O's game blog: Jorge López faces his former team
O's game blog: Jorge López faces his former team
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Looking for their first win since July 6, the Orioles take the field at Kauffman Stadium tonight for the second game of a three-game series with Kansas City. The Royals tied their season high with 15 hits last night in a 9-2 win over Baltimore. Shortstop Nicky Lopez drove in a career-high four runs. The Royals (37-53) ended a four-game losing streak. They were 3-15 in their last 18 games before the series opener. They recorded their first win without hitting a home run since May 14. They had...
López rejoins Orioles to make tonight's start
López rejoins Orioles to make tonight's start
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles reinstated right-hander Jorge López from the bereavement list and he's starting tonight against the Royals in Kansas City. The active roster is full again. A player on the bereavement list must be away from the team for a minimum of three days, not three games. López is eligible to come back today. López has returned to Kauffman Stadium, where he's 1-6 with a 7.93 ERA and 1.672 WHIP in 21 games (11 starts). He pitched for the Royals from 2018-20, when the Orioles claimed...
Rivera thrown into fire as latest catcher to join Nats
Rivera thrown into fire as latest catcher to join Nats
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
René Rivera has played for 10 different major league clubs over 13 seasons, none of them for more than a total of 130 games, so it's not exactly unusual for the veteran catcher to find himself scrambling to get to know a new team on the fly. Still, what Rivera experienced Friday night hours after signing with the Nationals - catching a 4-hour, 15-minute marathon on a sweltering night, and watching the Padres beat his new club 24-8 - could hardly be considered ordinary for even the...
What could the second half hold for the rotation?
What could the second half hold for the rotation?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Talk about a balancing act for the Orioles. Look at their starting rotation. They expect to get left-hander John Means back for their next series, and maybe Bruce Zimmermann not long after that. But that rotation began play last night ranked last in the league in both team ERA (6.11) and in fewest innings pitched by starters (400 1/3 innings). And then those numbers got worse as Keegan Akin allowed eight hits and six runs over three innings in a 9-2 loss at Kansas City. So how do they try to...
Pitching prospects lined up at Norfolk, but how long do they stay?
Pitching prospects lined up at Norfolk, but how long do they stay?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As pitching prospects move up or down to Triple-A Norfolk, getting the bump from Double-A Bowie or the boot from the Orioles, the Tides are stringing them together in a rotation that earlier was patched with minor league free agents. Dean Kremer took the ball Tuesday and left-hander Zac Lowther the next night. John Means, on his injury rehab assignment, interrupted the flow on Thursday and pushed back Kyle Bradish to last night and lefty Kevin Smith to tonight. Alexander Wells' placement on...
Nats ransacked by Padres in second-half opener (updated)
Nats ransacked by Padres in second-half opener (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Had this performance come last weekend, with the Nationals on fumes at the end of a brutal stretch heading into the All-Star break, it might've been understandable. Annoying, but understandable, given the circumstances. But for this to happen in the first game out of the break? With everyone refreshed and ready to go again? That isn't going to sit well with anyone employed by the Nationals who had to watch tonight's 24-8 beatdown at the hands of the Padres, a game that featured all kinds of...
Short starts resume in second half in 9-2 loss (updated)
Short starts resume in second half in 9-2 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles were comfortable going with a 25-man roster tonight in Kansas City following a four-day break that rested and recharged a tired bullpen. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't want to dip into it early, no matter its condition, but that same break didn't improve the early results of the second-half rotation. Rookie Keegan Akin fell behind by six runs in three innings and the Orioles lost to the Royals 9-2. Cedric Mullins singled in his first two at-bats, the only hits against Royals...
López expected to start Saturday night (and other notes)
López expected to start Saturday night (and other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are going with a 25-man roster for tonight's game against the Royals in Kansas City. They've decided to leave a spot open for starter Jorge López's anticipated return Saturday from the bereavement list. López would make the start later that night. The three-man taxi squad consists of pitchers Alexander Wells and Conner Greene and catcher Nick Ciuffo, so the Orioles have coverage for López if he's unavailable. "We're hoping that Lopie will be back tomorrow, and if...
Nats change tune on Castro after domestic violence allegation
Nats change tune on Castro after domestic violence allegation
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When Starlin Castro needed to leave the club for two days last month to deal with what was referred to as a "family matter," Nationals manager Davey Martinez did not hesitate to throw his full support behind the veteran infielder. "I 100 percent support him," Martinez said June 16 during a Zoom session with reporters. "We all support him here with the Nationals." This afternoon, after Castro had been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball, which is investigating an...
O's game blog: The season resumes in Kansas City
O's game blog: The season resumes in Kansas City
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After the All-Star break the Orioles resume their 2021 regular season tonight with the start of a three-game series at Kansas City. They will play six in a row on the road to start the so-called second half, although they have already played 89 games and have 73 remaining. The Orioles (28-61) were swept three in a row by the Chicago White Sox before the break, losing 7-5 in 10 innings on Sunday in Baltimore. They have lost four in a row and seven of eight. They were swept 7-0 in the season...