Ruiz saving biggest homers for biggest moments
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
CJ Abrams has been better lately. Lane Thomas has been better over the course of the entire season. Joey Meneses has been better with runners in scoring position. But there may be nobody the Nationals would rather see at the plate in a big spot late in a close game right now than Keibert Ruiz. The proof is there for everyone to see, and it was agai
Updating some injured and rehabbing Orioles pitchers
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SAN DIEGO – No team is going to keep an Opening Day roster intact for 162 games. The first month is dicey. The first half is virtually impossible. The Orioles have used 47 players this season and are 121 games into their schedule. They are expected to reinstate left-hander John Means from the 60-day injured list next month. They’d likely provide ma
Orioles drop series in San Diego with 5-2 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SAN DIEGO – Be careful with the soft spots in the schedule. The footing can get slippery. The Orioles are playing teams below .500 in four out of the next five series, beginning with the Padres and including a trip to Oakland. A reprieve on paper. A trap on the field the past two nights. Left-hander Blake Snell held the Orioles to two runs over six
Gore dominates, then Nats rally late to beat Red Sox (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There have been some notable bumps along the way, some duds every once in a while when he takes the mound. But there have been more than a few really good nights for MacKenzie Gore in his first full season with the Nationals. And none as good as the one the crowd at Nationals Park witnessed tonight. Even if it did end abruptly and earlier than anyo
O's game blog: Orioles and Padres play the rubber match game tonight
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After a 4-1 win Monday night and a 10-3 loss on Tuesday, the Orioles wrap up their series at San Diego tonight. The winner this evening will take this series. The Orioles (74-46) ended play Tuesday three games ahead of Tampa Bay for the American League East lead. The O's are 10-6 in rubber-match games. Should they win this game, they will improve t
Orioles pregame notes on rotation, bullpen, Hicks, and McCann pitching
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SAN DIEGO – The Orioles are keeping their rotation in line for the series in Oakland that begins Friday night. Kyle Gibson starts the opening game, followed by Cole Irvin and Kyle Bradish. The six-man arrangement isn't changing. The club didn’t make a roster move today to bring in a fresh bullpen arm. The off-day on Thursday influenced its decision
Hicks on bench for tonight's series finale in San Diego
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SAN DIEGO – Aaron Hicks is out of tonight’s lineup as the Orioles attempt to win their 24th series. Hicks didn’t play last night after leaving Monday’s game with back soreness. Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter. Gunnar Henderson is the cleanup hitter and third baseman. Jordan Westburg is playing second base. Austin Hays is in left
Rainey, Thompson to begin rehab assignments Friday
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Two more injured Nationals relievers are ready to begin pitching in competitive games. Tanner Rainey and Mason Thompson will both begin minor league rehab assignments Friday, manager Davey Martinez announced prior to tonight’s game against the Red Sox. Rainey will pitch for Single-A Fredericksburg, with Thompson joining Double-A Harrisburg, which i
Game 121 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
So for the first time in a while, the Nationals did not mount a late rally Tuesday night. As such, they dropped their series opener to the Red Sox, 5-4, that score holding up from the fourth inning all the way through the ninth. They’ll look to bounce back tonight, whether taking and holding an early lead or rallying again, in the middle game of th
Can Gray get back on track by trusting his fastball again?
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
Ask Davey Martinez to evaluate Josiah Gray’s recent struggles, and the Nationals manager doesn’t have to think for long before answering. “The command of the fastball just hasn’t been there,” Martinez said following Tuesday night’s 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. “And he’s trying to rely on too many secondary pitches.” If you want to boil Gray’s troubles