The Nationals need to generate offense any way they can right now. How do they do that, given the resources currently available to them? They have to stick with some of their struggling regulars and sprinkle in some backups who create more favorable matchups. Tonight, with left-hander Steven Matz on the mound for the Blue Jays, that means an emphasis on right-handed hitters. Manager Davey Martinez decided the best way to do that was to stack four right-handed bats atop his lineup (Trea Turner,...

It's no secret that the Nationals need Josh Bell to have a good year in order to reach the levels of success they aspire for this season. That's what general manager Mike Rizzo was banking on when he acquired the slugging first baseman from the Pirates for two pitching prospects on Christmas Eve, the first big move of the offseason. And after he tore through Grapefruit League action by hitting .383 with a 1.328 OPS, six home runs and 15 RBIs, that's what the Nationals thought they were going...

Even though he once pitched in a college rotation at UCLA with both Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, the Orioles could not have expected right-hander Adam Plutko to pitch this well for them. When they acquired him from Cleveland on March 27 for cash considerations, it was expected to be for long relief situations and to cover some innings. He is throwing so well for this club that he's been used recently in some late-in-the-game high-leverage spots. Over nine games, he has an ERA of 1.42 and a...

The shifting of outfielders that was supposed to set into motion a shining example of the Orioles' depth at the position has settled into a more predictable pattern. Cedric Mullins is the undisputed center fielder and leadoff hitter. Removing him requires a special set of circumstances. Like rest, for instance. Austin Hays has played left field, with DJ Stewart in right, in four of the last five games. An exception was made with Ryan McKenna in right field to provide an extra right-handed bat...

If not for the date on the calendar, you would have thought Tuesday night's game was a late Grapefruit League matchup between the Nationals and Blue Jays. A spring training stadium only filled with 1,471 fans under a clear Florida night sky. Plenty of hard-hit balls and loud outs. Balls lost in the Florida breeze and the lack of major league lighting. And a handful of pitching changes, at least by one team. Alas, Tuesday night's game counted, and the Nationals found themselves on the wrong...

The evidence that Chris Holt had rejoined the Orioles tonight, resuming his duties as pitching coach, was laid out for everyone in the top of the third inning after another Yankees batter scalded a Bruce Zimmermann pitch. He'd rather stay in the dugout and take his chances with the television cameras, but the Yankees were making loud noises. The hits, the outs, it didn't matter. Holt missed the last series while attending to a personal matter and went through intake testing yesterday. He...

In winning on Sunday versus Oakland and Monday against the New York Yankees, Orioles pitchers have allowed three runs in the two games. Baltimore pitchers have allowed 16 runs over the last five games and 27 runs the past 10. The pitchers are doing pretty well: * The team ERA for the season is down to 3.99, which is seventh in the American League.* The rotation ERA is 4.71, 13th in the AL.* The bullpen ERA is 3.08 which is fifth in both the AL and the majors.* The O's rotation ERA is 3.67 over...

The Nationals breathed a heavy sigh of relief earlier today when manager Davey Martinez spoke to Trea Turner and the shortstop told him that he was feeling well enough to play tonight. Turner was struck by a pitch in his left forearm during Sunday's series finale against the Mets at Citi Field and departed the contest early, adding yet another name to the long list of injury concerns. But after X-rays returned negative, Turner was diagnosed with a contusion and had Monday's scheduled off-day...

Dean Kremer is rejoining the Orioles on Wednesday and starting that night against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Precisely the way it was expected to play out. A corresponding roster move is coming, with reliever Jay Flaa a logical candidate to be optioned to the alternate training site after having his contract selected yesterday. Kremer has allowed eight runs and 14 hits in 10 2/3 innings, with six walks and 14 strikeouts in his three starts. The Orioles optioned him after he held the Rangers...

Earlier this month, former Nationals catcher Jonathan Lucroy compared his time in D.C. to the storyline of the movie "The Replacements," in which Keanu Reeves leads a group of replacement players on the fictional Washington Sentinels to the playoffs in their fictional football league. (Of course, that movie was loosely based on the 1987 Washington Football Team replacements who won three games and helped the team go on to win the Super Bowl.) Well, I'm no Shane Falco, but I'll do my best as...