Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming
Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Tonight's Nationals lineup again has Michael A. Taylor playing center field, replacing starter Victor Robles. Manager Davey Martinez said he noticed Robles appeared to be a bit fatigued during the weekend series at Boston. "I just wanted to give Victor a couple of days off," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I talked to him. Victor is a high-energy guy. We all know that. I just wanted him to get two days off. I look at some of his numbers and his bat speed has gone...
Orioles roster moves and lineup
Orioles roster moves and lineup
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Rather than bring in another reliever this afternoon, the Orioles have selected the contract of infielder Dilson Herrera from the alternate camp site in Bowie, recalled outfielder DJ Stewart and designated outfielder Mason Williams for assignment. The 40-man roster currently has 38 players and the 60-man pool has 57 players. The moves were made following yesterday's trade of reliever Miguel Castro to the Mets for minor league left-hander Kevin Smith and a player to be named later or cash...
Game 33 lineups: Nats at Phillies
Game 33 lineups: Nats at Phillies
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As we've seen, there are two major issues plaguing the Nationals right now: starting pitchers who dig them into early holes and a lineup that isn't consistently producing beyond Trea Turner and Juan Soto. Tonight, we'll find out if they can reverse both trends and emerge victorious in Philadelphia. The good news: Patrick Corbin has been pitching well, and he pitched well against these same Phillies last week in D.C. For six innings, the left-hander allowed only a solo homer to Rhys Hoskins....
O's game blog: The homestand begins
O's game blog: The homestand begins
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After a stretch of playing 13 straight games against American League East teams, the Orioles begin a two-game home series against the New York Mets tonight. This begins a stretch of 12 straight games through Sept. 13 against New York teams. They will meet the Mets four times and play the Yankees eight times. The Orioles went 3-10 in the stretch of games against Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto. They are 8-13 this season against AL clubs and 7-6 versus the National League. They are 7-2 against the...
Nationals, Entercom announce digital streaming of radio broadcasts
Nationals, Entercom announce digital streaming of radio broadcasts
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Baseball fans in the nation's capital can now stream the 106.7 The Fan (WJFK-FM) radio broadcast of Nationals games through RADIO.COM, the fastest growing digital audio platform in America. Fans will be able to listen to Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler, the voices of Nationals radio, free on the RADIO.COM app and website, or on RADIO.COM via select smart speakers by selecting 106.7 The Fan. Fans using a smart speaker should tell their speaker to play 106.7 The Fan on the RADIO.COM app. The...
Orioles move to next phase after trade deadline
Orioles move to next phase after trade deadline
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
A trade deadline passes and the inevitable question is posed. Now what? Or what now? The Orioles are done dealing until after Sept. 27. There's nothing flimsy about this deadline. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias has to wait until the offseason to move other parts that don't fit in a rebuild. (I write "parts" knowing these are people with families and feelings, but it's the cold terminology used in this instance. Former manager Buck Showalter called out the media for it...
With two positive steps forward, Doolittle can smile again
With two positive steps forward, Doolittle can smile again
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
If you're looking for silver linings from Nationals losses - and lord knows that's fast becoming a nightly pursuit - Sean Doolittle is your man. The left-hander's return from a two-week stint in Fredericksburg to rehab his knee and get his mechanics back in order has gotten off to an especially encouraging start. Sunday's relief appearance in Boston - four batters faced, two outs recorded, two weakly hit singles allowed - was a nice step in the right direction. Monday's 1-2-3 bottom of the...
Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat
Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Juan Soto has popularized the "Soto Shuffle" between pitches as he sizes up the pitcher and what he might throw him during each at-bat. But a lot of times between pitches, it looks like Soto is having a conversation with the umpire or the catcher. Is he talking to them, asking where the pitch was? What is he saying to them during the at-bat? Are they having actual conversations during each at-bat? Soto says he exchanges nothing more than "hellos" with the umpires. But against the Phillies,...
Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going
Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Trea Turner is beyond the zone. He's on a different level. So is Juan Soto. Now if only the Nationals could figure out how to get everyone else in the lineup to join them on the same night. Turner went 4-for-5 with a homer and a run scored in Monday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. His average is a league-best .377 and his OPS is 1.077. According to statistics compiled by Ryan Spaeder, Turner is hitting .515 over his last 72 plate...
Familiar pattern in Nationals' 8-6 loss to Phillies (updated)
Familiar pattern in Nationals' 8-6 loss to Phillies (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
If Mike Rizzo's message in standing pat at this afternoon's trade deadline was to let his Nationals players know he still believes this group is capable of a second-half push into a pennant race, the message they sent back to their general manager tonight in Philadelphia was that nothing has changed on the field. This 8-6 loss to the Phillies bore far too much resemblance to so many losses that have preceded it this season. The starting pitcher, Erick Fedde, again dug his team into a sizeable...