The Orioles and Major League Baseball today announced that DILLON TATE has been named the Orioles’ 2022 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One. The most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB, the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One, is the annual recognition of a player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, sportsmanship, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field. 

The Orioles will join all of Major League Baseball in celebrating the 21^st annual Roberto Clemente Day, presented by Capital one, wearing jersey patches as they face the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on Friday, September 16. The commemorative day was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, all players will wear a ‘21’ patch on their jersey, and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. Once again this season, each team’s Clemente nominee will wear a ‘21’ patch on their jersey that indicates their nomination for the prestigious award.

As part of this nomination and in recognition of Tate’s exemplary commitment to serving his community, MLB will make a $7,500 donation to his foundation, Baseball Academia Corp. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will match the donation, for a total of $15,000 contributed. The Orioles will recognize Tate in a special on-field ceremony on Monday, September 19, as they host the Detroit Tigers at 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards.

Tate exemplifies the spirit of Roberto Clemente. With his giving nature, kindhearted attitude, and passion for the community matched with his stellar performance on the field, he embodies what it means to be an Oriole.

While growing up in California, Tate frequently played at the MLB Urban Youth Academy, taking advantage of free resources to help sharpen his skills. It was here that he learned the significance that professional sports teams can have on the development of youth on and off the diamond. He carried that knowledge with him throughout his career and has recognized the importance of giving back.  

WHO: BRANDON HYDE, Orioles Manager;

           MIKE ELIAS, Orioles Executive Vice President & General Manager;

          JENNIFER GRONDAHL, Orioles Senior Vice President, Communications & Community Development;

           SELECT ORIOLES PLAYERS

WHAT: Members of the Orioles Orange & Black Gives Back employee volunteer program, as well as Manager Brandon Hyde, General Manager Mike Elias, and other representatives from the team will participate in a Habitat For Humanity build day on Friday, September 9. Projects will include painting, attaching siding, cleaning the build site, and more.

ST. LOUIS – The Nationals look to get back on the winning track tonight after seeing their three-game streak end Tuesday night in a pretty lackluster, 4-1 loss to the Cardinals. They’ll certainly need to hit more than that if they want to win this one, and they’ll have a few different names in the lineup as they attempt to do so.

Keibert Ruiz finally gets his long-awaited day off after starting five games in a row. That means Riley Adams is catching and batting eighth. CJ Abrams also gets the night off, somewhat surprisingly. That bumps Ildemaro Vargas to shortstop and opens up third base for César Hernández. (You’ll be pleased to know Nelson Cruz is still in there, batting cleanup.)

Cory Abbott makes this start as the sixth member of the rotation this turn around. It’s the right-hander’s fifth start and 11th overall pitching appearance this season, and he’s mostly given the Nationals a chance when he’s been out there. He’ll face a good test tonight in the Cardinals lineup.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Busch Stadium
Gametime: 7:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly clear, 78 degrees, wind 7 mph in from center field

NATIONALS
CF Lane Thomas
RF Joey Meneses
1B Luke Voit
DH Nelson Cruz
2B Luis García
3B Cesar Hernandez
SS Ildemaro Vargas
C Riley Adams
CF Victor Robles

In recognition of the 45^th anniversary of the celebratory day to honor the retirement of BROOKS ROBINSON in 1977, the Orioles will host ‘Thanks Brooks Day,’ on Saturday, September 24, as they face the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. Robinson will be in attendance for the game at Camden Yards, to participate in the festivities which include:

Gate Giveaway: The first 15,000 fans, 15 and over, will receive a poster print of Norman Rockwell’s ‘Gee, Thanks Brooks’ painting.

Pregame Ceremony: Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. as Robinson will greet fans throughout the ballpark as he is driven around the warning track, an ode to the ceremonial events of 1977.

In-Game Items: Throughout the game, lucky fans will have the chance to win posters autographed by Robinson himself, and the videoboards will show highlights of his illustrious career. Additional in-game elements will be announced at Orioles.com/ThanksBrooks.

In the Community: On behalf of ‘Thanks Brooks Day,’ the Orioles will host members of local community organizations, with donated tickets to thank them for their commitment to the Baltimore community.

The Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays open a huge three-day, four-game series this afternoon with a straight doubleheader at Camden Yards. Toronto (73-59) is in third-place in the American League East, six games out, and holds the third American League wild card by 2 1/2 games over the Orioles (71-62).

Toronto comes to town off a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh, where they won those games by a combined 12-4 score. Toronto has won five of six, 12 of 17 and 28 of its past 45 games.

The Blue Jays are 35-30 on the road, 27-24 versus AL East teams, 16-14 since Aug. 1 and 23-16 since the All-Star break.

The Orioles went 5-14 last year against Toronto, losing five series and tying one. This year they are 6-3 against the Blue Jays, winning two series and tying one. Baltimore pitching gave up 44 homers and had an 8.49 ERA and 1.750 WHIP over the 19 games of the 2021 season series, but the O’s staff has allowed 12 homers with a 5.01 ERA and 1.430 WHIP this season against the Blue Jays.

As a team last year, Toronto batters hit .313/.383/.582/.965 versus the O’s and averaged 8.05 runs per game. This season they are batting .294/.336/.459/.796 and have given up an average of 5.00 runs per game in the season series.

SEPTEMBER 1 

INNER HARBOR SOCCER GOAL CHALLENGE 

Fans will have the opportunity to meet the Oriole Bird and enter-to-win free giveaways, including  an Orioles Soccer Jersey and tickets to the September 3 game, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. outside  of the Baltimore Visitor Center at the Inner Harbor. Fans can win free Pepsi products and Orioles  tickets when they attempt to kick a goal at the net located outside of the Baltimore Visitor Center,  and all fans who stop by will receive free Pepsi samples.  

SEPTEMBER 2

OAK

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of INF Gunnar Henderson from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 2 and his first appearance will be his Major League debut.
• Optioned INF Tyler Nevin to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Designated RHP Denyi Reyes for assignment.

The Orioles today announced their 2023 Grapefruit League schedule, which is slated to begin Saturday, February 25, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. against the Minnesota Twins. The club’s 2023 spring schedule features 16 home games, including eight weekend games.

The Orioles will face nine different opponents during Grapefruit League play, with 11 of the club’s 31 games against American League East divisional rivals – Boston Red Sox (3 games; 2 at home), New York Yankees (2 games; 1 at home), Tampa Bay Rays (2 games; 1 at home), and Toronto Blue Jays (4 games; 2 at home).

The O’s will play a spring-high six games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, three of which will be at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles will also host the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Twins during their 2023 Spring Training slate.

The team’s 15-game road schedule features three games at the home ballpark of the Pirates, and two games at the Blue Jays, Phillies, Tigers, and Twins. The Orioles will also play one game at the Braves, Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees.

The 2023 season will mark the Orioles’ 14^th Spring Training season in Sarasota and the club’s 13^th season at the renovated Ed Smith Stadium.

HOUSTON – After a weekend in Houston where O’s pitching gave up just four runs, leading the team to a series win over the club with the best record in the American League, the O’s take some momentum to Cleveland where they open a big series Tuesday night.

They’re all big now, when the club is 1.5 games out of a playoff berth with 35 games remaining.

The Orioles continue to surprise some people around MLB and who could have expected them to head into Houston, win the series with a chance to sweep Sunday? Houston began this weekend with the best AL record at 81-45 which included a seven-game home win streak and home record for the year of 42-18.

But terrific starting pitching led the Orioles to wins by 2-0 Friday and 3-1 Saturday before they lost 3-1 Sunday to end a five-game win streak at Minute Maid Park.

The Orioles continue to show they can play with the AL big boys – both in the AL East and beyond – and outfielder Austin Hays likes their positioning for the stretch run.

Scoreboard watching also includes the Home Run Riches winnings tally — now at more than $126,000.

