A few thoughts, notes and impressions on today's game and this weekend as the Orioles ended a six-game road trip to Toronto and New York going a respectable 3-3. They take two of three at New York, winning a series in the Bronx for the first time since March 28-31, 2019. * The last five games of this trip were each decided by two runs or less, with the Orioles going 3-2. That is certainly a sign of progress, but in a very small sample size. But you take that in the American League East on the...

On a day in which they watched their brightest young starting pitcher get beat around for the second time in a week, the Nationals yet again found a way to overcome an early deficit and make the Mets sweat. And they yet again found a way to turn a potentially inspiring comeback into a calamitous, late-inning meltdown that made it all moot. At some point, this young team needs to show it has the ability to finish what it starts. Comebacks are nice, but curly W's are better. So it was that in...

Josh Rogers is going to get another chance to pitch for the Nationals. Gerardo Parra may not get another chance to play for them. The club decided to keep Rogers on the active roster following his impressive debut Saturday night as a fill-in starter for a doubleheader split with the Mets, and manager Davey Martinez said the left-hander is likely to going to make at least one more start. In order to keep Rogers on the roster, though, the Nationals placed Parra on the 10-day injured list with...

Orioles manager Hyde is holding off until after today's game to reveal Monday's starter, saying it's going to require a corresponding move because the pitcher is being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. This eliminates left-hander Alexander Wells, who's already with the team. "I'm just going to wait on it," he said. Mike Baumann started Tuesday for the Tides and would be working on extra rest. Zac Lowther would be on normal rest. Dean Kremer isn't available because the Orioles won't use...

The Orioles (42-92), after Saturday's 4-3 win at Yankee Stadium, can end this two-city road trip with a series win in the Bronx if they win this afternoon versus the Yankees. The O's lost 4-3 in 11 innings Friday night and won by the same score yesterday when they broke a 3-3 tie in the ninth against lefty closer Aroldis Chapman. Ryan Mountcastle led off the ninth and reached on a strikeout and wild pitch. Austin Hays singled and Trey Mancini walked to load the bases. Mancini went 3-for-3...

The Nationals and Mets have already played three games in this holiday weekend series, and they're not even close to wrapping it up just yet. They face off this afternoon, then will return Monday afternoon for the Labor Day finale of a rare, five-game set. After the craziness of Saturday's doubleheader, everyone would appreciate a simpler affair today. And the Nats would love to get another quality start from Josiah Gray, who failed to turn in a quality performance last time out for the first...

Ryan Mountcastle and Jahmai Jones are out of the Orioles lineup today as they conclude their series at Yankee Stadium. DJ Stewart is the designated hitter with the Orioles finally facing a right-handed starter. Ramón Urias moves to shortstop and Jorge Mateo to second base. Trey Mancini has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, batting .358/.404/.472 (19-for-53). He's the first baseman today. Left-hander Keegan Akin has held opponents to one run in each of his last two starts totaling 12...

We tend to poke fun at the Rule 5 draft and the Orioles' past obsessions with it. Selecting three players at the 2017 Winter Meetings. Trying to carry more than one. Allowing it to become the biggest story for beat writers at those sites. "I attended the Winter Meetings and all I got was this lousy Rule 5 pick" There have been a few good choices, however, and Tyler Wells is proving to be a steal. Dice are rolled when a team gambles by trying to carry an inexperienced pitcher in its bullpen,...

An unknown quantity produced some much-needed quality for the Nationals on Saturday night. Lefty Josh Rogers - whose contract was selected from Triple-A Rochester to start the nightcap of a doubleheader because he was on turn and filled a need - threw 5 2/3 innings of four-hit, three-run ball as the Nationals beat the Mets 4-3 to snap a seven-game losing streak. Employing a herky-jerky old-school windup with an occasional hint of hesitation, Rogers gave the Nationals the length they needed to...

In what his manager called a "masterful" performance, Orioles right-hander Chris Ellis followed up a very strong outing at Rogers Centre with a better one at Yankee Stadium. If the question is whether a pitcher who went 1-5 with a 6.32 ERA at Triple-A Durham this year while giving up 14 homers in 57 innings can shut down two good American League East teams on the road back to back, the answer is yes. Ellis, 28, drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in round three in 2014, was traded by the Angels...