When they remember this game years from now, they might remember that the Nationals lost to the Marlins 4-3 in 10 innings. They will for sure remember what happened prior to that, when two 23-year-old right-handers dueled for the first time and showed why their respective clubs have such high hopes for both of them. Josiah Gray and Edward Cabrera went head-to-head and perhaps appropriately emerged with a draw. Gray struck out seven but departed after six innings of two-run ball with the...

The Orioles may have pulled this game out tonight with an eighth-inning rally, but some things that happened before that were also vital as the club snapped a 19-game losing streak, the second-longest in team history. The Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-6 to win for the first time since they beat the New York Yankees 7-1 on Aug. 2. The losing streak ends two short of the club record. It started with the power surge off Los Angeles Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani began the night...

The old reverse lock theory is supposed to have its limits. A team riding a 19-game losing streak, its last victory on Aug. 2, and resorting to a bullpen tactic rather than using a starting pitcher, already is operating from an extreme disadvantage. The bench had two healthy players. The best hitter in 2021 fell into an August slump. The Orioles needed to catch a monumental break last night. Instead, they got Shohei Ohtani - on the mound and in the Angels lineup. An anchor tossed to a club with...

The pitcher standing between the Orioles tonight and possibly ending the second-longest losing streak in club history is also the major league homer run leader. The Los Angeles Angels' amazing right-hander, Shohei Ohtani, who has hit 40 homers while also posting an 8-1 record and 2.79 ERA on the mound, will bat and pitch versus the Orioles tonight at Camden Yards. He is facing the Orioles as a pitcher for the first time. On the year, Ohtani has thrown 100 innings, allowing 67 hits and just...

Lane Thomas hasn't supplanted Victor Robles as the Nationals' starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. But he has performed at such a high level since his acquisition from the Cardinals that manager Davey Martinez feels compelled to keep playing him for now, even as Robles returns to full health after falling ill last weekend. "Victor's feeling better," Martinez said during his Zoom session with reporters before tonight's game in Miami. "Lane's playing well and I want to continue to...

Orioles middle infielder Jorge Mateo reached base twice last night on infield singles and is out of tonight's lineup with soreness in his lower back/hip, his status listed as day-to-day, per manager Brandon Hyde. Mateo has 21 hits in 17 games with the Orioles and is slashing .356/.387/.492 with six doubles and a triple. "Just a little sore today. Hoping he'll be back in there in a day or two," Hyde said. "He kind of jammed his leg when he hit the base there last night, so he's just a...

The Orioles recalled reliever Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon, two days after claiming him off waivers from the Dodgers. He replaces Konner Wade, who was optioned late last night. Greene returned to the organization after appearing in three games and allowing six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one batter and struck out five. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers on Aug. 9 and he tossed two scoreless innings in his two appearances. Greene, who's wearing No. 81,...

Every Josiah Gray start has been an event since the young right-hander arrived in Washington earlier this month. Tonight's game in Miami, though, becomes an even bigger event because of the fellow young right-hander who will be facing Gray: Edward Cabrera. Cabrera, the Marlins' top pitching prospect, makes his major league debut. Which makes this a rare matchup between two pitchers who rank among the top 100 prospects in baseball. Cabrera has an electric arm, with a power sinker that reaches...

The "mix and match" bullpen game that Orioles manager Brandon Hyde referenced late last night begins with right-hander Chris Ellis. The team announced that Ellis will start tonight against the Angels and two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. Ellis becomes the 55th player used this season, three short of the club record set in 2019. A different record looms heavier over the organization. Two more losses and the Orioles will match the 21 straight to begin the 1988 season. Ellis, 28, is serving as an...

The Nationals' 5-1 victory Tuesday night in Miami was never seriously in doubt, but there was perhaps one moment late when it appeared things might tighten up. With two outs and two on in the seventh, rookie reliever Andres Machado had to face Marlins leadoff hitter Miguel Rojas. As any Nats fan who has paid scant attention over the years knows, Rojas is as tough an out as this team ever seems to face. He works long at-bats, gets the bat on the ball, and usually finds empty space to deposit...