Josh Land

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones aims to take local teacher to school in cooking competition

August 31, 2017, 1:55pm

CareFirst Fan Challenge winner will face Jones in front of panel of localcelebrity judges on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant BALTIMORE (Aug. 24, 2017) - The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) announced today that Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones will take on the winner of the 2017 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Fan Challenge, Sparrows Point High School teacher Kelly Karwacki, in a cooking competition Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. at Dempsey's Brew Pub &...

Opposite dugout: Last-place finish on the horizon for Blue Jays

August 31, 2017, 3:53am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Last-place finish on the horizon for Blue Jays

Manager: John Gibbons (10th season) Record: 61-72 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: 1B Justin Smoak (.287 with 36 HR, 84 RBIs); 3B Josh Donaldson (.255 with 23 HR, 58 RBIs); CF Kevin Pillar (.253 with 123 hits); RHP Marcus Stroman (11-6, 3.11 ERA); RHP Roberto Osuna (3.40 ERA, 34 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-9 Pitching probables: Aug. 31: RHP Marco Estrada vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson, 7:05 p.m., MASNSep. 1: RHP Joe Biagini vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 7:05 p.m., MASNSep. 2: RHP Marcus Stroman vs....

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Houston natives Rendon and Albers set up relief fund for victims of Hurricane Harvey

August 30, 2017, 8:00am

Nationals

Houston natives Rendon and Albers set up relief fund for victims of Hurricane Harvey

Anthony Rendon and Matt Albers have had their minds and hearts with Texas for the last few days as Hurricane Harvey has devastated parts of the state, including their hometown of Houston. On Tuesday evening, the duo set up a YouCaring page, raising money to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, with proceeds going directly to the Houston Food Bank plus other area shelters. In less than 24 hours, the page surpassed the original $50,000 goal, which has now been raised to $80,000. More than 600...

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Dillon Atkinson: After changes to lineup, three veteran Orioles have stepped up offensively

August 30, 2017, 5:23am

Orioles

When you think about the production in the Orioles lineup, who comes to your mind? My guess would be Jonathan Schoop, Manny Machado, Trey Mancini, Tim Beckham or maybe even the catching duo of Welington Castillo and Caleb Joseph. Aside from Machado coming back to a superstar level in the second half and Beckham not coming over to the Birds until August, all of these players have produced at the plate fairly consistently all season long, so they're the obvious choices that would come to mind....

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Andrew Stetka: After weekend sweep, O's back to sniffing postseason spot

August 28, 2017, 4:55am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: After weekend sweep, O's back to sniffing postseason spot

After a weekend sweep in Boston, the Orioles find themselves back in the thick of a playoff race that they really have no business being part of. Then again, none of the teams battling for the American League's second wild card spot have much of a claim to it. Outside of the division leaders, only the Yankees (who hold the top wild card position) and the Rangers even have a positive run differential this season. But after putting together a four-game winning streak to get back to .500, the...

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Marty Niland: Nats getting key plays from unlikely sources

August 27, 2017, 8:05pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats getting key plays from unlikely sources

How many injuries can the Nationals withstand and still maintain the second-best record in the National League? Let's hope that question remains rhetorical. But when an infielder who wasn't supposed to get out of the minor leagues this season and the 13th different man to play the outfield in 2017 are making key plays, it's not a bad idea to keep that question in mind. At 27, AdriÃ¡n Sanchez had been knocking around the Nats' minor league system for 10 seasons. He'd been hitting .254 at...

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Luke Erickson: Who they gonna call?

August 26, 2017, 11:03am

Nationals

For the first six seasons in D.C., Sept. 1 meant one thing for fans of the Washington Nationals: Let's see if any of these minor leaguers might make the team next spring. Like, for example, Ian Desmond in 2009, Wilson Ramos in 2010, and the trio of Steve Lombardozzi, Tommy Milone and Brad Peacock in 2011 (yes, it counts because Milone and Peacock were key pieces in the trade for Gio Gonzalez). But this season, like the last five, the Nats are playoff contenders and the expectations for the...

