The summer training camp is moving into its next phase for the Orioles. Past the routine workouts that define the spring version. Bring on the intrasquad games and some semblance of competition while manager Brandon Hyde turns up the heat on the evaluation process that's going to pare the roster to 30 players on opening day. Orioles versus Orioles is happening at Camden Yards for at least the next four nights. All of them 7 p.m. starts with two-hour media access. "These guys are itching to...

There are a few ways the Orioles could go with their rotation come opening day on July 24. They could have the traditional five-man look or go with a six-man rotation. If pitchers are not built up enough yet, teams can even piggyback starters, where one pitches the first half of the game and another the rest. They could also go with an opener. If they do sometimes use a starter in that role - following a reliever and becoming the so-called bulk pitcher - they have two pitchers with a lot of...

As the regular season creeps closer - opening night versus the Yankees is 16 days away - the Nationals are starting to ramp up baseball activities following an initial period of light individual work to begin summer training. This morning, all available position players were on the field together for the first time since March 12. With multiple players at each position, they ran through the kind of defensive fundamental drills that are a daily staple of spring training but stand out right now...

Orioles outfielders Dwight Smith Jr. and Anthony Santander remained absent for a fifth consecutive day of workouts. Explanations are going to be withheld for now based on a club policy that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias shared this afternoon. While other teams have confirmed the numbers of positive tests for COVID-19, making names public if given permission, the Orioles are giving the silent treatment. "We have a really elaborate testing setup that has been issued by the...

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was part of the infield group that got in a good workout Tuesday during summer training at Nats Park. On the field he wore his red field mask, covering his mouth, nose, ears and hair. Players normally wear that sort of gear only in cold weather. "Just messing around with that," Turner said during a Zoom video call with reporters. "I hadn't thought about it until today. "For me, I try to save my masks and not get them so dirty. This is a mask I wear to and...

The Nationals returned to work today, and they did so in a manner we hadn't yet seen during these first days of summer training. Every available position player was on the field at Nationals Park at the same time this morning, coaches hitting balls to various outfielders so they could work on relay throws. At the same time, a few pitchers were throwing in the bullpen. It looked, for all intents and purposes, like a normal workout day. "It was a good day, it really was," manager Davey...

Major League Baseball's summer version of spring training is off to a rocky start with conflicting messages for a sport trying to restart during a pandemic. On Monday, the fourth day of training, the inefficient return of the players' coronavirus test results brought new questions about whether baseball can get its 60-game season off the ground. Also on Monday, Major League Baseball announced the schedule for a 60-game season that reduces travel by keeping American League East, West and...

The 2020 schedule is official, with the Orioles on the road for their first two series prior to the July 29 home opener against the Marlins. More weirdness in an unprecedented season. Never before has Major League Baseball held opening day at such a late date, with two games on July 23 and the rest July 24. The Orioles haven't opened in Boston since 1966. And the Marlins as their first opponent at Camden Yards? If you seek normalcy, set the alarm clock for 2021 and say a few prayers. Players...

The Orioles today announced that their updated 2020 season will open on Friday, July 24, at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, as part of a season-opening, five-game road trip against the Red Sox (three games) and Miami Marlins (two games). The club will open the 2020 home schedule at Oriole Park against the Marlins on Wednesday, July 29. The new schedule calls for 60 games to be played in 66 days from July 24-September 27 and the Orioles will play all of their games in the Eastern Time...

Nationals 2018 first-round selection Mason Denaburg told me his recovery from a right shoulder cleanout last October is progressing nicely. After the Nats decided to take a precautionary step of slowing down his rehab during spring training, the right-hander is now doing so well that he is about to take that next step in his rehab throwing program. "I should be throwing bullpens in the next three weeks," Denaburg said. "I go 150 feet throwing-wise, the next week 180 feet and then the week...