Notes on Friday's loss, Lowther's start and Aberdeen at 4-0
Notes on Friday's loss, Lowther's start and Aberdeen at 4-0
Steve Melewski
Orioles
For the Orioles, the road to get back to the .500 mark is hard. Very hard. They have had seven tries since April 10, playing games where they were one game under .500. With last night's 6-2 loss to Boston, they are 0-7 in those games. The Orioles (15-17) had chances last night, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 men on base. They fell to 2-14 when scoring three runs or fewer. They have scored two runs or fewer in 11 of their 17 losses. So yep, frustrating. It was...
Orioles rotation rookies on the rise
Orioles rotation rookies on the rise
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Left-hander Keegan Akin made his first start last night with Triple-A Norfolk, inserted into a rotation that he tried to leave behind for good last summer. Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann follows Akin tonight as the extended series continues in Jacksonville. Dean Kremer was the last rookie standing with the Orioles, having made it back from his option and preparing for Sunday afternoon's game against the Red Sox. He'll be joined tonight by left-hander Zac Lowther, whose second promotion brings...
Unearned runs ruin Harvey's night in 6-2 loss (updated)
Unearned runs ruin Harvey's night in 6-2 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Matt Harvey struck out J.D. Martinez tonight and extended the Orioles' streak of hitless innings to 10. John Means did the heavy lifting. Harvey was just following a tough act and trying to keep up. The Red Sox elevated Harvey's pitch count early, plated four unearned runs in the fourth inning and kept the Orioles below .500 with a 6-2 win before an announced crowd of 7,724 at damp and cold Camden Yards. Ryan Mountcastle led off the sixth inning with a home run, driving a full-count 99 mph...
Late explosion propels Nats to rout at Yankee Stadium (updated)
Late explosion propels Nats to rout at Yankee Stadium (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The situation - runner on second, nobody out, late in a close game - felt eerily familiar. What happened next felt completely foreign for a Nationals club that has spent weeks trying everything in its power to manufacture some late runs and tonight broke through with an eighth-inning rally that provided as cathartic a moment as these guys have experienced in some time. Knotted in a low-scoring tie game with the Yankees entering the eighth, the Nationals didn't just plate the go-ahead run. They...
Game 29 lineups: Nats at Yankees
Game 29 lineups: Nats at Yankees
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
If he craves the biggest stage in baseball, it stands to reason that Max Scherzer would enjoy pitching at Yankee Stadium. It doesn't matter if it's the third incarnation of the historic ballpark. Everything about the place - the monuments in center field, the pinstriped players, the rhythmic cadence of the fans' roll call - is special. So why has the right-hander struggled - at least by Scherzer standards - in the Bronx and against the Yankees? Scherzer is 4-4 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.531...
O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces Boston in series opener
O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces Boston in series opener
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As the Orioles get ready to, hopefully, play Boston for the third series this season tonight, they can look back on two very different series against the Red Sox. The start of tonight's game, which was set for 7:05 p.m., is being delayed by rain. Shortly after 8 p.m., an approximate start time of 8:40 was announced. The Orioles opened the year by sweeping three straight at Fenway Park. They outscored the Red Sox 18-5 in those games, holding them to 15 hits, and they pitched to an ERA of 1.67...
Soto could be in field Saturday, Strasburg sim game Tuesday
Soto could be in field Saturday, Strasburg sim game Tuesday
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals have Juan Soto back in their lineup tonight. And they could have him back in right field as soon as Saturday afternoon. With his team playing at Yankee Stadium this weekend, manager Davey Martinez is able to utilize Soto as his designated hitter for tonight's interleague series opener. And prior to the game, the 22-year-old was planning to attempt to make throws from right field to second and third base for the first time since going on the injured list April 20 with a left...
Game 28 lineups: Nats at Yankees
Game 28 lineups: Nats at Yankees
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There's really only one question everyone wants answered today: Is Juan Soto in the Nationals lineup? The answer you've been waiting for: Yes. For the first time in 18 days, Soto is starting, albeit as designated hitter. Still unable to make throws in the outfield without fear of further injury to his left shoulder, he's being held back to hit only for the Nats' series opener against the Yankees. But that's still a major development for a team that desperately needs to generate some...
Orioles and Red Sox lineups, plus notes
Orioles and Red Sox lineups, plus notes
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will make their seventh attempt tonight to get back to .500 for the first time since April 10 as they open a four-game series against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. As long as the weather cooperates, of course. Rain is falling and the tarp is on the field, but pitchers aren't letting it interrupt their bullpen sessions or throwing in the outfield. Austin Hays is starting in right field tonight, with Ryan Mountcastle in left and Pat Valaika playing first base. Trey Mancini is the...
While lineup struggles, Nats pitching staff is living up to billing
While lineup struggles, Nats pitching staff is living up to billing
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals were just swept by the Braves in large part because of their lack of offensive production, especially in key moments late in games. On the flip side, though, they were in a position to have a chance to rally late because of their pitching staff, which is starting to perform like it was supposed to all along. The Nats sport a 4.06 ERA overall through 27 games, which ranks 17th in the majors. Nothing to get too excited about. Except the staff is trending in the right direction,...