After Monday's 7-3 loss at Rogers Centre, the Orioles face the Toronto Blue Jays again tonight looking for a win in the second game of a three-game series and six-game road trip. Ryan Mountcastle's 25th home run provided the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first inning last night, and he added an RBI infield single in the sixth and scored their final run on Pedro Severino's single in the ninth. Mountcastle leads the team in both homers and RBIs, with 73. Last night was his 18th multi-RBI game, and...

Victor Robles, not long ago a more highly touted prospect than Juan Soto and only two years ago the starting center fielder on a World Series champion, is now a minor leaguer. The Nationals optioned the slumping Robles to Triple-A Rochester prior to tonight's game against the Phillies, a transaction that had shock value in the moment but in truth was weeks in the making. Andrew Stevenson was recalled from Rochester to take Robles' roster spot. The Nats also placed de facto closer Kyle...

The Washington Nationals made the following roster moves on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. · Recalled outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Triple-A Rochester · Recalled right-handed pitcher Wander Suero from Triple-A Rochester · Placed right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan on the Paternity List · Optioned outfielder Victor Robles to Triple-A Rochester Stevenson, 27, had a .375/.375/.500...

Keegan Akin will try to build on his last start and the Orioles will try to end a four-game losing streak tonight against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Akin earned his second major league win Thursday by holding the Angels to one run and three hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and lowering his ERA from 7.92 to 7.26. He faced the Blue Jays on June 26 in Buffalo and allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit home runs. Akin also faced the Blue...

There isn't nearly as much anticipation for tonight's game as there was Monday night, when Keibert Ruiz made his Nationals debut with Josiah Gray on the mound. But that doesn't mean tonight's game isn't significant. Ruiz, remember, is an everyday player. At a premium position, where he'll have an impact on the outcome of every game. So in some ways it may be more interesting to see how the 23-year-old catcher handles tonight's contest, both at the plate against Phillies left-hander Matt...

The sight of Alcides Escobar writhing in pain on the ground Monday night after fouling a ball of his left knee, then needing major assistance from manager Davey Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard just to walk off the field, was plenty disheartening for the Nationals. But the realization of what an injury to Escobar would mean for the Nats infield moving forward was downright frightening. Fortunately, it doesn't appear the club will have to confront that issue head-on....

When the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds took the field the last two weeks, with their new-look roster featuring a host of 2021 draft picks, an older pitcher ran to the mound four times with them. He kind of fit in with his own youthful look, even though he is 30 and a veteran of 92 major league games. Before the game, some fans may have figured he was one of the coaches, but lefty Ty Blach is still a player. A player just over 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery and pitching with...

The Nationals wanted so much for this to be a memorable night, the first of many featuring Josiah Gray on the mound and Keibert Ruiz behind the plate. And there will be many more nights featuring the young battery and centerpieces of last month's blockbuster trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. No matter how their story turns out, whether in glory or failure, Gray and Ruiz won't have reason to look back on tonight's proceedings with much fondness. Gray slogged his way...

The first batter of the fourth inning got Chris Ellis again, except he kept going tonight. Kept himself in the Orioles' pitching plans that otherwise are in their familiar unsettled state. Ellis didn't allow a run against the Blue Jays until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered to lead off the fourth and tie the game. He went a career-high 4 2/3 innings, allowing just the one run and two hits. Ryan Mountcastle homered and had an RBI infield hit to drive in both Orioles runs, but Dillon Tate was...

When projecting which players could join the Orioles on their slightly expanded September roster, reliever Paul Fry wasn't supposed to enter the discussion because he wasn't supposed to leave the team. Fry was the top left-handed reliever on the club. The top reliever, period, for a time. Earning a chance to close. And then the bottom fell out. The Orioles optioned Fry to Triple-A Norfolk after he allowed four runs Sunday in one-third of an inning - Joey Wendle's grand slam after a single...