If this wasn't the epitome of the Nationals' 2020 season, it's tough to imagine a sequence that could define this agonizing campaign any better. Max Scherzer on the mound, his pitch count well into triple digits. The Marlins threatening to take a late lead. Manager Davey Martinez trusting his ace to get out of the jam over anyone out of his bullpen. And then a defensive miscue costing Scherzer and his team the game. Despite thinking for a split-second he had escaped a bases-loaded jam with a...

For a young player in his rookie season, there will be highs and lows. There will be good plays and bad. But the one thing Nationals manager Davey Martinez wants Luis García to remember: Relax, have fun and play the game. "I told him, 'Just be you,'" Martinez said via Zoom. "There is going to be conversations about the game that we have every day with him, whether it's with me, whether it's (bench coach) Tim Bogar, whether it's with (third base coach) Chip Hale. This is a learning...

Sammy Stewart was a rookie making his major league debut in 1978 when he struck out seven batters in a row to set an Orioles record. John Means was in his second full season, though in truncated style, when he tied the record today. Pitching in the final home game in 2020. Back to the form that made him an All-Star last summer. Means went on to set a career high with 12 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run in his third consecutive start, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 2-1 at...

Most days, Orioles left-hander John Means features a solid fastball. He throws it about 49 percent of the time and averages around 94 mph. Today, the velocity was there as usual, but the results were not usual at all. Means was showing an at times elite fastball as the Orioles edged Tampa Bay 2-1 to take the final game of this five-game series. Means usually uses that fastball to set up his quality secondary pitches. Today, that heater was helping him rack up a career-best 12 strikeouts over 5...

In Game 2 of today's doubleheader and the series finale, the Nationals send out left-hander Ben Braymer for his first major league start. Braymer has made two big league appearances, Aug. 28 and Sept. 15, and has gone 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. He has allowed six hits and walked two. Manager Davey Martinez said Braymer has been stretched out and he expects 60 to 75 pitches from him. The southpaw made 26 starts last season in the minors, going 4-10 with a 4.53...

Orioles shortstop José Iglesias is out of today's lineup and undergoing more tests on his left wrist. Manager Brandon Hyde couldn't provide an update in today's Zoom conference call with the media. Iglesias was drilled on the left wrist last night and came out of the game. "He's getting re-evaluated this morning, but the news last night was good, that the X-rays from last night came back negative," Hyde said. "He's just really sore today. Haven't gotten the results back from doctors...

The Orioles (22-31) will play their final home game of the 2020 season this afternoon when they host the Tampa Bay Rays (35-18) to wrap up a five-game series. The Orioles need a win to avoid a five-game sweep after Saturday night's 3-1 loss. The Birds are 11-9 against National League teams, but 11-22 against the American League, facing only East Division teams this season. They swept Tampa Bay very early in the year, but have since lost six in a row to the Rays. Five of the nine games between...

Some quick-hit news and notes before the Nationals take the field in Miami for the start of today's doubleheader against the Marlins ... * Yan Gomes is behind the plate for the opener, a bit of a surprise because Max Scherzer is on the mound. Scherzer typically pairs up with Kurt Suzuki; in fact, Suzuki caught all 10 of his previous starts this season. "Just wanted to change it up," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "I talked to Max and Yan before...

The Orioles announced the completion of another trade, receiving shortstop Victor González from the Mets as the player to be named later in the Miguel Castro deal. González has been added to the 60-man pool and the Orioles released pitcher Chandler Shepherd from the alternate camp site in Bowie. The pool is holding 60 players. González, 17, was originally signed by the Mets on July 2, 2019, as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He hasn't played...

OK, it's time for the second of three doubleheaders the Nationals have scheduled in a five-day span. Slowly but surely, they're getting through this rough stretch and approaching the finish line of a difficult season. Davey Martinez decided to have Max Scherzer start this afternoon's opener in Miami, thinking he can hopefully get six or even seven innings out of his ace and save his entire bullpen for the nightcap, in which Ben Braymer will start but several relievers will be needed....