Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz has a bat that is trending up. He hit another homer last night, his third in seven games and his third in his past three home games. That included a pinch-hit homer Aug. 10 versus Houston and a two-run walk-off homer the next day. And last night's ninth-inning homer against Kansas City. In that game, Ruiz also walked twice and grounded into a double play. In seven games since he returned from the farm, he is 6-for-17 with three homers and seven RBIs. For the...

Chris Davis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight for the second straight game with the Royals sending a right-hander to the mound. He also could sit Wednesday night against left-hander Mike Montgomery. Manager Brandon Hyde said the lineup isn't influenced by Davis' health. The veteran isn't injured or ailing. Hyde wants to play Trey Mancini at first base and give him a break from the outfield. "He's fine," Hyde said. "I just wanted Trey to play first base again and it's nothing...

PITTSBURGH - You know all about what the Nationals have accomplished at the plate in recent days. What might they be able to accomplish tonight if they keep the barrage going? Well, they've already tied the major league record by scoring 13 or more runs in three straight games. If they can somehow do it again tonight, they'll become the first team in Major League Baseball history to do it in four straight games. They've scored 43 runs in three games; if they can score seven tonight, they'll...

Less than 24 hours after having the best night of his professional career, catcher Adley Rutschman earned a promotion to the next level of the Orioles farm system. Rutschman is moving up from short-season Single-A Aberdeen to low Single-A Delmarva, where he's expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday's home game against Greensboro. He'll be available to participate in the upcoming South Atlantic League playoffs upon the conclusion of the regular season. The Orioles were expected to place...

Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander Grayson Rodriguez seems to be getting better, if that's possible, as the season gets longer. And for someone at age 19 in his first full season of pro ball, that is beyond impressive. His stamina has been solid through 83 1/3 innings. Over his past two starts, he's thrown eight no-hit innings with 16 strikeouts. During a visit to Camden Yards yesterday with teammates Drew Rom and Adam Hall, Rodriguez said hard work from last winter is paying off for...

PITTSBURGH - Sean Doolittle knew his mechanics were out of whack, knew he wasn't getting life and spin on his fastball the way he always had, knew his arm and body were fatigued. He also believed he could battle his way through it and still pitch effectively for a Nationals team that seemed to need him for the ninth inning way more nights of the week than it didn't. But after watching the Brewers torch him for three homers in the span of four batters during his latest blown save Saturday...

Almost at the exact moment that Hunter Harvey walked through the visiting clubhouse doors at Fenway Park, mental wheels began turning about other pitching prospects who could join him. How the collection of promising arms is increasing and creeping closer to the majors. Grow the arms, build the hype. The position players don't create the same excitement, a deficiency that the Orioles worked hard to address in the draft. Remove catcher Adley Rutschman, the first overall pick, and the room grows...

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals are built to win on the broad shoulders of their dominant rotation. Have been for years. That does not mean this team is incapable of winning on the might of a deep and potent lineup, however, one capable on any given night of blasting an opposing pitching staff out of the park. Or, in this case, into the Allegheny River. It happened last week, with three double-digit offensive explosions in four games against the Reds and Brewers. And it continued tonight during a...

The Orioles' 86th loss of 2019 had elements seen often during the first 85 defeats. There was a baserunning adventure with a bad ending, a defensive miscue or two and a couple of homers allowed. This all happened after O's lefty John Means had no-hit Kansas City on 66 pitches through five innings. He would not get an out in the sixth. Kansas City (45-80) had lost four of five and 13 of 17 as this three-game series began tonight to start a seven-game Orioles homestand. But the Royals win it...

The fingerprints are fading from the John Means panic button. Another loss surfaced tonight, but Means seemed to be fine. He just couldn't hold form or catch a break after the fifth inning, which is a distinct pattern with the Oriole in 2019. Means carried a no-hit bid into the sixth, faced six batters and didn't record an out. He threw 28 pitches. A one-run lead disappeared like those fingerprints. The Royals scored three times, with Gabriel Ynoa leaving the bases loaded, and the Orioles...