If it really does start with starting pitching, as baseball folks preach, the Orioles really are having a rotten weekend in Boston. Spenser Watkins allowed six runs last night in four innings, the sweat making it harder to find his grip on the ball. Manager Brandon Hyde revealed earlier today that left-hander Bruce Zimmermann must remain on the injured list after spraining his ankle in a training mishap, which prohibits the rookie from joining the rotation on Sunday. Jorge López loaded the...

August waiver trades are a thing of the past, but teams still can still acquire players from other organizations under certain circumstances, and today the Nationals found a way to pick up another young pitcher who could potentially help them in their long-term plan to rebuild. The Nats claimed right-hander Patrick Murphy off waivers from the Blue Jays, taking a shot at a 26-year-old reliever with good minor league numbers this season but a penchant for struggling with his command during his...

And we're back. If it feels like Friday night's game just ended, that's because it did. The Nationals and Braves find themselves in the unfortunate position of not only having just played a game that ended at 1:19 a.m. but having their next game scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m., an hour early to accommodate the planned postgame fireworks show. And, yes, it's important to remember that the fireworks remain planned for postgame tonight. In order for them to actually take place, this game will...

Orioles left-hander Bruce Zimmermann no longer is a candidate, and the overwhelming favorite, to make Sunday afternoon's start in Boston. Zimmermann was expected to be reinstated from the injured list, but an ankle sprain is keeping him off the active roster. Manager Brandon Hyde provided the surprising update in today's media Zoom call while also naming left-hander Keegan Akin as Sunday's starter to close out the series. "Bruce Zimmermann had a training accident," Hyde said. "He sprained...

The Orioles continue their series in Boston this afternoon, trying to end a nine-game losing streak and with Jorge López attempting to complete six innings in his third consecutive start. López has allowed three runs and five hits in 12 innings this month, with seven walks and nine strikeouts. He's made two starts against the Red Sox this season and allowed eight runs and 12 hits in 9 2/3 innings. He owns a career 8.62 ERA and 1.532 WHIP in four appearances (two starts) against the Red...

If the Orioles are going to end a long losing streak today at Boston, they may have to beat lefty Chris Sale, who is making his return to the majors today. Sale and Boston host the Orioles in Game 2 of a three-game series and, for the Orioles, a seven-game road trip. Boston got homers from Xander Bogaerts (No. 18), Bobby Dalbec (No. 12) and Hunter Renfroe (No. 20) in an 8-1 win last night. That snapped the Orioles' four-game win streak at Fenway Park, during which they had allowed just six...

One year ago, the last time he had a chance to play regularly in the big leagues, Carter Kieboom looked better in the field than he did at the plate. This time around, he's looked better at the plate than in the field. Kieboom's entire game remains a work in progress, of course, and the Nationals aren't ready to draw any conclusions about the 23-year-old third baseman yet. But they are both pleased with the progress he's shown with his bat and hoping a recent tweak with his glove will help...

There are things you find out about ballplayers at 10 p.m. in front of a sellout crowd, and then there are things you find out about them at midnight in front of a few thousand fans who were willing to wait out the longest rain delay of the season. They all matter in the end, and all of these experiences ultimately shape young ballplayers into the finished products they will become in due time. And they don't always have to produce positive results, as much as everyone wishes they...

The Orioles' losing streak reached nine last night as right-hander Spenser Watkins allowed six runs and seven hits over four innings in an 8-1 loss at Boston. The Orioles have allowed 82 runs during the losing streak as they fell to 38-76. Watkins struggled badly to throw strikes Friday night, and when his pitches did find the zone, they found the middle of it too much. Boston scored four runs in the third and led 5-1 after three innings. So five runs in three innings last night and Boston had...

Cedric Mullins got his usual business out of the way early tonight, which is so often how it happens. Richie Martin maintained his power surge at Fenway Park, though with a pronounced gap in between home runs. The Orioles had a couple of positive moments in their return to the site of their season-opening sweep, but the slumping Red Sox kept topping them. Kept extending at-bats and innings against rookie starter Spenser Watkins. Kept flexing their muscle after the bullpen came into play. And a...