Orioles recall Waddell (updated)
Orioles recall Waddell (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles made one bullpen swap today, recalling left-hander Brandon Waddell from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Travis Lakins Sr. to the Tides. Waddell, a waiver claim from the Twins, made his Norfolk debut Friday night and tossed a scoreless inning. He's wearing No. 49. The bullpen is loaded with lefties now, including Paul Fry, Tanner Scott and Keegan Akin. Waddell has pitched in six major league games over parts of the last two seasons and allowed six earned runs (seven total) and 12...
Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
Mark Zuckerman
Orioles
The Nationals still have their issues in the big picture, but they still have a chance to sweep a series today. And that's nothing to scoff at. At this point, they've got to seize any opportunity they get, so a win today over the Orioles would be a welcome development. (It also would give them a 20-23 record, making another 19-31 start mathematically impossible this season. Oh, and if you didn't know, today is the two-year anniversary of the Nats falling to 19-31 after getting swept by the...
O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces the Nationals
O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces the Nationals
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles gave up 32 runs and got swept three straight earlier this week by the Tampa Bay Rays. Now they have allowed 16 runs in losing the first two games in Washington. They need a win this afternoon to avoid back-to-back three-game series sweeps. So yeah, it's been a rough stretch for the team and the pitching staff. While the O's offense has underperformed much of this year, the pitchers have really been struggling lately. They have allowed 10 runs or more three times in the last five...
Nationals remain committed to Hand as closer
Nationals remain committed to Hand as closer
Mark Zuckerman
Orioles
On a day when pitchers across the board were getting hit hard, often over the fence, the sight of Brad Hand trotting in from the bullpen for the top of the ninth couldn't have been especially comforting for Nationals fans. Less than 24 hours removed from the latest in a concerning string of shaky outings, here was Hand again entrusted by manager Davey Martinez to close out a wild 12-9 victory over the Orioles. And it wasn't unfair to question if he was the right man for the job at this moment...
As a Rule 5 pick, pitcher Tyler Wells trying to prove he belongs
As a Rule 5 pick, pitcher Tyler Wells trying to prove he belongs
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As the season goes on, the Orioles seem to be gaining more confidence in Rule 5 pitcher Tyler Wells. The right-hander came on in the sixth inning Friday night with the Nationals leading 2-0. The game was still very much on the line. And Wells has been holding his own. Not bad for a young pitcher who had Tommy John surgery in May 2019, so he hadn't pitched in two seasons covering 2019-2020. In 2018, he went 10-6 with a 2.49 ERA for the Minnesota Twins organization, but just 33 of those innings...
Orioles trying to find some relief
Orioles trying to find some relief
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Whether the Orioles make a roster move this morning seems less compelling than exactly how many. Is one reliever sufficient after yesterday's 12-9 loss? Manager Brandon Hyde hinted at the possibility of multiple pitchers joining the team in D.C. today, though as I wrote Friday night, there are 40-man roster complications. Another starter didn't get deep into yesterday's game, with rookie Bruce Zimmermann lasting only three innings and the Orioles surrendering leads of 5-0 and 6-1. Hyde used...
Nats finally deliver big blasts, win slugfest over Orioles (updated)
Nats finally deliver big blasts, win slugfest over Orioles (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Orioles
The Nationals, believe it or not, actually are capable of hitting with runners in scoring position. And scoring in bunches. Even hitting a grand slam. And, most significantly, coming back from a sizeable deficit to win a ballgame. Yes, they do have the ability to do all of those things. Perhaps not as frequently as everyone would like, but that skill set is buried away deep inside the 26 men who wear curly W helmets when they step to the plate, ready to come out every once in a while. And when...
O's pitching bashed as Nats rally from five down (quotes added)
O's pitching bashed as Nats rally from five down (quotes added)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
This is how badly it is going for the Orioles right now: For the second time in four games, they held a five-run lead but did not win. Leading 5-0 in the first and 6-1 after they batted in the top of the third, O's pitching collapsed to allow four runs each in the third and fourth innings and three in the sixth today as Washington stormed back to post a 12-9 win. The Orioles have lost the first two games in this series and will be swept three straight in back-to-back series if they lose...
Nats likely need to make IL decision on Robles by Sunday
Nats likely need to make IL decision on Robles by Sunday
Mark Zuckerman
Orioles
Victor Robles is out of the Nationals lineup for the third straight day with what has now officially been diagnosed as a sprained right ankle, and if his condition doesn't improve in the next 24 hours, the club may have no choice but to put its starting center fielder on the injured list. Robles, who hurt himself in scary looking fashion rounding first base Wednesday night in Chicago, has shown some signs of improvement since, but not enough to allow him to play. "As of right now, no,"...
O's game blog: Game 2 of the series at Washington
O's game blog: Game 2 of the series at Washington
Steve Melewski
Orioles
For the Orioles, the games march on and so does the search for wins. After last night's 4-2 loss at Nationals Park, the clubs play the middle game of a three-game series at Washington today. It's the second of a 10-game road trip for the Orioles. The Birds have been held to three runs and six hits in back-to-back losses by 10-1 to Tampa Bay and last night. The Orioles were on their way to a fifth shutout loss until Freddy Galvis hit a two-run homer with two outs in the top of the...