A fastball from Spenser Watkins in the first inning this afternoon caught the top of the strike zone or just missed it, depending on the perspective from the mound and behind home plate. Watkins wanted the call, which would have closed out the inning without a runner reaching base. Umpire Marvin Hudson didn't give it to him. Hudson had the final word. The ensuing walk led to another, followed by the only two hits off Watkins through the fifth. The Tigers finally broke through again in the...

Only three Tigers got hits today off former Detroit farmhand and current O's right-hander Spenser Watkins. But his day was a mixed bag of a rough start and some late frustration as Detroit beat the Orioles 6-2 to level the four-game series at two wins each. After he gave up three runs after getting the first two batters out in the last of the first, Watkins settled in nicely. He gave the O's a solid outing and retired 14 in a row from the end of the first into the sixth. Watkins went 5 2/3...

Josiah Gray, the top pitching prospect the Nationals acquired in this week's blockbuster trade with the Dodgers, will make his debut for the club Monday night, starting the series opener against the Phillies. The Nats officially added Gray to their active roster this morning, giving him a day to get acclimated before he takes the mound for the first of what they hope is many starts in the coming years after making him one of their centerpiece acquisitions in exchange for stars Max Scherzer and...

The Orioles are placing reliever Tanner Scott on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee. Pitcher Keegan Akin is taking his place on the active roster and in the bullpen. Akin is reinstated today from the COVID-19 injured list. Pitcher Thomas Eshelman has been designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Scott is 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.488 WHIP in 48 games. He's averaging 6.8 walks and 13 strikeouts per nine innings. The injury came as Scott remained in the...

After winning back-to-back games behind strong starting pitching at Detroit, the Orioles have secured at least a split of the four-game series. Now they look for one more victory and to win their third series in five tries since the All-Star break. Behind right-hander Matt Harvey Friday and lefty John Means last night, the Orioles beat Detroit 4-3 and 5-2. Means and Harvey allowed just one run over 12 combined innings. The Orioles are finally getting some deeper and better outings from their...

It's a gray Sunday at Nationals Park, and I actually mean that in the literal sense. Rain is forecast on and off throughout the afternoon. Hopefully, it doesn't impact the game, but the grounds crew has the tarp ready to go just in case. Metaphorically, it's been a gray several days for the Nats, who just wrapped up one of the worst months in club history, going 8-18. And that's just their record. As we know, a whole lot of other stuff happened that wasn't directly related to wins and...

Austin Hays is leading off today and playing left field and Ryan McKenna is in center as the Orioles close out their series in Detroit and attempt to win three of four games. Maikel Franco moves up to fifth in the lineup. Pat Valaika is playing shortstop. Austin Wynns is behind the plate. Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías get a breather. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter today. He has 10 hits and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. Spenser Watkins is making his fifth major league start...

For a team that desperately needed better starting pitching after a first half when Baltimore's rotation ERA was 6.11, the Orioles are starting to get that. Deeper outings. Better outings. A nice change, to say the least. To see Matt Harvey and John Means hold Detroit to one run over the last two nights over their combined 12 innings was encouraging. A Tigers team that was 10-4 since the break heading into Friday's game. A Tigers team that beat Minnesota 17-14 Wednesday night and then beat...

If Day 1 of the next era of Nationals baseball offered everyone a glimpse at what could still make the rest of this season fun, Day 2 offered a harsh reminder of how rough the next two months could still be. During a 6-3 loss to the Cubs, the rebuilding Nats showed little of the youthful energy and talent that was on display during Friday night's win. This game saw a ragged start from Joe Ross, sloppy defense from Carter Kieboom and Luis García and a general lack of offense against an...

The learning continues today for Spenser Watkins. And we'll find out more about him, as well. We know about Watkins' perseverance as a 30th-round draft pick, his pitching intelligence, how he grasps the art of his profession as a survival tactic. Today, he gets the chance to show how he responds to his first dose of adversity at the major league level. Watkins allowed a total of three runs in his first three starts, but Marlins catcher Sandy Leon matched them with one swing - the ball landing...