The Baltimore Orioles will head to Houston this weekend to take on the American League’s best team so far this season — the beginning of a six-game road trip to close out the month of August. This time of year is when baseball fans start to do a lot of scoreboard-watching, as teams spend the last several weeks of the season jockeying for playoff spots. That means every game counts, especially for the Orioles, who are in the thick of the hunt for a wildcard playoff berth. The O’s begin the weekend 2 ½ games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final wildcard spot, and the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are nipping at the Birds’ heels, both just 2 ½ games behind Baltimore. 

The games are also meaningful to the hopeful Contestants of the Game participating in the Lottery’s Home Run Riches Bases Loaded FAST PLAY second-chance promotion. Those lucky few who have been selected are watching their own scoreboard as the Orioles' powerful offense has notched 129 home runs to date, providing needed support for the team’s starting pitchers and awarding more than $126,000 in prizes for the Lottery’s Contestants of the Game.

There is still time for you to be selected for an upcoming game. The Lottery’s final Contestant of the Game drawing for 2022 will be held on Aug. 30, selecting the winners for games in September and October.  To enter, submit any winning or non-winning FAST PLAY Home Run Riches Bases Loaded ticket purchased between March 7 and August 29 into your My Lottery Rewards account. Not yet a member of My Lottery Rewards? Click here to start your free account today!

The $5 FAST PLAY Home Run Riches Bases Loaded game was introduced to coincide with the 2022 Orioles’ season. The ticket has instant prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000 and a progressive jackpot that starts at $40,000 and continues to grow with each ticket sold until a jackpot-winning ticket is sold. 

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Rico Garcia from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Optioned RHP Louis Head to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
• Optioned RHP Phoenix Sanders to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.

As the Nationals look forward to watching Cade Cavalli, CJ Abrams and possibly MacKenzie Gore finish out the last month of the 2022 season, they announced the complete 2023 schedule earlier today.

The 2023 Major League Baseball season will be the first to feature a balanced schedule for all 30 teams since interleague play was introduced in 1997. Each of the 30 clubs will play against one another, while also hosting every other club in their home market at least once every other season.

Opening day will start the 19th season of Nationals baseball in our nation’s capital with the Braves visiting on Thursday, March 30. It will be the fifth time the Nats have faced the Braves on opening day. It will also start a six-game homestand against the Braves and Rays to start the regular season.

The Nats’ first road trip of 2023 takes them to Colorado and Anaheim for seven games to face the Rockies and Angels. It will be the second year in a row the Nats will travel to face old friend Anthony Rendon and the Halos, who do not make a trip to D.C. next year.

The annual Battle of the Beltways series against the Orioles are earlier and later than usual next year. The two rivals will play two games April 18-19 at Nationals Park and two games Sept. 26-27 at Camden Yards during the Nats’ final road trip of the season.

The Washington Nationals announced the following roster moves on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

• Recalled catcher Riley Adams from Triple-A Rochester
• Returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde from the 15-day Injured List
• Designated right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard for assignment
• Optioned catcher Tres Barrera to Triple-A Rochester (Monday, August 22)

Adams, 26, returns for his second stint in the Major Leagues this season after making the club out of Spring Training. He hit .192 with a double, three home runs, five RBI, and nine walks in 27 games with Washington. After he was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on July 1, Adams hit .224 with eight doubles, four home runs, 17 RBI and 11 walks in 29 games.

Fedde, 29, returns from the Injured List after missing 22 games with right shoulder inflammation. Before heading to the IL on July 30, he was 5-7 with a 4.95 ERA in 19 starts. He allowed 96 hits and struck out 70 in 92.2 innings. In his only rehab appearance for Triple-A Rochester, Fedde worked 4.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts on August 17 at Worcester.

Clippard, 37, was 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA in four games for Washington this season.

Barrera, 27, hit .182 with a double, four RBI and two walks in 14 games for the Nationals in 2022.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of OF Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Recalled INF Richie Martin from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Recalled LHP Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Optioned RHP Logan Gillaspie to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Placed INF Terrin Vavra on the Paternity List.
• Designated OF Brett Phillips for assignment.

The Washington Nationals recalled shortstop C.J. Abrams from Triple-A Rochester and placed infielder Luis García on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to Aug. 13) with a left groin strain on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Abrams, 21, is Washington’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 11 overall prospect in baseball according to Baseball America. Acquired on Aug. 2 from San Diego, Abrams hit .290 (9-for-31) with two doubles, two RBI, two walks and four stolen bases in eight games for Triple-A Rochester.

