Fresh off a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays, the Nationals now embark on a nine-game road trip that kicks off with a tough challenge: a weekend series in Milwaukee. The Brewers have won eight of 10 and now hold a commanding 8 1/2-game lead in the National League Central. They're doing it with elite pitching, especially from an imposing threesome atop their rotation (Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta) that should give them a chance to beat anybody come October. (Sound...

The Orioles made their latest bullpen move this afternoon, claiming right-hander Chris Ellis off waivers from the Rays and designating César Valdez for assignment. Left-hander Ryan Hartman cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Ellis, 28, made his second major league appearance Tuesday night against the Orioles and earned the win with four scoreless innings in relief. He allowed three hits, walked one, struck out seven and was designated for assignment to create room for...

From the moment he arrived in the big leagues in 2018, Juan Soto's ability to reach base has outshone every other baseball skill of his. And he's got plenty of elite skills. For all his prowess hitting for power, hitting to the opposite field, just hitting in general, Soto has always made a name for himself first and foremost because of his batting eye. That, more than anything, has led to his .422 career on-base percentage, a mark that during that four-season span has been bested by only one...

SALISBURY, Md. - Orioles top draft pick Colton Cowser seems to be making a pretty seamless transition to full-season baseball. Promoted to low Single-A Delmarva this week, he went 2-for-6 in his first two games with a double, two runs, an RBI, two walks and one strikeout. He had a 1-for-5 night with a booming RBI double in the third inning last night as Delmarva beat Fredericksburg 11-9. The Shorebirds are 3-0 since the arrival of 12 draft picks this week from the class of 2021. Cowser began...

Moving below the Diamondbacks for the worst record in the majors has put the Orioles in front of everyone else for the No. 1 pick in the 2022 amateur draft. There must be a reward for enduring such agony. Baseball America's early mock draft, published last month, has IMG Academy outfielder Elijah Green as the top choice. It noted his "special combination of elite physicality, electric tools and an impressive underclass track record of hitting." Former Orioles bench coach John Russell, a...

Jorge López walked to the mound today in the bottom of the second inning, still trying to process what happened in the first. Or perhaps wishing he could forget about it and treat his return as a fresh start. Something his teammates desperately need right now. What came next, most unfortunate for the Orioles, represented what's happening to them this month. There are no fresh starts or quality ones. Just more of the same, with the occasional sprinkling of intrigue. And for López, an...

O's fans, time is running out to enter the Maryland Lottery's "Contestant of the Game" promotion, where you can win $500 for being selected and an additional $500 for every Orioles home run hit during that game! The deadline to enter is Monday, Aug. 23 for a chance to be selected for one of the last 30 Orioles games of the 2021 season. That's a lot of chances to be home run rich! The Lottery has awarded over $131,000 to winners through this year's FAST PLAY Home Run Riches second-chance...

There was a time when the Orioles were playing good baseball on the road. But you have to go back to the beginning of the 2021 season. They went 4-2 on their first road trip to Boston and New York. They went 3-2 on a trip to Texas and Miami and 4-2 on a trip to Oakland and Seattle. That one ended with a no-hitter. But if they lose today, the Orioles will have a fourth winless road trip this year. From May 21-30, they went 0-10 at Washington, Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox. And from June...

Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander have returned to the Orioles lineup this afternoon. Mancini is the designated hitter and batting second. Santander, who pinch-hit last night, is the right fielder and batting sixth. A loss today would push the Orioles to a season-high 15-game streak, the second-longest in franchise history behind the 21 in a row that opened 1988. It also will guarantee a fifth consecutive season below .500. They aren't likely to run the table. Their 38 wins are two fewer than...

The challenge for the Orioles is daunting. There is nothing new in that regard. But as all teams get deep into the tough dog days of August, a non-contending team on a long losing streak faces more challenges than most. That is where the Orioles reside these days. After last night's 8-4 loss to Tampa Bay, they have lost 14 in a row by a combined 131-40 score. They are 0-6 on the road trip to Boston and St. Petersburg, Fla., and have been outscored 57-11 with losses by 8-1, 16-2 and 10-0. To...