Orioles and Nationals lineups
Orioles and Nationals lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is providing rest for a few of his veterans this afternoon as the team attempts to complete a three-game sweep over the Nationals in D.C. Pat Valaika is the shortstop, with José Iglesias on the bench. Renato Núñez is the first baseman, with Chris Davis on the bench. Bryan Holaday gets his first start behind the plate. Chance Sisco is the designated hitter and Pedro Severino is out of the lineup again after his pinch-hit home run last night. Austin Hays...
Game 12 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
Game 12 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
Byron Kerr
Orioles
The Nationals must make a quick turnaround as they look to snap a three-game skid and avoid a sweep at the hands of the Orioles with an early Sunday afternoon series finale on the docket today at Nats Park. And the Nats (4-7) could not ask for a better pitcher to be their stopper, right-hander Stephen Strasburg (0-0), making his season debut after recovering from a right wrist injury that scratched his scheduled first start way back on July 25. The Nats need a spark, because at the start of...
Notes on the comeback win and more on Keegan Akin
Notes on the comeback win and more on Keegan Akin
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It is not a rule that every series the Orioles play this year has to end in a sweep. But if they beat the Nationals this afternoon in Washington, they will have played in four consecutive sweeps. The Yankees swept two straight in Baltimore, then the O's took three straight from Tampa Bay and Miami took four in a row from Baltimore. Today we could see a three-game sweep. If the Orioles get it, the 2020 club will have produced two more series sweeps that the 2019 squad did in 52 series. Which...
Voth takes important step in five-inning start
Voth takes important step in five-inning start
Mark Zuckerman
Orioles
Had things played out the way the Nationals wanted them to Saturday night, we'd be talking this morning about Austin Voth's impressive start. Of course, by the end of a disastrous, 5-3 loss to the Orioles, Voth's outing was an afterthought, bumped by Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson's eighth-inning meltdown. In the bigger picture, though, Voth's performance was significant. The second-year starter continues to show he has the stuff to be effective at this level. He just needs to show he...
Wojciechowski the starter choice over Akin
Wojciechowski the starter choice over Akin
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Nothing against Asher Wojciechowski, who's been chosen to make today's start for the Orioles to close out the series in D.C., but confirmation that he'd get the assignment stung a fan base that's itching to watch Keegan Akin's major league debut. The Orioles recalled Akin from the alternate camp site in Bowie and the jumping to conclusions looked like an Olympic event. They needed a starter with John Means away from the team. A bullpen game was an undesirable option. Akin was summoned to...
Orioles hit three homers in eighth and rally for 5-3 win (updated)
Orioles hit three homers in eighth and rally for 5-3 win (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles destroyed baseballs and an old adage tonight in the top of the eighth inning. A team that enjoys a massive offensive explosion always seems to go into a shell the following night. Death, taxes and bats disappearing. Can always count on them. Shut out on two hits over the first seven innings, the Orioles had fallen into that same inexplicable trap. But they rose up with three home runs, the last a three-run shot by Anthony Santander off Daniel Hudson, and reveled in the...
Faith in bullpen goes haywire during gut-punch loss (updated)
Faith in bullpen goes haywire during gut-punch loss (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Orioles
Asked Friday if Sean Doolittle's struggles might force him to shift the veteran late-inning reliever into a lower-leverage role, Davey Martinez was adamant in showing faith in the left-hander who has been an integral member of the Nationals bullpen for three years now. "In order for us to pull this off," Martinez said, "we need Sean Doolittle." Barely 24 hours later, the Nationals manager admitted he may have no choice but to start devising a plan for success in 2020 that doesn't include...
That escalated quickly: Eighth-inning homer barrage for the win
That escalated quickly: Eighth-inning homer barrage for the win
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It happened fast for the Orioles. In a stunning three-home-run eighth inning, their dormant offense came to life big-time tonight and they rallied to beat the defending World Series champion Washington Nationals 5-3. They did it against their top late-inning relievers who played key roles in their 2019 championship run. All it took was two pinch-hit homers and an "Earl" - a three-run homer that former skipper Earl Weaver loved. The late comeback puts the Orioles back at the .500 mark at 7-7...
Wojciechowski starting Sunday in D.C. (and other notes)
Wojciechowski starting Sunday in D.C. (and other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The major league debut of Orioles left-hander Keegan Akin won't necessarily come in a starting role. Not on Sunday, for sure. Manager Brandon Hyde said today on his Zoom conference call that Asher Wojciechowski will work on short rest to close out the series in D.C. Akin is available in long relief this weekend. Left-hander John Means will miss his turn while on the bereavement list. Wojciechowski started the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins and threw 67 pitches, which...
Orioles and Nationals lineups
Orioles and Nationals lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Chance Sisco is going to catch Thomas Eshelman tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Nationals in D.C. Sisco came off the bench last night in an 11-0 win, but he's behind the plate tonight and Pedro Severino is among the reserves. Hanser Alberto stays in the leadoff spot and Austin Hays remains at the bottom of the lineup. Dwight Smith Jr. is the left fielder again and Chris Davis continues to bat eighth. A lineup very similar to last night. Because it ain't broke. With...