More than three weeks after 26-man rosters were expanded by just two players per an agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, Nationals manager Davey Martinez still isn't sure what to make of the new rules and the tighter stretch-run rosters. "I haven't decided yet, honestly," Martinez said via Zoom before Saturday's game against the Reds in Cincinnati. "Because in situations where you're fighting for a playoff spot, and all of a sudden you can expand your...

After splitting the first two games in this series, the Orioles host the Texas Rangers tonight looking to erase the memory of last night's blown lead and 8-5 loss. The Orioles went to the ninth leading Texas 5-3 but allowed five runs as the Rangers evened the four-game series at a win each. O's pitching had allowed just seven runs in the previous four games and then gave up eight in losing Friday night. They had beaten the Rangers 3-0 on Thursday night as Zac Lowther and three relievers...

Third baseman Carter Kieboom, who was scratched from last night's starting lineup when left forearm soreness cropped up, has been cleared to play after a precautionary MRI earlier today showed no lingering issues. "Everything came back negative," Nationals manager Davey Martinez said in his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He's going to go work out today (and) we'll see how he feels. But he's available to come off the bench today." Kieboom was hit on the left forearm by a pitch...

The Orioles' constant run of injury issues today sent Rule 5 pick right-hander Tyler Wells to the 10-day injured list. He is dealing with right shoulder inflammation and right-hander Spenser Watkins rejoins the team to take his roster spot. Wells' season ends, but what a rookie year it was. He went 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA and four saves, the last of which came in the series opener against the Rangers on Thursday night. But last night, trying to record another save, Wells faced one batter in the...

Tyler Wells, the Orioles' Rule 5 pick who emerged as their closer and most trusted high-leverage reliever, won't pitch again in 2021 due to right shoulder inflammation. Wells was placed on the 10-day injured list with eight games remaining in the season. Spenser Watkins was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Wells, the club's second choice in the Rule 5 draft after pitcher Mac Sceroler, posted a 4.11 ERA and 0.912 WHIP with four saves and 65 strikeouts in 57 innings. He faced one batter last...

It always felt like it was only a matter of time. Keibert Ruiz's track record in the minor leagues, not to mention his approach in his first extended stint in the major leagues, suggested the hits were going to start falling in. And once those did, the power would likely follow soon thereafter. So consider what is now happening vindication for anyone with the Nationals who didn't panic when their young catcher got off to such an underwhelming start with the club earlier this month. There's...

What a moment for center fielder Cedric Mullins last night as he became the Orioles' first player to hit 30 or more homers while stealing 30 or more bases in a single season. His three-run shot in the second inning was an important homer too, a three-run shot that fans call a Weaver. It gave the Orioles a 4-2 lead on Texas. They let the game get away, but the moment didn't. Mullins got a curtain call and then his teammates stayed back in the dugout as he took the field and stood alone for...

Orioles outfielder Austin Hays returned to the dugout Thursday night after hitting his 22nd home run and saw Anthony Santander flash three fingers at him. Hays turned around, made eye contact with Cedric Mullins and offered the same sign. Mullins, in return, waved his index finger at Hays. Was it a running home run count, with Mullins needing one more for 30 that night and Hays needing three to reach 25? "Yeah, that's what it was," Hays confirmed yesterday after taking his rounds of batting...

As captivating as it is to watch Juan Soto step to the plate and continually find ways to reach base, the truth is he can't carry the Nationals on his own. He needs some support around him. And you may be surprised to know he has had a healthy amount of support for a couple of months now, even after the Nats' late July sell-off. They entered tonight's game in Cincinnati having scored 181 runs since Aug. 15, most in the National League. And then they added seven more to the total, getting a...

That was a very tough way for a season to end for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. They let a late 5-0 lead get away and lost 6-5 at Akron tonight as the RubberDucks scored twice in the ninth to produce a championship via a walk-off win. Akron, down 5-0, scored four runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to stun Bowie and end the year for the Baysox, who were swept three straight in the Double-A Northeast Championship Series. A costly throwing error by second baseman Cadyn Grenier scored the first...