Chuck Ristano reached for his cell phone in an Atlanta airport, saw Trey Mancini's name on his screen and heard something that twisted his emotions into a jumble. A cancer survivor and close friend probably needs to choose his words more carefully when starting a conversation. "He called me and told me, 'Hey, this isn't public.' I had a moment of exhilaration, a moment of panic," said Ristano, who was on a recruiting trip after finishing his 11th season as Notre Dame's pitching...

To say the least, the Orioles' search for starting pitching is ongoing. Their rotation ERA of 6.09 is the worst in the majors and their three starting pitchers covered just 11 2/3 innings in the weekend series in Anaheim, allowing 12 runs. The O's know they have a good one - really, this year he's been a great one - in John Means. The lefty is their ace and he can't get back here soon enough. Means took a big step toward a return to the rotation yesterday, throwing a sharp two-inning rehab...

Washington Nationals outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto as well as shortstop Trea Turner have been selected to represent the Washington Nationals in the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is the first All-Star selection for all three players. Schwarber and Turner were named to the All-Star Game rosters by the Player Ballot, while Soto was selected by Major League Baseball. The 2021 All-Star teams were unveiled on Sunday during the Google MLB All-Star Selection Show on...

The Los Angeles Angels ruined a great script. On the day he found out he was named an All-Star, Cedric Mullins again played very much like one. But even his heroics were not enough to get the Orioles a win. Right-hander Cole Sulser was trying to finish off a strong day for the bullpen, but it didn't happen. Mullins had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth and singled to tie the game. Then he topped that. He homered off Angels closer Raisel Iglesias in the top of the ninth to break a...

Cedric Mullins will find out later if he's going to be in the American League's starting lineup for the July 13 All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver. Most important is the first piece of news. He's on the team. Mullins has been chosen as a reserve, with the announcement made this afternoon on ESPN. He's the lone Orioles representative, though first baseman Trey Mancini is participating in the Home Run Derby. The inclusion of Mullins, 26, was a formality. There's no way he could be...

The Nationals will send three players to next week's All-Star Game, all of them first-time selections, while their most decorated star stays home - at least for now - despite producing one of the best first halves of his storied career. Trea Turner, Juan Soto and Kyle Schwarber all were named reserves to the National League All-Star team this afternoon, each earning a spot in the Midsummer Classic for the first time. They'll head to Denver to represent the Nats, but unless there's a need to...

ABERDEEN - The Orioles would desperately love to get their ace back on the mound. And lefty John Means today took a big step toward heading back to the Orioles rotation. And he looked good doing it. Throwing all of his pitches, including a fastball that touched 94 mph, Means pitched two innings this afternoon for the high Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds against the Brooklyn Cyclones at Ripken Stadium. It is the first of what Means said is expected to be three rehab starts at three levels before he...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is hoping that César Valdez's extended stay on the injured list with a lower back strain did more than improve the reliever's health. Perhaps it also provided a much-needed refresh and restart. Valdez lost the closer's job while posting an 11.57 ERA and 2.429 WHIP in seven innings in May and a 7.71 ERA and 1.857 WHIP in seven innings last month. "Took some time off, threw a really nice side a couple days ago," Hyde said today on his media Zoom call. "He...

You can analyze this four-game sweep at the hands of the defending World Series champions until your face turns blue, but it really boils down to a simple fact: The Dodgers had 26 healthy and versatile players whom their manager trusted to be used over the course of a ballgame, and the Nationals did not. Over the course of a difficult holiday weekend on South Capitol Street, capped by a 5-1 loss before an Independence Day crowd of 37,187, Dave Roberts consistently utilized every player from his...

Reliever César Valdez has been reinstated today from the 10-day injured list, with reliever Isaac Mattson optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Valdez hasn't pitched since June 20 due to a lower back strain. A prolonged slump has raised his ERA to 5.74 and WHIP to 1.650 in 25 appearances and 26 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in April and recorded six of his eight saves. Mattson made his second major league appearance last night and tossed 1 1/3 scoreless and hitless...