Another rough night in Boston for the Orioles
Another rough night in Boston for the Orioles
Steve Melewski
Orioles
This is not the way the Orioles wanted to play to end the 2020 season. There are four games to go, but they need to clean a few things up and fast. They've lost the first two games of their series at Boston. If they get swept tomorrow, these clubs will be tied for fourth place with three to play. A last-place finish is within reach. Just a week or two weeks ago there were playoff hopes and talk. After last night's 8-3 loss at Fenway Park, they got smoked 9-1 tonight. The Orioles have gone...
Kremer has shortest outing and O's lengthen skid with 9-1 loss
Kremer has shortest outing and O's lengthen skid with 9-1 loss
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Staying in the pennant race until the final week of the season is small consolation for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. A feeling of pride that doesn't overflow the cup. Hyde recounts the leads lost along the way. The games that should have been won. And it gnaws at him. A "pretty good accomplishment," Hyde says, considering the inexperience, injuries and daily challenges of living and working in a pandemic. But his competitive side reminds him of the offensive droughts and late-inning...
Despite tough loss, Fedde finishes with seven strong innings
Despite tough loss, Fedde finishes with seven strong innings
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Erick Fedde did a lot of things right on Wednesday night, minus a couple of pitches to Bryce Harper. The right-hander ended up finishing the season strong, going seven innings in a hard-luck loss to the Phillies. Fedde allowed two homers to Harper, but overall just three runs on five hits. He walked one batter and struck out five. The Phillies salvaged the final game of the four-game set over the Nationals 12-3, scoring six runs in the ninth to pull away. Andrew McCutchen also doubled and came...
Sifting through candidates for Most Valuable Oriole
Sifting through candidates for Most Valuable Oriole
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The winner of the Most Valuable Oriole award, determined now that the media votes are calculated, is going to be deserving of the honor without the glowing statistics. They weren't going to illuminate in 2020. A shortened season has left us in the dark in so many ways. I'm not going to reveal my ballot until the victor is announced on Friday. However, it seems apparent that four players are under consideration, though the order and exclusion vary, according to an informal poll taken of the...
Blowout loss to Phillies, Giants win eliminate Nats (updated)
Blowout loss to Phillies, Giants win eliminate Nats (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Nobody has repeated as World Series champions in two decades. Suffice it to say, it's a huge challenge trying to go back-to-back under normal circumstances. And the 2020 season has been the most abnormal season of our lives. We've accepted for some time the Nationals would not be repeating this year. Injuries, poor performances, a lack of depth and the understandable diminished motivation that was part of this season all came together to produce a disappointing, losing record. Yet when they...
These three on O's farm looked to improve even without games
These three on O's farm looked to improve even without games
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The summer was rolling on and the Orioles' 60-game season was underway. Some, but not all, of the club's top minor league players, were getting great work in at the alternate site in Bowie. But what about the rest of the minor league players? There are more than 100 of them. In this recent entry, pitchers Drew Rom and Brenan Hanifee provided updates about how they have been getting their work in and their innings in without games to play. Today I check in with three position players on the...
Kieboom's disappointing season ends with stint on IL
Kieboom's disappointing season ends with stint on IL
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Despite hopes of a return before the season ends Sunday, Carter Kieboom's hand injury proved too severe to take the chance, so the Nationals placed their rookie third baseman on the 10-day injured list this afternoon. Kieboom officially has a left wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch from Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler during the sixth inning Monday night at Nationals Park. X-rays were negative, showing no fracture, but Kieboom's hand was swollen and he immediately departed the...
O's game blog: Dean Kremer faces the Red Sox at Fenway
O's game blog: Dean Kremer faces the Red Sox at Fenway
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After Tuesday's 8-3 loss to Boston, the Orioles are back at Fenway Park tonight to play the second game of a three-game series. There are only five games remaining in the 2020 season. The Orioles (23-32) had a run of good pitching come to an end last night. But in fairness, they also made three errors, scored just three runs and went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They earned that loss. But in the homestand against Tampa Bay and Atlanta before this trip, the Orioles allowed three...
Hyde on Iglesias, Phillips, Kremer, offense and defense
Hyde on Iglesias, Phillips, Kremer, offense and defense
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles shortstop José Iglesias is receiving treatment again today on his sore left wrist and hasn't been shut down for the week. Manager Brandon Hyde still believes that Iglesias could return to the lineup before the Orioles play their final game on Sunday in Buffalo. "He feels better," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call with the media. "Hopefully the next couple days." Reliever Evan Phillips won't pitch again this season due to soreness in his right elbow. He's on the 10-day...
Phillips on injured list (plus lineups and notes)
Phillips on injured list (plus lineups and notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles placed reliever Evan Phillips on the 10-day injured list this afternoon with right elbow inflammation and recalled Branden Kline, who traveled with the team as part of the taxi squad. Phillips won't pitch again this season, but avoided a more serious injury. He walked off the mound in the sixth inning last night after surrendering a three-run homer to Christian Vázquez, and while facing Jackie Bradley Jr. Kline has made one relief appearance with the Orioles this summer and...