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Nationals Recall RHP A.J. Cole

August 25, 2017, 12:59pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday and optioned catcher Pedro Severino to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cole, 25, returns to the Nationals after a one-start sojourn back with Triple-A. He will start on Friday night against the New York Mets. The right-hander, who is 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA in four starts for the Nationals this season, last started for the...

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David Huzzard: Nationals have prospered against adversity

August 24, 2017, 8:18pm

Nationals

The Nationals have faced as much adversity possible for a team more than a dozen games up in their division in late August. There exists a subset of baseball fans that theorize that the teams that do best in the playoffs are those that have been battle-hardened by a tough division race or fight for the wild card. This is the typical type of adversity people think of, but the Nationals have faced a different kind and it may prove beneficial when they reach the playoffs this season. D.C. is the...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "His Final Battle"

August 24, 2017, 12:44pm

Orioles

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "His Final Battle"

"His Final Battle" by Joseph Lelyveld is the story of the final 16 months of Franklin D. Roosevelt's life. He was dying with limited time to live. He knew it, but few, if any other than his personal physician, shared that knowledge. He learned in March 1944 that his congestive heart condition would be fatal. That would remain a secret even from his wife. With the conclusion of World War II, FDR longed to leave the office of president with a United Nations in place and some agreement with...

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Dillon Atkinson: Since break, Mancini and Machado have flipped offensive production

August 23, 2017, 5:43am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Since break, Mancini and Machado have flipped offensive production

Prior to the All-Star break, Orioles left fielder Trey Mancini looked like he was Rookie of the Year-worthy, if not for Yankees' Aaron Judge posting Most Valuable Player caliber numbers. The 25-year-old rookie posted a .312/.354/.538 slash line with 14 homers and a 133 wRC+. Orioles superstar Manny Machado was on a different path, however, slashing .230/.296/.445 with 18 home runs and a 90 wRC+ through the first half of the season. Since the All-Star break, these two players are producing...

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Luke Erickson: Stadium woes for Nats' Single-A teams

August 22, 2017, 1:38pm

Nationals

Luke Erickson: Stadium woes for Nats' Single-A teams

For most of this century, the Nationals' full-season Single-A teams have been seeking new stadiums. Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown was built in 1930 and has been hosting professional ball for 61 of its 87 years. G. Richard Pfitzner stadium in Woodbridge was built in 1984 and has been home to the current Potomac franchise since its inception. There is an axiom in engineering: fast, cheap or good - pick two. Well, both stadiums were built quickly and economically. However, at the time they were...

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Win a signed P-Nats' Dan Kolko bobblehead with MASN's caption contest!

August 22, 2017, 8:17am

Nationals

Win a signed P-Nats' Dan Kolko bobblehead with MASN's caption contest!

Earlier in the year, the Nationals' Single-A affiliate, the Potomac Nationals, held a month-long fans' choice contest for the next big bobblehead idea. The winner, of course, was none other than the dual Jayson Werth and MASN's Dan Kolko bobblehead highlighting one of their most memorable postgame interviews together. MASN is giving you the chance to win one with its caption contest on Facebook! Simply provide your best caption for this side-by-side photo on the MASN Nationals' Facebook...

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Opposite dugout: Despite injuries, Astros coasting toward postseason

August 21, 2017, 12:50pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Despite injuries, Astros coasting toward postseason

Manager: A.J. Hinch (3rd season) Record: 76-48 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Jose Altuve (.362 with 171 hits, 29 SB), 3B Alex Bregman (.277 with 15 HR, 48 RBIs), OF George Springer (.303 with 28 HR, 70 RBIs), LHP Dallas Keuchel (11-2, 2.58 ERA, RHP Charlie Morton (10-5, 3.69 ERA). Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (0-4 in 2014) Pitching probables: Aug. 22: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Charlie Morton; 8:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 23: RHP Edwin Jackson vs. RHP Mike Fiers; 8:10 p.m., MASNAug....

