Nats open 2021 spring slate Feb. 27 hosting Astros
Nats open 2021 spring slate Feb. 27 hosting Astros
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Major League Baseball today announced that the 2021 Nationals spring training schedule will begin Saturday, Feb. 27 when they host the Astros at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches. The Nationals' 31-game spring slate features 15 home games, plus three other games as the visiting club against the Astros in their shared home stadium. The home schedule concludes March 28 at home against the Cardinals. The 2021 regular season commences for all 30 clubs on Thursday, April 1. The Nats also have...
Information on Orioles spring report dates and exhibition schedule
Information on Orioles spring report dates and exhibition schedule
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
With the uncertainty of the 2021 season swirling in the air, Major League Baseball nonetheless has released the spring training schedule in hopes of a return to baseball normalcy. Orioles pitchers and catchers will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Feb. 16, with position players set to arrive by Feb. 21. The first full-squad workout will be held the following day. The first exhibition game will be played on Feb. 27 against the Braves in Sarasota. There are 16 home dates on the schedule,...
Orioles announce 2021 spring training schedule
Orioles announce 2021 spring training schedule
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced they will begin their 2021 Grapefruit League season at home on Saturday, February 27, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. against the Atlanta Braves. The club's home Grapefruit League schedule, which features 16 dates, will conclude with a home game on Saturday, March 27, against the Minnesota Twins. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Tuesday, February 16, and position players on Sunday, February 21, with the first full-squad workout set for Monday,...
Nats trying to figure out pitching plan for doubleheaders
Nats trying to figure out pitching plan for doubleheaders
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Though they haven't finalized plans quite yet, the Nationals have a sense of how they hope to get through their upcoming stretch of eight games in five days. The likely answer: Wil Crowe, Ben Braymer and a lot of relievers. With three doubleheaders in five days (Friday and Sunday against the Marlins, Tuesday against the Phillies), the Nationals will need eight different starting pitchers. Given the current lack of healthy depth at their disposal, they don't really have eight viable...
Game 47 lineups: Nats at Rays
Game 47 lineups: Nats at Rays
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
How do the Nationals avoid a repeat of Tuesday night's lifeless, 6-1 loss to the Rays? They need to get a much better pitching performance and they need to hit. Obviously. On the mound, it's up to Austin Voth to somehow make the leap into a guy who can actually get hitters out twice in a game. We know he can do it the first time through the order. It's time for him to show he can do it the second time as well. At the plate, it's up to this lineup to not get freaked out by the Rays'...
How the O's teach English as a second language to young Latin players
How the O's teach English as a second language to young Latin players
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the Orioles sign a young international prospect at 16 from the Dominican Republic or Venezuela, they surely dream of a day when that player will be on their major league team. Maybe even become a star player on a team that can win the World Series. But these Latin American players must travel a long road before any of that can happen, and that entails more than developing their baseball skills. Most speak little or no English. And while there are plenty of Spanish-speaking coaches when...
Barrett confident and effective in first game back, wants more
Barrett confident and effective in first game back, wants more
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals recalled Aaron Barrett Tuesday, and later that day the right-hander was in the game against the Rays at Tropicana Field, summoned in the sixth inning. Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe was on first and there was one out. Mike Brosseau singled on Barrett's two-seam fastball and suddenly the Rays had two men on. But the very next pitch, Barrett got Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a grounder to shortstop Trea Turner for an inning-ending double play. In the seventh, Barrett returned to the hill and gave...
Leftovers for breakfast
Leftovers for breakfast
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Not only are the Orioles becoming much deeper in outfielders, they also can brag about the draft-and-develop process in the organization. Last night's game again offered a homegrown alignment of Austin Hays in left field, Cedric Mullins in center and DJ Stewart in right. Ryan Mountcastle played first base, but has been the starting left fielder since his promotion. Trey Mancini will return next season. Ryan McKenna is on the 40-man roster and getting closer. And one could argue that Anthony...
Orioles' bats return to mute mode in 5-1 loss (updated)
Orioles' bats return to mute mode in 5-1 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The latest snapshot of a weird and unprecedented 2020 season came this afternoon before batting practice, when the Orioles gathered in right field in their home white uniforms for the annual team photo. Everyone wearing masks and lined up in rows with the proper spacing between bodies. Just another day at the ballpark for the Orioles, who are down to their last 12 games of the regular season and always reminded of the unpredictability of it after tonight's 5-1 loss to the Braves at Camden...
Another short start for Sánchez, another loss for Nats (updated)
Another short start for Sánchez, another loss for Nats (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Much as he probably wishes he could give a couple of his struggling starters the season's final two weeks off, the cold, hard truth is that Davey Martinez has no choice but to keep giving them the ball every five days. The Nationals' schedule to close out this agonizing season - 15 games in 13 days, including an upcoming stretch of eight games in five days - simply won't allow for anyone to shut it down early, not unless there's an injury involved. And even if there was, the Nats would be...