Davey Martinez had to get creative with his bullpen in order to win Wednesday's wild, 13-12 game in Philadelphia, ultimately asking Austin Voth, Tanner Rainey and Paolo Espino to record the final six outs. That's because closer Brad Hand was unavailable after pitching four of the previous five days, and because Daniel Hudson remains on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow. And it's still going to be a little while before Hudson is back on the active roster pitching in...

John Means is playing catch down in Sarasota, Fla. and slowly building on his throwing progression, but Orioles manager Brandon Hyde doesn't anticipate having his ace in the rotation to close out the first half. Hyde said Means, on the injured list with a strained left shoulder, will start throwing side sessions when cleared to increase his activities. "I would expect him at some point right after the All-Star break," Hyde said during today's media Zoom call. Means can't be considered for...

The Orioles are in Buffalo tonight to play the Blue Jays, start a three-city trip and attempt to end their road losing streak at 19 games. Ryan Mountcastle is playing first base and Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Austin Hays is in left field and Anthony Santander is starting in right. Cedric Mullins is hitting .441 (41-for-93) in the Orioles' 23 wins, the highest average in the majors. He's hitting .246 (46-for-187) in the 50 losses when he's played. Mullins is batting .403...

The Nationals' two-game sweep in Philadelphia was both uplifting but also exhausting. Wednesday's 13-12 finale, in particular, used up every ounce of strength the Nats had, not to mention nearly every reliever on the staff. There's no rest for the weary, though, because after a flight south to Miami following the game, the Nationals are right back to work this evening in the opener of a four-game series with the Marlins. These two division foes have met only three times so far this season,...

The call to the bullpen came after the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals at that point trailing the Phillies 12-11. Paolo Espino was told to warm up, and that he would be pitching the bottom of the ninth if his teammates managed to tie the game or take the lead. And when that's exactly what they did, getting a two-run single from Starlin Castro to go up 13-12 in the craziest game of the season, Espino began to make his way to the mound, now tasked with recording the final three outs but not...

The losses are mounting. The latest was by a 13-0 score last night as the Orioles lost to Houston to get swept again in a three-game series. Since there are humans inside those uniforms, the players must have a tough time trying to stay upbeat during this losing. Before Wednesday's game, during an on-field interview after batting practice, O's outfielder Austin Hays said that, in his mind, the team has done a good job keeping the energy and their collective attitude upbeat. "We come in every...

The countdown to Mickey Jannis' major league debut began tonight in the top of the second inning. He began warming in the fourth after Dillon Tate sat down. He walked through the gate in the fifth and into a chapter of his professional life that didn't seem plausible. Jannis finally pitched in a major league game, his small but vocal cheering section unleashed in front of the press box. The run he allowed in the sixth seemed inconsequential based on the score and his journey. Then came four...

After scoring 24 runs in a recent four-game span that ended Saturday, the Orioles will look to get their offense going again tonight in the series and homestand finale against the Houston Astros. The Orioles (23-50) have scored just seven runs on 13 hits over the past three games since Saturday - the last game of the Toronto series and the first two versus Houston. Astros pitchers have held Baltimore batters to three runs and eight hits in this series. The Orioles have gone four straight games...

Phase 1 of the All-Star voting concludes this afternoon at 4 p.m., which leads into Phase 2 and eventually the big reveal. The smoke will be black and orange if Cedric Mullins is chosen. The Orioles aren't expected to have a starter unless it's due to an injury. However, Mullins would be a massive snub if he isn't a reserve for the American League. Heading into last night's game against the Astros, Mullins was slashing .310/.379/.538 with 18 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 12...

The latest reliever swap by the Orioles has put knuckleballer Mickey Jannis in the bullpen, his major league debut at age 33 perhaps coming later tonight against the Astros. The Orioles selected Jannis' contract yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk, with the news passed along by Tides manager Gary Kendall via a phone call. The team didn't play yesterday. Kendall wanted to tell Jannis in person, but he couldn't do it. "I don't think I could put into words what this means," Jannis said earlier...