Not only has Orioles hitting coach Don Long noticed, along with everyone else, the spike in offensive production from center fielder Cedric Mullins, he's also enjoyed the changes that aren't evident in box scores. "I was really proud of him last year for his personality emerging," Long said yesterday on his Zoom call with the media. "The first year that he was here, kind of getting to know him, he was fairly quiet. He's not a real boisterous guy anyway, but you could see his personality...

The offensive spurts that hinted at breakthroughs for Trey Mancini were mere teasers until a few weeks ago. Until a four-strikeout game in Texas and more conversations with Orioles hitting coach Don Long. It wasn't one day or just a few words that lifted Mancini. They watched video again on Wednesday, studying his at-bats from 2019. And they kept talking. Mancini has hits in nine of his last 11 games and he's reached base safely in seven straight. He's collected 10 hits in 26 at-bats (.385)...

Shortstop Freddy Galvis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight, his day-to-day status extending at least to Saturday. Ramón Urías is the shortstop for the series opener in Oakland. Pat Valaika is the second baseman. Rio Ruiz is playing third base instead of Maikel Franco. Austin Hays stays in left field and DJ Stewart stays in right. Ryan Mountcastle gets another start at first base, with Trey Mancini the designated hitter. Left-hander John Means has allowed one run or fewer in eight...

As the Orioles begin a two-city, six-game West Coast road trip tonight, they will send their ace to the mound. Lefty John Means (2-0, 1.50 ERA) gets the start as the Orioles play the first of a three-game series at Oakland. Means ranks third in the American League and tied for sixth in the majors in ERA. He ranks fifth in the AL in WHIP (0.90), fifth in opponent batting average (.171) and tied for ninth with 29 strikeouts. He will be making back-to-back starts against the same team. He was an...

The Nationals are getting Jon Lester back from the injured list tonight. They'll have to wait a while longer to get Juan Soto and Stephen Strasburg. Though both superstars are now eligible to come off the 10-day IL, neither has been able to pass the throwing tests necessary to be activated. Soto, out since April 20 with a left shoulder strain, did begin some light tossing Thursday for the first time, manager Davey Martinez said in today's pregame Zoom session with reporters. He was due to...

The Washington Nationals reinstated left-handed pitcher Jon Lester from the Injured List on Friday. Additionally, Washington optioned right-handed pitcher Steven Fuentes and transferred left-handed pitcher Luis Avilán to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Lester, 37, will take the mound for his first start as a member of the Washington Nationals on Friday night against the Miami Marlins. Lester went 3-3...

The Nationals signed Jon Lester over the winter to be a big part of their rotation, counting on the veteran left-hander to make 30 starts and win big games for them. Tonight, he finally makes his D.C. debut. Lester, the last of nine Nats players still on the COVID-19 injured list, has been activated and will start tonight's series opener against the Marlins. It took longer than expected, but after three rehab outings at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg, the 37-year-old is ready to...

We are now just a few days away from a new minor league season. Tuesday is opening day and there will be Minor League Baseball for the first time since the 2019 season. Today, we have the Orioles' break-camp rosters for their four full-season affiliates at Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, high Single-A Aberdeen and low Single-A Delmarva. They all begin their 120 game seasons on Tuesday. The rosters, as always, are subject to last-minute changes and the opening day rosters will be announced...

What are we to make of the Nationals rotation as the season's first month comes to a close? There's ample reason for serious concern, yet there's also not-so-insignificant reason to be encouraged. The bad: Nationals starters currently own a 5.18 ERA, which ranks 28th out of 30 major league clubs. Their 1.323 WHIP is slightly better but still ranks a mere 22nd. Four times this season their starter has been charged with six or more earned runs, tied for the most in the major leagues. The good:...

For Orioles starting pitchers, the ability to pitch inside and bust a hitter with an inside corner fastball was big in the series against the New York Yankees. Right-hander Matt Harvey was able to do it in Monday's win and right-hander Jorge López had some success doing it yesterday. But rookies Bruce Zimmermann and Dean Kremer could not do it as effectively, and it made a big difference in getting good results or not versus the Yankees in the series at Camden Yards. Against a power-hitting...