Conner Greene joins Orioles (plus other notes)
Conner Greene joins Orioles (plus other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles replaced injured reliever Tyler Wells today with reliever Conner Greene, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk. Greene, wearing No. 71, is waiting to become the 12th Orioles player to make his major league debut this season. He's been on a few taxi squads. Wells went on the 10-day injured list yesterday with tendinitis in his right wrist. Greene, 26, is a former seventh-round draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2013. The Orioles signed him to a minor league deal in...
O's 'pen puts up a zero for the night and other notes
O's 'pen puts up a zero for the night and other notes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Orioles right-hander Jorge López was throwing a decent game. He had allowed just one run over 4 2/3 innings but the hook came with two outs in the top of the fifth and the Orioles leading 2-1 over the Washington Nationals. Manager Brandon Hyde saw hot-hitting Juan Soto - a batter who had 12 hits in his last 24 at-bats - coming to the plate. And he went for a fifth-inning left-on-left matchup, bringing in Paul Fry. On one pitch, a 92 mph four-seam fastball, Fry got Soto to ground out to first...
Could Stevenson supplant Robles in center field?
Could Stevenson supplant Robles in center field?
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
Andrew Stevenson has played an important role for the Nationals since debuting in 2017. A left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield positions with a great glove and speed that also poses a threat on the basepaths is a manager's dream player off the bench. The only role Stevenson hasn't played is that of a regular starter, aside from filing in for players dealing with long-term injuries. Could that possibly be changing as we see him get more starts in center field over Victor...
This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have gone back to a nine-man bullpen, removing a bench option for manager Brandon Hyde but also giving him an extra reliever. Some nights it's the ideal alignment, others it's a handicap. Anyone knowing in advance how it's going to play out should contact the team. There could be a job opportunity. Longer outings from the rotation could reduce the need for a ninth reliever. The last four starters completed five innings prior to last night, a first in 2021. And fewer weak links in...
Game 97 lineups: Nats at Orioles (Scherzer scratched)
Game 97 lineups: Nats at Orioles (Scherzer scratched)
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Nationals need a stopper, someone to prevent a single loss from turning into a losing streak and give them some momentum against a weaker opponent. Facing the Orioles in the middle of three interleague games at Camden Yards, it seemed right-hander Max Scherzer (7-4, 2.83 ERA) would be just the tonic for what ails the Nats. In his career, Scherzer is 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.024 WHIP in 14 starts against the Orioles. In Baltimore, he's made seven starts and gone 4-0 with a 3.48 ERA and...
Corbin can't sustain command in loss to Orioles (updated)
Corbin can't sustain command in loss to Orioles (updated)
Bobby Blanco
Orioles
It's been an up-and-down season for Patrick Corbin so far in 2021. After struggling out of the gate, he seemed to have fixed his issues for a couple of starts. Then they resurfaced before a couple of strong outings ahead of the All-Star break. But Corbin did not get the second half off on the right foot after giving up six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Padres last Saturday. And although it looked like Corbin was going to redeem himself with strong command early Friday night,...
Bats and bullpen bend game in Orioles' favor (updated)
Bats and bullpen bend game in Orioles' favor (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde excused himself this afternoon from his pregame chat session with the media in the dugout and headed over to the cage to introduce himself to the organization's top two draft picks and watch them take batting practice. Colton Cowser and Connor Norby received the royal treatment before flying to Sarasota and beginning their professional careers in the Florida Complex League. Meanwhile, Hyde was pulled away from the future and plopped back into the present, where he...
O's game blog: The Nats-O's series opener at the Yard
O's game blog: The Nats-O's series opener at the Yard
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles play at home for the first time since the All-Star break tonight when they host the Washington Nationals to start a three-game series. It begins a five-game homestand, with Miami coming to town on Tuesday night. The O's last home game was July 11, when the Chicago White Sox completed a three-game sweep in Baltimore. The Orioles (31-64) went 3-3 on their road trip to Kansas City and St. Petersburg. They won two of three versus the Royals and lost two of three to the Tampa Bay Rays....
Strasburg backed down after continued issues with neck
Strasburg backed down after continued issues with neck
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
A frustrating 21 months since being named the 2019 World Series Most Valuable Player continues for Stephen Strasburg, who once again experienced neck pain while throwing during his latest bullpen session. The veteran right-hander was able to throw a bullpen session and then long toss earlier this week, but his second bullpen session caused more discomfort in his neck and forced the Nationals to keep him from throwing for now while they try to work out the next steps. "So Strasburg, once again,...
Notes on Franco, Akin, Santander, Zimmermann and more
Notes on Franco, Akin, Santander, Zimmermann and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles needed just one rehab game for third baseman Maikel Franco to decide that he should be reinstated from the injured list. Franco had three plate appearances Tuesday morning with the Florida Complex League's orange team, going 0-for-1 with a walk and sacrifice fly, and he's in tonight's lineup against the Nationals. "On the road trip he had been taking batting practice with us, doing a running progression, taking ground balls every day," said manager Brandon Hyde. "Went down to...