Nats hope Kendrick is ready Friday, need starter Saturday
Nats hope Kendrick is ready Friday, need starter Saturday
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Though he's out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive day, the Nationals continue to believe Howie Kendrick will be ready to return from a tight hamstring soon enough to make a trip to the injured list unnecessary. Kendrick last played Friday night in Baltimore, going 1-for-5 with a sacrifice fly in the Nationals' 15-3 rout of the Orioles. He has complained of a tight hamstring since, and despite some hope he would be available to pinch-hit, it hasn't happened yet. With an off-day...
Young guys fit right in with a Nats team looking for repeat
Young guys fit right in with a Nats team looking for repeat
Byron Kerr
Nationals
One trend that has been noticeable early this season is how the young guys, most of them making their major league debuts, have fit in from the beginning with the Nationals, and have looked like they belong in the big leagues. Luis García, 20, has hit the ground running. Carter Kieboom, 22, had only 11 games of experience coming into 2020, but he also fits in nicely this season. Young pitchers, or pitchers making their major league debuts, have held their own. "They are all doing well, and...
This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles shouldn't go streaking while José Iglesias has a sore quad. (A failed attempt to reference "Old School") This team has played eight series. Six have resulted in sweeps - the Orioles on the good side of three and the bad side of three. And now their losing streak has reached four games to lower their record to 12-12. The alternate cap should have a broom on the front. Players that live by the clichéd "one game at a time" motto are handling the losses in the same manner as...
Rough stretch: O's losing streak reaches four games
Rough stretch: O's losing streak reaches four games
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The good start for the Orioles - one that saw them playing .600 ball 20 games into this shortened season - has now hit the skids. The Orioles lost 5-2 to Toronto this afternoon as the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep. The Orioles have lost four games in a row. They fall to 12-12 and are 1-5 over the last six games. They are 4-11 at home. It feels like an early season crisis for this team, but maybe if they hadn't played so well for 20 games, it would not feel this way. Toronto came to...
Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)
Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Randal Grichuk keeps homering against the Orioles as if his contract provides incentives for it. Just one team. No one else. Grichuk hit two more today off left-hander Tommy Milone, raising his total to four in the series and 16 in 33 career games versus the Orioles. His leadoff shot in the second inning gave Toronto an early lead. His two-run shot in the sixth gave them a new one. One ball cleared the center field fence, the other bounced off an orange awning in the home bullpen. The Orioles...
Game 22 lineups: Nats at Braves
Game 22 lineups: Nats at Braves
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
In spite of all their issues - and they have plenty - the Nationals can win a road series against the Braves with a victory tonight and move to within two games of first place in the National League East. Truth be told, they should already have won this series and were one out away from doing it. This doesn't mean everything's perfect in NatsTown. But it does serve as a reminder things aren't always as bad as they seem. There's still a significant challenge ahead tonight in the series...
Notes on Sisco setup, Scott's dominance and Hays healing
Notes on Sisco setup, Scott's dominance and Hays healing
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles could be poised to revert back to a leadoff platoon. Manager Brandon Hyde elevated Hanser Alberto to first in the order against left-handed starters in 2019, with Jonathan Villar leading off versus right-handers. But Villar was traded to the Marlins over the winter and a new plan seems to be taking shape. Chance Sisco remains in the lineup today against Blue Jays right-hander Tanner Roark and he's batting first for only the second time in his career. The debut came last night...
O's game blog: Trying to avoid being swept
O's game blog: Trying to avoid being swept
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In some respects, it has been the year of the sweep for the Orioles. They have swept series from the Rays, Nationals and Phillies. They have been swept by the Yankees and Marlins. So they have completed seven series with five ending in sweeps. They need a win today to avoid being swept for the third time in 2020. The O's bats were held to five hits in a 7-2 loss to Toronto on Monday. Last night, they scored seven runs and hit three homers, but lost 8-7 to the Blue Jays. Toronto arrived at...
Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Chance Sisco remains in the leadoff spot today for the Orioles, and he's also behind the plate. Sisco is the first Orioles catcher to bat first since Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Curt Blefary is the only other Orioles catcher to do it back in April 1968. Sisco walked and homered last night as the designated hitter. Hanser Alberto moves down to fifth in the order. Chris Davis is in the lineup today, as the Orioles try to avoid the sweep. Pat Valaika is the shortstop and Cedric Mullins is in...
Struggling Voth still searching for answers
Struggling Voth still searching for answers
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Austin Voth earned a spot in the Nationals' opening day rotation based on the major step forward he took in 2019, when increased velocity, improved command and renewed confidence came together to make the rookie right-hander look like a part of the organization's long-term plan. Four starts into his 2020 campaign, Voth finds himself searching to gain all of that back. And soon. "Definitely the last couple starts just haven't felt confident on the mound," he said during his Zoom session...