Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles continue their series in Boston this afternoon, trying to end a nine-game losing streak and with Jorge López attempting to complete six innings in his third consecutive start. López has allowed three runs and five hits in 12 innings this month, with seven walks and nine strikeouts. He's made two starts against the Red Sox this season and allowed eight runs and 12 hits in 9 2/3 innings. He owns a career 8.62 ERA and 1.532 WHIP in four appearances (two starts) against the Red...
O's game blog: López against Sale at Fenway Park
O's game blog: López against Sale at Fenway Park
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If the Orioles are going to end a long losing streak today at Boston, they may have to beat lefty Chris Sale, who is making his return to the majors today. Sale and Boston host the Orioles in Game 2 of a three-game series and, for the Orioles, a seven-game road trip. Boston got homers from Xander Bogaerts (No. 18), Bobby Dalbec (No. 12) and Hunter Renfroe (No. 20) in an 8-1 win last night. That snapped the Orioles' four-game win streak at Fenway Park, during which they had allowed just six...
Nats working with Kieboom on smoother play at third base
Nats working with Kieboom on smoother play at third base
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
One year ago, the last time he had a chance to play regularly in the big leagues, Carter Kieboom looked better in the field than he did at the plate. This time around, he's looked better at the plate than in the field. Kieboom's entire game remains a work in progress, of course, and the Nationals aren't ready to draw any conclusions about the 23-year-old third baseman yet. But they are both pleased with the progress he's shown with his bat and hoping a recent tweak with his glove will help...
Gray impressive again, but done in by late homers (updated)
Gray impressive again, but done in by late homers (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There are things you find out about ballplayers at 10 p.m. in front of a sellout crowd, and then there are things you find out about them at midnight in front of a few thousand fans who were willing to wait out the longest rain delay of the season. They all matter in the end, and all of these experiences ultimately shape young ballplayers into the finished products they will become in due time. And they don't always have to produce positive results, as much as everyone wishes they...
Mullins extends hit streak, but O's extend losing streak
Mullins extends hit streak, but O's extend losing streak
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles' losing streak reached nine last night as right-hander Spenser Watkins allowed six runs and seven hits over four innings in an 8-1 loss at Boston. The Orioles have allowed 82 runs during the losing streak as they fell to 38-76. Watkins struggled badly to throw strikes Friday night, and when his pitches did find the zone, they found the middle of it too much. Boston scored four runs in the third and led 5-1 after three innings. So five runs in three innings last night and Boston had...
Watkins struggles again, losing streak reaches nine games (updated)
Watkins struggles again, losing streak reaches nine games (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Cedric Mullins got his usual business out of the way early tonight, which is so often how it happens. Richie Martin maintained his power surge at Fenway Park, though with a pronounced gap in between home runs. The Orioles had a couple of positive moments in their return to the site of their season-opening sweep, but the slumping Red Sox kept topping them. Kept extending at-bats and innings against rookie starter Spenser Watkins. Kept flexing their muscle after the bullpen came into play. And a...
How Zimmermann's return impacts rotation and roster
How Zimmermann's return impacts rotation and roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The TBA for the Orioles' starter Sunday afternoon is expected to become rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann in the latest change to the rotation. The tweaking never stops. It just takes a brief rest. John Means and Matt Harvey are staying for the obvious reasons. The Orioles were reluctant to move Jorge López into a bullpen role, though they saw the same logic as everyone else, and he's completed six innings in both starts this month with only three runs allowed to lower his ERA from 6.19...
Rainey has work to do before Nats bring him back (game delayed)
Rainey has work to do before Nats bring him back (game delayed)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Tanner Rainey's return to the Nationals bullpen Thursday was as brief as it was disappointing, but it didn't change the club's intentions for the right-hander. Rainey, who had been optioned to Triple-A at the start of the month, was called up as the Nats' designated 27th man for their doubleheader against the Mets. Then, after giving up a two-run homer to Jonathan Villar in the sixth inning of what wound up a 5-4, seven-inning loss, he was optioned back to Rochester. That decision wasn't...
O's game blog: The road trip begins in Boston
O's game blog: The road trip begins in Boston
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Two teams trying to get it going meet tonight in the first of a three-game series at Fenway Park. The Orioles (38-75) are out to break an eight-game losing streak. Boston (66-51) has lost six of eight and 11 of the last 14. The Red Sox are 11-15 since the All-Star Game. This is the Orioles' second trip this year to Fenway Park, and their first went quite well. It was the first series of the year and the Orioles posted wins by scores of 3-0, 4-2 and 11-3. They swept the opening series by an...
Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (updated)
Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will try tonight to end an eight-game losing streak, their third this season, in the series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. They've been swept 13 times. Cedric Mullins brings a 19-game hitting streak to Boston, the longest for the Orioles since Adam Jones hit in 20 straight in May 2012. Austin Hays is in right field tonight. He's hit safely in 10 consecutive games to start the month of August. DJ Stewart is the designated hitter. He homered twice yesterday and has three...