Hanser Alberto wanted to hit 10 home runs this season. Told the media that he set the total as a goal. Jonathan Villar is trying to become the sixth Orioles player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season. He's made no secret of his desire to do it. Pedro Severino just wanted a second chance tonight with the bases loaded. Some goals are more modest than others. Alberto produced his 10th with two outs in the fourth inning and Villar followed with his 19th, leaving him one away...

The Orioles' John Means (8-9, 3.75 ERA) has shown signs recently of putting together a strong game from start to finish. The Orioles would love to see it happen tonight as they host the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. Means is 1-5 with a 7.48 ERA in six second-half starts, allowing an opponent OPS of .885. He's allowed seven homers over 27 2/3 innings in this span. The Orioles are 1-5 in those games, losing four in a row. Means was named to the 2019 American League All-Star team on June 30,...

CHICAGO - The combination of an explosive lineup and consistently dominant starting pitching has allowed the Nationals to weather the first week of Sean Doolittle's stint on the injured list without having to put too much weight on the shoulders of their reconfigured bullpen. Because he's been getting seven (or more) innings out of his starters, and because his lineup has been averaging 10 runs a game, Davey Martinez hasn't really needed to worry about who's going to close out games in...

The news has slowed down at Camden Yards as the Orioles perform fielding drills, take batting practice and throw in the outfield. Players are allowed to wear shorts and T-shirts. Hey, it's their weekend. Trey Mancini is getting a day off. There's nothing wrong with him physically. "He needs a breather," said manager Brandon Hyde. Reliever Shawn Armstrong said his right forearm feels better after the Orioles placed him on the 10-day injured list yesterday with a strained muscle. "Honestly,...

After he homered last night, Orioles infielder Jonathan Villar now needs just two homers to join a select group. Villar has 28 steals to rank third in the American League. If he can hit two more home runs, he'll become the sixth player in Orioles history with 20 or more homers and steals in the same year. "I don't really think too much about that," Villar said this afternoon. "It would be unbelievable to do that. But if I think about hitting homers, I won't hit any homers. I don't want...

Trey Mancini is getting a rest tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Rays. Chris Davis is playing first base and DJ Stewart is in right field. Jace Peterson is in left field. Jonathan Villar is batting second and playing shortstop. Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Left-hander John Means has made three appearances (two starts) against the Rays and allowed eight earned runs (nine total) and 14 hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings. Mike Brosseau homered...

The Orioles have recalled right-hander Ryan Eades from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon as the latest pitcher to enter their bullpen. Eades replaces left-hander Ty Blach, who was optioned to Norfolk following last night's 7-1 loss to the Rays. Blach worked four innings and the Orioles don't have a pressing need for a fifth starter with two off-days next week. Eades could become the 55th player used by the Orioles, one short of the club record set last season. He'd also be the 38th...

CHICAGO - The left-hander the Nationals went out of their way to acquire at the trade deadline is getting closer to rejoining the active roster. Roenis Elías, who strained his hamstring in his team debut, threw off the bullpen mound at Wrigley Field this morning. If the session went well, he should be able to ramp up his rehab and potentially come off the injured list in short order. "We'll have to evaluate how he does today," manager Davey Martinez said, "and then we'll go from...

CHICAGO - It's another beautiful day at Wrigley Field, where the Nationals look not only to beat the Cubs again but continue a pretty remarkable run over a longer stretch of time. They've now played .667 ball (52-26) since May 24. Thanks to the Dodgers' loss last night, that's now the best record in baseball during that prolonged stretch. And they've won 13 of their last 17, with all four losses coming after they blew a lead in the eighth or ninth inning. So they've led in the eighth...

The news that came out yesterday that the Orioles had severed ties with 11 members of their scouting and front office staffs was perhaps inevitable. New general manager Mike Elias has to be able to bring in his own people and set up his staff however he sees fit. He didn't get his job until last November so he inherited much of his staff and of course there was going to be some turnover. That doesn't mean change is easy though. According to MASNSports.com, among those let go were director of...