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Andrew Stetka: Mancini putting together special rookie year

August 21, 2017, 4:54am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Mancini putting together special rookie year

The Orioles aren't going to have their first Rookie of the Year since Gregg Olson won it in 1989 this season, but they certainly have a guy who will be in the conversation. Trey Mancini burst onto the scene late last year with three homers in five games, and this year he's making his mark in the middle of the order for the Birds. During a season that has had a few more downs than ups, Mancini has been a consistent bright spot. Despite seeing his average drop 14 points in the last ten games,...

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Opposite dugout: After selling at last month's deadline, Oakland focused on future

August 20, 2017, 5:20pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: After selling at last month's deadline, Oakland focused on future

Manager: Bob Melvin (7th year) Record: 54-70 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: LF Khris Davis (33 HR, 86 RBIs), CF Rajai Davis (.236, 26 stolen bases), 2B Jed Lowrie (.271/.346/.435), RHP Paul Blackburn (3.46 ERA), RHP Blake Trienen (2.65 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 2-2 Pitching probables: Aug. 21: RHP Chris Smith vs. LHP Wade Miley, 7:05 p.m., MASNAug. 22: RHP Paul Blackburn vs. RHP Ubaldo JimÃ©nez, 7:05 p.m., MASNAug. 23: LHP Sean Manaea vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 3:05 p.m.,...

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David Huzzard: Commending the job Mike Rizzo has done

August 18, 2017, 6:08am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Commending the job Mike Rizzo has done

The Nationals can be viewed as either one of the luckiest teams in baseball or one of the unluckiest. But there is a third option and that is that general manager Mike Rizzo knows what he is doing. I would have said before this season that if the Nationals don't have a deep playoff run, Rizzo is as good as gone as GM. There are just some GMs, good enough to rebuild a team but not good at putting those final pieces in place to win it all. Rizzo has started to look like the latter, but this...

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Zach Wilt: Looking at Chris Davis' approach at the plate

August 18, 2017, 5:46am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Looking at Chris Davis' approach at the plate

Thoughout 2017, Orioles fans have spent the majority of the season waiting for Chris Davis to look like Chris Davis. The slugger has played in 91 of the team's 121 games this season, slashing .221/.316/.426 with just 18 home runs and 46 runs batted in. We keep anticipating that surge, the stretch of games where Davis reels off homers in bunches, but so far it hasn't happened like we all became used to in the past. Davis hit 38 homers a season ago and a major league-leading 47 in 2015. He is...

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Opposite dugout: Padres progressing through their rebuild

August 17, 2017, 5:51am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Padres progressing through their rebuild

Manager: Andy Green Record: 54-66 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Wil Myers (24 HR, 59 RBIs), LF Jose Pirela (.293/.344/.520), 2B Yangervis Solarte (.271/.347/.426), LHP Brad Hand (2.19 ERA, 10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: Aug. 17: RHP Edwin Jackson vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin, 10:10 p.m., MASNAug. 18: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Luis Perdomo, 10:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 19: TBA vs. LHP Travis Wood, 8:40 p.m., MASN2Aug. 20: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. TBA, 4:40 p.m., MASN2 Inside...

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Luke Erickson: Thoughts on that other fall baseball

August 16, 2017, 6:21pm

Nationals

Luke Erickson: Thoughts on that other fall baseball

With the minor league season winding down - Labor Day is the last day - thoughts start to turn to the Arizona Fall League. In theory, the AFL, which runs from Oct. 10-Nov. 18 this season, is a finishing school for the top prospects. In practice, it's not quite that. That's not to say that top prospects don't appear; they do, but not exclusively. Pitchers, for example, have a tendency to fit into one of three categories: injured, Rule 5 draft-eligible, marginal. Consequently, the offensive...