The 6-foot-2, 189-pound Abrams was San Diego’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 9 prospect in all of baseball entering the 2022 season, according to both Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com. He was cited by Baseball America as being the “best hitter” and having the “best speed” in all of Minor League baseball entering the 2022 season.

Abrams made San Diego’s Opening Day roster and his Major League debut this season, starting the second game of the season at shortstop. He hit .232 with five doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, four walks, one stolen base and 16 runs scored in 46 games across two Major League stints with the Padres this season.

He was selected to represent the Padres in the 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. He has been cited by Baseball America as the “best defensive infielder” (2021, 2022), “best athlete” (2020-22), “fastest baserunner” (2020-22) and “best hitter for average” (2020-22) in San Diego’s Minor League system throughout his professional career. Following the 2019 season, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the rookie-level Arizona League and to Baseball America’s Rookie All-Star team.

The Washington Nationals recalled outfielder Alex Call from Triple-A Rochester and optioned outfielder Josh Palacios to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Call, 27, hit .292 with 18 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 52 RBI, 51 walks, nine stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 76 games between Triple-A Columbus (CLE) and Triple-A Rochester this season. He posted a .423 on-base percentage and a .521 slugging percentage in his sixth professional season in 2022.

The Nationals acquired Call off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 7. He went 8-for-18 (.444) with two doubles, two homers, six RBI, two walks, three stolen bases and six runs scored in five games with the Red Wings. This will be his second Major League stint of the season after he made his Major League debut on July 11 at Chicago (AL). He went 2-for-12 with four walks and two runs scored in 12 games for the Guardians.

Call was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Ball State (IN) University. He was acquired by the Guardians in exchange for Yonder Alonso on Dec. 14, 2018.

Palacios, 27, went 3-for-16 (.188) with a double and two runs scored in eight games for the Nationals.

It is hard to keep your momentum going in baseball and stay riding a high when your team loses. And after an upbeat Friday and a 10-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles lost big on Saturday by 8-2 at Tropicana Field.

Now these teams meet one more time this weekend and this season, and the weekend series and season series will be determined by today’s result. That is big for the Orioles as head-to-head results will break standings ties at the end of the year.

And should they tie with Tampa Bay for any spot, including any of three wild card playoff berths, today’s game will be the decider after 18 games and nine wins for each side.

If the Orioles and Rays tied for the third wild card spot, for instance, the season series winner would advance while the other team would go home. So yeah, big game today.

Lefty DL Hall had a poor outing in his big league debut, allowing five runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings. After he gave up a run in the last of the first, he struck out the side in the second, getting swings and misses for strikeouts on fastballs at 96 and 97 mph. It was a dominant inning and looked like he was settling in. But, with two outs and a man on first in the Rays third, he allowed three straight run-scoring hits as Tampa Bay opened a 4-2 lead on its way to the win.

Jump back in time all of one month and make a mental list of the Nationals’ top prospects.

You’d start with Cade Cavalli, include Brady House and then try to come up with the names of other kids who may or may not develop into major leaguers some day in the short or long term.

Now consider what that list looks like in the wake of a dramatic (and, yes, controversial) overhaul of the organization that culminated with last week’s trade of Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres.

Cavalli and House remain on the list, but not in the top two spots. Those now belong to the likes of C.J. Abrams and Robert Hassell III, two of the six players acquired from San Diego in the blockbuster deal. Right behind them are Elijah Green and Cristhian Vaquero, teenage sensations who were the organization’s top amateur draft and international signing additions of 2022. Also include James Wood and Jarlin Susana, two more younger prospects who came over in the trade with the Padres. And then don’t forget to keep Cavalli and House, the 2020 and 2021 first-round picks, in the mix as well.

What you now see is a farm system that no longer is dependent on the rise of one or two blue-chip prospects, but has enough depth to account for the inevitable injuries and/or struggles that are bound to occur when trying to turn players right out of high school and college into big league stars.