Type the name in an internet search and a professional hockey winger appears, a former first-round draft pick who plays for the Minnesota Wild. If you want the Ryan Hartman who's a pitcher in the Orioles organization, the word "baseball" is required to distinguish the two. Otherwise, he's buried beneath the National Hockey League results. "I actually messaged him this off-season," said the Orioles' Hartman, claimed off waivers last week from the Astros and optioned to Triple-A...

Davey Martinez arrived in the visitors' Zoom press conference room in Atlanta shortly before 5 p.m. today and immediately was asked about Juan Soto's status for the Nationals' series opener against the Braves. Martinez, while insisting he's not significantly concerned about his star slugger's right knee, made it clear he was hesitant to put him in tonight's lineup. "I'm at 50-50 right now, I really am," Martinez said. "Unless he comes in and says he's feels great, we might do...

Jorge Mateo will be in Saturday night's lineup to make his Orioles debut, whether as the 51st or 52nd player used in 2021. Reliever Marcos Diplán could finish ahead of him later tonight. The Orioles claimed Mateo off waivers from the Padres yesterday and Hyde met him this afternoon in the dugout before batting practice. Mateo will start at shortstop or second base in the middle game of the series against the Rays. "I'm going to give him a big opportunity," Hyde said. "It's a really...

The Nationals are in a tough spot right now, and if you didn't already know why, here's some evidence: In eight of their last 12 games, they've held the lead going into the ninth inning. And they've only emerged victorious in three of them. So on one hand, even the rebuilding, inexperienced Nats are still putting themselves in a position to win more than they lose. But they're not actually winning more than they're losing. Quite the contrary. They've lost 22 of their last 31. That's the...

After completing a 3-4 road trip to Detroit and New York, the Orioles are back home tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They begin a three-game series against Tampa Bay, which is part of a six-game homestand. The Orioles (38-69) went 2-2 at Detroit and 1-2 at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles are 17-31 at home and went 4-1 on their last homestand against Washington and Miami. The Orioles are 14-21 in series-opening games and are 6-10 in series-opening games at home. The Orioles beat the Yankees...

One day before they officially go into the Orioles Hall of Fame, the new class was honored this afternoon at a luncheon at the Warehouse at Camden Yards and spent a few minutes answering questions for reporters. The class of 2021 includes former shortstop J.J. Hardy, former outfielder Mike Devereaux, former broadcaster Joe Angel and O's superfan Mo Gaba, who passed away last year. Hardy spent the last seven seasons of his 13-year career with the Orioles from 2011-17 and won three straight Gold...

Richie Martin is starting at shortstop again tonight and Ramón Urías is playing second base, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Maikel Franco is the third baseman. No sign of new infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman again with Trey Mancini serving as designated hitter. Anthony Santander is in right field and batting sixth. Cedric Mullins has a 13-game hitting streak, batting .385 (20-for-52) with three doubles, a...

This new direction the Nationals are taking for the remainder of the season and into next year presents plenty of opportunities. Opportunities for rookies to make their major league debuts. Opportunities for veterans to finish their seasons strong and make their cases for 2022. And opportunities for young guys who have been around a while to continue to grow. Carter Kieboom and Luis García find themselves in that last category and are embracing the chance to grow together. Both players...

Baseball America has published its updated top 30 prospects list for the Orioles, and first-round pick Colton Cowser ranks fifth while beginning his professional career in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Heston Kjerstad, last year's first-rounder, hasn't appeared in a single game after being diagnosed with myocarditis, but he's sixth. This year's second-round pick, infielder Connor Norby, is 10th. A big jump was made by Double-A Bowie shortstop Joey Ortiz, who's 12th in the system...

Even after losing the last two games by a combined 23-4 score, the Orioles are playing much better ball in the second half. It has been just 18 games, but their 10-8 record (.556) is decidedly better than the record of 28-61 (.315) from before the All-Star Game. So, what does this mean, and is this 18-game record significant? It is hard to draw any conclusions or believe we have a handle on how the last 55 games will go because of the past 18. The last two losses were ugly, with some misplays...