Alex Avila came to his decision several months ago, before those double calf strains that threw a complete wrench into what he already knew would be the final season of his career. So the 34-year-old catcher has had plenty of time to contemplate what life will be like in retirement, a decision he chose to publicly announce today. "I went through that back-and-forth in my head, as far as if I wanted to play for another year," he said in a group interview in the Nationals dugout prior to...

BOSTON - Ramón Urías worked out at third base this morning and has been scratched from the original lineup. Kelvin Gutiérrez is starting at third base. Urías has been bothered by soreness in his right leg, which takes him in and out of the lineup. "He went and tried to run this morning and it didn't feel great," said manager Brandon Hyde. Anthony Santander is in left field again, a Fenway Park maneuver, with Austin Hays in right. Trey Mancini returns to the lineup as the...

The Orioles need a win this afternoon to salvage the finale of their three-game series at Boston before their current road trip moves on to Philadelphia beginning Monday night. The Birds have lost by 7-1 and 9-3 the last two days at Fenway Park. The Orioles (47-101) have lost seven of their last eight games and have dropped their past three series. They have a 24-50 road record and are 6-11 in September after going 4-24 in August. Baltimore pitching has allowed 16 runs in this series and 73...

BOSTON - The Orioles shook up their bullpen again this morning by selecting the contract of Thomas Eshelman from Triple-A Norfolk and recalling Brooks Kriske from the Tides. In corresponding moves, the club has optioned Spenser Watkins to Norfolk and designated Dusten Knight for assignment. Knight had to be moved in order to create space for Eshelman on the 40-man roster. Kriske, claimed off waivers from the Yankees, joined the Orioles over the weekend and went through the intake process after...

The Nationals are not a good baseball team. Sorry to put it so harshly, but it's impossible to ignore that fact at this point. And they haven't just been bad since the trade deadline; they already were headed well in that direction a month prior to it. They've now played 70 games since July 1, and their record across that span is a dismal 20-50, worst in the majors. It also matches the worst 70-game stretch in club history, previously achieved only by the 2008 and 2009 teams. Those two...

Kyle Finnegan is in his ninth professional season, his sixth as a full-time reliever, and he's been fairly durable the entire time. He has not, however, found himself taking on the kind of workload required of him this season in Washington. The next time Finnegan takes the mound, whether this afternoon at Nationals Park or in the coming days during the final road trip of the season, he'll do so for the 63rd time this season. He's currently tied for the 18th-most appearances by a National...

BOSTON - The Orioles conclude their series against the Red Sox this afternoon with another rookie on the mound. Another enormous challenge that, at the least, can push along the education of a young starting pitcher. As long as it doesn't break him. Alexander Wells receives his turn after Keegan Akin and Zac Lowther pitched in the first two games of the series. Got to make sure the Red Sox get their fill of lefty prospects. So, where does this group go for support? To ensure that any beatings...

BOWIE - When you look at the top home run hitters on the Orioles farm they are mostly a group of real big and strong players. Mostly, but not all. In that group of players who have the physical look of middle-of-the-order hitters is center fielder Zach Watson of the Double-A Bowie Baysox. At 6-foot and 160 pounds, and with his speed, he has more the look of the speedy, leadoff type of hitter than a player with 20 homers, exceeded by just three players in the O's farm system this year. But...

The opportunity for Patrick Corbin to salvage his season has long since passed. There is no September surge that's going to change the perception of the left-hander's 2021 campaign, no strong finish that's going to leave a good taste in the Nationals' mouths as they head home for the winter. Corbin may yet deliver one or two positive moments before the season wraps up in two weeks, but that would stick out as a supreme outlier in an otherwise dreadful six months for the second-highest-paid...

BOSTON - The Orioles came out swinging today in baseball's most literal sense. The first pitch to Cedric Mullins was lined into left field for a double. The first to Ryan Mountcastle was launched for a two-run homer. The first to Anthony Santander was lined to center for a single. The first to Austin Hays was pulled foul before he drew a walk. Nick Pivetta needed to pivot. The Orioles needed to find a way to sustain their momentum, which can be halted as if reaching a barricade. Rookie Zac...