O's game blog: Dean Kremer, O's try to end streak in Minnesota
O's game blog: Dean Kremer, O's try to end streak in Minnesota
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Still looking for their first win since a week ago Sunday in Baltimore, the Orioles will try to put last night's brutal loss at Minnesota behind them when they face the Twins tonight at Target Field. The Orioles (17-30) have allowed 62 runs during a seven-game losing streak. The seven-game streak is the longest since the O's lost eight in a row from Aug. 12-19, 2019. The club has lost 11 of 12 and 14 of 16 games. They have a minus-46 run differential during the 2-14 slide. The Orioles...
Orioles and Twins lineups
Orioles and Twins lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Rookie Dean Kremer will try to play the role of stopper tonight in Minnesota, with the Orioles losing seven games in a row and 14 of their last 16. Kremer is 0-4 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.588 WHIP in eight starts over 34 innings. He's never faced the Twins. His last start resulted in four runs and five hits allowed in three innings against the Rays. He also walked four batters. Austin Hays remains out of the lineup with a sore left hamstring. Ryan Mountcastle is in left field, Cedric Mullins in...
García called up from Triple-A, Fedde and Rainey back in D.C.
García called up from Triple-A, Fedde and Rainey back in D.C.
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
In deciding who would take Victor Robles' spot on their roster, the Nationals elected not to promote another outfielder from Triple-A Rochester, nor did they call up their top prospect who only two months ago was supposed to be their starting third baseman. The Nats' decision to recall infielder Luis García before tonight's series opener against the Reds instead of Carter Kieboom or an outfielder revealed a few things about the current state of things in the organization. With no other...
Washington Nationals recall Luis García
Washington Nationals recall Luis García
Doug Miller
Nationals
The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Luis García from Triple-A on Tuesday. Washington placed outfielder Victor Robles on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to May 20) with a right ankle sprain on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. García, 21, went 16-for-68 (.235) with one double, four homers, seven RBI, six walks, one stolen base and seven runs scored in 17 games for Triple-A Rochester. He clubbed a two-run...
Game 44 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
Game 44 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The last time the Nationals swept a series, they proceeded to lose seven of their next eight games and dig themselves into a hole they're still trying to climb all the way out of. So this weekend's sweep of the Orioles, while encouraging, certainly doesn't guarantee this team has turned a corner. We won't know about that until we see how the Nats perform this week against the Reds and Brewers. Tonight's series opener versus Cincinnati will see Max Scherzer on the mound, so that's always...
Game 45 lineups: Reds at Nats
Game 45 lineups: Reds at Nats
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Right-hander Joe Ross has been one of two pitchers this season for the Nationals. He either gets through five innings or so, giving his team a chance to win, or gets shelled. It's those rough patches that have inflated Ross' ERA to its current 5.72 entering tonight's game against the Reds. Take away two disastrous outings - when he allowed 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings at home to the Cardinals on April 19 and when he yielded eight runs in four innings to the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on May 15 -...
Stewart's swing, hockey sweaters and Shaw's struggles
Stewart's swing, hockey sweaters and Shaw's struggles
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The mood swings for the Orioles last night produced the highest exit velocities of the season. The frustration of a 45-minute rain delay as DJ Stewart came to the plate with a runner on base and two outs in the eighth inning, his team down by a run. All of the failed opportunities leading up to it, the Orioles just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The idea that another quality start from John Means would go to waste. A second-pitch home run for Stewart, who admired the flight of the...
Bullpen collapse in eighth buries Orioles in 8-3 loss (updated)
Bullpen collapse in eighth buries Orioles in 8-3 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
No matter the result tonight, the Orioles obviously knew that they had the right pitcher on the mound to start the game John Means is celebrated as if deserving of his own day. His achievements and rankings among major league and American League leaders could fill an entire page of the team's game notes. The Orioles, losers of six in a row and 13 of 15 going into Minnesota, needed Means only to be himself and then hope that the offense could unearth a few runs of support. That the bullpen,...
O's game blog: John Means on the mound in series opener
O's game blog: John Means on the mound in series opener
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles' last win came eight days ago at home by a 10-6 score over the New York Yankees. Since that win - the team's 17th on the year - the Orioles have had games scoring six, seven, nine and five runs and lost them all. Tonight they try and snap a six-game losing streak - which came via sweeps by Tampa Bay and Washington - as they open a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins. The clubs are tied with 17-29 records that bring up the bottom of the American League. The Orioles send ace...
"Grateful" Doolittle ready for emotional return to Nationals Park
"Grateful" Doolittle ready for emotional return to Nationals Park
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Upon signing with the Reds days before pitchers and catchers were due to report for spring training, Sean Doolittle took a look at Cincinnati's 2021 schedule. He scanned the entire 162-game slate, but he specifically noted when one particular road series would be taking place. May 25-27: at Washington. Doolittle has tried not to think about it too much since, because there were far more important matters to address. On the heels of an injury-plagued and ineffective 2020 season with the...