, briefly reached the .500 mark and moved into sole possession of second place in the National League East, now within striking distance of the first-place Mets. It was the best two-week stretch this club has experienced since the end of the 2019 season, a true turnaround for a team that looked ready to collapse altogether and head into a long, hot summer...
A look at the Orioles' two Complex League rosters
A look at the Orioles' two Complex League rosters
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When play begins today in the short-season Rookie-level Florida Complex League (the former Gulf Coast League), the Orioles will have two teams beginning play to join the four full-season affiliates that have been playing since May 4 on the farm. In July, the O's will field two teams in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. The two Complex League teams will feature a very, very heavy international flavor that will include 12 players that were part of the Orioles' first international...
The waiting for Jahmai Jones is the hardest part
The waiting for Jahmai Jones is the hardest part
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The calls for Jahmai Jones grew louder over the weekend after Freddy Galvis limped off the field Saturday afternoon, the severity of his quadriceps injury written on his face. The pain and anguish, the attempts to fight back tears as he rode a cart to the auxiliary tent and later was placed in a vehicle - needing assistance just to sit down - for the ride to a nearby hospital. Fans want Jones in the majors and they want him now. Armchair general managers spew insults from their foaming...
New faces can't keep O's from familiar place in 5-2 loss (updated)
New faces can't keep O's from familiar place in 5-2 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The roster churn that presents one of the defining qualities of the Orioles' 2021 season freshened the lineup this morning and expanded the bench. It could not, however, improve the won-lost record. Jorge López threw 100 pitches in 4 2/3 innings, the third time through the order bruising him in the fifth, and the Blue Jays won 5-2 in Buffalo to claim the series. The Orioles are 24-54 and have lost 22 of 23 road games as they board their flight to Houston. López was done after Cavan...
Nationals ride homers, Scherzer to victory in Miami (updated)
Nationals ride homers, Scherzer to victory in Miami (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There are any number of reasons you can point to for why the Nationals have won or lost a ballgame this season, but here's a simple one to consider: When they hit a home run, they usually win. When they don't, they usually don't. And when they clear the fence twice in the same inning, as they did today during a 5-1 win over the Marlins? Well, that's about as good a piece of evidence as you'll get to foretell a Nats victory. Trea Turner and Josh Bell provided the big blows in this one, each...
Fedde's strain believed mild, Strasburg throws off mound
Fedde's strain believed mild, Strasburg throws off mound
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Erick Fedde felt nothing during his start Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia. But when the Nationals right-hander woke up Thursday morning in Miami, his left side was bothering him. The club told him to take it easy, and he didn't attempt to throw his typical bullpen session between starts. And after an MRI revealed what manager Davey Martinez called "a minor strain of his left oblique," Fedde was placed on the 10-day injured list this morning. It's the latest blow to a Nationals rotation...
Galvis to miss one to two months with quad injury
Galvis to miss one to two months with quad injury
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde anticipates that shortstop Freddy Galvis will miss one to two months of the season with a strained right quadriceps muscle, an injury sustained yesterday in the second inning while running out a bunt single. Galvis was placed on the injured list within a flurry of roster activity earlier today. "It's in between a Grade 1 to a Grade 2, so more like a Grade 1-plus," Hyde said in his Zoom call with the media. "Hoping for the four to six weeks. Could be a little bit...
O's game blog: The Toronto series finale
O's game blog: The Toronto series finale
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles need a win today in Buffalo against Toronto as they try to split this four-game series. Toronto won 9-0 to begin the series on Thursday and the Orioles evened the series with Friday's 6-5 win in 10 innings. The Blue Jays won 12-4 yesterday after scoring four runs in three different innings. Toronto (39-36) has won six of its last seven games. The Blue Jays are 15-17 at home and 12-11 in June. The Orioles (24-53) have lost seven of eight games and 15 of 17. They are 1-21 in the last...
Orioles put Galvis on IL, option Wilkerson and Wade
Orioles put Galvis on IL, option Wilkerson and Wade
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles placed shortstop Freddy Galvis on the 10-day injured list this morning with a right quadriceps strain. They also optioned pitcher Konner Wade and infielder Stevie Wilkerson to Norfolk and recalled outfielder Ryan McKenna and infielders Domingo Leyba and Ramón Urías, who are in Buffalo for the series finale against the Blue Jays. The Orioles selected Leyba off waivers from the Diamondback on June 4. He was 0-for-22 with two walks, leaving his career line at .149/.241/.234 in 54...