Hyde: "Our focus is on us"
Hyde: "Our focus is on us"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is fielding playoff questions again. His club is a half-game behind the Yankees for the last spot and a game behind the Astros. Six wins in the last eight. Again an interesting national story. Is there scoreboard-watching among the players and staff? Or at least the 2020 version of it? "I think we're focused on the Orioles right now and we need to win as many games as possible," Hyde said this afternoon in his Zoom conference call. "I'd be lying to say I...
Several Orioles will wear No. 21 on Roberto Clemente Day
Several Orioles will wear No. 21 on Roberto Clemente Day
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles are joining all of Major League Baseball in celebrating the 19th annual Roberto Clemente Day tonight during their game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. This commemorative day was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, and a special tribute video will...
Orioles lineup vs. Mets
Orioles lineup vs. Mets
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will try to extend their winning streak to five games tonight with Pat Valaika at first base and Chris Davis still on the bench. Valaika is celebrating his 28th birthday today. He's posted a .429 average (12-for-28) in his last nine games. Cedric Mullins moves up to the leadoff spot and José Iglesias is batting second again, as he did last night while notching his ninth multi-hit game in the last 12. DJ Stewart, with four home runs in the last three games, is the cleanup...
Cavalli and Rutledge bringing the heat in Fredericksburg
Cavalli and Rutledge bringing the heat in Fredericksburg
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Top Nationals pitching prospects Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge continue to get their work in at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va., under the direction of minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman and the coaching staff. Rutledge is currently ranked No. 3 and Cavalli No. 4 in the latest MLBpipeline.com top 30 Nationals prospects list. "Well, obviously both those guys are extremely talented," Holman told me. "I can't say enough about either one of them. They are...
Orioles to host food distribution at Ed Smith Stadium
Orioles to host food distribution at Ed Smith Stadium
Doug Miller
Orioles
As part of the club's ongoing efforts to serve and strengthen the community during the current pandemic, the Orioles announced today that they have partnered with All Faiths Food Bank to host a series of mass food distribution events at Ed Smith Stadium. The events will take place on the second Saturday of each month from September through December, with the first event being held on September 12. Future events will be held on October 10, November 14, and December 12. Each distribution event...
Kendrick placed on IL with left hamstring strain
Kendrick placed on IL with left hamstring strain
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals have placed Howie Kendrick on the 10-day injured with a left hamstring strain, a decision that seemed more and more likely in recent days as the veteran hitter struggled to get himself in the lineup. Kendrick did not play in either of the Nats' two wins over the Rays to begin the week after sitting out Sunday's series finale against the Braves. He missed a week in mid-August with what manager Davey Martinez described as "sore hamstrings," apparently debilitating enough that he...
Holt and Harrison add spark to offense after rough week
Holt and Harrison add spark to offense after rough week
Byron Kerr
Nationals
In the Nationals' two-game sweep of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays to begin this week, a pair of recently acquired veterans played big parts in the club's success in generating offense. Brock Holt went 4-for-8 with two doubles and two runs scored. Josh Harrison added two hits, going 2-for-7 with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs as the Nats beat the Rays 6-1 and 5-3. On Monday, as Juan Soto, Luis García and Howie Kendrick sat out with injuries, manager Davey Martinez opted to put Holt in...
Doolittle tapping into former delivery to return to peak form
Doolittle tapping into former delivery to return to peak form
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Step by step, Sean Doolittle is rediscovering the form that made him one of baseball's most effective relievers in recent seasons. And that's in part because of the near-step he's brought back to his delivery. After a summer of diminished velocity, gaudy stats and plenty of tinkering, Doolittle is finally starting to look like his old self again. He hasn't allowed an earned run in five appearances since returning from the injured list and a rehab stint at the Nationals' alternate training...
Birdland dream scenario: O's beat out the Yankees for the playoffs
Birdland dream scenario: O's beat out the Yankees for the playoffs
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It is a scenario that probably the most enthusiastic and exuberant Orioles fans among you could not have imagined: The 2020 Orioles knocking the New York Yankees out of the playoffs. Remember before the season, when some fans wondered if the Orioles could contend in a shortened season with expanded playoffs? Well, those two factors have combined to see the Orioles indeed as contenders with 19 games to play. Through last night's games, every team that is playing .500 baseball would qualify for...
What else is going on with Orioles besides pennant race?
What else is going on with Orioles besides pennant race?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
A season that was in danger of stalling before it could move forward, and with its COVID postponements, unique doubleheaders and occasional designations of home teams as visitors, is down to the final 19 games for the Orioles. The odds of getting this far didn't appear promising, but it's happened. The Orioles are in the midst of their penultimate road trip, with the last homestand beginning next week. And they remain in playoff contention, defying another set of odds. Tabbed as the worst...