The removal of infielder Rio Ruiz from the active and 40-man rosters, described today by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde as "extremely difficult," presents an opportunity for Stevie Wilkerson to get regular at-bats at second base. Wilkerson's versatility enables the Orioles to plug him into a variety of positions, but he's likely to get the bulk of the starts at second depending on matchups and his production. Pat Valaika is the other option. "Both of those guys can play different spots also,...

When a player has just four hits over a 13-game stretch, that is a definite slump. But when the same player has three hits, including a homer and double, in the game that follows, that could be a slump breaker. That is the hope and goal for Orioles third baseman Maikel Franco. He went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Sunday as the O's beat the Yankees 10-6. His two-run homer in the eighth provided some nice late insurance, extending Baltimore's lead from 8-5 to 10-5. Franco hit No. 4 and had...

The Orioles made another adjustment to their infield this afternoon, designating Rio Ruiz for assignment and selecting Stevie Wilkerson's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Wilkerson returns to the majors for the first time since fracturing his left ring finger in a July exhibition game in Philadelphia. He was batting .357/.438/.476 (15-for-42) with two doubles and a home run in 12 games with the Tides. Ruiz, claimed off waivers from the Braves at the 2018 Winter Meetings, was 15-for-90 (.167)...

One by one, they swung at hittable pitches. And one by one, they pounded the ball into the ground. Whether leading off an inning, trying to get something going with two outs or trying to drive in a runner from scoring position, the Nationals kept meeting the same fate during Monday night's 7-3 loss to the Cubs: Groundball outs. How bad was it? Through the seventh inning, the Nats had put 18 balls into play. Only four of them were hit in the air, and all of those resulted in hits (two singles,...

Tonight's series opener at Wrigley Field was always going to be about Jon Lester and Kyle Schwarber, one way or the other. The return of the two former Cubs to their old stomping grounds as members of the Nationals for the first time had been wildly anticipated for days in Chicago. And the North Side faithful showered both players with love all night. Lester and Schwarber were touched by it all, to be sure. They appreciated the warm welcome home from the crowd of 11,144. But more than...

Birdland has likely noticed and no doubt enjoyed some great starts by both individual players and teams on the Orioles farm. Through Sunday's games, three of the O's four full-season affiliates are playing .667 ball or better. The four teams have a combined record of 29-18 (.617) and the Orioles rank seventh among major league organizations in minor league win percentage. Among several players off to great starts are two of the club's best young prospects. Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is 1-0...

The Orioles are flip-flopping their top two starters entering their series against the Rays that begins tonight at Camden Yards. As expected, Matt Harvey is starting the opener on an extra day of rest due to yesterday's vacancy in the schedule. Left-hander John Means takes the mound Wednesday with seven days separating his outings. Rookie Dean Kremer closes out the series Thursday afternoon before the Orioles head to D.C. The Rays are starting right-hander Luis Patiño tonight. Manager...

No longer confident that Yusniel Diaz is nearing a return to the Triple-A Norfolk lineup, the Orioles have decided to place him on the minor league injured list. Diaz hasn't played since exiting a May 9 game in Jacksonville following an RBI double in the ninth inning. He strained his right hip/quadriceps muscle and needed assistance leaving the field. The No. 7 prospect in the organization according to Baseball America and No. 8 per MLBPipeline.com, Diaz is 5-for-25 with a double, home run and...

The Nationals haven't decided yet if Stephen Strasburg will come off the injured list this weekend, but the fact the right-hander has rejoined the club in Chicago offers a hint they're hoping to do just that. Fresh off a 75-pitch rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Rochester in Trenton, N.J., Strasburg flew to Chicago and will be with the Nationals for their four-game series against the Cubs. He'll throw what manager Davey Martinez termed an "extended" bullpen session Tuesday afternoon, and...

The Nationals have been involved in their share of dramatic games at Wrigley Field in recent years. The last time they played on the North Side of Chicago in August 2019, they swept the Cubs in a wild series that many saw as the first real evidence this team was capable of winning the World Series. One year earlier, their playoff chances essentially were crushed on David Bote's walk-off grand slam off Ryan Madson. And, of course, in October 2017, Stephen Strasburg pitched one of the best games...