O's game blog: Series begins vs. Rays
O's game blog: Series begins vs. Rays
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After scoring 23 runs in back-to-back wins that followed a 19-game losing streak, the Orioles have a bit of momentum as they head into the series that begins tonight at Oriole Park. But this series is against the team with which they have had the toughest time this year. The first-place Tampa Bay Rays (79-48) come to Baltimore for a three-game weekend series to wrap up a nine-game homestand for the Orioles. The Rays are 15-1 this season against the Orioles and have outscored Baltimore 128-57 in...
Marlins reel in Corbin in 7-5 Nationals loss (updated)
Marlins reel in Corbin in 7-5 Nationals loss (updated)
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
After each of his 24 previous starts this season, Patrick Corbin has plopped himself down in front of a laptop in the Nationals Zoom room and patiently tried to explain what did - or more likely didn't - work in each outing. But time is running out for the veteran southpaw to figure out how to return to form, and no one would blame Corbin if he was at a loss for words after another disheartening start. Trying to follow up his best start of the season - when he allowed a run on three hits over...
Leftover thoughts on Wells and López in bullpen roles
Leftover thoughts on Wells and López in bullpen roles
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
While wondering how I possibly could have missed using a "sage advice" pun in Wednesday night's game story ... So much could get lost in the streak-breaking victory, including the importance of Chris Ellis completing three innings in a bullpen game and burning herbs in the clubhouse. Seems like a small detail - the Ellis part - but one-and-done could have left manager Brandon Hyde in a real bind. Tyler Wells was denied a chance at his first major league save after the Orioles added a fifth...
Jorge López gets off to good start in 'pen, plus other O's notes
Jorge López gets off to good start in 'pen, plus other O's notes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It was two innings at the end of a blowout win for the Orioles. But for the second time in two outings, right-hander Jorge López threw scoreless ball out of the bullpen. He's now thrown three scoreless innings in his new role on the pitching staff. Over two innings Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels, López, who went 3-14 with a 6.35 ERA in 25 games as a starter, retired six of seven batters, fanned four, allowing no hits or runs. In his first relief outing, when he pitched one...
Is September promotion in the cards for Ruiz?
Is September promotion in the cards for Ruiz?
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Keibert Ruiz is making the Nationals take notice, but even a sizzling start at Triple-A Rochester since arriving in a trade deadline deal with the Dodgers might not be enough to earn the 23-year-old catcher a look-see in D.C. in September. Ruiz is slashing .314/.360/.614 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 18 games since joining the Red Wings, including back-to-back two-homer games on Aug. 24 and 25. Both MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America rank him as the organization's top prospect. But with...
Martinez on Robles' return and weekend rotation plans
Martinez on Robles' return and weekend rotation plans
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Victor Robles returned to the Nationals lineup for tonight's finale of a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins, playing center field and batting leadoff. It's the first start since Aug. 20 for Robles, who ceded center field to newcomer Lane Thomas in the interim. Robles had battled an illness recently and Thomas' 8-for-19 stretch over the past five games made it difficult for him to crack the lineup. "He's moving around pretty good," manager Davey Martinez said in his pregame...
Akin goes career-high seven innings in O's 13-1 romp (updated)
Akin goes career-high seven innings in O's 13-1 romp (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Given new life late in their baseball season, the Orioles are trying to avoid a new losing streak. They may never lose again. Rearranging the outcomes can't be done without turning the tables. Shohei Ohtani lofted a ball onto the flag count on the second pitch from starter Keegan Akin, but the left-hander did his finest work as a professional with one run allowed in seven innings. The Orioles tied the game in the third, Pedro Severino hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fifth and they...
Akin's strong start, Mullins steals, Severino slam as O's win again
Akin's strong start, Mullins steals, Severino slam as O's win again
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the day began and he took the mound with a record of 0-8 and 7.92 ERA, lefty Keegan Akin would probably have been an unlikely candidate to become the first Baltimore pitcher this year not named John Means to go seven innings or more. But he pitched his way out of an early jam in the top of the second and got rolling after that. Akin was stellar on the mound in the heat of Camden Yards this afternoon, and the O's put up a big inning in the last of the fifth to beat the Los Angeles Angels...
Hyde on Ellis, Mateo, Hays and ballpark arrival
Hyde on Ellis, Mateo, Hays and ballpark arrival
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The fifth spot in the Orioles rotation is unoccupied while manager Brandon Hyde sifts through the candidates. Chris Ellis could start again after completing three innings last night. Jorge López is serving in a relief role, but the assignment isn't necessarily permanent for the remainder of the season. "I think we're still discussing what we're going to do," Hyde said. "We have that open spot in our rotation right now by moving López in the 'pen. I don't know if that's going to...
O's game blog: Looking for a series victory
O's game blog: Looking for a series victory
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Now that a 19-game losing streak has ended, the Orioles can win a series for the first time in about a month if they beat the Los Angeles Angels today. It's the final game of a three-game series and the sixth game of a nine-game homestand. The Orioles hit three homers off right-hander Shohei Ohtani last night - Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and DJ Stewart all connected - as they won 10-6. It was the Orioles' first win since Aug. 2 and first home win since July 28. After they had scored...