After winning the completion of Wednesday night's suspended game, the Nationals now attempt to sweep this not-really-a-doubleheader against the Reds, hoping to get a big-time start from Stephen Strasburg and avoid using the relievers they needed to close out the earlier 5-3 win. Strasburg was pretty good in his first start off the injured list, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles, though he pretty clearly was running out of gas by the fifth. The Nats will hope the right-hander...

He is in his fourth season on the Orioles. Which means reliever Paul Fry was not here in 2016, when the club was last in the playoffs. In fact, it was during his first year in 2018 that the Orioles made the mid-season trades of Manny Machado, Zack Britton and others. He's seen a lot of ups and downs in this game and been on an O's team that lost 115 games in 2018. Now as an elder statesman in the bullpen and with more tenure than many on this club, he's trying to be a player others can lean...

With five innings on tap this afternoon to complete the game that only lasted four innings Wednesday night before a storm barreled through town, then a seven-inning game still to come later tonight as part of this pseudo-doubleheader, Nationals manager Davey Martinez had to concoct a pitching plan that would give his club the best chance to win both games. And when the Nats added to the three-run lead they already held when Wednesday's game was suspended, the path should've been simple for...

Orioles minor league pitcher Brenan Hanifee, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft out of Turner-Ashby High School in Virginia, underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstructive surgery on his right elbow yesterday in Dallas. The team announced that the procedure was "successful." Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery. Meister handled the same procedure in October on pitcher Carter Baumler, a fifth-round selection in 2020 out of Dowling Catholic High School in Iowa, and repaired pitcher...

It's not often a team has the ability to change its roster mid-game, but the Nationals and Reds both were afforded the opportunity today for the completion of Wednesday night's suspended game. The Nats have activated Tanner Rainey off the COVID-19 injured list and will have the reliever available to them for the final five innings of the resumed game, plus tonight's seven-inning series finale. They'll also have Kyle McGowin available for the nightcap even though the right-hander was...

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Tanner Rainey from the Injured List and optioned right-handed pitcher Kyle McGowin to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rainey, 28, returns to Washington's bullpen after missing six games. He tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief across his last four appearances before being placed on the Injured List on May 19. Rainey has tossed scoreless...

The Nationals entered play Wednesday last in the National League - and next-to-last in the majors - with just 128 walks for the season. But for a team that prides itself on making contact, the lack of free passes isn't an issue for manager Davey Martinez. "You go up there with a bat in your hand and you swing it, you know?" he said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "I want these guys to be aggressive and if they get a ball they can hit, try to hit it hard and put it in...

Wednesday night's game between the Reds and Nationals was suspended after a lengthy rain delay, with the decision officially announced at 11:35 p.m. The suspended game, still slated for nine innings, will be resumed at 2:05 p.m. on Thursday with the regularly scheduled series finale following at 7:05 p.m. as a seven-inning game. Play was halted at 8:31 p.m. with the Nationals ahead 3-0 and the tarp was placed on the field as a forecast downpour began. After more than three hours - and the...

Orioles fans are understandably upset with their team right now. Even those that knew and fully accepted that there would be tough times during another season of rebuilding were hopeful they would see better from the club that what it is showing lately. When John Means pitched a no-hitter, it was for a nearly .500 club and left the Orioles with a 15-16 record on May 5, and they had won five of the previous seven games. But now the Orioles have been swept three in a row by three straight teams....

Trey Mancini hopped on a Zoom call after a recent loss and spoke about the frustrating nature of a team that can't get "synced up." His words coming after the Orioles scored six runs and allowed 13. Plenty of offense and no pitching to support it. It also works in reverse. Starter Jorge López completed six innings yesterday for the first time since Sept. 19, 2020. A quality start produced by someone besides John Means. Relievers Shawn Armstrong and Tanner Scott combined to retire all six...