The Washington Nationals announced the following roster moves on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. * Reinstated catcher Alex Avila, catcher Yan Gomes, left-handed pitcher Brad Hand and infielder Jordy Mercer from the Injured List. * Optioned catcher Tres Barrera and right-handed pitcher Ryne Harper and added them to the Taxi Squad. * Optioned infielder Carter Kieboom to the Alternate Training Site (Fredericksburg). *...

The Nationals flew west Wednesday night, all the way west for their first trip outside the eastern time zone since 2019. They were a fairly exhausted group, certainly more exhausted than you'd normally expect only three games into the season. Those first three games, of course, were anything but normal. Manager Davey Martinez wanted everyone to have a full day off in Los Angeles, a chance to sleep, a chance to recover, a chance to breathe some fresh Southern California air and prepare for what...

The sore hamstring that forced Austin Hays onto the injured list again also has removed a plus defender from left field. There are going to be days and nights, as one would expect, when it shows more than the others. Ryan Mountcastle served as the designated hitter in the three-game series in Boston, but he's back in left, where he made 23 starts last summer. He's still learning the position, his fourth as a professional, and the growing pains have been a little sharper this week. There was...

If we are taking a big picture view, the Orioles are tied for first place and they have a 4-3 start. A winning overall start against Boston and New York. They'd likely take that record in every seven-game sample against those clubs. But since the club's 3-0 start in Boston, where they scored 18 runs, they have hit less and won less. They've allowed seven runs in three of the four games, going 1-3 since the first Boston series. They lost the home opener 7-3 yesterday to Boston and those last...

Trey Mancini heard his name called, stepped out of the dugout, jogged to the first base line, tapped fists with manager Brandon Hyde and center fielder Cedric Mullins, and gave the crowd what it wanted. Himself. Back in uniform. Back in Baltimore. The Orioles played their first home game this afternoon after a two-city road trip, tweaking the traditional ceremonies as a concession to health and safety protocols. Maybe the bullpen would have been too crowded for introductions. Matt Harvey...

It was a messy top of the sixth for the Orioles. A lead was lost and later so was the home opening game. The Boston Red Sox scored two runs in the sixth to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead and eventually pulled away for a 7-3 win. Boston improves to 4-3 with a fourth win in a row. The O's fall to 4-3 in losing their third home opener in a row. Right-hander Matt Harvey was rolling and then suddenly he wasn't. After a shaky first, where he allowed a two-run homer to Rafael Devers that went...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hinted earlier today that ceremonies for the home opener would be adjusted due to the health and safety protocols implemented at Camden Yards. Can't mute the excitement, however, with fans allowed inside the ballpark at 25 percent capacity. Asked if he's going to run out of the bullpen and down the orange carpet or come out of the dugout, Hyde said, "I'm hearing it's different this year because of COVID." "But I'm still going to stretch," he said. "Foam...

Riding on a bit of a high after their 11-inning win at New York last night, the Orioles would love to take that momentum and roll it into a win this afternoon. They host the Boston Red Sox in their 2021 home opener to start a three-game series. In a game where the Orioles were held to four hits and struck out 17 times, and needed their bullpen to cover 6 1/3 innings, they pulled out a thrilling 4-3 win over the Yankees. The game ended with right fielder Anthony Santander's outfield assist,...

Rio Ruiz stays at third base this afternoon and Pat Valaika is the second baseman for the Orioles' home opener against the Red Sox and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Trey Mancini is batting second, playing first base and set to receive the loudest and most prolonged ovation of the day. Maikel Franco is the designated hitter again and Ryan Mountcastle stays in the cleanup spot. Cedric Mullins, who remains in center field and atop the order, has a 10-game hitting streak dating to last...

On the night, the Orioles had just four hits. They went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They struck out 17 times. Their starting pitcher didn't get through five innings. They lost one-run leads in the eighth and 10th innings. But they won the game. It is not often we could see all that happen for the Orioles during a close game in the Bronx, yet they pull out a win. They beat New York 4-3 in 11 innings and begin play today alone atop the American League East at 4-2. In time, we will...