Joe Ross has been probably the most positive development for the Nationals so far this young season. The right-hander, who won the fifth starter's job in spring training after opting out of the 2020 campaign, has been outstanding in each of his first two outings and has yet to allow a run in 11 innings. It's everything the Nats could've hoped for and more from the 27-year-old right-hander. Except now they actually need Ross to continue being this guy to help them survive while much of the...

The Orioles return from their first break this week to open a two-game series in Miami, where they've gone 2-13. It was a little complicated last summer. A rash of positive COVID-19 tests on the Marlins forced them to stay in Philadelphia, where they had opened their season. The Orioles remained in their Miami hotel, with no opponent, until flying back home with confirmation of the postponements. After some creative maneuvering in the schedule, the teams played four consecutive games in...

The Nationals' 2021 season is only two weeks old, but boy does it feel like a lot has happened already or what? It's been an eventful 13 days since they took the field to face the Braves after seeing their first four scheduled games of the year postponed due to their COVID-19 outbreak. Prominent players have gone on the injured list, prominent players have come off it. There have been two walk-off wins and there have been two blowout losses. There have been lights-out pitching performances...

So that was a strong weekend of pitching for the Orioles. They allowed four runs in three games at Texas. Yet when they were shut out Sunday, it meant no series sweep against the Rangers. Still, they began the road trip taking two of three and head to Miami at 7-9. For the second time this season, the Orioles staff did not allow an earned run. They also did that in the opening day shutout at Boston. Baltimore pitching has allowed two runs or less six times on the season. They did it the first...

The Orioles toyed with the idea of going with a six-man rotation, settled on the more traditional five and are downsizing to four. It's still April, only 16 games into the season. The roster will undergo plenty of changes and various circumstances are going to force the adjustments, whether due to injuries, postponements or quirky off-days stuffed into one week. Dean Kremer was optioned late Saturday night because he's a fifth starter on a team that isn't playing today or Thursday. Having to...

The Orioles were locked in another pitcher's duel this afternoon. Last night they trailed 1-0 after six innings but won 6-1. It was 0-0 today in Arlington, Texas through six. And through seven. And eight and nine. But the Orioles finally cracked. Nate Lowe's bases loaded single to left won it 1-0 in 10 innings for Texas as the O's failed to sweep and fall to 7-9 for the year. The O's missed a chance in the top of the 10th. With Maikel Franco on third and one out, pinch-hitter Trey Mancini...

There's nothing wrong with the mound at Camden Yards, the home clubhouse or the ballpark atmosphere. The routine at home isn't disruptive. John Means just happens to pitch better on the road this month, for reasons that can't be explained beyond the ridiculously small sample size. In Means' lone outing in Baltimore, he faced the Mariners in the first game of a doubleheader and allowed three runs in five innings with two home runs attached to his line. In starts made on three trips, he's...

The day began with aggravating - though not terribly shocking, if you've been paying attention - news. Stephen Strasburg was going back on the injured list, this time with right shoulder inflammation, and the $245 million pitcher would not be making his scheduled start against the Diamondbacks. Rarely in the past have the Nationals not suffered as a result of a Strasburg IL stint, and it's certainly now fair to wonder how they will survive this one, with Patrick Corbin also struggling and Jon...

Following the first game of an April 13 doubleheader against the Mariners, Freddy Galvis was batting .143/.211/.171 and attracting some heat for his inconsistent play at shortstop. The comparisons to José Iglesias weren't flattering. Some fans were demanding that the Orioles recall Richie Martin from the alternate training site, especially after he collected two hits, including an RBI double, a walk and two stolen bases in Tuesday's game against the Nationals in Bowie. But Galvis had two...

After losing Thurday's doubleheader at home scoring three runs in two games, the Orioles scored 11 in the first two games of their series at Texas. They have posted 5-2 and 6-1 wins. Today they can sweep this series and get back to the .500 mark. The Orioles (7-8) are 6-2 on the road, winning three in a row away from Oriole Park. Last night's win improved the O's record to 3-7 when their opponent scores first. Entering this weekend, the Orioles had lost six in a row and nine of 11 in games...